ISS 201: THE UMMAYAD PERIOD OF ISLAM

COURSE OUTLINE
1. Accession of Muawiya bin Abu Sufyan to the Khalifate of
Islam (661 – 680)
a. Accession to the Khalifate
b. Factors responsible for the accession of Muawiya to the
Khilafa
c. Accession of Muawiya to the Khilafa as a turning point in
the history of Islam

2. Administration of Yezid bin Muawiyya

3. Muawiya II
4. Marwan
5. Administration of Abdul-Malik
6. Administration of Walid
7. Administration of Sulayman
8. The reign of Uman II
9. The reign of Yezid II
10. The Administration of Hisham
11. The reign of Marwan II
12. Walid II
13. The fall of the Umayyad administration

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ACCESSION OF MUAWIYA BIN ABU SUFYAN TO THE
KHILAFATE OF ISLAM (661 – 680)

ACCESSION TO THE KHILAFATE

Muawiya bin Abu Sufyan became Khalifa shortly after the
death of Ali bin Abi Talib. Muawiya, who had contested the
Khalifate with Ali, declared himself Khalifa at Damascus and he
was recognized in Syria and Egypt.

Hassan, the eldest son of Ali, was elected by the Kufans as

Khalifa and he was recognized by the people of Madina.

Muawiya invaded Kufa with a large army and Hassan was

deposed of his position due to the weakness of kufans. Muawiya
later agreed to pay Hassan a pension of five million dirhams
from the kufan treasury and the revenue of a district throughout
his life time. With the deposition of Hassan, Muawiya become
the undisputed khalifa of Islam. Although, Hassan could not
long enjoy the pensioned life in Madina because he was
prisoned in 669 A.D and it is alleged that Yezid, the son of
Muawiya, had a hand in prisoning him.

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCESSION OF

MUAWIYA TO THE KHILAFA
Many factors were responsible for the success of Muawiya in
his struggle for administration. The most significant factor was
that he was superior to his rivals in terms of cleverness, political
strategies and organizing capacity. Even though he was not a
warrior but he was a great military organizer.

Again, the other factor was the Solid support Muawiya got from
his family which served as a source of his strength. The
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Umayyad gave Muawiya the necessary support he needed to
contest for power.

Another factor was the sincere loyalty which Muawiya enjoyed

from the Syrians, the people he had earlier benefited when he
was the governor of Syria.

One other factor was that Muawiya was able to seek support and
collaboration of shrewd generals like Amr, Mughira and Zayd.
In fact, it is said that in shrewdness, state-craft and organizing
capacity, Muawiya and his three associates constituted the
political geniuses of the Arab Muslims.

ACCESSION OF MUAWIYA TO THE KHILAFA AS A

TURNING POINT IN THE HISTORY OF ISLAM
1. Shifting of capital of administration to Damascus

As a result of the shifting of the capital to Damascus, Madinah

and kufa lost the imperial position and rendered into the
background in the politics of the administration. Madinah
became the place of rest for retired people and the Arabs of
Arabia lost privilege position in the administration.

2. Rift between the Ummayyads and Hashimides.

The Umayyad became the ruling party and has himides

altogether lost their position and influence in the administration.
Muawiya and his successors followed the policy of ruinning the
family of Ali so that they might cease to be a rival of the
Ummayyads for the Khalifate.

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3. Revival of Tribal Spirit

The administration of Muawiya renewed the old tribal spirit and

feuds of the Arabs. He encouraged this revival party due to his
factious feeling and party for the interest of his administration.

4. Monarchy and Dynastic Rule

The most serious change in the administration of Muawiya was
the transformation of the Republic of Islam into monarchy.
Muawiya terminated democratic commonwealth and converted
the administration into a mulk. He established the dynastic rule
of his family by nominating his son as his successor in 679 A.
D. Muawiya used persuation or force the allegiance of the
principal men of the empire for his successor in his presence. In
this way, he introduced the hereditary principle of succession to
the elective principle of the time of the pious khalifa.

Muawiya was the first Malik-King in Islam and he

demonstrated a monarch in his conduct and policy. Muawiya
converted the public treasury (Baytul mal) to his personal
property and spent the money at will. He was always
surrounded by a splendid bodyguard and ceremony preceded
him and followed him wherever he went.

Muawiya set up a maqsurah, a short of bower (garden/yard)

inside the mosque reserved for the exclusive use of the khalifa.
He read the Friday Sermon while seated.

YEZID BIN MU’AWIYAH 680 – 683A.D.

Yezid became the khalifa shortly after the death of his father,
Muawiyah in 680AD. The accession of Yezid to the
administration was a severe blow not only to the Islamic system

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of government, but as a monarch, he also proved himself a
worst ruler. Yezid was irreligious and had no ability of a ruler.
In fact, he was unworthy to be the khalifa of Islam.

Hussain, son of Ali, could not recognize Yezid as a khalifa

because of his irreligiousity and he later decided to fight for the
honour of Islam. Hussain had the support of muslims from
Madina but he still needed more subtaintial help to fight against
the great power of the Umayyads.

The Kufans, who had previously enjoyed during the

administration of Ali lost their positions and priviledges during
the administration of Umayyads because Muawiyah had
changed the capital to Damascus. Consequently, the kufans
invited Hussain to kufa with assurance to give him their total
support in actualizing his noble cause. Thereafter, Hussain sent
his cousin, Muslim to kufa to study the situation on ground.
Seeing a favourable condition in kufa, Muslim sent a letter to
Hussain to proceed to kufa. Some of the well-wishers of
Hussain asked him not to go to kufa but in the encouragement of
Abdullahi bin Zubayr, Hussain left for kufa.

The favourable condition soon changed in Kufa as the Kufans

were won over by Ubaydullah bin Zayd, and Muslim was put to
death. Hussain did not know about this development which was
unfavourable to his cause.

Hussain left for kufa with only 200 souls in all and he was
greatly socked at the news of the dealth of Muslim. He
immediately thought of changing to another destination but he
was prevented from doing so as he was attacked by a
deterchment of forces sent by Ubaydullah.
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Hussain and his men soon found themselves in a state of
blockade in the field of Karbala, twenty-five miles away from
kufa by an army under Umar bin Saad and they were soon
subjected to hard and unfavourable conditions. All the people in
Hussain camp, including children and woman, were not allowed
to drink water for ten days. Life in the desert without water was
very horrible for them.

Hussain, finding himself and his people in this serious situation,

preferred to return to Madinah but the enemy did not allow him
to do so. He gave some other alternative proposals to
Ubaydullahi, the governor of Kufa, but none of the proposals
was granted.

Ubaydullahi wanted an unconditional surrender of Hussain but

the latter preferred to die with honour than to surrender to such a
disgrace. Hussain wanted to send all his people away so that he
could fight and die alone. But none was ready to leave him but
to fight and die with him.

The battle of karbala was, therefore, fought in October, 680 AD.

It was an unequal fight because Hussain had only 72 fighting
men by his side as against a large number from the enemy
forces.

Hussain and his people fought gallantly but in the end, they
were all put to death and only a sick child of Hussain named Ali
survived the tragedy. The head of Hussain was cut off during
this battle and was taken to Ubaydullah, the governor of kufa.
The Governor also sent the head to Yezid in Damascus and the
khalifah later returned the head to Hussain’s sister and young

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son, Ali who had been taken to Damascus. The head was burned
with the body in Karbala.

There were troubles in Medinah and Makkah because people

wanted to avenge the blood of Hussain. Yezid sent Syrian army
to Madinah and the Ansar and Madinites died while fighting for
the honour of the Prophet’s family. The Syrian army later
attacked Makkah and the city was subjected to the rains of
stones and fires. As a result of this, Ka’aba caught fire and the
house of Allah was burnt to the ground. The black stone was
torn to pieces. Around this time, Yezid died and the news of his
death made Syrians withdrew the siege and returned to
Damascus.

MUAWIYAH II
Muawiyah, son of Yezid, popularly known as muawiya II
succeeded his father and began his reign well. He was thereafter
poisoned after six months. He was succeeded by his minor
brother, Khalid, who was later advised to retire from office in
favour of his kingsman, marwan.

MARWAN (683 – 685)

Marwan, a cousin of Uthman became Khalif after the retirement
of Khalid from office. He gained supporters through the means
of persuasion and inducements. He also promised that Khalid
would become Khalifa after his death and to strengthen his
position, he later married the widowed mother of Khalid.
Marwan obtained the legacy of troubles which had started from
the time of previous Khalifa. Abdullahi ibn Zubair was a rival
khalifa who had dominated Arabia, Iraq and part of Syria. The

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Kharaiites and Shiites were also making troubles in the empire
against the Umayyad.
Marwan saved the Umayyad dynasty from a collapse by
defeating Abdullah’s deputy in Syria in 684 AD which made
Syria to become his territory.
He also defeated Shi’ites in kufa and after he had consolidated
his position he forgot his promise that Khalid would become the
Khalifa after his death. He, therefore, nominated his son,
Abdulmalik to become khalifa after him.The failed promise
irritated Khalid’s mother and one night she killed him in 685
AD.

ABDUL-MALIK 685 - 705

Abdulmalik, popularly known as “the father of kings” became
khalifa shortly after the death of his father, Marwan and he
proved himself to be a very successful ruler. The Arabia empire
reached its greatest expansion and the Zenith of its prosperity
under the rule of Abdulmalik and his four sons that succeeded
him.

Abdulmalik had many problems to tackle when he became

khalifa because there were formidable enemies in all ideas.
Khalid and Amr bin Sa’d were his rivals to the throne and
khalifah Abdullah bin Zubayr was also reigning supreme in
Arabia and Iraq. Mukhtar, the kufa politician had organized
Shiites to revenge the death of Hassan and he had made himself
master of kufa and part of Iraq. The karajites were also making
troubles in the empire and the Romans took advantage of these
troubles to raid the Arab territories. Abdulmalik was able to win
Khalid and caused the death of Amr bin Sa’d. Finally, he made
himself secured in his throne at Damascus. Abdulmalik later
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dealt with other enemies. causing troubles in the empire.
Mukhtar and Abdullahi bin Zubyr lost their lives at one battle or
the other and the Kharajites were defeated in several
engagements.

The death of Abdullah bin Zubayr closed the generation of civil

wars of the Arabs which began with the murder of Uthman.
Thereafter, the whole Arabia including Makkah and Madinah
fell under the leadership of Abdulmalik bin Marwan.

ADMINISTRATION OF ABDULMALIK
Khalifa Abdulmalik was a very talented ruler and he was the
savior and second founder of the Umayyyad dynasty.
Abdulmalik preserved the unity of the khalifah and built afresh
the Umayyad administration on a firm and solid basis.

Abdulmalik introduced Arabic as the official language

throughout the empire in place of provincial languages. This
prepared the ground for the study of Arabic language by the
non-Arabs and it later led to the brilliant literary and intellectual
achievement of the Muslims.

Abdulmalik also introduced uniform Arab coins of gold, silver,

dinar, dirham and fal respectively and these encouraged trade
and commerce throughout the empire.

Abdulmalik developed the poster system previously established

by Muawiya into a very efficient system.

Abdulmalik did not appoint the non-Arabs to occupy important

positions and this later had serious negative effect on the
Umayad administration.

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WALID

Walid became khalifa in 705 AD and his reign formed the most
brilliant chapter in the history of the Umayyad dynasty.

The Glories of the administration of Walid were largely due to

the devoted services of a glazy of very capable administrators
andgenerals of the age.

Wahid was very fortunate to have as his lieutenants, Umar bin

Abdulazeez, Hajjaj bin Yusuf, Musa bin Nusayr, Tariq,
Muhammad bin Qusim and Qutaybah, who gave their toil and
blood for building the greatness of his administration.

UMAR
Walid appointed Umar bin Abdulazeez as the governor of
Arabia and by character and temperament; he was specially
fitted to rule the people of Makkah and Madinah.

Umar began a very beneficial and enlightened rule in Arabia

and he healed the wounds caused to the cities of Makkah and
Madinah by the generations of Umayyad rule.

Umar formed a council of the wise and learned chiefs and

consulted them in the affairs of administration. He built mosque
and roads and constructed wells for the benefit of the people.
His wise and beneficial rules endeared him to the people and
reconciled Makkah and Madinah to the rule of the Umayyad
dynasty. Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, the governor of Iraq complained of
the generosity of Umar to khalifah Walid and for this reason,
governorship of Arabia was withdrawn from him. The Khalifah
appointed another person in his place.

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HAJJAJ BIN YUSUF
He was a young school master who laid down the pen and took
up the sword. He was the ablest administrator of the time and a
great general who fought Abdullah bin Zubayr and put an end to
the rival Khalifa. After he had established Umayyad authority in
Arabia he was asked to perform the same task in Iraq, a hot-bed
of Shiite troubles.

Hijjaj killed persons suspected to have sympathyfor the Alids

and disloyalty to the Umayyad administration. He was an Iron-
handed administrator who has been presented by the Arab
historians as a blood-thirsty.

Walid appreciated Hujjaj bin Yusuf and gave him unlimited

powers in the administration of the Eastern provinces of Kufa as
capital. Though a general and administrator, Hujjaj did not lose
his previous interest in learning. He was noted for the reform of
Arabic orthography. His patronage to poetry and science was
also commendable.

Hujjaj saved the administration of Abdulmalik and was

responsible for the consolidation of his position in Arabia, Iraq
and persons suspected of sympathy with the Alides and
disloyalty to the administration of Umayyad were killed to the
tune of 120,000 people. Though nothing can justify the
enormous bloodshed and inhumanity he committed on a large
scale. By the policy of blood and iron, he maintained peace and
order of Umayyad administration. He died in 714 A.D.

MUHAMMAD BIN QUSIM

He was a distinguished general and a sound administrator. He
was responsible for the conquest of Sind and Punjab, and the
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administration reforms he introduced brought a new era in the
history of India. He guaranteed the people their right of life,
property and religion. Arab rule gave the people the benefits of
an orderly government. The conquest of Sind paved the way for
the future conquest of India by the Muslims and Arabs also
benefitted because they borrowed Hindus astronomy and
philosophy.

MUSA IBN NUSAYR

Musa won over the confidence and attachment of the Berbers
who soon became the peace-loving citizens of Islam and drove
away the Greek conspirators from Africa. Thereafter, Musa
launched a systematic campaign against the Romans, who
frequently, raided the Arab territories from their settlement in
the Mediterranean. Musa and his lieutenant, Tariq joined hands
together to conquer many provinces including Spain.

The chief glory of the Khalifa Walid was the greatest expansion
of the Arab empire in Asia and Europe. His reign saw the
establishment of the Muslim rule in India as a result of
Muhammad Ibn Qasim’s conquest of the Indus valley.

SULAYMAN

Sulayman, who succeeded Walid in 715 AD was an unworthy

successor of his illustrious brother and worthless son of a great
father, Marwan. Sulayman was a pleasure-loving young man
and had neither the ability nor the devotion to responsibility of
the high office.

Sulayman dismissed and oppressed the able administrators and

generals of his brother's reign because of their relationship with

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the Hajjaj and Hijaz-Arabs. He was, however, favourably
disposed towards the Yeman-Arabs.

Sulayman maltreated Musa and Tariq, while Muhammed Bin

Qusin was killed. The imprudent policy of Sulayman revived
the bitter feud between the Hijaz-Arabs and Yerman-Arabs. The
policy disturbed the internal peace of the administration.

Sulayman insurated his cousin, Umar Bin Abdul-Azeez, as his

successor before he died.

Umar bin Abdul-Azeez (Umar II) as a Reformed and

Seasoned Administrator
Umar ibn Abdul-Azeez was son of a grand-daughter of Umar
bin Kattab, the second pious Khalifah. Umar ibn Abdul-Azeez,
like his great maternal ancestor and namesake, deeply devoted
to the duty of the Khalifate, and simplicity was the
distinguishing qualities of his character.

As a khalifah, he followed the ideals of Abubakr and Umar,

both in his private and public life. He followed the footsteps of
the pious Khalifa hence, the Sunni Muslims gave him the
honour of the fifth pious khalifah.

Umar ibn Abdul-Azeez considered the Bayt al-mal as a sacred

trust and would not spend a penny for his personal use.

In his religious policy, he restored the practical equality of all

Muslims and dedicated himself to the promotion of Islam and
revival of the early traditions of Islam.

Umar was also tolerant to all religious communities of his

empire. Umar was very fair and generous to the members of
Ali’s family. He was above the narrow feeling of a family bias
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and officials were appointed based on merit and piety. Honesty
and commitment to duty were qualifications for appointment in
responsible offices.

Umar was fatherly to his people. Peace, happiness and welfare

of the people and the promotion of Islam were the guiding
principles of his administration. He did not care for the
expansion of the empire and some of his policies were
responsible for undermining the position of the Umayad.

YEZID II (720-724)

Yezid II, the third son of Abdul Malik, became Khalifa after
Umar bin Abdul-Azeez. Yezid II was pleasure-loving and
inefficient ruler. His administration was an inglorious chapter in
the history of the Umayyad. Yezid II married a niece of Hajjaj
bin Yusuf and the wife increased the influence of Hijaz-Arabs in
the administration.

The Yerman-Arabs were suppressed in the Khalifat.

The policy of Yezid II of favouring Hijaz-Arabs and oppressing

the Yerman-Arabs convulsed the empire into internecine strife.
The situation greatly weakened the administration and
encouraged the enemies of Islam as well as the enemies of the
Umayyad dynasty. The troubles in the empire gave opportunity
to the Abbasides to carry on propaganda to overthrow the
Umayyad rule.

When the empire was in critical condition, Yezid II spent his

time in pleasure with two beautiful slave girls; Sallamah and
Hababah. He was passionately devoted to the two girls and the

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accidental death of Hababah made him so sad that within a few
days, he followed her to the grave.

One meritorious act of Yezid II was that he punished the

Governor of Medinah for his importunities to marry Sakinah,
daughter of Hussain; the martyr.

HISHAM: 724-744 A.D.

Hisham, the younger brother of Yezid II, became Khalifah

in724 AD. He was the last great ruler and an able administrator
of the Umayyad dynasty. Even though, he was not so talented
like his father, Abdul-Malik. He was, however, an improvement
to Yezid II and a better administrator than his successors.

Hisham had all the qualities of successful ruler; he was

energetic, industrious and intelligent but he had two challenges;
he was suspicious in nature and could not follow a consistent
policy. He could not also trust his governors and generals. For
these reasons, there were frequent changes in command and
offices. This policy proved detrimental to the interest of the
administration.

Hisham took over an empire full of internal strifes of the

Yerman-Arabs and Hijaz- Arabs, the kharajite troubles and the
disturbances caused by Roman raiders and tribal peoples of
central Asiatic regions. The Abbasides were secretly carrying on
propangada to overthrow the Umayyad rule. Due to the internal
troubles, the Arab army suffered in Spain at the hands of the
Franks. The problems of the empire needed the hand of a very
strong person and wise stateman.

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By the energy and industry of Hisham, he saved the
administration from a collapse, but due to lack of statesmanship
and inconsistent policy, he failed to place the empire on a sound
and durable footing. The empire maintained its outward show of
integrity during his reign but it crumbled into pieces within a
few years of his death.

During the khalifat of Hisham, Arab arms received a serious set-

back in spain and Southern France. Though, the Arabs later on
retrieved the loss by the conquest of Avignon and Narbonne,
they ultimately lost everything of France except Narbonne.
Hisham died in 744 AD as the khalifa of an empire which
reached its extreme limit.

WALID II

Wahid II, son of Yezid II, became Khalifa after the death of
Hisham. He felt victim of a conspiracy and could not enjoy
sympathy of his people because of his cruelty. Yezid III, son of
Wahid I, became Khalifa and began his reign well but he died
shortly.

Ibrahim, brother of Yezid III, could not enjoy the administration

for more than two months when he became Khalifa.

Marwan II, a grandson of Sulayman and governor of Armenia

defeated Ibrahim at Ainul Jar near Lebanon and installed
himself as Khalifa.

MARWAN II: 744-750 AD

Marwan II became Khalifa through a violent means and the

position did not prove a bed of roses to him. Marwan II was a
soldier, he was a man of great physical strength and of
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remarkable power of endurances. He was not a stateman. A
soldier could not alone solve the vexed problems which faced
the Umayyad administration at that time. Marwan was very
partial to the Yeman-Arabs and his partiality brought a
formidable insurrection of the Yeman-Arabs in Khurasan. It was
a blunder of Marwan II to antagonize a powerful section of the
Arabs at a time when Kharajites had overrun Arabia, Palestine
and Iraq. The Abbasides were also active with their propaganda.
The unfavourable policy of Marwan II hastened his downfall
and that of his family. When Marwan II was busy with the
Yeman-Arabs and Khadijites, the Abbasids unfurled the banner
of rebellion, the Yeman-Arabs and the Khadijites rendered
valuable help to them. He died in 750 AD.

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERTHROW OF

THE UMAYAD DYNASTY
The overthrow of the Umayad Dynasty was caused by many
factors and the most common of it was the weakness of the
latter Umayad khalifah. Apart from Marwan II, all the
successors of Hisham were weak and inefficient rulers. The
irreligious and immoralities of some of the Umayyads were
another factor and these greatly affected the good Muslims of
the time. The Umayyads were the last group of people to accept
Islam and their acceptance of it was in consideration that
paganism was a lost cause and the new faith would promote
their worldly gains.

Degeneration of the Umayyad was another factor due to luxury,

wine and women. Their society lost its vigour and energy. The
revival of the old tribal spirit of the Arabs fostered by the
Umayyad Khalifah to suit the interest of their policy of divide
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and rule greatly affected the Umayyad administration. The
absence of any definite rule of hereditary successor for the
Khilafah was another factor. The policy of nominating the eldest
surviving son was not followed by many of them because some
still nominated all his sons, while some nominated his brother or
cousin as successor.

The dissatisfaction of the Mawalis (non-Arab Muslims) against

the chauvinism aristocracy of the Arabs in the Umayyad
administration was another factor. The Alids and Shiites who
never supported the Umayyad administration and never forgave
them of their wrongs to the family of Ali lost no opportunity to
overthrow the hated dynasty. Throughout the period they
troubled the administration and in the end joined the Abbasids
to destroy the Umayyad rule and recover their legitimate place
in the administration of Islam.

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 TUTORIAL QUESTIONS ON ISS 201
i. Account for the Khilafate of Abdulmalik bin Marwan
ii. The glories and achievements of Khalifah Walid were
largely due to the devoted services of a glazy of very
capable generals of his regime. Discuss.

iii. Hisham was a symbol of a visionary leader with ambition

but came at the last hours of Umayyad Empire, explain.

iv. Elucidate the factors that led to the overthrow of the

Umayyad dynasty.

v. Expatiate the succession of Yezid bn Muawiyyah and the

traumatic scenario that ensued his regime.

vi. Highlight the view that the accession of Muawiyah bin Abu
Sufyan to the Khilafah was a turning point of the
history of Islam.

vii. Examine the achievement of Umar bn Abdul Azeez as are

former and seasoned administration of Umayad period.

viii. To what extent do you agree with the view that Muslims

did not witness any political dissention in the history of

Islam until the reign of Uthman.

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