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Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz
File:Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz.jpg
NameUmar ibn Abd al-Aziz
Personal Details
Death PlaceDayr Saman, Homs region, Lebanon [citation needed]
Death Date25 Rajab 101 AH (720 CE)
ReligionIslam

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, grandson of Marwan ibn Hakam, was one of the Umayyad caliphs who reigned from 99 to 101 AH (717–720 CE). He was the seventh Caliph of the Marwanids. Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz enjoyed a good reputation among the Umayyads rulers and performed worthy actions. Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was born in 682 CE / 61 AH in Medina. His lineage traced back to Umar ibn al-Khattab, as his mother Umm Asim was married to Abdullah son of Umar; he learned the Principles of Religion and jurisprudence from Salih ibn Kaysan in Medina. His father Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik was one of the elders of the Umayyads. Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz held the governorship of Egypt for over twenty years [citation needed]; regarding the marriage flow of Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan, it is said that one day he told one of his ministers: "Collect about four hundred dirhams from the purest of my wealth, as I intend to marry into a religious and righteous family." After investigation and inquiry, he married Umm Asim, daughter of Asim ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab, and from this father and mother, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, the reviver of the first century, was born.


Birth of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz

Abu Hafs Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan ibn Hakam al-Umawi al-Qurashi, was born in the year 61[1] or 62[2] in the city of Hulwan, Egypt, where his father was the governor there. His mother, Umm Asim, was the daughter of Asim ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab[3].

Not much information is available about his life before coming to power. His father sent him from Egypt to Medina to learn adab (etiquette/literature) and he visited Ubaydallah ibn Abdullah and learned knowledge and adab from him.

In the year 85 AH, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan summoned him from Medina and gave his daughter Fatima to him in marriage[4] and appointed him governor of the Khanasirah region[5][6]. After Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik came to power in the year 86 AH, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz remained the governor of the Khanasirah region.


Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz Before Coming to Power

After Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik came to power in the year 86 AH, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz remained the governor of the Khanasirah region. In the year 87 AH, Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik appointed him governor of Medina at the age of 25[7]. In the same year, while he was the governor of Medina, he was appointed the leader of the Hajj by Al-Walid[8].

Umar was the governor of Medina for six years. In the year 93 AH, Al-Walid removed him from the governorship of Medina upon the request of Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf[9]. Al-Hajjaj mentioned in a letter he wrote to Al-Walid that "The irreligious and dissenters and Iraqi rebels from Iraq take refuge in Medina and Mecca (and live under the protection and security of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz.) and this causes weakness." For this reason, Al-Walid removed him from the governorship of this region[10].

One of his actions during his rule in Medina was the demolition, reconstruction, and expansion of the Prophet's Mosque (peace be upon him and his progeny).[11] In the year 88, a messenger came from Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik to Medina and commissioned Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz to expand the Prophet's Mosque in such a way that the rooms of the wives of Prophet (peace be upon him) would be included in the Mosque. And to buy the back of the Mosque and its surroundings so that the area of the Mosque would become 200 cubits by 200 cubits[12].

After the death of Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz performed Prayer over his corpse[13]. During the period of Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik (96 to 99 AH), Umar had the role of his advisor, and after Sulayman's death, it was again Umar who performed Prayer over his corpse[14]. All these matters indicate his influence during this period.


Beginning of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's Caliphate

Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik, according to his own statement, appointed Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as his successor to prevent sedition. Although the period of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's government was no more than two years; but in this short period, many worthy and good actions were taken by this Umayyad caliph. It seems that after he reached the caliphate, he felt that a heavy responsibility and a difficult task had been placed upon him[15]. Probably considering that a large part of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's life period was spent in Medina and considering that in addition to the family of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), great scholars and jurists were present in Medina[16], it seems that he was influenced by the educational system of Medina and enjoyed a special upbringing that was different from other Umayyad rulers.

Notes

  1. ↑ Ibn Sa'd, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, trans. Mahmoud Mahdavi Damghani, Tehran, Farhang va Andisheh Publications, 1995 CE, Vol. 6, p. 19
  2. ↑ Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir; History of al-Tabari, trans. Abolqasem Payandeh, Tehran, Asatir, 1996 CE, 5th edition, Vol. 9, p. 3807
  3. ↑ Ya'qubi, Ibn Wadih; Tarikh al-Ya'qubi, trans. Muhammad Ibrahim Ayati, Tehran, Scientific and Cultural Publications, 1992 CE, 6th edition, Vol. 2, p. 261
  4. ↑ Ibn Kathir, Ismail; Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya, Beirut, Dar al-Fikr, 1407 AH (1987 CE), Vol. 9, p. 193
  5. ↑ Khanaasirah "5" [Kh S R] is a town from the administration of Aleppo equivalent to Qinnasrin in the desert. Hamawi, Yaqut; Mu'jam al-Buldan/trans., Tehran, Country Cultural Heritage Organization, 2004 CE, Vol. 2, p. 314
  6. ↑ Tuqoush, Muhammad Suhail; The Umayyad State, trans. Hojjatullah Joudaki, Qom, Hawza and University Research Center, 2001 CE, 1st edition, p. 142
  7. ↑ Ibn Sa'd, op. cit., Vol. 6, p. 19 and Tabari, op. cit., Vol. 9, p. 3807
  8. ↑ Tabari, op. cit., Vol. 9, p. 3814
  9. ↑ Tabari, op. cit., Vol. 9, p. 3868
  10. ↑ Tabari, op. cit., Vol. 9, p. 3867 and Ibn Khaldun, Abd al-Rahman; History of Ibn Khaldun, trans. Abd al-Mohammad Ayati, Tehran, Institute for Cultural Studies and Research, 1st edition, 1984 CE, Vol. 2, p. 102
  11. ↑ Maqdisi, Mutahhar ibn Tahir; Al-Bad' wa'l-Tarikh, trans. Muhammad Reza Shafiei Kadkani, Tehran, Agah, 1995 CE, 1st edition, Vol. 2, p. 608
  12. ↑ Tabari, Vol. 9, p. 3816 and Ibn Khaldun, op. cit., Vol. 2, p. 102
  13. ↑ Ya'qubi, op. cit., Vol. 2, p. 247 and Tabari, op. cit., Vol. 9, p. 3881 and Ibn Khaldun, op. cit., p. 114
  14. ↑ Ibn Sa'd, op. cit., Vol. 6, p. 28 and Tabari, op. cit., Vol. 9, p. 3943
  15. ↑ Tabari writes: After reaching the caliphate, he uttered the word of istirja' "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un". Tabari, op. cit., Vol. 9, p. 3951
  16. ↑ Dinawari, Abu Hanifa; Akhbar al-Tiwal, trans. Mahmoud Mahdavi Damghani, Tehran, Ney, 1992 CE, 4th edition, p. 368 and Tabari, op. cit., Vol. 9, p. 3708

Meritorious Actions of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz declared his method of governance from the very beginning. In his speech at the beginning of his caliphate, he declared: O people, there is no book after the Quran and no prophet after Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny). I am not a judge, but an executor. I am not an innovator, but a follower[1].

It is narrated from Mazahim ibn Zafar: I went to Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz accompanied by the representatives of Kufa. He asked about the affairs of our city, our governor, and our judge. Then he said: There are five characteristics; if a judge does not observe one of them, it is a cause of shame and disgrace for him. A judge must be understanding, very forbearing, very pious, firm, and so knowledgeable that people ask him about whatever they do not know, or he should be such that despite being knowledgeable, he asks about whatever he does not know[2].

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's Fair Treatment of the Alavids

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, who strove to treat all groups and factions fairly, tried to keep the Alavids and Shia satisfied with him as well. To this end, he ordered that no one has the right to curse Imam Ali (peace be upon him)[3]. Before this, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) was cursed on pulpits, and this was an unpleasant and hateful tradition that Mu'awiya had initiated[4].

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz narrates the reason for his affection for Ali (peace be upon him) as follows: I was engaged in seeking knowledge in Medina. I was always in the company of Ubaydallah ibn Abdullah ibn Utbah ibn Mas'ud. He had heard something about me (and cursing Ali). One day I went to him and saw him praying. He prolonged his prayer, and I sat waiting for him to finish. When his prayer ended, he turned to me and said:

Who are you and from where did you know that God has become angry with the people of Badr and the companions who pledged allegiance to the Prophet at Pledge of Ridwan (and deemed them deserving of curse, which you curse)? God was pleased with them. I (Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz) said: I have heard nothing (about God's anger towards them). He said: What has been heard from you regarding Ali (peace be upon him)? I said: I seek forgiveness from God and from you. From that day on, I also abandoned cursing Ali (peace be upon him). My father also delivered a sermon; when he wanted to mention Ali's name disparagingly, he became confused and mixed up. As soon as he came down, I asked him what was the cause of that instability and incoherence in the sermon? I had noticed that whenever you reached the name of Ali (peace be upon him), your speech became disordered. He said: Did you notice that disorder and confusion? I said: Yes. He said: O son, those who have gathered around us, if they knew what we know about the (virtues) of Ali (peace be upon him), they would scatter from around us and join the children of Ali (peace be upon him)[5].

In addition, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz gave the Khums that belonged to the Banu Hashim to them, and returned Fadak, which Mu'awiya had made a fief for Marwan and he had gifted it to his son Abd al-Aziz, and Umar had inherited it, to the children of Fatima (peace be upon her)[6].

Death of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz

Some believe that the Umayyad family poisoned Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz out of fear that the caliphate would slip from their hands[7]. In any case, he died at the age of 39 in Dayr Sim'an in the Homs region near Qinnasrin[8]. He passed away[9].

Al-Tabari writes: 'The death of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz occurred at the age of 39 on Wednesday, 25 Rajab of the year 101 AH (720 CE) in Khunasirah[10]. It happened. He was buried in Dayr Sim'an[11].

Notes

  1. ↑ Ibn Sa'd, previously cited, vol. 6, pp. 30 and 60
  2. ↑ Ibn Sa'd, previously cited, vol. 6, p. 62
  3. ↑ Al-Ya'qubi, previously cited, vol. 2, p. 268; and Ibn Athir, Izz al-Din; Al-Kamil, translated by Abul-Qasim Halat and Abbas Khalili, Tehran, Scientific Publications Institute, 1371 SH (1992 CE), vol. 13, p. 242
  4. ↑ Amini, Sayyid Abd al-Husayn; Al-Ghadir, translated by a group of translators, Tehran, Bi'that Foundation, n.d., vol. 3, p. 180
  5. ↑ Ibn Athir, previously cited, vol. 13, p. 242
  6. ↑ Al-Ya'qubi, previously cited, vol. 2, p. 269
  7. ↑ Al-Ya'qubi, previously cited, vol. 2, p. 273; and Mas'udi, Al-Tanbih wa al-Ashraf, previously cited, p. 299
  8. ↑ One of the cities of Syria on the side of Mount Simaq; the distance from this city to Aleppo is three farsangs. Ansari Dimashqi, Nukhbat al-Dahr, Tehran, Asatir, First Edition, p. 318; and Naser Khosrow, Safarnameh, Tehran, Zavvar, 1381 SH (2002 CE), Seventh Edition, p. 225
  9. ↑ Mas'udi, Al-Tanbih wa al-Ashraf, previously cited, p. 299
  10. ↑ A city in Syria near Aleppo. Hamawi, Yaqut; Mu'jam al-Buldan, Beirut, Dar Sader, 1995, Second Edition, vol. 2, p. 507
  11. ↑ Al-Tabari, previously cited, vol. 9, p. 3967
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