Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Umar ibn Abd al-Azizعمر بن عبد العزيز |
|
|---|---|
|
|
Gold dinar of Umar, c. 719
|
|
| 8th Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate | |
| Reign | 22 September 717 – 4 February 720 (2 years, 137 days) |
| Predecessor | Sulayman |
| Successor | Yazid II |
| Governor of Medina | |
| In office | 706 – 712 |
| Predecessor | Hisham ibn Isma'il al-Makhzumi |
| Successor | Uthman ibn Hayyan al-Murri |
| Born | c. 680 Medina, Arabia, Umayyad Caliphate |
| Died | c. 5 February 720 (aged 40) Dayr Sim'an, Syria, Umayyad Caliphate |
| Wife |
|
| Issue |
|
| House | Marwanid |
| Dynasty | Umayyad |
| Father | Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan |
| Mother | Layla bint Asim |
| Religion | Islam |
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (born around 680, died February 720) was an important leader in early Islamic history. He was the eighth Umayyad caliph, ruling for about three years from 717 to 720.
Umar is famous for making big changes to the Umayyad government. He wanted it to be fairer and work better for everyone. During his rule, the first official collection of hadith (sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad) was started. He also encouraged education for everyone.
He sent messages to rulers in China and Tibet, inviting them to learn about Islam. Many people in Persia and Egypt became Muslims during his time. He also decided to pull back Muslim armies from places like Constantinople and Central Asia. However, the Umayyads still gained new lands in the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal).
Many people consider Umar to be a very righteous and fair leader. Some Sunni scholars even call him the sixth righteous caliph of Islam. He was also known as Umar II, named after his great-grandfather, Caliph Umar.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Umar was probably born in Medina around the year 680. His father, Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan, was from the powerful Umayyad dynasty. His mother, Layla bint Asim, was the granddaughter of the second righteous caliph, Umar. This connection to the respected Caliph Umar was often highlighted by historians.
When Umar was born, another part of the Umayyad family, the Sufyanids, ruled from Damascus. After two caliphs died quickly, the Umayyad government faced problems. The Umayyads in Medina, including Umar's family, had to leave. They found safety in Syria, where Arab tribes supported their family. Umar's grandfather, Marwan I, became the new caliph and brought back Umayyad rule in Syria.
In 685, Umar's father became the governor of Egypt. Umar spent some of his childhood there. However, he received his education in Medina, which the Umayyads took back in 692. Because he spent a lot of time in Medina, Umar became close to religious scholars and those who passed on hadith. After his father died, Umar was called to Damascus. There, he married Fatima, the daughter of Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. He had other wives and many children.
Governor of Medina
After becoming caliph, al-Walid I (Abd al-Malik's son) made Umar the governor of Medina in 706. Al-Walid wanted Umar to help the people of Medina feel better about Umayyad rule. Umar's area of control later grew to include Mecca and Ta'if.
People say Umar was a "just governor." He often led the yearly Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. He also showed respect to the Islamic scholars in Medina. He allowed them to openly criticize the government, which was unusual. However, some stories say he was interested in wealth early in his career.
In 707, Umar began rebuilding and expanding the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. Under his fair rule, the Hejaz region became a safe place for people escaping harsh treatment from the governor of the eastern lands. This led to Umar being removed from his post in 712, as the powerful governor pressured the caliph to dismiss him.
Advisor to Caliphs
Even after being dismissed, Umar remained important to Caliph al-Walid. He stayed at the caliph's court in Damascus until al-Walid died in 715. Umar even led the funeral prayers for al-Walid. The next caliph, Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik, also respected Umar greatly.
Umar became a main advisor to Sulayman, along with Raja ibn Haywa, a religious leader. He traveled with Sulayman on the Hajj pilgrimage in 716 and to Jerusalem. He was also with the caliph at a military camp in northern Syria, where Sulayman was planning a large attack on the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, in 717.
Becoming Caliph
How Umar Became Caliph
Traditional Muslim stories say that when Caliph Sulayman was dying, he was convinced by Raja to name Umar as his successor. Sulayman's first choice, his son Ayyub, had died before him. His other sons were either too young or away fighting.
This decision went against the wishes of a previous caliph, Abd al-Malik, who wanted only his direct children to be caliphs. So, it was a surprise to many Umayyad princes that Umar, from a different branch of the family, was chosen. Raja kept Sulayman's will a secret until the princes agreed to accept it. Only then did he announce Umar as the next caliph. One prince, Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, disagreed at first but changed his mind after being threatened. To avoid conflict, it was also decided that Yazid II, a son of Abd al-Malik, would become caliph after Umar.
Umar became caliph without much trouble on September 22, 717.
Important Changes as Caliph
One of Umar's most important changes was making Arabs and mawali (non-Arab Muslims) equal. Before Umar, non-Arab Muslims, especially in the army, did not get the same benefits as Arab soldiers. Non-Arab converts to Islam also still had to pay a special tax called jizya (poll tax).
Umar changed this system. He said that all Muslims, no matter their background, were free from the jizya tax. He also made sure that if many people converted, the government's money would not disappear. Under his new tax plan, converted mawali would not pay jizya. However, their land would belong to their villages and still be taxed at the full rate of kharaj (land tax). This helped make up for the lost jizya income.
Umar also stopped the practice of ritually cursing Caliph Ali during Friday prayers. He is also known for ordering the first official collection of hadith, because he worried that some of these important sayings might be lost.
Changes in Government Areas
Soon after becoming caliph, Umar reorganized how the provinces were run. He chose skilled people he could trust to govern, showing he wanted to keep a close eye on them. He was more interested in fairness than just getting more power.
He divided the large eastern governorship that had been under a powerful viceroy. He replaced the previous governor and appointed new leaders to different regions like Kufa, Basra, Greater Khorasan, and Sind. He chose these governors based on their honesty and fairness. He also appointed new governors for al-Andalus (Spain) and Ifriqiya (North Africa). He picked them for their fairness and neutrality in tribal disagreements.
Military Decisions
After becoming caliph in late 717, Umar ordered the Muslim army to pull back from their failed attack on Constantinople. He moved them closer to the Syrian border. He continued the yearly summer raids against the Byzantine border, as it was seen as a religious duty. He stayed in northern Syria, often at his fortified home.
In 717, he sent a force to stop a group of Turks who were attacking a province. In 718, he sent troops to stop a rebellion in Iraq, though some say it was solved peacefully.
Umar is often seen as a peaceful leader. Some historians believe he was tired of wars because they cost too much money. Others think he realized the huge losses from the Constantinople attack made other Muslim territories vulnerable. He considered pulling back forces from distant lands like Transoxiana and al-Andalus to strengthen Syria's defenses.
Even though he stopped expanding eastward, Islam was already strong in many cities in Transoxiana, so he did not pull troops from there. During his rule, Muslim forces in al-Andalus conquered and fortified the city of Narbonne in modern-day France.
Death
On his way back from Damascus, Umar became ill. He died between February 5 and February 10, 720, at the age of 39. He passed away in a village called Dayr Sim'an, near Ma'arrat Nu'man. Umar had bought a piece of land there with his own money and was buried in the village. The remains of his tomb can still be seen today. After Umar's death, Yazid II became the next caliph.
Legacy and Importance
Muslim historical sources all agree that Umar was a very religious and fair ruler. They saw him as a true caliph, unlike some other Umayyad leaders who were seen as more like kings. Historians believe this view is partly based on Umar's character and actions. He is described as a man of honor and dignity.
Because his rule was short, it can be hard to fully understand all his achievements and reasons. However, he is seen as a leader who tried to solve the problems of his time. He wanted to balance the needs of his ruling family and the state with the teachings of Islam. He worked to keep Arabs united, address the complaints of non-Arab Muslims, and bring religious values into political life.
Images for kids
-
The Second Arab Siege of Constantinople, as depicted in the 14th-century Bulgarian translation of the Manasses Chronicle.
