MU'AWIYA, SON OF ABU SUFYAN 

Ruled 20 years, died: age 75

1.When Mu'awiya was a disbeliever 

1. Mu'awiya was constantly hostile to Islam for the first 28 years of his life.  He  schemed with his father Abu Sufyan to destroy Islam, more so in Ohod Battle and the Ditch Encounter.

2. Mu'awiya was psychologically affected by the loss of his grandfather, great-uncle, and uncle at Badr Battle.  His mother, Hind, held an intense hatred to Muhammad (pbuh) and Islam, and she was the one who chewed on the liver of Al‑Hamza who was killed in battle.  Al‑Hamza was the uncle of the Prophet (pbuh).  All of this must have had its effect on Mu'awiya.

3. Mu'awiya became Muslim only after Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the Muslims had occupied Mecca.  Thus he was called in a belittling way one of the Tulaqaa', a term he never forgot, it gave him an inferiority complex.

2.MU'AWIYA AS A MUSLIM:

1. After a few years in Mecca, Mu'awiya was with the campaign to prevail over Syria.

2. Mu'awiya's brother (by the name of Yazid son of Abu Sufyan) was appointed as the governor of Syria by Khalifa Omar.

3. Mu'awiya's brother died not long afterwards and in his place Mu'awiya was appointed as governor of Syria.

4. Mu'awiya cleverly cultivated the royalty of the local Syrian Arab tribes, which had recently converted to Islam.  He gained their devotion, so he gave them the privileged and preferential treatment, and favored them above others.  Being his supporters meant enormous privileges.

5. Mu'awiya governed Syria for twenty years, used the Public Funds as he pleased.

6. Mu'awiya defied Khalifa Ali and took up arms against the Khilaafah, which at that time was highly revered since it was based directly on Islam.

7. Mu'awiya led a relentless campaign against the authority of Imam Ali, the Khalifa, culminating in Siffin Battle.

8. In Siffin Mu'awiya used the Holy Quran as a tool to his advantage, thus avoided defeat, and called for arbitration.  Ibn Aas, Mu'awiya's appointee for arbitration, used deception and duplicity during arbitration, leading to rejection of the arbitration and anticipated confrontation.

9. Imam Ali was killed by a Khariji, Mu'awiya took advantage of the moment, later he proclaimed himself as Khalifa.  He ruled as Khalifa for twenty years.  But, in the mean time, the Khilaafah stood now as a mundane imperial power, supported by a complex of military and physical means. (The Venture of Islam, Marshall Hodgson, Vol. 1, Page 247.)

3.EVENTS DURING MU'AWIYA'S TIME:

1. Mu'awiya was instrumental in attaining mastery of the sea power for the Muslims.  The Muslim fleet had mastery in the Mediterranean Sea thus gaining safety for Muslim ports.

2. Mu'awiya was expansive in Anatolia, laying siege to Constantinople for 4 years, then retreating due to lack of success.  The Byzantines soon recaptured much of Anatolia.

3. Mu'awiya had a remarkable, if not unique diplomatic skill, thus he was able to manipulate the circumstances of the Islamic Ummah during his lifetime.

4. Mu'awiya used the same administrative system prevalent before his time.

4.  MU'AWIYA'S BAD WORKS:

1. Mu'awiya challenged the Khilaafah Rashida leading eventually to its destruction (by fighting Imam Ali).

2. Mu'awiya used deception often, whenever the situation demanded it.  He sent destructive and terrorist forces to Iraq, Yemen, Hijaz, and Egypt, in a move to undermine Ali.

3. Mu'awiya poisoned Ibrahim son of Al‑Ashtar.

4. Mu'awiya abrogated and revoked his treaty with Imam Al‑Hasan  (which called for Imam Al‑Hasan to be the subsequent Khalifa, and for Mu'awiya to abide by the Quran and Sunnah).

5. Mu'awiya killed Imam Al‑Hasan by way of poison.

6. Mu'awiya insisted on condemning and cursing Imam Ali and decreed that Masjids all over the Islamic Nation were to do so on Friday sermons.

7. Mu'awiya Killed Ibn Huj'r Al‑Kindi, a revered Sahaabi (Companion), because the Sahaabi would rather die than curse Imam Ali.

8. Mu'awiya insisted on imposing his son Yazid on the Ummah to be the subsequent Khalifa.  In other words, Mu'awiya changed the very structure of Islam into Caesar‑like rule, just as the Byzantines were doing (established absolute monarchy).

9. Mu'awiya's list of authoritarian aggression is chilling.

10. By clinging to power Mu'awiya produced division in the Islamic Ummah leading, directly or indirectly, to untold misery up to the present time.

AHLUL BAYT AT DURING MU'AWIYA'S ERA:

1. Al‑Hasan and Al‑Husain continued Islamic discourses in Medina.

2. Mu'awiya was cautiously but suspiciously watching the influence of the two Imams.

3. Mu'awiya poisoned Imam Al‑Hasan, in a move to impose Yazid, his son, on the Islamic Ummah as the subsequent Khalifa.

YAZID, SON OF MU'AWIYA 

Ruled for 3 years, died: age 33

1.YAZID'S BACKGROUND:

a.    HOME:

1. Yazid grew up in Mu'awiya's mansion, luxuriously.

2. Yazid was pampered and got what he pleased.

3. Yazid developed inferiority complex when compared to his father Mu'awiya.

b.    YAZID'S CHARACTER:

1. Yazid was bad, evil, profane, and immoral.

2. Yazid took to alcohol drinking early in life, notwithstanding what Islam decreed.

3. Yazid was obsessed with the forbidden pleasures, the un‑Islamic, and the immoral. He was the playboy of the ages.

4. Yazid was very irresponsible, ignoring his identity as Muslim.

2.YAZID'S (son of Mu'awiya) WORKS:

1. By Yazid's recklessness and the savagery at Karbala, Yazid alerted the Islamic Ummah about the horrors of the rulers of Benu Umayya:

2. By killing Imam Al‑Husain the Islamic Ummah was inflamed to no end.

3. So the Islamic Ummah revolted several times against and finally got rid of Benu Umayya.

4. Thereby, Yazid indirectly led to the intensive works to preserve Islam, and keep its integrity by way of teachings of the Imams.

5. Thus Karbala saved the integrity of Islam.

3.YAZID'S (son of Mu'awiya) BAD WORKS:

1. Yazid was the person ultimately responsible for the catastrophe and massacre of Karbala.

2. Yazid's forces subdued the revolt in Medina against him during which he:

3. killed 1,700 Sahaaba (Companions) whose knowledge was very valuable for the Ummah.

4. killed in battle about 10,000 people.

5. let the Prophet's city, Medina, be free for his soldiers to do what they pleased, killing, destroying, and stealing among other things.  Undercover agents, especially against Ahlul Bayt, were all over.

6. Yazid was also in the process of subduing Mecca which had also revolted against him.  In the process even the Ka'ba was hit with catapult, its cover burned, and part of it destroyed.

AHLUL BAYT AT THE TIME OF YAZID:

1. It was a turbulent time for Ahlul Bayt:

2. Mourning for Imam Al‑Husain's slaying.

3. Zainul Abideen taking to seclusion at first.  Zainul Abideen was mapping out and planning to spearhead the Piety‑minded drive.

4. Contacts with the many who were revolting against the ruling clique.

5. Beginning of the establishment of the Islamic Institute (University) of Ahlul Bayt in Medina.

MARWAN, SON OF AL‑HAKAM 

Ruled for 9 months, died: age 63

1.MARWAN'S BACKGROUND:

1. Al‑Hakam, Marwan's father, was an enemy of Islam to such an extent that the Prophet (pbuh) exiled  him from Mecca because of the degree of hurt he caused the Prophet.

2. Marwan learned through his family of their hostility toward Islam.

3. Marwan's loyalty went exclusively to Benu Umayya clan.

4. Khalifa Uthman was a family relation of Marwan and he ended Marwan's exile soon after he became the Khalifa.

5. Uthman appointed young Marwan as the Secretary of State, the highest position in the government in those days.

6. Marwan, a very tricky person taken to connivance, succeeded in being the power behind the throne during the Khilaafah of Uthman.  Therefore, he appointed members of Benu Umayya to all strategic and privileged positions in the Islamic Nation, though they were corrupt.

7. Marwan fought against Imam Ali during the Jamal Confrontation, but killed Talha, his own leader.  Ali set Marwan and all Benu Umayya free after the battle. (Just as Muhammad (pbuh) set his adversaries, the Meccans, free as Al-Tulaqaa' when Mecca was conquered, so did Ali set his adversaries free after the Jamal Battle.)

8. Marwan fought in Siffin against Imam Ali.

9. Later Marwan was appointed as governor of Medina for sometime.

2.MARWAN'S KHILAAFAH:

1. Marwan was Khalifa for 9 months, during which he married the wife of Yazid and:

2. Promised to let Yazid's son be the subsequent Khalifa, but reneged on his promise.

3. feeling so betrayed, Marwan's wife chocked him to death by putting a pillow on his face and sitting on it. (Murooj Al-Dhahab, Mas'oodi, Vol. 3, Page 89.)

4. Marwan sent forces under Ibn Ziyad to subdue the revolt in Iraq.

5. Marwan named his son, Abdul Malik, to be the Khalifa after him.

3.  MARWAN'S EXPERTISE:

1. Marwan was the best long term strategists but only for the welfare of Benu Umayya.

2. Marwan learned his strategies during the Khilaafah of Uthman.

3. Marwan played his role early on, though for the detriment of the Islamic Ummah.

4. Even when not in power Marwan was the adviser to the officials of Benu Umayya.

AHLUL BAYT AT THE TIME OF MARWAN:

1. Political turbulence gave some respite for Ahlul Bayt, teaching activity expanded.

2. Muhammad Al‑Baaqir was tutored by his father Zainul Abideen.

ABDUL MALIK, SON OF MARWAN 

Ruled 21 years, died: age 66

1.ABDUL MALIK'S BACKGROUND:

1. Abdul Malik grew up in a house of efficient planning and intrigue.  He learned:

2. from his father and family to be cautious, very suspicious, and even paranoid.

3. how to plan well and execute when needed.

4. to be rough, tough yet enduring and diplomatic.

5. Abdul Malik was pious at first, but when he became the ruler he reversed, paying less heed to religion, concentrating more on the hold to power and grandeur of authority.

2.THE PERSON OF ABDUL MALIK:

1. Abdul Malik had to establish the state first on the basis of all force.

2. Abdul Malik was firm and dictatorial.  At his inauguration he announced that he would rule only by the tip of the sword.

3. Abdul Malik was known to be: a) miser, b) killer, c) lover of poetry, d) lover of lyrics.

4. Abdul Malik was not as much of a diplomat as a strategist, able to weather all the uprisings that Yazid's unwise policy (Karbala, Medina, and Mecca) caused.

5. Abdul Malik came to be known as one of the ablest administrators of Benu Umayya. (The Venture of Islam, Marshall Hodgson, Vol. 1, Page 223.)

3.ABDUL MALIK'S ADMINISTRATION:

a.  Abdul Malik Centralizes:

1. Centralized power and the central authority could build its direct bureaucracy. (The Venture of Islam, Marshall Hodgson, Vol. 1, Page 246.)

2. Became the absolute monarch.

3. Paid close supervision to taxation to maximize the yield.

4. Maintained central authority over the many Arab landlords.

   b.  Abdul Malik Arabizes:

   1. Abdul Malik decreed the Arabic language on the administration as mandatory to replace Greek, Aramaic, and Persian languages that were used till his time.  And

   2. Text‑books henceforth were in Arabic.

   3. All officials were made to learn and deal through Arabic language, to replace other languages which dominated before then by indigenous administrative tradition. (The Venture of Islam, Marshall Hodgson, Vol. 1, Page 246.)

   c.  Dealing with Medina:

   1. Abdul Malik enlarged the Prophet's (pbuh) mosque, but had to tear down some of the historic buildings.

   2. Abdul Malik tried to show affinity to the growing piety‑minded people (spearheaded by Zainul Abideen) in Medina to gain their support

   d.  Builds the Dome of the Rock:

1. Dome of the Rock took 7 years to build.

2. It cost all the funds from Egypt (taxation) collected over a period of 7 years.

3. Builders, engineers, artisans, and artists from all over were employed.

e.Military works:

1. Broke off truce with the Byzantines and soundly defeated them in Asia Minor.

2. Launched yearly attacks into Anatolia.  (The Venture of Islam, Marshall Hodgson, Vol. 1, Page 268.)

4.ABDUL MALIK'S BAD WORKS:

1. Abdul Malik was dictatorial, suspicious, and jealously guarding his throne no matter the price.  He appointed blood‑thirsty men as governors who followed his policy.

2. Abdul Malik for example appointed the notorious Al‑Hajjaj.

AL-HAJJAJ:

1. Al-Hajjaj bloodily clashed with Ibn Zubair in Mecca and wrecked the Ka'ba, killed Ibn Zubair who was the grandson of Khalifa Abu Bakr.

2. When as governor, Al‑Hajjaj showed terrifying violence in Iraq, leading to a lot of bloodshed, killed numerous innocent people, especially the loyalist to Ahlul Bayt.  Al‑Hajjaj had a lust for bloodshed.

3. Ruled over the eastern part of the Islamic nation, using ruthless means at his disposal to wield obedience to the central authority of Abdul Malik.

4. Put down Khariji revolts.

5. Built Wasit and could use only Syrian troops since he could not rely on Iraqis, the Iraqis hated him profoundly.

6. Improved the irrigation canals in Iraq, improving thereby the agricultural yield.

7. Increased revenue to the treasury.

AHLUL BAYT AT ABDUL MALIK'S ERA:

1.  During the early troubled period Zainul Abideen could increase his teaching activity.

2. Al‑Baaqir was a teenager, very involved in studies and helping his father in the discourses conducted.

3. Undercover agents and Benu Umayya loyalists were on the look out to see if Zainul Abideen would revolt or assist in revolts against them.

4. Abdul Malik sent for Al‑Baaqir to help decide about the currency crisis.

AL‑WALEED, SON OF ABDUL MALIK 

Ruled 10 years, died: age 43

1.ADMINISTRATION OF AL‑WALEED:

1. Al‑Waleed was coarse and undiplomatic, brutal, and tyrannical.  Authority centralized in his hands, and resistance to the despised Benu Umayya subdued, he ruled fearlessly.

2. Al‑Waleed, ever paranoid, considered Imam Zainul Abideen as threat to his throne, thereby he killed him by way of poison.

2.BUILDING MASJIDS:

1. Al‑Masjid Al‑Umawi in Damascus, massive and ornate, was built.

2. Enlarged the Masjid Al‑Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, though some historical buildings nearby had to be demolished.

3.MILITARY ENDEAVORS OF AL‑WALEED:

1. Al‑Waleed recaptured the territories lost to the Byzantines in Anatolia then advanced into the Byzantine Empire.

2. Muslims expanded into high central Asia Transoxania) where Bukhara and Tashkent are located.  This was the vital silk route.

3. Recuperated all lost territories in Western Africa.

4. Muslims expanded into Spain, moved up to Southern France.

4.AHLUL BAYT DURING AL‑WALEED'S ERA:

1. Tutoring by Imam Zainul Abideen and Al‑Baaqir had reached new heights.  Number of scholars graduated went above 160.  The Islamic institute (University) was well established.

2. Imam Zainul Abideen was poisoned.  The 38 yr old Al‑Baaqir was designated as the subsequent Imam.

OMAR SON OF ABDUL AZIZ 

Ruled 2½ years, died: age 39

1.BACKGROUND OF OMAR  (son of) ABDUL AZIZ:

1. Omar II, as nicknamed, was closely associated with the Piety‑minded movement at Medina.

2. Omar II carried out the spirit of the Piety‑minded policies, and was able to win their support and at the same time he retained the respect of his own family.  He was looked to as a model.

3. Omar II tried to model himself on the administration of Omar Ibn Al‑Khattab, though not blindly.

2.GOOD WORKS OF OMAR II:

1. Omar II scrupulously accorded the privileges to the old Medina families (Muhajiroon and Ansaar) as Omar Ibn Al‑Khattab had granted them previously  (which Benu Umayya had cut down those privileges).

2. Omar returned Fadak to Ahlul Bayt.  Fadak was the property which the Prophet (pbuh) had given to Fatima as inheritance, and was denied her as soon as the Prophet died.

3. Omar II ended the condemnation (cursing) of Imam Ali on the pulpits, something that was having profound negative effect on people.

4. Omar II corrected numerous injustices leading to acceptable settlement, examples:

5. Some Christian groups had their tribute reduced.

6. Church lands in Egypt were freed of certain taxes.

7. Other illegal taxes in Iran were remitted.

8. Some excess taxes already paid were restored.

3.ADMINISTRATION OF OMAR II:

1. Omar II managed to find effective governors who:

2. yet ruled without brutality to the persons of the Muslims, and

3. abstained from building up private fortunes.

4. Perhaps his most important policy was one of quietly treating all provinces alike.

5. In particular, Omar II removed from Iraq the more obvious evidences of Syrian dominion, perhaps even many Syrian troops.

6. Omar II gave some remoter provinces more local control of their revenues.

7. The central budget was reduced (despite a program of charities which extended to all provinces, not just chiefly to Syria as had previous Marwani charities)

8. Eliminated wars on most frontiers (which became glorified plundering expeditions).

9. Peace with the Byzantines was prudently accorded.

4.ISLAMIC DA'WA:

1. The most heartfelt concern of Omar II was to encourage general conversion to Islam.

2. Before Omar II there had been a clear desire that all Arabs be Muslims; and other pastoralist groups, notably the Berbers, had been assimilated to the Arabs in this respect.

3. Occasional Muslims had encouraged dhimmis (non‑Arab non‑Muslim subjects) to convert to Islam, especially in the case of important in­dividuals or families.

4. Now conversion became a government policy extended to all the non‑Arabs.

5. It was required that village-heads in Egypt be chosen from among Muslims, while scrupulous justice was extended.

6. Though he dis­paraged Jihad for plunder, Omar II was eager to persuade frontier princes to become Muslims, if necessary by the lures of interest.

7. Omar II insisted that all dhimmis (non‑Muslims non‑Arabs) including upper‑class, pay the poll tax.

8. A complaint of the converts and their descendants, the Muslim Mawaali, was that though some of them had fought in the Muslim armies, helping in the conquests, they had not been included in the army diwan (Register) so as to draw a share of the revenues. Omar II allowed a (limited) share in the booty from the most recent conquests.

9. In his land tax policy, Omar's concern for conversion was reinforced by another concern—to avoid the growth of an unduly privileged sector within the Muslim ruling class.  He regulated the Kharaaj along Islamic lines to be fair to all. (Most land tax derived from the conquered lands was called Kharaaj, and went in principle to the Muslims who had conquered them and to their heirs, according to the army diwan.)

10. With warfare almost eliminated, there being neither revolts nor frontier raids, Omar's treasury stood up well under the considerable demands he made on it by his generous measures. But after less than 3 years, at the age of thirty‑nine, he died (It is said he was poisoned by the alarmed Benu Umayya—his family).  Some of Omar's measures seem to have been maintained in principle, but they were not enforced afterwards.  (The Venture of Islam, Marshall Hodgson, Vol. 1, Page 269.)

5.AHLUL BAYT DURING OMAR'S TIME:

1. There was good communication between Muhammad Al‑Baaqir and Omar II.  Letters of advice were well received and acted upon by Omar II.

2. Al‑Baaqir was busily enlarging upon the Institute (University) of Ahlul Bayt.  The Piety‑minded were very effective in these days.

HISHAM, SON OF ABDUL MALIK 

Ruled 19½ years, died: age 53

1.THE PERSON OF HISHAM:

1. Hisham was greedy, cross‑eyed, un‑comely, and bad‑looking.

2. Hisham was stone‑hearted, rough and tough, without tact or discretion.  He loved to accumulate wealth, but also used that to build.

3. Hisham loved horse racing, and was reputed to have 4,000 horses.

4. Since Hisham was tightfisted and a miser, many people followed his suit, therefore charities decreased to such a level that livelihood was very difficult for the impoverished and disadvantaged people.

2.HISHAM'S ADMINISTRATION:

1. Just like his father Abdul Malik, Hisham was also dictatorial but a capable administrator.

2. Hisham enhanced and strengthened the outposts at the frontiers.

3. Muslims expanded into the Sind territory in India which came under the domain of Islam.

4. There were further advances in Spain, up to 50 miles south of Paris.

5. Hisham's strong control led to an impressive amount of bureaucratic organization directly in Muslim hands and centrally controlled from the Khalifa's capital.

6.  (the Musaadarah): The governors and heads of financial bureaus were under temptation to enrich themselves at the expense of the treasury. More so during Hisham's time it became an established practice that an official who incurred the special displeasure of the Khalifa might be discharged and arrested in a moment, subjected to scrutiny about embezzlement and fined a corresponding sum; even use torture in the process. (The Venture of Islam, Marshall Hodgson, Vol. 1, Page 272.)

3.HISHAM'S BAD WORKS:

1. People resented him very much, calling him, his brothers, and father as: the despised.

2. Unlike his father, Hisham shunned the Piety-minded in Medina.

3. Being highly suspicious and paranoid, Hisham schemed against Imam Al‑Baaqir.

4. Pressure and influence of the Piety‑minded (spearheaded by Zainul Abideen) was so great that Hisham commissioned numerous undercover agents for surveillance.

5. Hisham's tight fiscal measures provoked numerous revolts, which in some areas (notably among the Berbers) took on a Khariji form.

4.AHLUL BAYT AT THE TIME OF HISHAM:

1. Under Al‑Baaqir's leadership the Islamic Institute of Ahlul Bayt was a magnate, reaching new heights, attracting many scholars.

2. About 300 scholars graduated from the Institute, who wrote 100 books.

3. Imam Al‑Baaqir died and Ja'far Al‑Saadiq was designated as the new Imam.