Sulaiman’s Death and Umar bin Abdul Aziz’s Life

Death of Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik

In 98 A.H., Sulaiman left Damascus with an intention of making jihad, he sent an army towards the front. He stayed at Dabiq and continued working on the success of the expedition. Therefore, it may be said that he died in that state of jihad itself. He died on Friday the 10^th of Safar 99 A. H. at Dabiq adjacent to Qansareen (one of the five original provinces that the conquering Arabs divided greater Syria into, now northern Syria). He was 45 years old. He ruled for two and three quarter years. During his caliphate, the Muslims gained victories and occupied many lands. Activities against the Islamic laws were stopped. Hajjaj's Governors were dismissed wherever they were found because they were inclined to be like Hajjaj and perpetrated atrocities on the people. However, it is understood that the treatment that was meted out to Mohammed bin Qasim (رحمه الله) was a gross mistake committed by Sulaiman. Among his most praiseworthy and greatest feats is the fact that he made Umar bin Abdul Aziz (رحمه الله) his successor. Compared to this virtuous act, all of Sulaiman's errors and mistakes may easily be pardoned and so it appears that he deserves praise.

Umar bin Abdul Aziz (رحمه الله)

Abu Hafs, Umar bin Abdul Aziz bin Marwan bin Hakam is considered the fifth caliph among the Khulafa ar-Rashideen (The rightly guided caliphs). He is also known as Khalifa as-Saleh (the capable or authentic caliph). Most of the scholars among the Muslims say that the Khulafa ar-Rashideen are five: Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), Umar (رضي الله عنه), Uthman (رضي الله عنه), Ali (رضي الله عنه) and Umar bin Abdul Aziz (رحمه الله). Umar bin Abdul Aziz's father Abdul Aziz bin Marwan was the Governor of Egypt. Umar bin Abdul Aziz was born in 62 A.H. His mother was Umar bin Khatab's grand daughter that is, Asim bin Umar bin Khatab's daughter. His father was supposed to succeed Abdul Malik bin Marwan as caliph but he died in Abdul Malik's lifetime and so he did not become the caliph. Umar bin Abdul Aziz had a scar on his face because a horse had kicked him while he was a child. Umar bin Khatab (رضي الله عنه) used to say "There will come a descendent of mine with a scar on his face. He will fill the earth with justice and righteousness." That was why when the horse kicked him and he began to bleed, his father continued to mop his face and say, "If you are the one spoken about with the scar, you are fortunate." Ibn Sad says that Umar bin Khatab used to say "I wish that I might have found the times of my scarred son who would fill the world with justice and righteousness after being full of tyranny". There was a scar on the face of another grandson, Belal bin Abdullah bin Umar, so it was thought that it might apply to him. However, when Umar bin Abdul Aziz (رحمه الله) became caliph, everyone came to know that Umar bin Khatab meant him. Prior to it, some people used to say that the world will not come to an end so long as Umar's ideal caliph had not become the ruler.

Umar bin Abdul Aziz's father sent him to Madinah when ne was a child. He was trained there. His life was spent in the company of the learned legal scholars of Madinah. It was from them that he learned theology. He enjoyed such a high status in knowledge and virtue that had he not been the caliph he would have been counted among the religious scholars and been recognized as a great imam. His father had sent him to Obaidullah bin Abdullah in Madinah and it was under his tutelage that he was trained. Zaid bin Aslam has narrated on the authority of Anas (رضي الله عنه) "After the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) we have never performed our Salat (obligatory prayers) in a way that resembled the Prophet's Salat except the Salat we made behind Umar bin Abdul Aziz (رحمه الله). Zaid says, "He used to do ruku (bowing) and sijda (prostration) fully but did not make delay in qiyam (standing) and qavod (sitting). Someone asked Muhammad bin Ali bin Husain about Umar bin Abdul Aziz. He said "He is najib (highborn) among Banu Umayyah and will rise as a single nation on the Day of Judgment"

Before becoming caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz wore showy and costiy clothes. However, after becoming caliph he adopted the life style of a poor in his food and clothing. Maimoon bin Mehran says that many well known scholars used to live in his company as students. Mujahid says "We went to Umar bin Abdul Aziz (رحمه الله) with the intention that he would learn something from us but after coming to him we had much to learn from him".

When his father Abdul Aziz bin Marwan died, he was present in Madinah. At the news of his death, Abdul Malik bin Marwan called him to Damascus and married his daughter Fatima to him. When Waleed became callph after Abdul Malik's death, he placed him as the Governor of Madinah. He therefore remained in power from 86 A.H. to 93 A.H. He performed Hajj several times as Amir al-Hajj (leader of the pilgrimage). During the period of his governorship of Madinah, all the scholars and learned Muslims used to gather round him.

He had set up a council of legal scholars in Madinah and used to dispose of the affairs of expeditions in consultation with them. Because of Hajjaj's complaint, Waleed dismissed him from the governorship of Madinah and called him to live in Syria. When Waleed wanted to depose his brother Sulaiman from the succession and put his own son in his place, Hajjaj and Qutaiba seconded his proposal but other leaders disliked it. The first man who openly and vehemently opposed Waleed was Umar bin Abdul Aziz (رحمه الله). Because of this, Waleed threw him into prison. He remained there for three years and was released on some one's recommendation. Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik was highly obliged to him for his sacrifice. That is why when Sulaiman became Caliph, he selected him as his Prime Minister and left in his will for him to be caliph after his death.