Abd al-Malik, during his lifetime, consolidated Umayyad rule over the Islamic Empire. At the time of his death in 705 CE, he had left behind a monarchy, powerful enough to challenge any force on the planet and on the brink of expanding into Europe.

In this episode, I discuss the Ummayad Caliphs after Abd al-Malik including Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz and the conquests that happened around this time like the Conquest of Sindh and the Conquest of Spain. I also discuss the early causes of the rebellions against the Caliphate that eventually led to the Abbasid Revolution.

Additional Facts:

1) Abd al-Malik is considered one of the greatest Caliphs due to his contributions to the empire. He modernized it by installing a postal service and minting currency. He also constructed the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

2) Muhammad ibn Qasim’s legacy is very prominent in Modern-day Pakistan now. Port Qasim in Karachi is named after him. In this photo, the ruins an old mosque built in his name can be seen in Sukhur, Sindh.

3) Anas ibn Malik was a volunteer servant to Muhammad, not a slave. Muhammad did hold slaves but none after the first revelation. He did, however, have concubines and even had a son with one. The son passed away at a young age.

4) Anas was very close to Muhammad and is witness to many Hadiths. According to tradition, Muhammad blessed Anas for his service. As a “result”, he went on to live a little over a century and had around 80 children.

5) It’s said that when Umar was a prince he used to wear a robe worth 1200 Riyals alone which would rub across the ground as he would walk. When he became Caliph, his entire outfit, during his inaugural address, cost 3 Riyals.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rACWxttgqeA

The First Umayyads & The Crisis of Succession | 661CE - 705CE

With the caliphate now in Muawiyah's hands, turned into a full-scale empire, a new era for the caliphate begins.

In this episode, I discuss Muawiyah's rule and the crisis of Succession that led to the second civil war between the Ummayads and Abdullah ibn Az Zubayr.

In Islamic Civilization in Thirty Lives by Chase F. Robinson, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan is the fourth name. As the author puts it, "After Muhammad, Abd al-Malik did more than anyone else to engineer a religio-political vision of the caliphal rule". Abd al-Malik canonized the empire part of Islamic Empire. All the subsequent Islamic empires would follow his model.

Additional Facts:

1) The Ummayad Mosque in Damascus is believed by most Muslims to be the place Jesus will appear near the end of days.

2) Greek Fire was especially used in Naval Battles by the Byzantines because it couldn’t be extinguished by water.

3) Muawiyah was buried in a shirt that previously belonged to Muhammad who had gifted him the shirt.

4) The Ummayads including Muawiyah used a completely white flag. However, now, it’s used as a declaration of surrender.

5) Al-Mukhar’s revolt is also called the Shia Revolt but at this point, “Shia” was only someone who supported Ali’s family for the caliphate, not a sect.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhn6aemAQDw