Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik

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Suleiman bin Abd al-Malik (c. 674 - 717) (Arabic: سليمان بن عبد الملك) was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 715 until 717. His father was Abd al-Malik, and he was a younger brother of the previous caliph, al-Walid I.

Contents 1 Early years 2 Assumption of power as caliph 3 Policies as caliph 4 Naming of his successor 5 References

[edit] Early years

Under the rule of his brother al-Walid I he had been the governor of Palestine. In the tribal politics of the Near East at that time he allied himself to the Yamani grouping.

[edit] Assumption of power as caliph

Suleiman took power thanks, in part, to political opponents of Al-Hajjaj bin Yousef. However, al-Hajjaj died in 714, so Suleiman persecuted his political allies. Among these were the two famous generals Qutaibah bin Muslim and Muhammad bin Qasim. All were imprisoned and then killed.

[edit] Policies as caliph

As he remained close to the Yamanis, Suleiman did not move to Damascus on becoming Caliph, but rather he remained in Ramla in Palestine. Under his rule, expansion continued into mountainous parts of Iran such as Tabaristan. Suleiman also sent a large army under Maslama ibn Abdul-Malik to attack the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, but it proved to be unsuccessful. Suleiman was on his way to attack the Byzantine border when he died in 717. In the domestic scene, he had wells built in Makkah for pilgrims, and organized enforcement of prayers. Suleiman was known for his exceptional oratory skills, but his execution of the two generals tarnished his reputation.

[edit] Naming of his successor

He would only rule for two years, but broke with tradition by not maintaining a hereditary dynasty. He ignored his brothers and son, and appointed Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as his successor on account of Umar's reputation as being one of the most wise, capable and pious persons of that era. This appointment is rare, although it technically fulfils the Sunni Islamic method of appointing a successor, whereas hereditary succession does not^{[1] [2]}.

[edit] References

1. ^ Atyya, Bassam. Political Thought of Ibn Taymiya, 1st (in Arabic), Amman: Yaqut., page 169
2. ^ Ibn Hazm. Al-fasl fil al-Milal wal-Nihal (in Arabic), page 28

Preceded by Al-Walid I

Caliph 715–717

Succeeded by Umar II