Although they did not strictly follow the ways of their
predecessors they were historically considered to be an extremely successful
dynasty. The Umayyads managed to maintain political and religious unity of the
Islamic nation and greatly expanded its borders. However they have gone down
in history as particularly autocratic.. When Omayyad Caliph Sulaiman (714-717)
lay on his deathbed, he attempted to earn the pleasure of God by following the
example of the early Caliphs and nominating someone other than one of his own
sons as the next Caliph. He therefore appointed his distant cousin Omar Ibn
Abdul Aziz, his successor. Omar was then faced with the seemingly impossible
task of returning the Islamic nation back into a nation of people who obeyed
the laws of God above all else.
Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz had served as the governor of Egypt
and Medina for more than twenty-two years. He had been educated and trained by
a well-known scholar by the name of Salah Ibn Kaisan. Before his accession to
the Caliphate, Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz was a young man, fond of fashion and
fragrance, however when he accepted the responsibility of leading the Islamic
nation he proved to be the most pious, able, far-sighted and responsible of
all the Omayyad Caliphs.
He tried to rule in a way similar to how the Islamic
state was governed in its infancy. He immediately began by adhering to Islamic
principles. When news reached him of his nomination to the Caliphate, he
addressed the people saying, “O people! The responsibilities of the Caliphate
have been thrust upon me without my desire or your consent. If you choose to
select someone else as the Caliph, I will immediately step aside and will
support your decision”. This was a breath of fresh air to the people who were
longing for a return to the days of Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, and the
Rightly Guided Caliphs. Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz was unanimously elected.
Omar immediately discarded his extravagant lifestyle and
tried to emulate Prophet Muhammad and his closest companions. One of his first
actions was to return the lavish estates and palaces owned by members of the Umayyad
dynasty to the public estate. When previously there was no answerability to
the people, Omar re-established accountability and abolished the corrupt
practices by which the government officials had become rich, powerful and
abusive. The people responded with enthusiastic support and overall
productivity throughout the Islamic State increased. Renowned Islamic scholar,
Ibn Kathir, records that because of the reforms undertaken by Omar, the annual
revenue from Persia alone increased from 28 million dirhams to 124 million
dirhams.
Omar continued to follow the example set by Prophet
Muhammad and sent emissaries to China and Tibet, inviting their rulers to
accept Islam. It was during this time that the religion of Islam began to be accepted
by large segments of the populations of Persia and Egypt. When the once
corrupt officials complained that because of conversions, the revenues of the
state had declined, Omar wrote back saying he had accepted the Caliphate to
invite people to Islam and not to become a tax collector. Omar used his
position to uphold the rights and responsibilities that are inherent in the
Quran and the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
The infusion of non-Arabs into the fold of Islam shifted
the centre of the Islamic State from Medina and Damascus to Persia and Egypt. Omar
made large and astonishing changes to the way the Islamic State was run. His
strict adherence to Islamic principles even allowed him to offer stipends to
teachers whilst encouraging education for men, women and children. Through his
personal example, he instilled piety, steadfastness, business ethics, and
Islamic morals and manners into the general population. His reforms included the
strict abolition of alcohol and he forbade public indecency.. Omar also oversaw
the fair dispensation of money given in charity.
Omar’s efforts to transform the Islamic Islamic State
into a well-run Islamic community knew no bounds. Just as he transformed his
life he also transformed the Islamic State. Omar undertook extensive public
works throughout the Islamic State, in Persia, Khorasan (includes parts of
modern day Iran, Afghanistan and central Asia) and across North Africa. This
included roads, bridges, canals, inns for travellers, educational facilities
and medical dispensaries.
In the following article we will elaborate more on the
life and works of Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz and learn how and why his life was cut
short at the pinnacle of his Caliphate.
KAMI SEKELUARGA MENGUCAPKAN BANYAK TERIMA KASIH ATAS BANTUANNYA MBAH , NOMOR YANG MBAH BERIKAN/ 4D SGP& HK SAYA DAPAT (350) JUTA ALHAMDULILLAH TEMBUS, SELURUH HUTANG2 SAYA SUDAH SAYA LUNAS DAN KAMI BISAH USAHA LAGI. JIKA ANDA INGIN SEPERTI SAYA HUB MBAH_PURO _085_342_734_904_ terima kasih.الالله صلى الله عليه وسلموعليكوتهله صلى الل
ReplyDeleteKAMI SEKELUARGA MENGUCAPKAN BANYAK TERIMA KASIH ATAS BANTUANNYA MBAH , NOMOR YANG MBAH BERIKAN/ 4D SGP& HK SAYA DAPAT (350) JUTA ALHAMDULILLAH TEMBUS, SELURUH HUTANG2 SAYA SUDAH SAYA LUNAS DAN KAMI BISAH USAHA LAGI. JIKA ANDA INGIN SEPERTI SAYA HUB MBAH_PURO _085_342_734_904_ terima kasih.الالله صلى الله عليه وسلموعليكوتهله صلى الل
KAMI SEKELUARGA MENGUCAPKAN BANYAK TERIMA KASIH ATAS BANTUANNYA MBAH , NOMOR YANG MBAH BERIKAN/ 4D SGP& HK SAYA DAPAT (350) JUTA ALHAMDULILLAH TEMBUS, SELURUH HUTANG2 SAYA SUDAH SAYA LUNAS DAN KAMI BISAH USAHA LAGI. JIKA ANDA INGIN SEPERTI SAYA HUB MBAH_PURO _085_342_734_904_ terima kasih.الالله صلى الله عليه وسلموعليكوتهله صلى الل