Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz commonly known as Umar II , was the eighth Umayyad caliph. He made various significant contributions and reforms to the society, and he has been described as "the most pious and devout" of the Umayyad rulers and was often called the first Mujahid and sixth righteous caliph of Islam.

Umar was likely born in Medina around 680.

His father, Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan, belonged to the wealthy Umayyad clan resident in the city, while his mother, Umme Asim bint Asim, was a granddaughter of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (r. 634–644).

His descent from Caliph Umar would later be much emphasized by Umar II and the traditional Muslim sources to differentiate him from the other Umayyad rulers.

At the time of his birth, another branch of the Umayyads, ruled the Caliphate from Damascus.

When Caliph Yazid I and his son and successor, Mu'awiya II, died in quick succession in 683 and 684, respectively, Umayyad authority collapsed across the Caliphate and the Umayyads of the Hejaz, including Medina, were expelled by supporters of the rival caliph, the Mecca-based Abd Allah ibn al- Zubair. The Umayyad exiles took refuge in Syria, where loyalist Arab tribes supported the dynasty. Umar's grandfather, Marwan I, was ultimately recognized by these tribes as caliph and, with their support, reasserted Umayyad rule in Syria.

In 685, Marwan ousted Ibn al-Zubayr's governor from Egypt and appointed Umar's father to the province.

Umar spent part of his childhood in Egypt, particularly in Hulwan, which had become the seat of his father's governorship between 686 and his death in 705.

He received his education in Medina, however, which was retaken by the Umayyads under Umar's paternal uncle, Caliph Abd al-Malik (r. 685–705), in 692. Having spent much of his youth in Medina, Umar developed ties with the city's pious men and transmitters of hadiths. Following the death of Umar's father, Abd al-Malik recalled Umar to Damascus, where he arranged Umar's marriage to his daughter, Fatima.

He was also a cousin of the former caliph, being the son of Abd al-Malik's younger brother, Abd al-Aziz. He was also a matrilineal great-grandson of the second caliph, Umar ibn Al-Khattab.

Surrounded with great scholars, he is credited with having ordered the first official collection of Hadiths and encouraged education to everyone. According to Nazeer Ahmed, it was during the time of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz that the Islamic faith took roots and was accepted by huge segments of the population of Persia and Egypt.

Militarily, Umar is sometimes deemed a pacifist, since he ordered the withdrawal of the Muslim army in places such as Constantinople, Central Asia and Septimania despite being a good military leader. However, under his rule the Umayyads conquered many territories from the Christian kingdoms in Spain.

At Medina.........

Hazrat Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was coming out of Masjid Nabawi after offering Zuhr prayer. Suddenly a rider came to the door and stopped. The rider's face was covered in dust. His face was pale from hunger, thirst and fatigue. He tried to say something while attracting Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz with his hand gesture, but the sound could not come out of his dry throat.

He got off his horse and put his hand in his pocket to take out the letter and went towards Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, but after taking two or three steps he stumbled and fell on the ground, and with him the tired horse fell to the ground as soon as it was freed from its burden.

After the fall, he took a concussion and died.

This rider was Zubair. The people picked him up and took him to the mosque room. After a while, the rider regained consciousness and opened his eyes. At that time Umar bin Abdul Aziz was splashing water on his mouth, he tried to grab the bowl of water and drink it, but Umar bin Abdul Aziz said wait for a while, you have already drunk a lot of water. Now it looks like you haven't eaten anything for several days.

A man placed food in front of Zubair at the behest of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz.

But he said.

No,

I need water,and then he put his hand in pocket and shocked.

Said, "I have already wasted a lot of time with this letter, but...?

His eyes were wide open when he found his pocket empty.

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz said, I have read your letter.

From the death of your horse and your fainting,

I was convinced that you had brought some important message.

Zubair said. So you will do something for Muhammad ibn al-Qasim?

I am going to Damascus.

While saying this, he looked at one of his companions and asked,

"Is my horse ready?"

He replied.

Yes!

Zubair said. I will go with you! He answered. "No, you rest. You have been very tired in the last trip?"

No, I'm perfectly fine, the reason for my restlessness was more of my heart's anxiety than the journey. Now staying here and waiting will cause me more pain than traveling?

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz said, "Very well, you should eat quickly."

Zubair, after putting the food in his mouth, drank water to his stomach and got up and said, "I am ready."

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz ordered an Arab to prepare another horse. And said to Zubair. You sit down for a while??

Zubair said. If it is not your order, I would prefer to remain standing. The attack of sleep and fatigue on a person is relatively more severe than sitting?"

An Arab said to Zubair, "Did you not rest at all on the way?"

Zubair replied. Not at all during the day and at night when I used to faint?

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz asked how many horses did you change on the way?

From Arur to Basra,I changed horses every five kos at the soldiers' posts, but to save time beyond Basra I thought the direct route convenient, and crossing the Arabian desert.

I sometimes covered several places on one horse.Before this, four horses have died in my riding!

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz said, "These people used to tell the stories of Muhammad ibn al-Qasim's victories with wonder, but I am a soldier like you with the commander of the army. No fort can be impregnable for him?"

The servant came and informed that the horses were ready.

Zubair and Umar bin Abdul Aziz went out and mounted the horses.