Yazid Ibn Muawiyah
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Yazid Ibn Muawiyah
The following article from orderwriters.com is about Yazid ibn Muawiya was born in 645 CE, people commonly knew him as Yazid I. Before his death in 683, CE Yazid reined over Umayyad Caliphate, and many scholars worldwide have criticized his rule. Yazid succeeded his father Muawiya I and although his father's reign had no much difference his rule exceeded limits. Many scholars consider his rule controversial but most Muslims consider it unjust. In particular, Muslims from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan are defiant about the criticism while most of the Shea Muslims view him as an oppressor. In addition, many critics argue that Yazid was neither elected nor appointed to power by the council of elders but he assumed power immediately after his father's death.
Yazids rule had some similarities with his father's rule and that of other rulers who reigned before his father. His leadership therefore had some qualities or characteristics that were similar or were borrowed from former leaderships. In the former leaderships, the caliph had the responsibility of appointing governors who ruled over the different provinces. Yazid did exactly as the former rulers did but in addition, he required that the governors should take an oath of office before assignment of duties. With reference to this act, his leadership can be considered stricter than the former leaderships. Taking an oath of office by the governors was a sign of loyalty to the caliph and therefore all governors had to take it.
Although Yazid's leadership has received criticism from Muslims and many scholars worldwide, it had a positive side. Before Yazid came into leadership, the Muslim world suffered several setbacks and defeats from their neighboring states. Restoration of the Muslim's world glory is therefore the main positive result of Yazid's leadership. In 682 AD, Yazid had the great idea of restoring North Africa under the leadership of the Muslims. Since Yazid ruled from the Middle East, it was not easy to oversee the process of restoration of North Africa and therefore he appointed Uqba ibn Nafi to oversee the process. Bazantines and the Berbers were the main enemies of the restoration process but Uqba won all battles against them. Under Yazid's authority, Uqba marched through North Africa with about three thousand strong-armed men from Egypt to the Atlas Mountains. From the Atlas Mountains, he went to Biskra and from there; he was able to defeat the Berbers. Although Uqba together with his armies died in North Africa in their attempt to liberate it from the Berbers Yazid received all the glory from this venture (Shraga 123). Later the Berbers attacked and defeated the North African Muslims before driving them away from the occupied territory. Following these attacks, Yazid had to make up his mind on whether to launch a new attack or to compromise with the situation.
Although Yazid won many battles against the enemies of Allah and Muslims he was accused of being harsh and ruling his people with an iron-fist. Throughout his leadership, Yazid did not believe in forgiveness and therefore anyone who made a mistake had to receive the required punishment. In addition, Yazid did not expect any opposition from either of his subjects and therefore he punished anyone who opposed his rule. Although Yazid was fond of punishing his subjects for their wrongs, he encouraged doing well by rewarding all those who did well with treasury gifts. Yazid therefore had power to punish and reward his people according to their deeds. Throughout his leadership, Yazid did not take any opposition against his authority lightly and therefore he had determination to deal with anyone who went against his rule. Unlike his father, Yazid was more concerned with the military and administrative structure of the empire (Cavendish 142). Although Yazid was more concerned with the military structure of the empire, he was also concerned with the development of other sectors such as agriculture and finance (Shraga 173). The conquest of Madinah demonstrates the extent of military might in his leadership and authority. In this particular event, Yazid sent about seventy five thousand soldiers who comprised of sixty thousand soldiers on horses and fifteen thousand foot soldiers. Madinah assault became the bloodiest assault in history under his leadership. In this event, about ten thousand people were killed while five thousand more including women and children were made slaves. After this conquest, Yazid went on and sold people captured in the battle into slavery.
Although Yazid was more concerned with leadership of the empire and the military, he had his own private life that contradicts his earlier roles. Although Yazid was much involved with the leadership of the caliph, he had time for the family and family matters. "Yazid was first married to Umm Hisham bent Utba bin Rabiya and had two sons, Muawiyah and Khalid" (Najeebabadi 94). He later married Kulthum bint Abdullah as his second wife and together they had a son who they named Abdullah bin Yazid (Najeebabadi 94). Yazid was much concerned with the family as much as he was concerned with his administrative duties and he valued to have many children. As stated by (Najeebabadi 94) besides the sons he had with his wives, Yazid had extra children (sons) with his female slaves.
Apart from the family life, Yazid had another side of his private life that contradicts his role as the caliph of the great Muslim empire. As a leader, Yazid was expected to be a highly religious person who lived according to the teachings of the Muslim religion. Yazid behaved contrary to the expectations of many of his followers since he loved and enjoyed worldly vices such listening to music, drinking, and playing drums. In addition to this Yazid was obsessed with pets and he had several pets including frogs, bears and monkeys. Yazid also liked spending a lot of time with his pets and this was not expected of him as a leader. Although his people were not against his obsession for pets, they were particularly concerned with his weird behaviors. Yazid liked to watch animals fighting and in particular, he liked to watch his monkeys fighting. He also used to make his monkeys ride on his horses and most of these behaviors resulted from his drinking habits. Apart from his pets, Yazid also liked to spend some of his time with boys who had no facial hair. In conclusion, his family and his pets preoccupied most of his private life.
After attaining thirty-eight years of age, Yazid died having ruled for three years and his son Muawiyah II took over the leadership of the land. Contrary to the expectations of many Yazid's grave in Damascus was unmarked although some people believe that they can locate its position. Most people believe that they can trace the location of his grave around Omayyad mosque although his grave remains unmarked to this date.
Works Cited
Cavendish, Marshall. Illustrated Dictionary of the Muslim World. Atlanta: Marshall Cavendish, 2010. Print.
Najeebabadi, Akbar. History of Islam (Vol 2). Riyadh: Darussalam, 2005. Print.
Shraga, Qedar. "Copper Coinage of Syria in the Seventh and Eighth Century A.D.", Israel Numismatic Journal. 10, 1988, 120-187. Print