Author Archives: Ruth

Caliph al-Walid and al-Hajjaj, 705-715

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Ruth

Abd al-Malik handed off power to his son without difficulty. Walid (or al-Walid) had been leading military campaigns against the eastern Romans for some years while his father’s brother was the designated heir. But Abd al-Aziz died in Egypt around … Continue reading →

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Completing the Conquest of North Africa, 698-708

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Ruth

After Abd al-Malik was secure in Damascus, he had fighting men to spare. Foreign expeditions rewarded soldiers with booty, so he offered his men the opportunity to launch another invasion of North Africa. The general this time would be Hassan … Continue reading →

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Siege of Mecca, 692

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Ruth

In 689, Caliph Abd al-Malik was ready to take on the Meccan Caliph Abdallah ibn Zubayr. He started with Iraq, which was shaky but technically loyal to Mecca, through Abdallah’s brother Musab. As you know, everything happened slowly then; it … Continue reading →

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Caliph Abd al-Malik and Dome of the Rock, 688-90

Posted on September 25, 2021 by Ruth

Abd al-Malik had focused his main attention on consolidating power in Syria, leaving his rival Caliph Abdallah ibn Zubayr to battle against Kharijites in Iraq and Arabia. This allowed almost a decade in which Mecca was ruled by a power … Continue reading →

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The Divided Caliphate and lots of rebels, 683-692

Posted on September 25, 2021 by Ruth

Before the Syrian army could push farther into rebellious Arabia, it was called back to Damascus. Yazid had suddenly died. His son was a young man who died soon after him. (Shi’ite history records that he criticized his family for … Continue reading →

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The Sack of Medina, 683

Posted on September 25, 2021 by Ruth

Don’t imagine that Medina and Mecca took the news of Husayn’s head on a lance quietly. They may have imagined that Yazid’s men would not dare to hurt the Prophet’s grandson, or they may have been prepared for news of … Continue reading →

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The Road to Karbala, 680

Posted on September 25, 2021 by Ruth

Mu’awiya had promised Ali’s son Hassan that he would set up a council to choose a ruler after his death, but he didn’t keep his word. His son Yazid, whose mother was a Syrian Arab princess, just took over in … Continue reading →

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North Africa: from Libya to the Atlantic Ocean, 670-683

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Ruth

The Roman province of Africa consisted of a long, narrow strip of coastland in Libya and a much larger zone around ancient Carthage, comparable in size to Ireland or even Greece. The climate was much like Italy’s and this part … Continue reading →

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Caliph Mu’awiya, 660-680

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Ruth

Let’s remember that Mu’awiya was raised in Mecca by clan chief Abu Sufyan and his wife, Hind. Hind is the woman who paid a slave to kill Muhammad’s kinsman at Uhud, and then cut a piece from his liver and … Continue reading →

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The Story of Hassan

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Ruth

When his father Ali was assassinated, Hassan was about 35. Ali’s supporters in Kufa quickly gave their allegiance to him as Caliph and Imam. “Imam,” the leader who stands in front, was the title Ali had taken when he felt … Continue reading →

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