History of Umar II

Umar II, also known as Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, was the eighth Umayyad caliph, whose reign lasted from 717 to 720 CE. Born in 682 CE in Medina, he is often remembered for his pious character, administrative reforms, and efforts to govern according to Islamic principles. His brief rule is frequently characterized as a significant transitional period in the Umayyad caliphate, where he attempted to curb the excesses of his predecessors and align the caliphate more closely with Islamic teachings.

Umar II was a member of the Umayyad dynasty, which had established itself as the ruling family in the early Islamic world after the first four caliphs (the Rashidun caliphs). The Umayyads were known for expanding the Islamic empire and consolidating political power. However, they were also characterized by their luxurious lifestyles and certain secular policies, which some historians suggest were divergent from Islamic ideals. Umar II’s father, Abd al-Aziz, was the governor of Egypt, and his mother, Umm Asim, was a granddaughter of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Rashidun caliph. This lineage placed Umar II in a unique position, infused with a traditional Islamic legacy coupled with the political acumen necessary for governance.

Umar II ascended to the caliphate not through hereditary succession, but rather through the unusual intervention of Caliph Suleiman, who appointed him as his successor. Suleiman's choice of Umar was influenced by the latter’s reputation for piety and integrity, qualities that were becoming exceedingly rare in the increasingly decadent Umayyad court.

One of the defining characteristics of Umar II’s rule was his emphasis on justice and equality. Upon assuming power, he reportedly returned unjustly acquired wealth to the public treasury and sought to make the administration more accountable. He believed in governing the Ummah (Islamic community) through consultation (Shura) and emphasized the importance of directives based on Islamic jurisprudence. Umar II is known to have said, “The reforms of the people can only come from the reform of their leader.”

His economic policies were aimed at reducing the financial strain on the population. Umar II attempted to create a more equitable tax system. He reduced the burden of the jizya tax on non-Muslims, which was traditionally high under preceding caliphs. In many instances, he tried to equate it with the zakat tax paid by Muslims, which eased tensions between different religious communities within the empire. Umar’s policies regarding non-Muslims were notably more tolerant; he encouraged conversions to Islam without the financial penalties that were previously imposed as deterrents. Despite this open policy, conversions did not significantly harm the state treasury because Umar II believed in economic efficiency and reducing corruption, waste, and extravagance.

Umar also reformed administrative practices by dismissing corrupt governors and officials. He was known to appoint those who were not only competent but also shared his vision of moral governance. Under Umar II’s leadership, personal piety became a prerequisite for holding public office, marking a shift away from appointments based purely on political allegiance or familial connections.

Internationally, Umar II’s brief rule was marked by a focus on stabilization rather than expansion. He pulled back from aggressive campaigns on the frontiers, believing that consolidation and internal development were more pertinent to the welfare of the caliphate. His inclination to resolve conflicts through dialogue and treaties, instead of warfare, provided a relative period of peace and stability in the region.

Umar II also sought to unify the Ummah by emphasizing education and dissemination of Islamic teachings. He commissioned scholars to collect hadiths and focus on Islamic jurisprudence, thereby strengthening the religious foundation of governance. It was under his guidance that significant progress was made in recording the sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad, laying some of the early groundwork for what would later become the authentic collections of hadith.

Despite his good intentions and popular policies, Umar II’s reign lasted only two and a half years. He died in 720 CE under circumstances that some historical accounts describe as suspicious, suggesting possible poisoning, albeit these accounts are not universally accepted. His early death curtailed the extent to which he could implement his full vision for the caliphate. Nevertheless, his efforts had a lasting impact on Islamic governance; many later caliphs and Muslim leaders looked back to his rule as an ideal to aspire towards.

In sum, Umar II is remembered as a reformist who broke with the traditions of the preceding Umayyad rulers by prioritizing justice, moral governance, and religious adherence. His reign, though short-lived, stands out in Islamic history for its emphasis on piety, economic reform, and attempts at unifying the vast and diverse empire on the principles of Islamic egalitarianism. His legacy remains influential in discussions of Islamic governance and ethics, and he is often cited as the “fifth rightly-guided caliph” by those who admired his adherence to caliphal ideals reminiscent of the earliest caliphs of Islam.