Umayyad.....

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Society and culture under Umayyad…..
Umayyad society divided and sub-divided in various kinds of distinctions and differences of wealth, social status, religion race, culture etc. religiously it was divided into the Muslims and non-Muslims, which was also political as Muslims were ruler and non-Muslims were subjects.
Socially Muslims and non-Muslims could be divided into the:

(1) Feudal aristocracy

It was the highest class, comprising the wealthiest families of the Arabs. They were the ruling section of the empire and held the highest offices in the civil and military hierarchy of the empire.

(2) The Arab warrior class

The Arab tribes who had conquered and settled in the province of the empire the constituted the trible feudalism of the Arab society.

(3)The Mawali

The new converts were called the Mawali or clients. They were the non-Arab Muslim. Theoretically, Islam granted equal rights and privileges to all Muslims, but arrogant Umayyad caliphs and their officials, continued to impose the taxes ,jizya and khiraj, other restriction upon them as before their conversion, except, the great caliph Umar bin abdual aziz (umar2).

(4) the Dhimms

The non-Muslim, non-arabs subject races, and people of the Arab empire were called Dhimms or the ahl al Dhimma (the protected people) the non-Muslims had no duty to render military service to the Islamic state as the Muslim had. They had to pay subject tax, called jizya.

(5)The slaves.

Although Islam did not approve slavery yet it also did not prohibit it.

Position of women

As regard social position of women, the period of Umayyad was an ag old decline and degradation of equality, dignity, freedom and liberty to those of inferiority, subjection, and luxurious captivity.

Cultural Life

Town life

Town-life under the Umayyad became ease and luxury. The simplicity of earlier times was discarded. Many luxurious and pleasures of the byzantine and Persian cultures were adopted by the Arabs. Damascus , was became the center of such luxurious and pastime, even Makkah and Madinah filled with song and music, dance and festivities, found in the less religious cities of the empire. Singer and songstresses, dancers and slave girls flocked to the saloon and fashion resorts of Makkah.

Kufa and Basra

These were problem cities of Umayyad empire, unlike Damascus, they were always full of discontent, disloyalty, and revolt. These two cities became storm centers of all political, social, economic and religious disputes and controversies. which agitated the Umayyad caliphate from one end to another end

Game and pastimes

Hunting the hounds were their usual pastime, but they also took keen interest in horses and horse racing. Some caliphs like Sulaiman. And Hisham, kept as many as four thousands horses in royal stables. Other popular pastimes was, cock-fighting, dice and card playing.
Among the drinks, wine, rose-sherbat, and non-intoxicant were common

Poetry and Literature.

Umayyad period was not favorable for literature, except poetry.the arab had national instinct for poetry, which was alone flourished in the Umayyad empire. However it was not Islamic poetry, but was the re-birth of pre-Islamic (jahalya poetry) poetryeith no or little influence of islam upon it.

Science and philosophy

As compare to the Abbaside the Umayyad were merely novices in science and philosophy
They made only one significant contribution in al-chamey or medieval chemistry.

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Umayyad caliphate (Syria)

(1) Muawiya bin Abu Sufiyan. 661-680 A.D

(2) SON of Muawyia, Yazid bin Muawiya. 680-83 A.D

(3) Son of Yazid, Muawyia2 3 months

(4) Merwan bin Hakim 683-85 A.D

(5) Son of Merwan. Abdul Malik Bin Merwan 685-705 A.D

(6) Son of Abdul Malik. Walid bin Abdul Malik 705-15 A.D

(7) Son of Abdul Malik. Sulaiman 715-17 A.D

(8) A causn of Walid . Umar bin Abdul Aziz (umar2) 717-720 A.D

(9) Soson of Abdul Malik. Yazid2 720-24 A.D

(10) Son of Abdul Malik. Hisham 724-43 A.D

(11) Son of Yazid2. Walid2 743-44 A.D

(12) Son of Walid bin Abdul Malik. Yazid3 April to September 744 A.D

(13) Son of Walid bin Abdul Malik. Ibrahim just couple of months in 744 A.D

(14) Merwan2 745-50 A.D

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The administrative structure of Umayyads
Introduction

Umayyads brought many changes in the prevailing administrative structure

Silent features

*The caliph

Caliphate changed into kingship
Method of electing a caliph was replaced by nomination
Ruling over the Muslims became the privilege of a single family

*The Shura

Shura was abolished by the Umayyads
There was no check and balnce on clai[ph
Only Umer2 made efforts to revive it but his efforts proved short-lived

*Bait-ul-Mal

Bait-ul-mal became the royal treasury

Caliph and royal family members misused it for their personal expenditure

To meet their lavish life style, they imposed undue taxes and exploitation

*The royal court


Umayyad adopted Byzantine and sassnids practices in their court

It painted the picture of pomp and show

There was lack of communication between caliph and masses

Musicians, singers poets hired by caliph



*Central Government

Diwan-ul-jand

It was the board for military administration

Diwan-ul-Hiraj

It was a board of Financial management

Diwan-ulkhatam

It maintained records of correspondence and orders issued by caliph

Diwan-ul-Barid

It was meant for postal service

Diwan-ul-Ahads

It Administered police system


*Provincial Administration


Umayyad had divided their empire into six province

Each province had following officials

Wali A governor, head of province

Sahib-ul-Khiraj revenue officer

Sahib-ul-ahds police office

Sahib-ul-Barid

Head of Post department

*Sources of Revenue

Khums
Zakat
Jazya
Usher
Khiraj

The revenue were collected at provincial level and were shifted to Damscus

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Causes of Downfall of Umayyad


(1) Violation of Islamic Principle

Muawiya violated the principle of election of caliph
the Umayyad lacked support and cooperation if people

(2) Weak and incompetent rulers
, After Muawiya, Abdul Malik, Walid, Umar2, all rulers were weak

(3) Biases against non-Arabs
Non-Arab in general, and Persian in particular were discriminated
Umayyad were hostile to Persian

(4)Succession controversies

not fixed and define rule of succession to the throne, this created trouble whenever a caliph died or killed.

(5). indifference to the administration

officers and officials practices corruption and nepotism, it became notorious.

(6) tribal policy

Mudarities and Himayarities were two major tribes in Umayyad rule, Umayyad supported agitation of one tribe against other

(7) The tragedy of Karbala

The hostility of Umayyad towards the family of prophet (p.b.u.h) was dividing factor between rulers and subjects.
Umayyad cursing of Hazrat Ali r.a in the sermons raised anti ruler feelings in people

(8) Luxury and extravagance

Umayyad were addicted to worldly pleasures, the widely indulged in evil activities and social sin. The Islamic jurist rightly called it un-Islamic rule

(9) the Abbasid movement

The Abbasid movement was deadly blow to the Umayyad rule, Shias, Mawalis, and Kharjis had also joined together against Umayyad

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Study plan for Umayyad

Uamayya dynasty

Main focus

1.emergence of Umayyad

2. administrative set up of Umayyad

3. expansion of Islamic empire by Umayyda

4. character and achievements of

Abdul Malik Bin Merwan

Walid bin Abdul Malik

Umer bin Abdul Aziz

5. emergence sects.

6. causes of downfall of Umayyad