Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan was pivotal in the Umayyad dynasty, unifying the Islamic world and initiating key reforms from 685 to 705 CE. His reign saw the end of the Second Fitna with the defeat of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, the Islamization and Arabization of the empire, administrative centralization, and the construction of the Dome of the Rock. These actions solidified the Umayyad Caliphate's power and had a lasting impact on Islamic civilization.
Show More
Abd al-Malik was born and raised in Medina, where he was immersed in Islamic culture and scholarship
Naval Commander and Advisor to His Father
Abd al-Malik gained valuable experience in religious, military, and political arenas while serving as a naval commander and advisor to his father in Damascus
After the Second Fitna, Abd al-Malik emerged as the victor and became the fifth caliph of the Umayyad dynasty
Abd al-Malik's victory over his rival, Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, in the Siege of Mecca unified the Islamic world under Umayyad leadership
Following the extinction of the Sufyanid line, the Umayyad dynasty transitioned to the Marwanid branch, named after Abd al-Malik's father
Abd al-Malik centralized the administrative apparatus under Arab leadership, setting a model for subsequent Muslim states
Abd al-Malik undertook military campaigns against Byzantine territories and established dominion over Iraq, reinforcing his caliphate's power
Construction of the Dome of the Rock
Abd al-Malik commissioned the construction of the Dome of the Rock, one of the oldest extant Islamic religious structures, as a symbol of Islamic victory and identity
Reforms in Religious Practices
Abd al-Malik standardized new prayer practices, promoted the Qur'an as the central religious text, and introduced anti-Christian polemics
Arabization Policies
Abd al-Malik implemented Arabization policies by making Arabic the official language of administration, fostering a unified political identity among the ruling elite
Abd al-Malik introduced a new Islamic coinage system and centralized the administrative apparatus, leaving a lasting influence on the development of Islamic civilization
00
Reign period of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan
685-705 CE
01
Outcome of the Second Fitna for Abd al-Malik
Defeated Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, unified Islamic world under Umayyad rule
02
Transition of Umayyad dynasty lines
From Sufyanid (Muawiya I) to Marwanid (Marwan I) after Sufyanid line extinction
