the rashidun (rightly-guided caliphs): 632-634 Abu Bakr 634-644 ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab 644-656 ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan 656-661 ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib followed by: the Umayyad dynasty (r. 661-750) set up by Mu‘awiya ibn Abi Sufyan (r. 661-80)
khalifat rasul allah = “successor to the Messenger of God” khalifat allah = “deputy of God” amir al-mu’minin = “commander of the believers” ahl al-kitab = “people of the book” ahl al-dhimma = people of the pact = dhimmis
‘Umar II (‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, mawla (pl. mawali) = non-Arab convert to Islam muhtasib = market/public health inspector ≈ Byzantine agoranomos and astynomos ‘Abd al-Malik (r. 685-705)
Umayyad Problems Financial problems Resentment from: 1. marginalised non-Arab Muslims 2. non-Syrian or non- favoured armies 3. civil war opponents 4. opponents of dynastic rule and un-Islamic caliphs
Timeline 740 Berber revolt in North Africa and Iberia 740-50 Umayyads face various revolts. 744-50 Reign of Marwan II al-Himar (“the ass”) 747-50 ‘Abbasid revolt. ‘Abbasids defeat Umayyads in two battles, pursue Marwan II to Egypt and kill him.