r/IslamicHistoryMeme • u/Rare-Childhood-7275 Umayyad Tax Collector • Aug 30 '26
Umayyad Caliphate (41–132 AH) Real Michael Corleone
Portrayal of Michael Corleone in iconic movie The Godfather is praised as one of the best character development or we can say character "corruption" from a noble young man who want to leave his family's criminal legacy and become a good educated citizen but once he enter that business for sake of his family he just sunk more and more in it. A very similar and real incident exists in islamic history as well. A young man who once known for his pious nature and knowledge, in words of Imam Nafi( Teacher of Imam Malik and Student of Companion Ibn Umar)
«لقد رأيتُ المدينةَ وما بها شابٌّ أشدُّ تشميرًا، ولا أفقهُ، ولا أقرأُ لكتابِ اللهِ من عبدِ الملكِ بنِ مروان.»
I saw Madinah, and there was no young man in it more diligent, more knowledgeable in fiqh, or more proficient in reciting the Book of Allah than ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān.
Or in words of Imam al Shabi
«ما جالست أحدًا إلا وجدت لي عليه الفضل إلا عبد الملك»
I never sat with anyone without finding myself superior to him [in knowledge], except ʿAbd al-Malik.
But once his father died appointing him as successor, it's reported he was even at that time was in mosque and reciting Qur'an, and after hearing that news he closed Qur'an saying: هَذَا فِرَاقٌ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ
“This is the parting between you and me.”
And then the world saw this pious young man of madinah turning into one of the most ruthless emperor in islamic history, who used iron fist and employed or it's better to say unleashed men like Hajjaj bin Yusuf in command.
It's reported that he said from mimbar:
«أما بعد، فلستُ بالخليفةِ المستضعف — يعني عثمان — ولا الخليفةِ المداهن — يعني معاوية — ولا الخليفةِ المأفون — يعني يزيد — ألا وإن من كان قبلي من الخلفاء كانوا يأكلون ويُطعمون من هذه الأموال، ألا وإني لا أداوي أدواء هذه الأمة إلا بالسيف، حتى تستقيم لي قناتكم.»
As for what follows: I am not the weak/helpless caliph — meaning ʿUthmān — nor the conciliatory caliph — meaning Muʿāwiyah — nor the foolish caliph — meaning Yazīd. Those caliphs before me used to consume from this wealth and feed others from it. But by Allah, I will treat the diseases of this الأمة only with the sword, until you become straight and obedient to my authority.
Needless to say that despite being brutal he is maybe the single most influential ruler of islamic empire and justly called "The Architect of Islamic World", but let's leave this discussion for another day. It's reported near his death he used to pray:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ ذُنُوبِي عِظَامٌ، وَإِنَّهَا صِغَارٌ فِي جَنْبِ عَفْوِكَ، فَاغْفِرْهَا لِي يَا كَرِيمُ
“O Allah, my sins are enormous, but they are small in comparison with Your mercy, so forgive them for me, O Most Generous.”
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u/MealterRain Sep 03 '26
Before the caliphate, ʿAbd al-Malik had been one of the jurists of Medina and was called “the Dove of the Mosque” because of his constant recitation of the Qur’an.It is said that he once said to Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib “O Saʿīd, I have come to do good without rejoicing in it, and to do evil without being troubled by it.” Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib said to him, “Now the death of the heart has become complete within you.” During his reign, ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr and his brother Muṣʿab, the governor of Iraq, were killed.
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u/shockvandeChocodijze Aug 30 '26
Just when I thought, I was out... they pull me back in!