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Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was honorifically called Umar al-Thani, a title given in reference to his great-grandfather, Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Answer: True
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was indeed honorifically known as Umar al-Thani (Umar II), a title bestowed in recognition of his great-grandfather, Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, who was also highly respected for his just rule.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was born in Damascus around 680, the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate at the time.
Answer: False
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was most likely born in Medina, Arabia, around 680 CE, not in Damascus.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's maternal lineage was significant because his mother, Layla bint Asim, was a granddaughter of the second Rashidun caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Answer: True
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's maternal lineage was indeed significant as his mother, Layla bint Asim, was a granddaughter of the second Rashidun caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, a connection later emphasized by historians.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz spent his entire childhood and received his education in Egypt, where his father served as governor.
Answer: False
While Umar spent part of his childhood in Egypt, where his father was governor, he received his education in Medina, not entirely in Egypt.
During Umar's early life, the Umayyad authority in the Hejaz collapsed due to the deaths of Caliph Yazid I and Mu'awiya II, leading to the expulsion of Umayyads by supporters of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr.
Answer: True
During Umar's early life, the Umayyad authority in the Hejaz indeed collapsed following the rapid deaths of Caliph Yazid I and Mu'awiya II, resulting in the expulsion of Umayyads by supporters of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr.
After his father's death, Umar was recalled to Damascus by his paternal uncle, Caliph Abd al-Malik, who then arranged Umar's marriage to his daughter, Fatima.
Answer: True
Following his father's death, Umar was recalled to Damascus by his paternal uncle, Caliph Abd al-Malik, who subsequently arranged his marriage to Abd al-Malik's daughter, Fatima.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz had only one wife, Fatima bint Abd al-Malik, and a total of seven children.
Answer: False
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz had three known wives and a total of fourteen children (seven from his wives and seven from concubines), not just one wife and seven children.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's paternal grandfather was Marwan I, the 4th Umayyad Caliph, and his maternal great-grandfather was Umar, the 2nd Rashidun Caliph.
Answer: True
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's paternal grandfather was indeed Marwan I, the fourth Umayyad Caliph, and his maternal great-grandfather was Umar, the second Rashidun Caliph.
What was the honorific title given to Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, and to whom did it refer?
Answer: Umar al-Thani, in reference to his great-grandfather, Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was honorifically known as Umar al-Thani (Umar II), a title given in reference to his great-grandfather, Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, who was also highly respected for his just rule.
Where was Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz most likely born around the year 680?
Answer: Medina, Arabia
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was most likely born in Medina, Arabia, around the year 680 CE.
What was significant about Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's maternal lineage?
Answer: His mother was Layla bint Asim, a granddaughter of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's maternal lineage was significant because his mother, Layla bint Asim, was a granddaughter of the second Rashidun caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, a connection that historians later emphasized.
Where did Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz receive his education?
Answer: Medina, Arabia
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz received his education in Medina, a city renowned for its early Islamic scholarship.
How did the political landscape change in the Hejaz during Umar's early life, specifically regarding Umayyad authority?
Answer: Umayyad authority collapsed, and they were expelled by supporters of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr.
During Umar's early life, the deaths of Caliph Yazid I and Mu'awiya II led to the collapse of Umayyad authority in the Hejaz, with Umayyads being expelled by supporters of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr.
What happened to Umar's father, Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan, and how did it impact Umar's life?
Answer: He was appointed governor of Egypt and upon his death, Umar was recalled to Damascus and married to Caliph Abd al-Malik's daughter.
Umar's father, Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan, served as governor of Egypt until his death, after which Umar was recalled to Damascus by his paternal uncle, Caliph Abd al-Malik, and married to Abd al-Malik's daughter, Fatima.
How many known wives and children did Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz have?
Answer: Three known wives and seven children from them, plus seven from concubines.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz had three known wives, from whom he had seven children, and an additional seven children from concubines, totaling fourteen children.
What was the name of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's paternal grandfather?
Answer: Marwan I
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's paternal grandfather was Marwan I, who was the fourth Umayyad Caliph.
What was the name of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's maternal grandfather?
Answer: Asim ibn Umar
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's maternal grandfather was Asim ibn Umar, who was the son of Umar, the second Rashidun Caliph.
Which of the following was NOT a known wife of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz?
Answer: Amina bint Alqama
Amina bint Alqama was Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's paternal great-grandmother, not one of his known wives. His known wives included Fatima bint Abd al-Malik, Umm Shu'ayb, and Lamis bint Ali.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was appointed governor of Medina by Caliph Abd al-Malik in 705.
Answer: False
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was appointed governor of Medina by al-Walid I, not Abd al-Malik, in 705/706 CE.
Al-Walid I appointed Umar as governor of Medina with the intention of reconciling the people of Medina with Umayyad rule and improving the negative image left by previous governors.
Answer: True
Al-Walid I appointed Umar as governor of Medina with the explicit aim of reconciling the Medinan populace with Umayyad rule and rectifying the negative perception created by previous, harsher governors.
During his governorship of Medina, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was known for his strict enforcement of Umayyad policies and suppression of religious scholars' criticisms.
Answer: False
During his governorship of Medina, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was renowned for being a 'just governor' who tolerated criticism from Islamic legal scholars, rather than suppressing it, and he favored them.
Umar was dismissed from his governorship of Medina because he failed to expand the Prophet's Mosque, a key project of al-Walid I.
Answer: False
Umar was dismissed from his governorship of Medina due to his lenient rule, which made Medina a refuge for Iraqi exiles, leading to pressure from al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf. Furthermore, he actually oversaw the reconstruction and expansion of the Prophet's Mosque.
Who appointed Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as governor of Medina in 705/706?
Answer: Al-Walid I
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was appointed governor of Medina by Caliph al-Walid I in 705/706 CE.
What was Umar's reputation during his governorship of Medina?
Answer: A just governor who tolerated criticism from Islamic legal scholars.
During his governorship of Medina, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was widely regarded as a just governor who showed favor to Islamic legal scholars and tolerated their criticisms of the Umayyad government.
Why was Umar dismissed from his governorship of Medina in 712?
Answer: His lenient rule made Medina a refuge for Iraqi political and religious exiles, leading to pressure from al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf.
Umar's dismissal from the governorship of Medina in 712 CE was primarily due to his lenient policies, which allowed Medina to become a sanctuary for Iraqi political and religious exiles, prompting pressure from al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf.
Who was Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's predecessor as Governor of Medina?
Answer: Hisham ibn Isma'il al-Makhzumi
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's predecessor as Governor of Medina was Hisham ibn Isma'il al-Makhzumi, whose harsh rule Umar was intended to rectify.
After his dismissal as governor, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz fell out of favor with the caliphal court and was exiled from Damascus.
Answer: False
After his dismissal as governor, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz remained in favor with the caliphal court, particularly with Caliph Sulayman, and served as a principal adviser, rather than being exiled.
Umar accompanied Caliph Sulayman on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and was present at the Muslim marshaling camp at Dabiq during the preparations for the siege of Constantinople.
Answer: True
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz did accompany Caliph Sulayman on the Hajj pilgrimage and was present at the Dabiq marshaling camp during the preparations for the siege of Constantinople.
Traditional Muslim sources claim that Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz became Caliph after Sulayman designated him as his successor on his deathbed, influenced by Raja ibn Haywa.
Answer: True
Traditional Muslim sources indeed state that Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was designated as Caliph by Sulayman on his deathbed, a decision influenced by Raja ibn Haywa.
Umar's nomination as Caliph was unusual because it adhered strictly to Abd al-Malik's original plan to restrict the caliphal office to his direct descendants.
Answer: False
Umar's nomination as Caliph was unusual precisely because it *bypassed* Abd al-Malik's original intention to restrict the caliphal office to his direct descendants, as Umar belonged to a cadet branch of the Umayyad dynasty.
A potential intra-dynastic conflict during Umar's accession was averted by designating his eldest son, Abd al-Malik, as his successor.
Answer: False
A potential intra-dynastic conflict during Umar's accession was averted by designating Yazid II, a son of Abd al-Malik, as Umar's successor, not Umar's own son.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz officially acceded to the caliphate on September 22, 717, facing significant opposition from other Umayyad branches.
Answer: False
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz officially acceded to the caliphate on September 22, 717 CE, *without significant opposition* from other Umayyad branches, due to a compromise in succession.
After his dismissal as governor, what was Umar's role in the court of Caliph Sulayman?
Answer: He became a principal adviser to Sulayman alongside Raja ibn Haywa.
After his dismissal from the governorship, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz served as a principal adviser to Caliph Sulayman, alongside Raja ibn Haywa, maintaining his influence within the caliphal court.
According to traditional Muslim sources, who persuaded Caliph Sulayman on his deathbed to designate Umar as his successor?
Answer: Raja ibn Haywa.
Traditional Muslim sources indicate that Raja ibn Haywa, an influential religious figure, persuaded Caliph Sulayman on his deathbed to designate Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as his successor.
What was unusual about Umar's nomination as Caliph, considering previous succession patterns?
Answer: He was a member of a cadet branch of the Umayyad dynasty, bypassing Abd al-Malik's intention to restrict the office to his direct descendants.
Umar's nomination was unusual because he belonged to a cadet branch of the Umayyad dynasty, thereby bypassing Caliph Abd al-Malik's original intention to restrict the caliphal office to his direct descendants.
Historian Reinhard Eisener suggested an alternative explanation for Umar's succession, proposing it followed traditional patterns of seniority and well-founded claims. From which Caliph's original designation did this claim stem?
Answer: Marwan I's original designation of Umar's father, Abd al-Aziz, as Abd al-Malik's successor.
Reinhard Eisener's alternative explanation for Umar's succession traces back to Caliph Marwan I's original designation of Umar's father, Abd al-Aziz, as Abd al-Malik's successor, a plan that did not come to fruition.
One of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's key achievements was the first official collection of hadiths, alongside mandating universal education and dispatching emissaries to China and Tibet.
Answer: True
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz is indeed credited with overseeing the first official collection of hadiths, mandating universal education, and sending emissaries to China and Tibet to invite their rulers to Islam, as part of his significant reforms.
The most significant reform implemented by Umar was the establishment of equality between Arabs and mawali, ensuring non-Arab Muslims received equal shares in spoils, lands, and salaries.
Answer: True
The establishment of equality between Arabs and mawali, ensuring non-Arab Muslims received equal shares in spoils, lands, and salaries, is indeed considered the most significant reform implemented by Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz.
Umar's tax policy required all non-Arab converts to Islam to continue paying the jizya, but at a reduced rate.
Answer: False
Umar's tax policy explicitly exempted all Muslims, regardless of their heritage, from the jizya tax upon conversion, though their land remained subject to kharaj.
Umar's edict on taxation aimed to clarify that converts to Islam would have the same rights and duties as other Muslims, including exemption from the jizya tax.
Answer: True
Umar's edict on taxation was indeed intended to clarify that converts to Islam would enjoy the same rights and duties as other Muslims, including exemption from the jizya tax.
To expand Islamization, Umar initiated an Islamic iconoclasm and ended the ritual cursing of Caliph Ali during Friday prayer sermons.
Answer: True
As part of his Islamization efforts, Umar initiated an Islamic iconoclasm and notably ended the ritual cursing of Caliph Ali during Friday prayer sermons, a practice that had been established under previous Umayyad rulers.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz is credited with ordering the first official collection of hadith due to concerns about their potential loss over time.
Answer: True
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz is indeed credited with ordering the first official collection of hadith, motivated by concerns that these important traditions might be lost over time.
Umar overhauled provincial administrations by appointing men based on their political factional affiliation to ensure loyalty.
Answer: False
Umar overhauled provincial administrations by appointing competent men based on their reliability and integrity, specifically avoiding appointments based on political factional affiliation.
Umar subdivided the vast governorship of Iraq and the eastern Caliphate and imprisoned Yazid ibn al-Muhallab for failing to forward spoils to the treasury.
Answer: True
Umar indeed subdivided the vast governorship of Iraq and the eastern Caliphate and imprisoned Yazid ibn al-Muhallab for his failure to remit spoils to the caliphal treasury.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz primarily resided in Damascus during his caliphate, making it the center of his administrative reforms.
Answer: False
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz primarily resided at his estate in Khunasira, northern Syria, during his caliphate, rather than in Damascus.
What significant religious and educational initiatives are attributed to Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's caliphate?
Answer: He oversaw the first official collection of hadiths and mandated universal education.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz is credited with overseeing the first official compilation of hadiths and mandating universal education, among other significant religious and educational initiatives during his caliphate.
What was the most significant reform implemented by Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz during his caliphate?
Answer: The establishment of equality between Arabs and mawali (non-Arab Muslims).
The most significant reform implemented by Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz during his caliphate was the establishment of equality between Arabs and mawali (non-Arab Muslims), addressing long-standing grievances.
How did Umar's tax policy reform the jizya for non-Arab converts to Islam?
Answer: He exempted all Muslims, regardless of heritage, from the jizya tax, but their land remained subject to kharaj.
Umar's tax policy reformed the jizya by exempting all Muslims, including non-Arab converts, from this poll tax, though their land remained subject to the kharaj (land tax) to compensate for revenue.
Which of the following measures did Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz take to expand the Islamization drive?
Answer: He initiated an Islamic iconoclasm and ended the ritual cursing of Caliph Ali.
To expand the Islamization drive, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz initiated an Islamic iconoclasm and notably ended the ritual cursing of Caliph Ali during Friday prayer sermons.
What significant religious contribution is specifically attributed to Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz?
Answer: The ordering of the first official collection of hadith.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz is specifically credited with ordering the first official collection of hadith, a crucial religious contribution aimed at preserving important traditions.
What was Umar's approach to reforming provincial administrations?
Answer: He overhauled them, appointing competent men based on reliability and integrity, rather than political factions.
Umar's approach to reforming provincial administrations involved a comprehensive overhaul, appointing competent men based on their reliability and integrity, rather than political affiliations, to ensure justice and effective governance.
What action did Umar take regarding the vast governorship of Iraq and the eastern Caliphate?
Answer: He subdivided it and imprisoned Yazid ibn al-Muhallab for financial misconduct.
Umar subdivided the extensive governorship of Iraq and the eastern Caliphate and imprisoned Yazid ibn al-Muhallab for failing to forward spoils to the caliphal treasury, demonstrating his commitment to financial accountability.
Where did Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz primarily reside during his caliphate?
Answer: His estate in Khunasira, northern Syria.
During his caliphate, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz primarily resided at his estate in Khunasira, northern Syria, where he also established a fortified headquarters.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz completely halted all military campaigns during his reign, believing all wars were waged for spoil rather than for God.
Answer: False
While Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was disinclined to wars of conquest and ordered some withdrawals, he did not completely halt all military campaigns; he maintained annual summer raids against the Byzantine frontier as a religious duty.
Despite his general policy of halting eastward expansion, Muslim forces in al-Andalus successfully conquered and fortified Narbonne during Umar's reign.
Answer: True
Despite Umar's general policy of halting further eastward expansion, Muslim forces in al-Andalus successfully conquered and fortified the city of Narbonne in modern-day France during his reign.
What was Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's initial military action after becoming Caliph regarding the siege of Constantinople?
Answer: He ordered the withdrawal of the Muslim army from the unsuccessful siege.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's initial military action after becoming Caliph was to order the withdrawal of the Muslim army from the unsuccessful siege of Constantinople.
Despite his general policy of halting eastward expansion, what significant territorial gain occurred during Umar's reign?
Answer: The successful conquest and fortification of Narbonne in modern-day France.
Despite a general policy of halting further eastward expansion, Muslim forces in al-Andalus successfully conquered and fortified the Mediterranean coastal city of Narbonne in modern-day France during Umar's reign.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, also known as Umar II, was the seventh Umayyad caliph and reigned for a period of ten years, focusing primarily on military expansion.
Answer: False
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was the eighth Umayyad caliph, not the seventh, and reigned for approximately two years and four months (717-720 CE), not ten years. His reign was characterized by internal reforms and equality, rather than primary focus on military expansion.
Sunni scholars universally regard Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as the 'first rightly guided caliph' due to his exceptional piety and just governance.
Answer: False
While many Sunni scholars highly regard Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz for his piety and just governance, often calling him the 'first mujaddid' or 'fifth rightly guided caliph,' he is not universally regarded as the *first* rightly guided caliph; that title typically refers to the initial four caliphs after Prophet Muhammad.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz died in Damascus in 720 at the age of 39 and was buried in the city's main mosque.
Answer: False
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz died near Ma'arrat Nu'man, in the village of Dayr Sim'an, between February 5 and February 10, 720 CE, and was buried there, not in Damascus or its main mosque.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was succeeded by his son, Abd al-Malik, who continued his father's reformist policies.
Answer: False
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was succeeded by Yazid II, not his son Abd al-Malik.
Historians Gerald Hawting and Hugh Kennedy both describe Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as a puzzling character who tried to reconcile dynastic needs with Islamic demands.
Answer: True
Hugh Kennedy indeed describes Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as a 'puzzling character' who sought to reconcile dynastic needs with Islamic demands, while Gerald Hawting also recognized his honorable character.
H. A. R. Gibb assessed Umar's main objectives as maintaining Arab unity, addressing mawali grievances, and reconciling political life with religious claims.
Answer: True
H. A. R. Gibb's assessment of Umar's main objectives as Caliph included maintaining Arab unity, addressing the grievances of the mawali, and reconciling political life with religious claims.
Which of the following describes Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's role and reign as the eighth Umayyad caliph?
Answer: He implemented significant reforms for efficiency and equality, reigning from 717 to 720.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, the eighth Umayyad caliph, reigned from 717 to 720 CE and is primarily recognized for implementing significant reforms aimed at improving governmental efficiency and promoting equality.
How is Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz often regarded by many Sunni scholars?
Answer: As the first mujaddid and sometimes the 'fifth rightly guided caliph'.
Many Sunni scholars hold Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz in high esteem, often referring to him as the first mujaddid (reviver of Islam) and occasionally as the 'fifth rightly guided caliph' due to his reputation for just governance.
When and where did Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz die?
Answer: In Dayr Sim'an near Ma'arrat Nu'man, between February 5 and February 10, 720.
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz died in the village of Dayr Sim'an near Ma'arrat Nu'man, between February 5 and February 10, 720 CE, at the age of 39.
Who succeeded Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as Caliph?
Answer: Yazid II
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was succeeded as Caliph by Yazid II, who reigned from 720 to 724 CE.
How do traditional Muslim sources unanimously portray Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz?
Answer: As a pious ruler who governed like a true Muslim, in contrast to other Umayyad caliphs.
Traditional Muslim sources unanimously portray Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as a pious ruler who governed in accordance with true Islamic principles, often contrasting him with other Umayyad caliphs.
According to H. A. R. Gibb, what were Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's three main objectives as Caliph to prevent the collapse of the caliphate?
Answer: Maintaining Arab unity, addressing mawali grievances, and reconciling political life with religious claims.
H. A. R. Gibb identified Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's three main objectives as Caliph as maintaining Arab unity, addressing the grievances of the mawali, and reconciling political life with religious claims, all aimed at preventing the caliphate's collapse.
What was the duration of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz's reign as Caliph?
Answer: 2 years and 137 days
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz reigned as Caliph for a precise duration of 2 years and 137 days, from September 22, 717 CE, to February 4, 720 CE.