CHAPTER LIII
ʿOMAR II
99–101 A.H. 717–720 A.D.
ʿOmar II.,
ii. 99 A.H.
Sept., 717 A.D.If Suleimān differed from Al-Welīd, ʿOmar differed incomparably more, not only from both, but also from all other Caliphs both before and after him. An unaffected piety, tinged albeit with bigotry, led to uprightness, moderation, simplicity of life, and to a rule that was eminently just and peaceful. On assuming the Caliphate, the royal grooms brought before him the prancing steeds of the court stables to choose from; but he preferred his own modest equipage. He bade his wife surrender to the treasury the costly jewels given her by her father, ʿAbd al-Melik, else he could no longer live with her; and she obeyed. On ʿOmar's death, her brother Yezīd succeeding to the throne, offered to restore them, but she, mindful of her husband's wish, declined. Calling his other wives and slave-girls to him, ʿOmar told them, that as now he had to bear the weight of empire, they must no longer expect from him the same attention and benevolence as before, but it was open to them to leave: they wept, and all declared that they would not be parted from him. In his first oration he invited only those to join his company who would help in doing that which was just and right. Poets, orators, and such like soon found that his court was no place for them, while it was thronged by godly and devout divines. His pious scruples led him sometimes into acts of questionable expediency. The demesnes at Fadak, reserved by the Prophet for public charity,[1] but some time back wrongfully appropriated by Merwān for the expenses of the court, were now, against
- ↑ Life of Moḥammad, pp. 503, 536.
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