# Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik > Umayyad caliph **Wikidata**: [Q284233](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q284233) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulayman_ibn_Abd_al-Malik) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sulayman-ibn-abd-al-malik ## Summary Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik was an Umayyad caliph, military leader, politician, and governor who ruled as part of the Umayyad Caliphate — the second Islamic caliphate, headquartered in Damascus. The son of Caliph Abd al-Malik and brother of Caliphs Al-Walid I and Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, he is evidenced by a gold dinar minted in his name in 715–716, placing his rule in the final years before his death on September 24, 717. ## Biography - **Born:** c. 675 CE - **Died:** September 24, 717 CE - **Full Name:** سُليمان بن عبد الملك بن مروان بن الحكم الأُموي القُرشي (Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ibn al-Hakam al-Umawi al-Qurashi) - **Kunya:** أبو أيُّوب (Abu Ayyub) - **Dynasty:** Umayyad (the first hereditary Islamic caliphate, 661–750 CE) - **Occupations:** Caliph, military leader, politician, governor - **Known for:** Serving as Umayyad caliph; gold dinar coinage minted under his authority in 715–716 - **Father:** Abd al-Malik — notable Umayyad caliph (r. 685–705) who standardized currency, weights, and measures, and commissioned the Dome of the Rock - **Brothers:** Al-Walid I and Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik — both listed as notable leaders of the Umayyad Caliphate - **Citizenship:** Affiliated with the Umayyad Caliphate - **Field:** Governance, military leadership, Islamic caliphate administration ## Contributions Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik's documented contributions are tied to his role as caliph within the Umayyad Caliphate framework. A **gold dinar** bearing his name was minted in **715–716**, confirming his authority over the caliphate's monetary system. This coinage operated within the broader Umayyad economic infrastructure that used gold dinars and silver dirhams to facilitate commerce across trade networks spanning the Silk Road, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean. As caliph, he held **supreme religious and political authority** within a centralized bureaucracy that governed through provinces (*wilayahs*) overseen by governors. His administration inherited and maintained the systems established by his father Abd al-Malik — including the use of **Arabic as the administrative language** of governance and the integration of Persian and Byzantine administrative practices. The professional army he commanded incorporated both Arab and non-Arab soldiers. His reign fell within the period of Umayyad territorial expansion, during which the empire covered approximately **11.1 million km²** at its peak with an estimated population of **70 million**, spanning from the Iberian Peninsula to the Indus River. ## FAQs **Who was Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik?** He was an Umayyad caliph who ruled in the early 8th century, evidenced by gold dinar coinage from 715–716. He was the son of Abd al-Malik and a member of the Umayyad dynasty. **When did Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik live?** He was born around 675 CE and died on September 24, 717 CE. **What was his relationship to other Umayyad caliphs?** He was the son of Caliph Abd al-Malik (r. 685–705) and the brother of both Al-Walid I and Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, all of whom are listed as notable leaders of the Umayyad Caliphate. **What was the Umayyad Caliphate's structure during his time?** The caliphate operated as a centralized hereditary monarchy with Damascus as its capital, governing through provincial governors and maintaining a professional army. The caliph held supreme religious and political authority, advised by a council (*shura*). **What languages and titles were associated with him?** His Arabic name was سُليمان بن عبد الملك بن مروان بن الحكم الأُموي القُرشي, and he was known by the kunya أبو أيُّوب (Abu Ayyub). The caliph title itself traces back to 632 CE as a monarchical claim rooted in succession to Muhammad. ## Why They Matter Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik's significance lies in his position within the Umayyad dynasty at a critical juncture of the Islamic empire. As the son of Abd al-Malik — the caliph who standardized currency, weights, and measures, and commissioned the Dome of the Rock — Sulayman inherited and sustained an administrative apparatus that fundamentally shaped the medieval Islamic world. The gold dinar minted in his name (715–716) demonstrates his continuation of the monetary standardization his father initiated, a system that facilitated trade across an empire spanning three continents. His reign occurred during the height of Umayyad power, when the caliphate's territory stretched approximately 11.1 million km² and governed roughly 70 million people. The administrative frameworks he maintained — Arabic as the official language, a provincial governance system, standardized Sharia law — provided the structural foundation upon which subsequent Islamic empires, including the Abbasids and Ottomans, would build. The Umayyad Caliphate's cultural and architectural legacy, including distinctive Islamic design elements like domes and minarets, was preserved and advanced under rulers like Sulayman during this formative period. His death on September 24, 717, preceded the internal conflicts — including the Third Fitna (744–747) and the Abbasid Revolution (747–750) — that would ultimately topple the Umayyad dynasty. His role as a bridge between the reformist era of his father and the later generation of Umayyad rulers makes him a significant figure in understanding the trajectory of early Islamic governance. ## Notable For - **Umayyad Caliph**: Held the monarchical title of caliph, a position rooted in the claim of succession to Muhammad, established in 632 CE. - **Gold Dinar Coinage (715–716)**: Tangible evidence of his rule survives in the form of a gold dinar minted in his name. - **Member of a Distinguished Caliphal Lineage**: Son of Abd al-Malik (standardizer of Umayyad currency and commissioner of the Dome of the Rock) and brother of Al-Walid I and Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. - **Governor and Military Leader**: Held roles as governor and military leader in addition to the caliphate. - **Citizen of the Largest Contemporary Empire**: Ruled within the Umayyad Caliphate, covering ~11.1 million km² with ~70 million people at its peak. - **Multilingual Recorded Identity**: His full name and kunya are recorded in Arabic — سُليمان بن عبد الملك بن مروان بن الحكم الأُموي القُرشي and أبو أيُّوب. - **Wikipedia Presence**: Documented across 52 sitelinks in multiple languages, indicating broad historical significance. - **Identifiers in Major Knowledge Bases**: Recorded in Wikidata, VIAF (97021516), GND (118826476), Library of Congress (n88036957), BNF (117402540), and numerous other cataloging systems. ## Body ### Early Life and Lineage Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik was born around **675 CE** into the Umayyad dynasty — the first hereditary Islamic caliphate, founded by Mu'awiya I in 661 CE after the Rashidun Caliphate. His full genealogical name, **سُليمان بن عبد الملك بن مروان بن الحكم الأُموي القُرشي** (Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ibn al-Hakam al-Umawi al-Qurashi), traces his lineage through the Umayyad branch of the Quraysh tribe. He was known by the kunya **أبو أيُّوب** (Abu Ayyub). His father, **Abd al-Malik** (r. 685–705), was one of the most consequential Umayyad caliphs, credited with standardizing Umayyad currency, weights, and measures, and commissioning the **Dome of the Rock** in Jerusalem. His brothers **Al-Walid I** and **Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik** are both listed among the notable leaders of the Umayyad Caliphate, making his immediate family one of the most powerful ruling lineages in early Islamic history. ### The Umayyad Caliphate Context The Umayyad Caliphate, established in **661 CE** and lasting until **750 CE**, was the second Islamic caliphate. It emerged after Mu'awiya I defeated Ali ibn Abi Talib at the Battle of Siffin (657 CE), leading to the First Fitna. Key characteristics of the caliphate during Sulayman's era included: - **Capital**: Damascus - **Territory**: Approximately 11.1 million km² at peak, spanning from the Iberian Peninsula to the Indus River - **Population**: Estimated 70 million - **Currency**: Gold dinar and silver dirham - **Official Language**: Arabic - **Preceded By**: Rashidun Caliphate - **Succeeded By**: Abbasid Caliphate (after 750 CE) - **Religious Practice**: Standardized Islamic practices with the Quran as the central text The Umayyads transitioned Islamic governance from the Rashidun's elective system to a **hereditary monarchy**, centralizing power in Damascus rather than Medina. ### Reign as Caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik's caliphate is documented by the **gold dinar minted in 715–716**, confirming his rule during this period. His death on **September 24, 717 CE** marks the end of his reign. During his time as caliph, he held multiple concurrent roles: **military leader**, **politician**, **governor**, and **caliph** — reflecting the concentrated authority of the Umayyad rulership. As caliph, he would have held **supreme religious and political authority**, advised by a council (*shura*), within a governance structure that divided the empire into provinces (*wilayahs*) overseen by appointed governors. The administrative system maintained **Arabic as the language of governance** and integrated Persian and Byzantine administrative practices. ### Military and Geopolitical Context The Umayyad Caliphate during the early 8th century was engaged in major military campaigns, including the **Siege of Constantinople** (674–678, with later campaigns continuing into Sulayman's era) and expansion across North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, and Central Asia. The empire's main rivals were the **Byzantine Empire** in the west and, eventually, the Abbasid movement in the east. The professional army incorporated both Arab and non-Arab soldiers. ### Economic Administration Under Umayyad governance, the empire thrived on **trade networks** spanning the Silk Road, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean. The gold dinar and silver dirham facilitated commerce. Agricultural surpluses from Egypt and Iraq supported urbanization. The Umayyads invested in infrastructure including **roads, bridges, and irrigation systems**, boosting economic productivity. Sulayman's gold dinar from 715–716 is a direct artifact of this monetary system. ### Culture and Society Umayyad cultural patronage flourished in Damascus and other urban centers. Poets like **Al-Akhtal** and **Jarir ibn Atiyah** were celebrated under Umayyad patronage. Scholars translated Greek and Persian works into Arabic. The dynasty promoted Islamic orthodoxy while tolerating certain non-Muslim practices in some regions. Social hierarchies favored **Arab elites**, though non-Arab converts (*mawali*) gradually gained influence — a tension that would eventually contribute to the dynasty's downfall. ### After Sulayman: Decline of the Umayyads Following Sulayman's death in 717, the Umayyad Caliphate continued under his relatives but faced increasing internal dissent. Key subsequent events included: - **Third Fitna (744–747)**: Internal conflicts that weakened the dynasty - **Battle of Tours (732)**: A major military engagement in the west - **Abbasid Revolution (747–750)**: Fueled by Persian and Iraqi discontent, culminating in the **Battle of the Zab (750)**, where Abbasid forces defeated Marwan II - **Fall of Damascus (750)**: The Abbasids executed many Umayyads, though **Abd al-Rahman I** fled to Al-Andalus, establishing the Emirate of Córdoba, preserving Umayyad rule in Spain until 1031 ### Legacy The Umayyad Caliphate's administrative and cultural achievements — including those maintained during Sulayman's reign — influenced all subsequent Islamic empires. The **standardization of Arabic script** and **Sharia law** provided a foundation for Islamic unity. The empire's expansion facilitated the exchange of knowledge, goods, and ideas across Eurasia, shaping global history. The dynasty's architectural style, blending Byzantine and Persian elements, became a hallmark of Islamic design. Sulayman's role as a ruler within this transformative period connects him to the broader legacy that laid the groundwork for the **Islamic Golden Age**. ### Recorded Identifiers Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik is catalogued across numerous international knowledge systems: - **Wikidata ID**: Associated entry with 52 sitelinks - **VIAF**: 97021516 - **GND**: 118826476 - **Library of Congress**: n88036957 - **BNF**: 117402540 - **ISNI**: 0000000090441774 - **Freebase**: /m/028g5p - **Encyclopædia Britannica**: biography/Sulayman-ibn-Abd-al-Malik - **Britannica Student**: al-walid-ibn-abd-al-malik - **Encyclopædia Islamica**: suleyman-b-abdulmelik - **CERL**: cnp00539559 - **U.S. Congress Bio Directory**: 139037 - **ULAN**: 204624 - **Library of Congress Name Authority**: 90527255 - **BabelNet**: 1849695 ## References 1. [Source](http://viaf.org/viaf/data/viaf-20170101-links.txt.gz) 2. Virtual International Authority File 3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 4. [Source](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulaiman_bin_Abdul_Malik) 5. CERL Thesaurus 6. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/suleyman-b-abdulmelik)