# Umar II

> Umayyad caliph from 717 to 720

**Wikidata**: [Q298403](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298403)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umar_ibn_Abd_al-Aziz)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/umar-ii

## Summary
Umar II, also known as ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, was the eighth Umayyad caliph, ruling from 717 to 720. He is recognized for his pious reforms and efforts to align the Umayyad Caliphate more closely with Islamic principles, earning him the title "Umayyad Saint."

## Biography
- Born: November 2, 681, in Medina
- Nationality: Umayyad Caliphate
- Education: Studied under Salih ibn Kaysan; student of Tawba al-Anbari
- Known for: Serving as the Umayyad Caliph from 717 to 720 and instituting significant religious and administrative reforms
- Employer(s): Umayyad Caliphate (as Caliph and Governor)
- Field(s): Politics, governance, religious leadership

## Contributions
Umar II is most notably known for his tenure as the Umayyad Caliph, during which he implemented reforms aimed at reducing corruption and restoring Islamic values within the Caliphate. He also served as the Governor of Madina from 706 to 712. His leadership emphasized justice, piety, and equity, distinguishing him from many of his Umayyad predecessors. He was instrumental in the minting of coins, including the gold dinar, which bore inscriptions in Arabic and helped standardize currency.

## FAQs
### Who was Umar II?
Umar II, born ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, was the eighth Umayyad caliph, ruling from 717 to 720. He is known for his religious reforms and efforts to return the Umayyad Caliphate to the principles of early Islamic governance.

### What positions did Umar II hold?
He served as the Governor of Madina from 706 to 712 and later became the Umayyad Caliph from 717 until his death in 720.

### What were Umar II's major reforms?
Umar II introduced reforms to reduce corruption, promote justice, and align the Umayyad administration with Islamic values. He also restructured taxation and governance to reflect Islamic equity.

### How did Umar II die?
He died on February 5, 720, reportedly from poison, making his death a homicide. He was buried at the Omar Ibn abdel-Aziz tomb.

### What is Umar II's legacy?
Umar II is remembered for his moral and administrative reforms, his rejection of dynastic privilege, and his efforts to restore Islamic principles in governance, which influenced later Islamic rulers and thinkers.

## Why They Matter
Umar II's reign, though brief, left a significant mark on the Umayyad Caliphate by introducing reforms that emphasized justice, piety, and equity. His rule is often contrasted with the more secular and dynastic tendencies of earlier Umayyad rulers. His efforts to align governance with Islamic principles influenced later Islamic thought and governance models. His death in 720 marked the end of a transformative, albeit short, period of reform, and his legacy is often cited as a model of moral leadership in Islamic history.

## Notable For
- Being called the "Umayyad Saint" for his pious rule
- Implementing reforms to reduce corruption and promote justice
- Serving as both Governor of Madina and later as Umayyad Caliph
- Introducing the gold dinar as a reformed currency with Islamic inscriptions
- Being a descendant of the first Caliph Abu Bakr, which gave him a unique status among Umayyad rulers
- His death under suspicious circumstances, reportedly by poison

## Body

### Early Life and Lineage
Umar II, born ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, was a member of the Umayyad dynasty, but his lineage also connected him to the first Caliph, Abu Bakr. He was born on November 2, 681, in Medina, which was part of the Umayyad Caliphate. His father was Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan, and his mother was Layla bint Asim. He was also related to the family of the second Caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, through his ancestry.

### Education and Early Career
Umar II was educated under the guidance of Salih ibn Kaysan, a respected scholar of the time. He was also a student of Tawba al-Anbari, which influenced his deep religious and moral inclinations. His early career began as the Governor of Madina, a position he held from 706 to 712, where he gained a reputation for justice and piety.

### Rise to the Caliphate
In 717, Umar II was appointed as the eighth Umayyad Caliph, succeeding Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik. His reign was marked by a strong emphasis on Islamic values and justice, distinguishing him from his predecessors. He introduced reforms aimed at reducing corruption and aligning the administration with the principles of early Islamic governance.

### Reforms and Governance
As Caliph, Umar II implemented significant administrative and religious reforms. He abolished many of the privileges enjoyed by the Umayyad elite, reduced taxes for non-Muslim subjects, and promoted equitable governance. He also restructured the military and administrative systems to ensure that leadership positions were filled based on merit and piety rather than nepotism.

### Currency Reform
Umar II is credited with reforming the currency system of the Caliphate. The gold dinar minted during his rule bore Islamic inscriptions and was a symbol of the Caliphate's financial and religious identity. These coins, such as the one featuring the image "Gold dinar of Umar II," were not only economic tools but also religious statements.

### Death and Burial
Umar II died on February 5, 720, under suspicious circumstances, widely believed to be due to poison. His death marked the end of his reformist era. He was buried in the Omar Ibn abdel-Aziz tomb, a site that became a symbol of his legacy.

### Family and Personal Life
Umar II was married to Fatima bint Abd al-Malik and had children including Abdul-Malik ibn Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz, Abd Allah ibn Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, and Abd al-Aziz ibn Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz. He also had a sister named Umm al-Banin bint Abdul Aziz.

### Legacy and Influence
Umar II's legacy is that of a reformer who tried to realign the Umayyad Caliphate with the values of early Islam. His influence extended beyond his lifetime, inspiring later Islamic leaders to pursue justice and equity. His death marked the end of a brief but impactful era of moral governance in a dynasty often criticized for its worldliness and political excesses.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.arabnews.com/news/459112)
2. [Source](http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/07/countries/saudi-arabia/seven-madinah-mosques-popular-with-visitors)
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. CiNii Research
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. IdRef
8. CERL Thesaurus
9. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/omer-b-abdulaziz)