Marwan b. al-Hakam: Difference between revisions

'''Marwān b. al-Ḥakam b. Abī l-ʿĀs b. Umayya''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|مروان بن الحکم بن أبي العاص بن أمیة}}) was the fourth [[Umayyad]] caliph and the head of Marwanids. In his childhood, Marwan and his father were exiled to [[Ta'if]] and were taken back to [[Medina]] by the third caliph, [['Uthman b. 'Affan]], where he received a position in the administration of the [[caliphate]]. In the battles of [[Jamal]] and [[Battle of Siffin|Siffin]], he stood against [[Imam Ali (a)]]. Later he opposed burying the body of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] beside the grave of his grandfather, the [[Holy Prophet (s)]]. He later had an argument with [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] as the latter (a) did not give [[allegiance]] to [[Yazid]]. After withdrawal of [[Mu'awiya b. Yazid]] from caliphate, Marwan took the caliphate and after about ten months, he was poisoned by his wife and died in [[65]]/685.

Marwan b. Hakam b. Abi l-'As b. Umayya b. 'Abd Shams b. 'Abd Manaf was born in [[2]]/623. His [[kunya]] was Abu 'Abd al-Malik<ref>Ziriklī, ''al-Aʿlām'', vol. 7, p. 207.</ref> and since he was tall while he had an unbalanced body, he became famous as "Khit al-Batil" (deviated lanky).<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 3, p. 1388; Ibn al-Athīr al-Jazarī, ''Usd al-ghāba'', vol. 4, p. 369.</ref> He was the first person from among the children of Hakam b. Abi l-'As who reached caliphate and Banu Marwan are called after him.<ref>Samʿānī, ''al-Ansāb'', vol. 12, p. 205.</ref>

The father of Marwan, Hakam b. Abi l-'As b. Umayya was cursed and exiled by the Prophet (s) because of exposing the Prophet's (s) secrets before the chiefs of [[Quraysh]]<ref>Ibn al-Athīr al-Jazarī, ''Usd al-ghāba'', vol. 4, p. 368.</ref> and thus [[Sunni]] scholars did not count him among the [[Sahaba|companion]]s of the Prophet (s).<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 3, p. 1387.</ref> Some reports have mentioned Ta'if as the birth place of Marwan. He settled in Ta'if together with his father and at the time of [[Abu Bakr]] and [['Umar]] remained in exile.<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 1, p. 359, 360.</ref>

Following the caliphate of 'Uthman, Marwan and his father returned to Medina <ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 1, p. 360.</ref>and became a scribe and favored by 'Uthman's government <ref>Ziriklī, ''al-Aʿlām'', vol. 7, p. 207.</ref> and later became his son-in-law<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 4, p. 379.</ref>. It is reported that Imam Ali (a) told him, "woe be on you and on the people of Muhammad (s) from what you do."<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 3, p. 1388.</ref>

Historical sources have mentioned his actions among the major causes of uprising against 'Uthman and his killing.<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 6, p. 204.</ref> One of his actions was his report about inviting people to uprising by [['Ammar b. Yasir]] which led to 'Uthman's order to assault and beat 'Ammar so much that 'Ammar dropped unconscious.<ref>Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 1, p. 51.</ref>

After Imam Ali (a) became the caliph in [[35]]/656, Marwan did not give allegiance to him and escaped to Mecca and joined [['A'isha]].<ref>Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 1, p. 73.</ref>

He was among the people who provoked [[Talha]] and [[Zubayr]] to revolt and make a government and asked them to force people to give allegiance to them.<ref>Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 1, p. 78, 79.</ref> In the [[Battle of Jamal]], he was in the army of Talha and Zubayr<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 6, p. 204.</ref> and sought the vengeance of 'Uthman<ref>Ziriklī, ''al-Aʿlām'', vol. 7, p. 207.</ref>. However, according to some historians, it was because Talha wanted to withdraw from war.<ref>Dīnawarī, ''Akhbār al-ṭiwāl'', p. 148.</ref>

In the Battle of Jamal, Marwan was taken captive together with 'A'isha, 'Amr b. 'Uthman, Musa b. Talha and 'Amr b. Sa'id b. Abi l-'As, but Imam Ali (a) granted amnesty to them.<ref>Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 1, p. 97.</ref> However, according to some sources, Marwan escaped to [[Syria]] after the escape of his companions towards the end of the battle.<ref>Ziriklī, ''al-Aʿlām'', vol. 7, p. 207.</ref>

In the [[Battle of Siffin]], Marwan, stood against Imam Ali (a) in Umayyad army.<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 6, p. 204.</ref> In this battle, [[Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan|Mu'awiya]] asked Marwan to stand against [[Malik al-Ashtar]] and fight with him but Marwan refused and brought an excuse.<ref> Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 1, p. 132.</ref> According to a report, after the battle, Imam (a) granted amnesty to them. Marwan gave allegiance to Imam (a), returned to Medina and settled there.<ref>Ziriklī, ''al-Aʿlām'', vol. 7, p. 207.</ref>

In [[41]]/661, after Mu'awiya reached the caliphate, Marwan was appointed as the governor of Medina.<ref>Dīnawarī, ''Akhbār al-ṭiwāl'', p. 224.</ref> After a while, Mu'awiya appended Mecca and Medina to the government of Marwan.<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 3, p. 1388; Ibn al-Athīr al-Jazarī, ''Usd al-ghāba'', vol. 4, p. 369.</ref> Later, Mu'awiya dismissed Marwan and replaced him with Sa'id b. Abi l-'As. Some reports referred to Marwan's refusal of taking allegiance of people for Yazid, son of Mu'awiya as the cause of this dismissal.<ref>Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 1, p. 197, 198.</ref>

In [[54]]/674, Marwan was again appointed as the governor of Medina and later was dismissed again and was replaced with Walid b. 'Ataba.<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 3, p. 1388.</ref> In that period as well, Marwan continued to oppose and act against Imams (a). In the [[burial]] of the body of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]], Marwan prevented from burying his body beside the grave of the Holy Prophet (s). Also, after [[Yazid b. Mu'awiya|Yazid]] reached caliphate, Marwan made a great effort to take allegiance of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]], so much that he had an argument with him before Walid b. 'Ataba, the governor of Medina.<ref>Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 1, p. 227.</ref>

After the revolt of the people of Medina against Yazid, Marwan was exiled from the city and then asked 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar to protect his family, but Ibn 'Umar refused it and so Marwan had the same request from Imam al-Sajjad (a) and he (a) accepted his request and followed it up.<ref>Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 1, p. 230, 231.</ref> Then, Marwan went to Syria and stayed there until the death of [[Mu'awiya b. Yazid b. Mu'awiya]].<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 4, p. 204.</ref> According to some historical reports, the [[Event of Harra]] happened after the exile of Marwan and other Umayyads and their request for help from Yazid, when he sent an army to Medina.<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 6, p. 204.</ref>

After [[Mu'awiya b. Yazid]] withdrew from caliphate ([[64]]/683), Umayyads gave allegiance to Marwan for caliphate.<ref>Ziriklī, ''al-Aʿlām'', vol. 7, p. 207.</ref> To strengthen his government, Marwan first went to Jabiya (north of Hawran) and called people to himself and in 64/683-684, people of [[Jordan]] gave allegiance to him. He then went to Syria and tried to correct affairs. In Syria, [[Dahhak b. Qays al-Fihri]] was calling people to give allegiance to [['Abd Allah b. Zubayr]] and this led to his battle with Marwan, when Dahhak was defeated and killed.<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 6, p. 204.</ref>

To expand his rule, Marwan sent an army to [[Egypt]] and brought the people there who wanted to give allegiance to 'Abd Allah b. Zubayr under his own control. He then appointed his son, [['Abd al-Malik b. Marwan|'Abd al-Malik]] to the government there. Then, he returned to Syria and died soon.<ref>Ziriklī, ''al-Aʿlām'', vol. 7, p. 207.</ref>

One of the important actions he did during his short rule was minting Dinar coins of Syria, on which the verse "Qul Hu-wa Allah-u Ahad" ([[Sura al-Ikhlas|"Say, He is Allah, the One"]]) was inscribed.<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 4, p. 204.</ref>

After Yazid died, Marwan married Umm Khalid bt. Hashim b. 'Ataba b. Rabi'a (wife of Yazid and mother of Khalid b. Yazid) so that Umm Khalid bear a child for him.<ref>Maqdisī, ''al-Badʾ wa l-tārīkh'', vol. 6, p. 57.</ref> One day, in a gathering, he swore at the mother of Khalid b. Yazid which made the latter angry. Khalid b. Yazid complained to his mother, but she asked him to keep silent and promised him the he would never hear a bad word from Marwan again. After this incident, Umm Khalid poisoned Marwan and killed him.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 5, p. 31; Ibn al-Jawzī, ''al-Muntaẓam'', vol. 6, p. 49.</ref>

According to historical reports, Umm Khalid suffocated him with a pillow when he was sleeping.<ref>Ibn al-ʿImrānī, ''al-Inbāʾ'', p. 49.</ref> According to another report, Marwan was struck by plague and it killed him.<ref>Ziriklī, ''al-Aʿlām'', vol. 7, p. 207.</ref>

Marwan's caliphate lasted nine or ten months. He died at the beginning of the month of [[Ramadan]], 65/685 at the age of 64.<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 3, p. 1389.</ref> Before his death, he had made his son, 'Abd al-Malik, as the crown prince and appointed his other son, 'Abd al-'Aziz, as the second crown prince; so, after the death of Marwan, 'Abd al-Malik became the caliph and people of [[Syria]] gave allegiance to him.<ref>Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, ''al-Imāma wa l-sīyāsa'', vol. 2, p. 23.</ref>

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