Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

Condition of Empire on the Eve of Abdul Malik’s Reign
Yazid was succeeded by his son Mu’avviya II who died shortly three months after. Marwan I, son of al-Hakam b. Abu’l A’s b. Ummayah, was raised to the throne on 3rd Dhiqad 64 A.H.(June

22, 684) at al-Jabiyah by the courtiers setting aside the claim of Khalid, the minor brother of Mu’awiya II. Only a part of Syria including Damascus had been left in the hands of Umayyads, while Ibn al-Zubayr was accepted as Caliph at Makkah, Medina, Kufah, Mesopotamia and a large part of Syria. Persia was under the command of the Kharijis. Even at Damascus Ibn Zubayr had his supporter in al-Dahhak ibn Qays, governor of Damascus, who on the accession of Marwan I retired to Marj al-Rahit the plain, north of Damascus and was joined by the Bani Qays and northern tribes who were opposed to the Kharijites the supporters of Marwan.’

The patronization of the South Arabian tribes settled in Syria by the founder of the dynasty himself had antagonised the north Arabian tribes settled in north Syria, Mesopotamia and ’Iraq. The tribal feuds that ensued after the death of Yazid never really subsided. The new ruler encamped at al-Jabiyah and with the help of the Ghassanids and the Kalbites defeated and killed Dahhak in the battle at Marj al-Rahit in Dhiqad 64 A.H.(July 684). 1 This battle proved to be the second Siffm for the Umayyads. and this victory brought the whole of Syria to the rule of Marwan ibn al-Hakam (683-5 A.D.). The battle gave rise to a blood-feud between the Qaysi and Kalbi (Yamani) Arabs. These internal feuds were among the events which ultimately precipitated the fall of the dynasty. After the battle of Marj al-Rahit, oath-taking ceremony was held at Damascus and thus the rule of Marwan, the cousin of and secretary to Usman was established and Egypt was regained So an army under ’Ubayc Allah was sent to Mesopotamia but that was routed by Ibn Zu
S M ImamuJdin. P 21

380
Political and Cultural Histon/ of Isl
men. Superceding the claim of Khalid. Marwan 1 declared his son ’Abdul Malik heir apparent and married the widow of Ya/id. He died of plague at the age of seventy on 7th Ma> 685. His reign lasted for hard I \ a year.