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

35

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE UNDER THE UMAYYADS
With the Umayyads the concept of early Caliphate entirely changed. The democratic spirit of the Caliphate changed into monarchy. Hence the elective aspect of Caliphate vanished altogether and the Caliphs began to nominate their successors only by dynastic considerations. The Caliphate was confined to the house of Banu Umayyah. However the people were required to oath of allegiance to the successor designate during the life time of the reigning Caliph, and oath of allegiance had to be renewed at the time of the succession of the new Caliph. So the institution of Caliphate was changed into a de-facto kingship. With the change of this structure of Caliphate, the powers of the Umayyad Caliphs enhanced. In Arabia a feudal society was being born from a tribal one and it required feudal overlords. The Umayyad supplied with them. As to the method of appointing the successors, the experience of the preceding half a century had clearly shown Mu’awiya that the method of nomination was the best. He also knew that in the case of earlier nominations it was not personal merit alone that counted.
For instance, by no stretch of imagination could it be considered that Hazrat Usman (Rad.A) was the best qualified person for the Caliph on the ground of personal capacity to rule a material race and rising empire. Family wealth, position, relationship to the Holy Prophet, tribal backing, and past services were all taken into account. When family, status, wealth, tribal backing etc, counted in nominating a successor and not services to Islam or personal merits alone, it was quite natural that Mu’awiya should nominate his son for this great office. Under the family Abu Sufyan succession was determined by the rule of primogeniture. Later on the nomination of a single successor under the Mu’awiya place to the nomination of two under the Mu’awiya.
Administrative Structure Under the Umayyads 465
The absence of definite and fixed law and principles of stategoverned was the chief reason why the Orthodox Caliphate lasted only for thirty years and was easily subverted by Mu’awiya a hereditary and monarchical form which it retained throughout the subsequent age of Islamic history. Umayyad government was purely aristocratic and monarch type of state system. Except the Umar bin Abdul Aziz, all the Caliphs of Umayyad dynasty believed in the hereditary leadership. Now we deal the administration of the Umayyad period. There are the central offices or institution of the Umayyad government.1
1. The Caliphate 2. The Shura - Advisory Body
3. Absolutism 4. The Court
5. Central Board - Diwan (i) The Military Board (ii)
The Board of Finance (in) The Board of correspondence (iv) The Board of signet (v) The Board of post.