Who was ‘Abd Al-Malik ibn Marawan?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

‘Abd Al-Malik ibn Marwaan was one of the famous Umayyad Caliphs. The following lines will provide a brief account on his biography excerpted from Mukhtasar A‘laam An-Nublaa' by Ath-Thahabi :

His full name is ‘Abd Al-Malik ibn Marwan ibn Al-Hakam ibn Abi Al-‘Aas ibn Umayyah, the Caliph and Faqeeh (versed scholar of Fiqh), nicknamed Abu Al-Waleed Al-Umawi. He was born in 26 AH and heard Hadeeth from ‘Uthman, Abu Hurayrah, Abu Sa‘eed, Umm Salamah, Mu‘awiyah, Ibn ‘Umar, Bareerah, and others. He was known for his profound knowledge.

Among those who heard Hadeeth from him were ‘Urwah, Khalid ibn Ma‘dan, Raja’ ibn Haywah, Isma‘eel ibn ‘Ubaydullah, Az-Zuhri, Rabee‘ah ibn Yazeed, Yoonus ibn Maysarah, and others.

After his father's death, he became ruler over Shaam (Greater Syria) and Egypt. He then fought against Ibn Az-Zubayr, who was chosen as Caliph and killed his brother Mus‘ab in the battle of Maskin. He seized Iraq and commissioned Al-Hajjaj to fight Ibn Az-Zubayr. Al-Hajjaaj killed Ibn Az-Zubayr in 72 AH; ‘Abd Al-Malik’s rule was reinforced.

Ibn Sa‘d said, “He was known for his devotion to worship in Madeenah before becoming the Caliph.”

Ibn ‘Aa'ishah said, “When ‘Abd Al-Malik was told that he had become Caliph, he was holding the Quran in his hands, so he closed it and said, ‘This is the end of my time with you.’ Ath-Thahabi commented on this statement saying, ‘O Allah! Safeguard us from plots and trials!’

He was one of the noblest and most astute people of his time, and Al-Hajjaj was one of his sins.”

He passed away in Shawwaal 86 AH and he was a little over sixty.

Allah knows best.