Interfaces and Intentions of the Omayyad Caliphate Towards the Opposition Forces in Iraq41-132 A.H. / 661-749 A.D.

Abstract

The Omayyad took over the caliphate as they had the military power after the governor of Levant Mu'awiya Ibn Abi Sufyan rebelled against the  authority of the Prince of Believers the caliphate Ali Ibn Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) and against his son AlHasan (May Allah be pleased with him), who made a concession of his right as a caliph to prevent the bloodshed of Muslims. Therefore, this is considered an antecedent in the history performed by Mu'awiya in terms of the power transfer that was pivoted on Shura and election.To justify this, there should have been an evidence from the Islamic Sharea’ especially in terms of the tendencies that claimed the priority and rightfulness in the position of caliph. So, what was called fatalism in the political system was introduced, which means that was the will of Almighty Allah and this principle is associated with selection and choice of Allah and that human has no role in that. Therefore, as this principle claims, the Islamic nation should submit the Allah’s will. So, the Omayyad described the trends which oppose them as contradictory to the will of Almighty Allah and as disobedience. This way the Umayyads employed the religious façade for the purpose of political intentions that enabled them to suppress the resistance movements freely particularly in Iraq which represents a considerable political and military axis and because the tribes in Iraq refused loyalty and submission to the Umayyad as these tribes had an evident inclination towards the Prophet’s family (peace be upon them).

After the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Muslims established a basis for naming his successor to lead the nation, based on Shura, election and pledge of loyalty and they became constants through which the caliphs take over the power, in spite of the different way adopted beginning from the caliphate of Abu Bakr until the caliphate of Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him).

However, the arrival of Mu'awiya Ibn Abi Sufyan to the position of caliphate due to the military force based on the tribes of the Levant, broke historical precedents in the absence of a legitimate basis for his succession, as well as his lack of the conditions of succession. So, part of the Islamic nation considered him a usurper of this right manifested by choosing its successor and this criticism came from persons who are ahead of him by precedence and entitlement and are characterized by the qualities of the Imamate.

In an attempt to legitimize his caliphate and confront the opposition forces, he claimed that the assumption of the caliphate was based on the will of Allah and that it was an order from Allah and a decree from Him. Caliphs of Umayyad who came after him followed this approach in establishing the concept of compulsory in caliphate succession.

The religious front that robbed the nation of its right aimed at silencing the opposition forces, especially in the Hejaz and Iraq, and Iraq led the opposition as the largest base for the militant gathering, as well as the loyalty of its people to the Prophet’s family members (peace be upon them). Therefore, Iraq attracted most of the political and military events in this era, and it is no wonder that it occupies its place, especially in Umayyad politics that was characterized by violence and severity at the political and military levels in addition to the economic pressure, represented by denying them from their rights and paying them the minimum  payment. But this punishment practiced by didn’t achieve loyalty and obedience of the people of Iraq to their state, but rather increased the anger and frustration  until this led to the overthrow of the Umayyad Caliphate by a secret movement that started from Kufa and ended with the announcement of the establishment of the Abbasid Caliphate.