Mention the reforms introduced by Khalifa Umar Ibn Abdulaziz of the Ummayads.

KCSE IRE Paper 2 2011 Question 5(a) with Answers.

(a) Mention the reforms introduced by Khalifa Umar Ibn Abdulaziz of the Ummayads. (8 marks)

 Reforms introduced by Khalifa Umar Ibn AbdulAziz of the Ummayads

1. gave equal civil status to the mawalii and exempted them from paying Kharaj (land tax) and this led to more people converting to Islam.
2. He forbade forceful circumcision e.g forbade the khurasan governor in to forcing converts to get circumcised.
3. tolerant towards non-Muslims e.g he reduced taxes for the Christians of Najran also once a Muslim killed a non-Muslim and he ordered that the Muslim be killed.
4. he forbade the sale of land by non-Muslims to Muslims because the Muslims did not pay Kharaj.
5. he improved the status of the Alids e.g he restored the privileges which they enjoyed during the time of the glorious caliphate.
6. he banned the cursing of Ah (R.A) and his descendants during Friday Khutba.
7. he appointed officials on merit and piety. He instructed his governors to be loyal to the people, dutiful and sincere and not to accept bribes, attack or oppress people.
8. he was strick in administration and took strict measures against dishonest governors and officials e.g Yazid Ibn Muhallab was imprisoned for misappropriating funds of war,
9. jails were reformed, jailers and warders were strictly ordered not to misbehave with prisoners. Prisoners were given monthly allowances, clothing and education so as to make them useful members of the society.
10. he never used state funds for personal benefits, he lead a simple life and encouraged people to do likewise.
11. introduced measures such as census of people, survey of land, building of schools, hospitals, roads bridges and canals.
12. expanded the empire through peaceful conquest, stopped all military expeditions, there was no rebellion or war during his rule, the shia and kharijites were happy with his rule.
13. improvement in education where a number of books were translated into Arabic e.g Masal Juwari who was a Jew from Basrah translated medical Syrian books into Arabic.
14. eradicated poverty within two years and three months of his rule such that people would walk around with their zakat looking for people to give.
15. he took legal measures to check the tendency of purchasing land in cities, he restored land which was grabbed to its original owners.

(8x 1=8 marks)

Read More