Al-Walid I

Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik (Arabic: ‫ )الوليد بن عبد الملك‬or Al-Walid I (668 - 715) was
an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 705 - 715. He continued the expansion of the
Islamic empire that was sparked by his father, and was an effective ruler.

Al-Walid I was the eldest son of Abd al-Malik and succeeded him to the caliphate
upon his death. Like his father, he continued to allow Al-Hajjaj bin Yousef free rein,
and his trust in Al-Hajjaj paid off with the successful conquests of Transoxiana and
Sindh. Musa ibn Nusayr and his retainer Tariq ibn Ziyad conquered Al-Andalus. Al-
Hajjaj was responsible for picking the generals who led the successful eastern
campaigns, and was well known from his own successful campaign against Ibn
Zubayr during the reign of Al-Walid's father. Others, such as al-Walid's brother
Salamah, advanced against the Byzantines and into Adharbayjan.

Valladolid is an industrial city and it is a municipality in north-central Spain, upon the

Rio Pisuerga and within the Ribera del Duero region. It is the capital of the province
of Valladolid and of the autonomous community of Castile and Leon, therefore is part
of the historical region of Castile. The name "Valladolid" is linked with the Arabic
name for the city ‫ بلد الوليد‬meaning The City of Al- Walid.

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari describes how Qutaibah bin Muslim, Khurasan's
governor, led forces extending the caliphate to the east. Qutaibah campaigned in most,
if not all, years of this reign, conquering Samarqand, advancing into Farghana and
sending envoys to China. (v. 23)

Al-Tabari records how al-Hajjaj tortured Yazid ibn al-Muhallab. Yazid escaped and
made his way to al-Walid's brother Suleiman ibn Abd al-Malik who granted him
refuge. Al-Hajjaj pressed al-Walid about this and al-Walid commanded Suleiman to
send him Yazid in chains. Suleiman had his own son approach al-Walid chained to
Yazid and speak in favour of Yazid's safety. Al-Walid accepted this and told al-Hajjaj
to desist. (v. 23, p. 156f)

Al-Walid himself continued the effective rule that was characteristic of his father, he
developed a welfare system, built hospitals, educational institutions and measures for
the appreciation of art.

In 691, Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ordered that the Dome of the Rock be built
on the site where the Islamic prophet Muhammad is believed by Muslims to have
begun his nocturnal journey to heaven, on the Temple Mount. About a decade
afterward, Caliph Al-Walid I ordered the building of Al-Aqsa Mosque.[73] It was
under Umayyad rule of Al- Walid and his father Abd al-Malik that Christians and
Jews were granted the official title of "Peoples of the Book" to underline the common
monotheistic roots they shared with Islam

Al-Walid himself was an enthusiast of architecture and he repaired and refurbished

Masjid al Nabawi in Medina. He also improved mountain passes and wells in Hijaz
(al-Tabari v. 23, p. 144). In addition, he demolished the Christian Basilica of St. John
the Baptist to build a great mosque, now known as the Great Mosque of Damascus or

1
simply the Umayyad Mosque (John the Baptist is considered a Prophet of Islam and is
known as Yahya).

Al-Walid paid great attention to the expansion of an organized military, building the
strongest navy in Ummayad era, it was this tactic that supported the ultimate
expansion to Spain. His reign is considered as the apex of Islamic power.

He was also known for his own personal piety, and many stories tell of his continual
reciting of the Qur'an and the large feasts he hosted for those fasting during Ramadan.
He was married to Umm Banin bint Abdul Aziz ibn Marwan ibn Hakam.

Al-Walid was succeeded by his brother Suleiman.