Beautiful Egypt 131 – «Relieve the People» – November 15, 2015

   In one of the previous articles entitled “A Promise and a Warning”, published on July 12, 2015, we spoke of Pope Simon I, the forty-second patriarch, and his relation with Abdul Aziz bin Marawan the proconsul of Egypt. During that era, lots of tribulations took place because of the Melchites who ordained a bishop and two priests unbeknownst to the proconsul. So, he charged the Pope with treason and sending Egypt’s news to India. But, the Pope was declared innocent eventually.

   After the Pope’s departure, St. Mark’s See was vacant for three years. Then Pope Alexandros II was ordained forty-third patriarch. We also spoke of the caliphate of Abdul Malik bin Marawan during which his brother Abdul Aziz, the proconsul of Egypt, fell sick and died in 704 A.D. in Helwan. This took place after the death of al-Asbagh, his son.

   Yet, during Abdul Aziz’s tenure, al-Asbagh used to interfere in Egypt’s affairs. He hated Copts a lot, for someone reviled them saying that their books contained swear words. So, he befriended a deacon called Benjamin who used to disclose the Copts’ secrets to him. He translated the Bible and religious books into Arabic for al-Asbagh that he might know that Christian books contain nothing against Muslims or anybody else.

   What made matters between the ruler and the Church worsen was the Melchite patriarch reviling the Coptic monks. He spread a rumor that they had a lot of money, which made al-Asbagh count the monks and impose “jizyah” on them for the first time in Egypt. He prohibited monasteries from ordaining new monks and laid heavy fines on bishops (apart from what Copts had already been paying), which had a negative impact on them.
As we mentioned beforehand, Abdul Malik bin Marawan became caliph after his father. He made Damascus his headquarters. He appointed his son Abdullah bin Abdul Malik proconsul of Egypt. Abdul Malik was succeeded by his son al-Walid who re-assigned Abdullah Egypt’s affairs, then deposed him. He appointed Qurrah bin Shurayk, then Abdul Malik bin Rifa’a al-Qini. After al-Walid’s death, his brother Soliman became caliph.

Abdullah bin Abdul Malik bin Marawan (86-90 Hijri) (705-709 A.D.)

   He is the son of Caliph Abdul Malik bin Marawan. He was assigned Egypt’s affairs after his uncle’s death. At the beginning of his tenure, his father asked him to follow his uncle’s suit, for the latter ruled Egypt for about twenty years. But, Abdullah did not follow his father’s advice.

   When he arrived in Egypt, prices increased. So, Egyptians were unhappy with him. Abdullah persecuted the Copts. Butcher, a historian, writes that his tenure, which lasted for three years, was one of persecution of the Copts.

   Bin al-Muqafa’ maintains that when Abdullah took over Egypt’s affairs, Pope Alexandros went to congratulate him. But, Abdullah laid a three-thousand-dinar fine on him and ordered that he be imprisoned and insulted until he paid the fine! Copts failed to dissuade him from this decision. So, a deacon asked the proconsul to set the Pope free that he might roam Egypt with him to collect the required money. The proconsul approved. Thus, the Pope paid the fine, having borrowed it from the congregation. It is said that Abdullah used to summon monks and bishops to scorn and insult them.

   Yet, the proconsul’s brother got to know of his bribery and injustice. So, he deposed him, appointing Qurrah bin Shurayk in his stead.

Caliph al-Walid bin Abdul Malik (86-96 Hijri) (705-715 A.D.)

   He became caliph after the death of his father Abdul Malik. During his tenure, the Islamic State extended eastward and westward, for he conquered India, Andalusia, and Africa. His conquests reached their peak as he seized Samarkand and the Indus River. Al-Walid cared for his subjects. He appointed his brother Abdullah proconsul of Egypt and ordered him to have the country’s annals rewritten in Arabic instead of Coptic which was still in use. Historians maintain that the caliph cared for the State’s development, especially in the field of architecture. So, he established the Mosque of Bani Umayyah and an asylum for the sick and elderly in Damascus. Yet, he demolished St. John’s Church in Damascus. His tenure lasted for ten years. Al-Walid assigned Qurrah bin Shurayk, then Abdul Malik bin Rifa’a al-Qini the affairs of Egypt.

Qurrah bin Shurayk (90-96 Hijri) (709-714 A.D.)

   Qurrah took over Egypt’s affairs after Abdullah. He restored berkat al-habash, planted sugar cane therein and called it “Qurrah’s Stable”. Also, he restored Amr bin al-‘As Mosque in Old Cairo as per the caliph’s orders. Yet, he was crueler than his predecessors. So much so that one poet said the following:
How amazed we were
To know you appointed Qurrah ruler
Deposing a good leader,
thus disobeying your father.

   Qurrah treated the Copts badly. So, he laid a three-thousand-dinar fine on Pope Alexandros when he came to congratulate him. The Pope could do nothing but borrow it from the congregation. He roamed Upper Egypt to do so. Yet, he was able to collect only one thousand dinars after two years. Also, the Pope underwent several tribulations as some people reviled him, telling the proconsul that he had someone mint dinars for him. So, Qurrah arrested the Pope, closed the patriarchate until the man was declared innocent. Qurrah’s tenure lasted for six years, until his death. He was quite unjust, which made Egyptians hate him. Historians maintain that Omar bin Abdul Aziz once said, “Al-Hajjaj in Iraq, al-Walid in the Levant, Qurrah in Egypt, Uthman bin Hayyan in Medina, and Khalid in Mecca! O God! The world has become full of cruelty and injustice; please relieve the people!”

Caliph Soliman bin Abdul Malik (96-99 Hijri) (715-171 A.D.)

   He was pledged allegiance to after his brother’s death. He tried to follow his brother’s suit. So, he conquered Tapuria and Georgia at the beginning of his tenure. He tried to conquer Constantinople, but failed. It is said that he was no blood-shedder. Rather, he was eloquent. Also, historians spoke of his justice, despite his miserliness. During his illness, he wrote to Omar bin Abdul Aziz, assigning him the caliphate after his death. He wrote, “I hereby do name you my successor, and Yazid bin Abdul Malik yours. So, be obedient and fear God. Do not clash, lest others covet you.” He died after two years of sovereignty. He had already assigned Abdul Malik bin Rifa’a the affairs of Egypt who was assigned the post by his brother al-Walid. Ussamah bin Yazid was her tax-collector. His story was … Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center