Beautiful Egypt 133 – «Tribulations» – November 29, 2015

   In the previous article, we spoke of Caliphs Omar bin Abdul Aziz, Yazid bin Abdul Malik and Hisham bin Abdul Malik. Likewise, we spoke of Egypt’s proconsuls at that time, namely, Abdul Malik bin Rifa’a al-Qini, Ussama bin Zayd al-Tinnukhi, the tax-collector, Ayyub bin Shurahbil, Handhalah bin Safwan, and Mohammed bin Abdul Malik bin Marawan.

   Meanwhile, we shall resume our talk about Egypt’s proconsuls: al-Horr bin Yusuf, tax-collector Ubyadullah bin al-Habhad, Hafs bin al-Walid, Abdul Malik bin Rifa’a and his brother al-Walid bin Rifa’a, Abdul Rahman bin Khalid and Handhalah bin Safwan.

Al-Horr bin Yusuf (105-106 Hijri) (724-725 A.D.)

   Caliph Hisham bin Abdul Malik appointed him proconsul of Egypt. At that time, Ubaydullah bin al-Habhab was the tax-collector. Taghribirdi maintains that al-Horr bin Yusuf took over Egypt’s affairs by the end of 105 Hijri / 724 A.D. He ruled Egypt till 108 Hijri / 727 A.D. Yet, he spent some time with the caliph, deputizing Hafs bin al-Walid. Then he returned in 107 Hijri/726 A.D. and ruled the country till 108 Hijri/727 A.D. When he asked the caliph to resign, the latter approved and appointed Hafs bin al-Walid in his stead. Taghribirdi maintains, “He was the bravest, most generous and respectable of Umayyad princes.”

   However, his tenure was tumultuous due to the cruelty of Ubaydullah bin al-Habhab, the tax-collector, whose sheer interest was accumulating money. In fact, he wrote to the caliph, telling him that Egypt can tolerate more taxation. He added one carat to each dinar. Subsequently, Egyptians rebelled; so he sent them sentries who fought and killed many of them.

Ubaydullah bin al-Habhab (105-114 Hijri /725-732 A.D.)

   He was appointed Egypt’s tax collector by Caliph Hisham bin Abdul Malik, having ordered him to treat Copts kindly. Yet, he did not do so. He ordered the Copts to tattoo a lion on their hands lest he had them chopped. When it was Pope Alexandros’ turn to do so, he objected and asked Ubaydullah’s audience which the latter denied. So, the Pope asked for a grace period in order to pray. God responded by reposing his soul. Thus, he departed peacefully before carrying out the order, to be succeeded by Pope Quzman I.

   Ubaydullah bin al-Habhab arrested Abba Samuel, bishop of Useem. He laid a one hundred-thousand-dinar fine on him, whereas the bishop was destitute. He was an ascetic who kept nothing for himself. He had only one garment. Abba Samuel was with Pope Alexandros when Ubaydullah summoned him. After the Pope’s departure, Ubaydullah arrested the bishop and ordered him to pay one thousand dinars instead of the Pope. Abba Samuel was too poor to pay. So, he apologized, but Ubaydullah did not accept the apology and started torturing him.
The sentries kept dragging the bishop along the streets until they came to a church called after St. George. They undressed him and made him wear a shaggy garment. Then, they hanged him from his arms and started to flog him until he bled! They continued to torture Abba Samuel for a week. High-ranking officials tried to convince the proconsul that he had nothing to with the patriarch’s departure. He set him free after a while. Yet, he departed due to his dangerous wounds.

   History does indicate how cruel Ubaydullah was to Egyptians, not to Copts only. So much so that Muslims complained to the caliph from him. So, the caliph deposed him, appointing his son al-Qassim in his stead. Yet, al-Qassim was crueler than his father!

Hafs bin al-Walid (108 Hijri/727 A.D.)

   He was appointed proconsul of Egypt after al-Horr bin Yusuf against his will. He tenure lasted for about 40 days. The reason for that was that Ubaydullah bin al-Habhab, who was close to the caliph, reviled him. So, Hisham bin Abdul Malik deposed him, and appointed Abdul Malik bin Rifa’a in his stead.

Abdul Malik bin Rifa’a (109 Hijri / 727 A.D.)

   This was Abdul Malik bin Rifa’a second term. At that time, bin al-Habhab was still Egypt’s tax-collector. Bin Rifa’a’s second term was not long, for he died fifteen nights later due to his severe illness. Taghribirdi maintains, “When Abdul Malik arrived in Egypt, he could not head prayers due to his severe illness. So, his brother al-Walid continued to head the prayers, as the former was bedridden. He died in mid Muharram, 109 Hijri. Thus, his second term lasted for fifteen nights only.” His brother al-Walid succeeded him.

Al-Walid bin Rifa’a (109-117 Hijri) (727-735 A.D.)

   He became proconsul of Egypt after his brother’s death. He was assigned by Caliph Hisham bin Abdul Malik. His tenure lasted for about nine and a half years. During his tenure, Ubaydullah bin al-Habhad exited Egypt. Caliph Hisham had assigned him the affairs of Africa (Morocco).

   So, al-Walid became Egypt’s proconsul, tax-collector and imam. Thus, he settled down. His subjects loved him. He approved of building a church at al-Hamra’. Al-Kindi writes, “al-Walid bin Rifa’a allowed Christians to build a church at al-Hamra’. It is known today by the name of St. Mina. It is located between Cairo and Old Cairo. Also, during his tenure, the tribe of Qays was moved to Egypt.”
When al-Walid got sick, he deputized Abdul Rahman bin Khalid who became proconsul after the former’s death in 117 Hijri/735 A.D.

Abdul Rahman bin Khalid (117-118 Hijri) (735-736 A.D.)

   He was appointed proconsul of Egypt by Hisham bin Abdul Malik after the death of al-Walid bin Rifa’a. Yet, no sooner had seven months passed than the caliph deposed him, appointing Handhalah bin Safwan in his stead: for the Romans had arrived at the coast of Egypt and imprisoned lots of people. Yet, some historians maintain that his deposition is ascribed to exchanging correspondence with the Abbasids. When the caliph got to know, he dethroned him.

Handhalah bin Safwan (119-124 Hijri) (737-741 A.D.)

   Despite the fact that the caliph ordered him to treat the Egyptians well and justly, he was very cruel. He was very strict about taxes. So much so that he imposed taxes on animals! Al-Maqrizi writes, “During Handhalah’s second term, he treated the Copts harshly and increased the taxes imposed on them. He counted the population and animals. He ordered Christians to have tattoos, and observed them. Whoever was un-tattooed had his hand chopped off.” This policy caused the Copts to rebel, so he fought them. In fact, all the population was unfairly treated by Handhalah. So, they complained to the caliph who deposed him, appointed Hafs bin al-Walid in his stead for a second time. Here is another story. Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center