2021-01-25 Mon

Ibrahim Ibn al-Walid was an Umayyad caliph, and a son of Caliph al-Walid I. He ruled from 4 October 744 to 4 December 744.

Ibrahim ruled for two months in 744 before he abdicated, and went into hiding out of fear of his political opponents. The shortness of this time and his incomplete acceptance led Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari to state that he did not succeed in becoming caliph. However, al-Tabari does record that Ibrahim as caliph did confirm the appointment of Abdallah ibn Umar as governor of Iraq.

Ibrahim was named heir apparent by his brother Yazid III. Marwan II decided to oppose Yazid III, and even though he later gave allegiance to Yazid, on the early death of that caliph, Marwan continued his own ambitions. Ibrahim requested and was granted Marwan's assurance of personal safety. He travelled with Marwan to former Caliph Hisham's residence at Rusafah in Syria. Like most members of the Umayyad family, Ibrahim was executed by the Abbasids on January 25, 750.

The obverse of a coin depicts first portion of the kalimat at-tawhid: Laa ilaaha illa-llahu wahdahu la sharika lahu in three lines; in outer margin, the "Umayyad Second Symbol" (Sura 9 [al-tauba]:33): Muhammadur rasulu-llah arsalahu bi-'lhuda wa din al-haqq li-yuzhirahu 'ala al-din kolli. The reverse of a coin inscribed "Umayyad Symbol" (Sura 112 [al-ikhlas]) Allah ahad Allah al-samad lam yalid wa lam yalud in three lines.

Image Source: Wikipedia.org