Atiqah bint Yazid and the history of her shrine عتیقہ بنت یزید کی سیرت اور ان کے مزار کی تاریخ

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Biography of Atika bint Yazid and the history of his shrine

Dekhti Aankhooon aur sountay kaanoon ko Asslamoalaikum, sisters, brothers friends and elders, in informative series videos of Islamic ascolars, sufisaints, cultural heritages, islamic philosophys, islamic mysticisms and historical figures. today we are describing biography of Atika bint Yazid and the history of his shrine.

Atika bint Yazid was a notable figure in early Islamic history, known both for her noble lineage and for her marriage to one of the most powerful caliphs of the Umayyad dynasty. She was born around the year 650 CE (30 AH) in Damascus, in present-day Syria, during the early period of Islamic rule. As the daughter of Yazid I, the second Umayyad Caliph, and the granddaughter of Muawiya I, the founder of the Umayyad Caliphate, Atika was born into a family that played a central role in shaping the political and religious direction of the early Islamic empire. Her father, Yazid I, ruled from 680 to 683 CE, a reign marked by significant unrest, including the tragic Battle of Karbala. Through her father, Atika was connected to the very heart of Umayyad power, and her upbringing would have placed her among the elite circles of the time.

Atika's political significance increased further when she married Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, one of the most influential and capable Umayyad caliphs, who reigned from 685 to 705 CE. Her marriage to Abd al-Malik served not only as a union of two branches of the Umayyad family but also as a consolidation of internal power within the dynasty. Through this marriage, Atika played a subtle yet crucial role in maintaining dynastic continuity. She gave birth to at least one son, Yazid II, who would later become Caliph himself, ruling from 720 to 724 CE. This made Atika the daughter of one caliph (Yazid I), the wife of another (Abd al-Malik), and the mother of a third (Yazid II), giving her a unique status in Islamic history as a woman who linked three generations of Umayyad rule. Her familial connections afforded her considerable influence in the court, and although historical records about her personal actions are limited, her role as the matriarch of such a powerful lineage is undeniable.

Atika lived during a time of significant transition in the Islamic world. The Umayyad dynasty, based in Damascus, was engaged in consolidating control over a rapidly expanding empire. This era saw the codification of Islamic governance, the expansion of Arab-Muslim influence across North Africa and into Central Asia, and the beginning of administrative reforms that would shape the Islamic caliphate for decades. While the women of the Umayyad household rarely held official political roles, their marriages and family connections were critical in maintaining alliances and ensuring loyalty within the ruling elite. Atika’s presence at the court and her strategic marriage were instrumental in this context.

Atika bint Yazid died in Damascus, though the exact date of her death is not clearly recorded in historical sources. It is believed that she passed away in the early 8th century, likely after the death of her husband in 705 CE but before her son’s brief rule began in 720 CE. Some sources suggest her death occurred around the year 714 CE, though this remains speculative due to a lack of precise historical records.

Her final resting place is believed to be in Damascus, Syria, where many members of the Umayyad royal family were buried. While there is no widely known or officially recognized shrine specifically dedicated to Atika bint Yazid, some historians and local traditions associate her burial site with the general Umayyad family burial grounds in or near Damascus. Unlike other prominent Islamic figures whose shrines became major religious sites, Atika's grave has not been turned into a well-known place of pilgrimage. Therefore, there is no clear historical record identifying a builder or sponsor of a shrine specifically in her name. This contrasts with the shrines of other prominent early Islamic personalities, which were often built or restored by later rulers or religious communities.

Despite the relative obscurity of her final resting place, Atika bint Yazid remains an important figure in early Islamic history due to her unique position linking three generations of caliphal rule. Her life serves as a window into the dynamics of power, lineage, and gender within the Umayyad dynasty. While she may not have wielded political power in her own right, her influence as a mother, wife, and daughter of caliphs underscores the importance of familial ties in sustaining the rule of one of the most powerful dynasties in Islamic history.

With this, we ask for your permission until tomorrow, and tomorrow we will be described biography of Fatima al-Fihriya and history of her shrine, at the end we pray to Allah Almighty to grant us the abilitty to act on the Quran and Hadith, Amen

Allah Hafiz

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