Abd al-Aziz ibn al-Walid

'Abd al-'Aziz ibn the caliph al-Walid ibn 'Abd al-Malik, Abu al-Asbagh al-Umawi, nephew of 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz through his mother; he governed Damascus as deputy, led the pilgrimage and campaigned against the Byzantines. ¹

His father al-Walid resolved to depose his brother Sulayman from the succession in favour of this son, but 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz refused, saying "we owe Sulayman an oath of allegiance". Al-Walid grew angry and had 'Umar beaten — some say smothered with a kerchief until Umm al-Banin, al-Walid's sister, cried out — for which Sulayman later rewarded 'Umar with the caliphate after him. 'Abd al-'Aziz, intelligent and shrewd, had aspired to the caliphate himself, but when he heard of his uncle's accession he submitted and entered into obedience. ¹