- Key Figures in the History of Islam
encourage positively the conversion of the subject people of the em-
pire to Islam.
Umar ibn al-Khattab: one of the Prophet Muhammad's closest com-
panions. He became the second caliph after the Prophet's death
(634-44), and masterminded the first Arab wars of conquest and the
building of the garrison towns. He was murdered by a Persian pris-
oner of war.
Uthman ibn Affan: one of Muhammad's first converts and his son-in-
law. He became the third caliph (644—56), but was a less able ruler
than his predecessors. His policies opened him to the charge of
nepotism and inspired a mutiny during which he was himself assas-
sinated in Medina. His murder led to the first fitnah wars.
Walid I, Caliph al-: an Umayyad caliph (705-1 7) who ruled during the
peak of Umayyad power and success.
Wasan ibn Ata (d. 748): founder of the Mutazilah school of rational
theology.
Yasin, Sheikh Ahmad (1936-): the creator of Mujamah (Islamic Con-
gress), a welfare organization, in Israeli-occupied Gaza. The terror-
ist group HAMAS was an offshoot from this movement.
Yazid I: Umayyad caliph (680-83) who is chiefly remembered for the
murder of Husain ibn Ali (q.v.) at Kerbala.
Zayd ibn Ali (d. 740): the brother of the Fifth Shii Imam; Zayd was a po-
litical activist and the Fifth Imam may have developed his quietist
philosophy in order to counter his claim to the leadership. There-
after Shiis who engaged in political activism and eschewed the
Twelvers' withdrawal from politics were sometimes known as Zay-
dites.