Editing Al-Walid II (section)

== Caliphate ==
Al-Walid succeeded to the throne on the death of [[Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik|Hisham]] on 6 February 743. As heir, al-Walid was known for his open-handedness. As caliph, he took special care of the crippled and blind, increasing their stipend. He named his two sons, al-Hakam and Uthman, to succeed him in that order as documented by a letter dated 21 May 743 in [[al-Tabari]].<ref>al-Tabari (pp. 106–115)</ref> Tabari also quotes a number of al-Walid's poems.

Al-Walid at first confirmed [[Nasr ibn Sayyar]] as governor of [[Greater Khorasan|Khurasan]]. However, bribed by [[Yusuf ibn Umar]], the caliph dismissed him. Al-Walid appointed his uncle Yusuf ibn Muhammad governor of [[Medina]]. At the same time, [[Yahya ibn Zayd]], the son of [[Zayd ibn Ali]], was found in Khurasan. Nasr urged him to present himself to the caliph, to maintain Islamic unity. However, Yahya chose another path and after initial victory was slain.

Al-Walid put [[Sulayman ibn Hisham]] in prison. Such a deed, as well as his reputed drinking, singing and immorality aroused opposition. Al-Walid was fond of versifying and he arranged horse races. The upright Yazid ibn al-Walid spoke against the new ruler's moral laxity. A group began plotting his assassination. When approached, [[Khalid ibn Abdallah al-Qasri]] declined to join in and even cautioned al-Walid. However, his vague warning aroused al-Walid's ire. He imprisoned Khalid and then gave him to Yusuf ibn Umar for fifty million [[dirham]]s. Yusuf tortured and killed Khalid. This intensely angered many of al-Walid's own relatives.

During the reign of al-Walid II, [[Yazid III|Yazid ibn al-Walid]] spoke out against Walid's "immorality" which included discrimination on behalf of the [[Banu Qays]] Arabs against Yemenis and [[mawali|non-Arab Muslims]], and Yazid received further support from the Qadariya and Murji'iya.<ref>von Ess, "Kadar", Encyclopedia of Islam 2nd Ed.</ref>

Hearing of the plot, [[Marwan II|Marwan ibn Muhammad]] wrote from Armenia urging a more prudent course of action, one more promising for the stability of the state and the preservation of the Umayyad house. This was disregarded and many armed men moved into Damascus.