Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan

Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ( ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, 646 – 8 October 705) was the 5th Umayyad caliph. He was born in Medina, Hejaz, Abd al-Malik was a well-educated man and capable ruler despite the many political problems that impeded his rule. The 14th-century Muslim historian Ibn Khaldun states: "`Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan is one of the greatest Arab and Muslim Caliphs. He followed in the footsteps of `Umar ibn al-Khattab, the Commander of the Believers, in regulating state affairs".