The wife of Umar II, Fatima bint Abd al-Malik (d 105AH), also had her grave desecrated yesterday in Syria. As-Suyuti writes that there has never been another lady to be:

•granddaughter of caliph
•daughter of caliph
•wife of caliph
•sister of 4 caliphs
•aunt of 3 caliphs

1/

In her younger years, her father had gifted her much jewelry and treasure. Despite her noble lineage and access to wealth, she later chose a life of asceticism.

Umar II also enjoyed a fancier lifestyle in his youth, but upon assuming the caliphate against his will

2/

had a complete 180 and told her:

“Either you deposit your treasures into the public treasury, or you permit me to part with you, for I hate for me, you and such wealth to all be under one roof now”

3/

She responded: “I would choose remaining with you over many multiples of this wealth.”

When her brother became caliph after Umar’s death, he offered to return to her all of the wealth that she forfeited.

4/

She refused, saying that it had brought her soul tranquility to part with it during her husband’s life and that she would not return to it after his death.