Research Journal of Iran Local Histories

In collaboration with Payame Noor University and Iranian Society of History

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

By Subject

Author Index

Keyword Index

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Editorial Board

Publication Ethics

Indexing and Abstracting

Related Links

FAQ

Peer Review Process

Journal Metrics

Financial policies of the Marwanites in the transoxiana region

Document Type : pajoheshi

Authors

1 Assistant Prof, Department of history of islam Payame Noor University, Thran, Iran.

2 Ph.D. Student, history of islam Payame Noor University, Thran. Iran.

3 Assistant Prof, Department of history of islam Payame Noor University, Thran. Iran.

4 Associate Prof, Department of history Payame Noor University, Tehran. Iran.

10.30473/lhst.2026.73095.2956

Abstract

Due to its economic richness and strategic position, Transoxiana was one of the key financial sources for the Marwanid. The fiscal policies of this era, particularly in collecting Tribute and tax, faced challenges such as local resistance and cultural diversity. Examining these policies is essential, both because of their impact on the region’s economic and political stability, and due to the lack of focused research on the subject. The present study is aimed at explaining the Marwanid financial policies and the rulers’ attitudes toward taxation methods in Transoxiana, through the guiding question: how were these policies formed, and what effects did they have? The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, relying on historical sources to interpret the data. According to the findings, the Marwanid financial policies combined centralized strategies from the era of Abdal-Malik and, the repressive period of Yazid ibn Muhallab, and the reformist phase under Umaribn Abdal-Aziz. Abdal-Malik enhanced efficiency through standardizing the diwan-e kharaj, yet the heavy taxation under Yazid ibn al-Muhallab led to reduced production and uprisings. The reforms of, rooted in Islamic justice, gained public approval but lacked durability due to elite resistance. Nasr ibn Sayyar achieved relative stability through fiscal organization, but the spread of Islam and the resulting tax exemptions lowered state revenue. The current study, through a comprehensive analysis of Marwanid fiscal policies, reveals that the lack of coherence and mismanagement contributed to the weakening of caliphal influence in Transoxiana and highlights the need for deeper inquiry into fiscal systems in Islamic history.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References
Abu Ubayd, Q. ibn Salam. (n.d.). Al-amwaal. Daar al-Fikr.
Al-Rais, D. (1994). Kharaaj and fiscal systems of Islamic states from the beginning to the mid-third century (F. Akbari, Trans.). Isfahan: University of Isfahan. [In Persian]
Anonymous. (1983). Hudud al-Alam (M. Sotoudeh, Ed.). Tehran: Tahouri. [In Persian]
Arnold, T. (2016). The preaching of Islam (A. Ezzati, Trans.). University of Tehran Press. [In Persian]
Asadi Tusi, A. ibn A. (1940). Lughat-e Fars (A. Eghbal Ashtiani, Ed.). Tehran: Majles Printing House. [In Persian]
Balazori, A. ibn Y. (1985). Futuh al-Buldan (A. Azarnoush, Trans.). Tehran: Soroush. [In Persian]
Balazori, A. ibn Y. (1988). Futuh al-Buldan. Beirut: Dar al-Hilal.
Barthold, V. (1973). Turkestan Book (K. Keshavarz, Trans.). Tehran: Iranian Culture Foundation. [In Persian]
Bliniski, A. (1985). Khorasan and Transoxiana (P. Varjavand, Trans.). Tehran: Goftar. [In Persian]
Brockelmann, C. (1967). History of Islamic peoples and states (H. Jazayeri, Trans.). Tehran: Book Translation and Publication Organization. [In Persian]
Bukhari, M. ibn I. (2001). Sahih al-Bukhaari (M. Z. al-Nasir, Ed.). Beirut: Dar Tawq al-Najah.
 
 
Christensen, A. (2006). Iran in the time of the Sasanians (R. Yasemi, Trans.). Tehran: Sedaye Mo'aser. [In Persian]
Dahlan, S. A. ibn Z. (1969). History of Islamic conquests (F. Seljuqi, Ed.). Herat: Fakhriya Press. [In Persian]
Dennett, D. (2012). Poll tax in Islam and its influence on conversion (M. A. Movahhed, Trans.). Tehran: Khwarazmi. [In Persian]
Ejtehadi, A. (1984). A study of the financial and fiscal conditions of Muslims until the end of the Umayyad period. Tehran: Soroush. [In Persian]
Foruzani, S. A. (2005). Necessities and objectives of promoting Iranian culture during the Samanid era. History Education, 2, 31-35. [In Persian]
Frye, R. N. (1986). Bukhara: The medieval achievement (M. Mahmoudi, Trans.). Tehran: Elmi va Farhangi. [In Persian]
Frye, R. N.  (1984). The golden age of Persian culture (M. Rajabnia, Trans.). Tehran: Soroush. [In Persian]
Fulton, J. (1946). History of Shi'ism or the causes of the fall of the Umayyads (S. M. Hashemi Hairi, Trans.). Tehran: Eghbal. [In Persian]
Ghafurov, B. (2003). The Tajiks. Kabul: Shah Mohammad Book House.
Gibb, H. (1958). Arab conquests in Central Asia (H. Ahmadi Pour, Trans.). Tabriz: Akhtar Shomal. [In Persian]
Hakim Nishapuri, M. ibn A. (1991). Al-Mustadrak (M. A. Ata, Ed.). Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah.
Hawting, G. (2009). The Umayyads: The first ruling dynasty of Islam (I. Abdi, Trans.). Tehran: Amir Kabir. [In Persian]
Hitti, P. (2001). History of the Arabs (A. Payandeh, Trans.). Tehran: Elmi va Farhangi. [In Persian]
Holt, P. M. (2017). History of Islam (A. Aram, Trans.). Tehran: Amir Kabir. [In Persian]
Ibn Abd al-Barr, Y. ibn Abd Allaah. (1408 AH). Al-Tamhid (M. A. al-Alawi, Ed.). Ministry of Awqaaf. [In Persian]
Ibn Abd al-Hakam, A. (1404 AH). Sirat Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (A. Ubayd, Ed.). Daar Alam al-Kutub.
Ibn Adam Qurashi, Y. (1384 AH). Al-Kharaaj. Cairo: Al-Matba'ah al-Salafiyyah.
Ibn aqaqi, M. ibn Ali. (2010). Taarikh Fakhri (M. V. Golpaayegaani, Trans.). Elmi va Farhangi. [In Persian]
Ibn A'tham al-Kufi, M. ibn Ali. (n.d.). Al-Futuh.
Ibn Hawqal, M. ibn Ali. (1987). Surat al-arḍ (A. ShoAar, Trans.). Amir Kabir. [In Persian]
Ibn Kathir, Ismaeil. (1428 AH). Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah. Beirut: Dar Ibn Kathir.
Ibn Khaldun, A. (2004). Taarikh Ibn Khaldun (A. Ayati, Trans.). Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies. [In Persian]
Ibn Khurdazbih, U. ibn A. (1992). Al-Masaalik wa al-mamaalik (S. Khaakarand, Trans.). Miraath-e Melal. [In Persian]
Ibn Rustah, M. ibn U. (1986). Al-A'laaq al-nafisa (H. Qarehchaanlu, Trans.). Amir Kabir. [In Persian]
Ibn Saʿd, M. (2000). Al-Ṭabaqaat al-kubraa (M. M. Daamghaani, Trans.). Farhang va Andisheh. [In Persian]
Istakhri, I. ibn M. (1961). Masaalik wa-Mamaalik (I. Afshar, Ed.). Tehran: Book Translation and Publication Organization. [In Persian]
Jahshiyari, M. ibn A. (1969). Al-Wuzaraaʾ wa-l-Kuttaab (A. Tabatabaei, Trans.). Tehran: Taban Press. [In Persian]
Jamshidnejad Aval, G. (2006). Economic systems in early Islam. Tehran: Asatir. [In Persian]
Khattab, M. S. (1997). Leaders of the Islamic conquests in Transoxiana. Jeddah: Dar al-Andalus al-Khadra.
Khattab, M. S. (1958). The Umayyad rule in Khorasan (B. Mousavi, Trans.). Tehran: Tuka. [In Persian]
Lapidus, I. M. (2002). A history of Islamic societies (A. Bakhtiarizadeh, Trans.). Tehran: Ettela'at. [In Persian]
Le Strange, G. (1985). The eastern lands of the caliphate (K. Awwad & B. Francis, Eds.). Beirut: Al-Risalah Foundation.
Masoudi, A. ibn H. (2003). Meadows of gold and mines of gems (A. Payandeh, Trans.). Tehran: Elmi va Farhangi. [In Persian]
Mawardi, A. ibn M. (2012). Al-Ahkaam al-Sulṭaniya (H. Saberi, Trans.). Tehran: Elmi va Farhangi. [In Persian]
Miskawayh, A. ibn M. (2010). Tajaarib al-umam (A. Emaami, Trans.). Soroush. [In Persian]
Maqdasi, M. ibn A. (1982). Ahsan al-Qaasim fi Ma'rifat al-Aqaalim (A. Monzavi, Trans.). Tehran: Iranian Authors and Translators Company. [In Persian]
Narshakhi, M. ibn J. (1984). History of Bukhara (A. M. Qabavi, Trans.). Tehran: Toos. [In Persian]
Narshakhi, M. ibn J. (1965). History of Bukhara. Cairo (n. n.). [In Persian]
Nazem al-Atibba, A. A. (1976). Nafisi dictionary. Tehran: Khayyam. [In Persian]
Qazvini, Z. ibn M. (1994). Athaar al-Bilaad wa Akhbaar al-Ibaad (J. Mirza Qajar, Trans.). Tehran: Amir Kabir. [In Persian]
Rudaki Samarqandi, M. ibn J. (2009). The Divan of Rudaki. Tehran: Negah. [In Persian]
Schwartz, P. (2021). Historical geography of Iran (M. Mirahmadi & G. Varahram, Trans.). Tehran: Gostareh. [In Persian]
Suchak, S. (2019). History of Central Asia (S. F. Ebrahimi, Trans.). Tehran: SAMT. [In Persian]
Suyuti, A. (1992). History of the caliphs. Cairo: Sa'ada.
Suyuti, A.  (2002). Al-Fath al-Kabir. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr.
Tabari, M. ibn J. (2006). History of prophets and kings (A. Payandeh, Trans.). Tehran: Asatir. [In Persian]
Taqoush, M. S. (2019). The Umayyad state (H. Joudaki, Trans.). Qom: Hawza and University Research Institute. [In Persian]
Ya'qubi, A. ibn A. (2014). Al-Buldan (M. I. Ayati, Trans.). Tehran: Elmi va Farhangi. [In Persian]
Ya'qubi, A. ibn A. (2016). History of Ya'qubi (M. I. Ayati, Trans.). Tehran: Elmi va Farhangi. [In Persian]
Zakkar, S. (2018). History of the Arabs and Islam. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr.
Zarrinkoub, A. H. (2013). The dawn of Islam. Tehran: Amir Kabir. [In Persian]
Research Journal of Iran Local Histories
Volume 13, Issue 2 - Serial Number 26
April 2026
Pages 89-104
Files
Share
How to cite
Statistics