The Umayyad understanding of political sovereignty

Sovereignty represents the greatest power a state possesses in demonstrating its authority and establishing its authority within its domain. Therefore, every movement seeking power seeks to embody the quality of sovereignty. The Umayyads, by seizing power through armed force and transforming the caliphate into a sultanate, stand out as a movement distinct from previous practices. Consequently, upon coming to power, the Umayyads faced the challenge of legitimacy. The Umayyads approached values, symbols, and religion quite pragmatically to legitimize their rule. Seeking to dominate a vast geography and diverse cultures, the Umayyads controlled many variables. They employed numerous methods to manipulate social dynamics and perceptions. The state monopolization of religion, the negative propaganda of dissident figures in mosques, and the interpretation of Quranic verses and hadiths according to the wishes and desires of the ruling power are some of the pragmatic approaches we encounter.