Give an account of the administration of the caliphate under 'Uthman.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] 'Uthman's caliphate started in 644 and ended in 656. His mercy, generosity and efficient administration of the Islamic empire won him the respect of his people. He proved skilful in handling the vast caliphate. He started his reign with a popular gesture by adding 100 dirhams to the annual stipends and at the same time began to increase the central government's control over the affairs of the garrison cities. He launched a diligent inspection of accounts, started to overhaul the Diwan salary rolls and asked for the accounts and provisional surpluses to be forwarded to the treasury in Madina. He continued with ‘Umar's policy of gradually splitting up the immense authority exercised by the provincial governors, who also doubled as army commanders. He did this by creating the new post of financial administrators who exclusively looked after tax revenue. He established a permanent secretariat for the above task and appointed a salaried 'Inspector of Markets', which remained a key position in future Islamic states. Many other Public works were carried out, e.g. embankments were constructed to protect the houses in Madina from being swept away by periodic floods; extension and provision for providing clean water to the population was undertaken; he purchased land and constructed purpose-built markets whose rents were used to feed the poor; land was bought from funds of central treasury for state animals to pasture; construction of state stables and guesthouses for the use of travellers, messengers and poor pilgrims were set up; he extended the Prophet's mosque and built a port at Jeddah. During his administration, the Qur'an was also copied from the Mushaf e Hafsah and sent to the four corners of the caliphate. He also relaxed the austere measures of living imposed by 'Umar and allowed the Arabs to acquire lands in the conquered territories.
2. [4] Here candidates could choose any one achievement of 'Uthman as caliph and say why, in their opinion, it was the greatest. The achievement could be military, administrative or the compilation of the Qur'an. Reasons need to be given in support of the answer.