Yazid

Yazid is an Arabic male given name. It derives from the root z-y-d, meaning to increase or to be greater, and has been borne by several historical figures in Islamic history, most prominently by Yazid I, the second Umayyad caliph.

Yazid I (roughly 647–683) reigned as caliph from 680 to 683, succeeding his father Muawiya I and continuing the Umayyad dynasty’s consolidation of power. His accession followed Muawiya’s death and was part of the establishment of hereditary rule within the Umayyad state. Yazid’s brief reign faced significant challenges, most notably the revolt of Husayn ibn Ali, who was killed at Karbala in 680. The event became a defining and polarizing moment in early Islamic history, shaping Hadith and historical narratives across Sunni and Shia traditions. Yazid’s forces also contended with other resistance during the Second Fitna, as the empire sought to maintain central authority. Yazid I died in 683, and Mu'awiya II succeeded him for a short period before the dynasty continued under other rulers.

In historiography, Yazid I’s reputation is debated. Some Sunni sources view the accession and governance as legitimate within the Umayyad framework, while Shia sources condemn the killing of Husayn and critique Yazid’s actions and policies attributed to him. Other Umayyad rulers bore the name Yazid, such as Yazid II and Yazid III, but they are treated as separate figures with their own reigns and contexts.

Today, Yazid remains a common given name in Arab and Muslim communities. The name’s prominence in historical and religious discourse largely stems from Yazid I and the Karbala narrative, which continues to influence its reception in different Islamic traditions.