8. He was the 8th child of Caliph Haroon Rasheed. He was born in 180

A.H. or according to another tradition in 178 A.H. In both these years, the digit 8 is present. He sat on the throne in 218 A.H. Motasim was the 8th Caliph of the Abbasids. He lived for 48 years. He had 8 sons and 8 daughters.

His birth constellation was Scorpio, the eighth sign of the zodiac. He was Caliph for 8 years, 8 months and 8 days. He had 8 palaces constructed. He won 8 major battles. 8 kings were brought to his court. He had 8 formidable enemies killed, like Afsheen, Ajeef, Abbas, Babak, and Mazyar. He left 800,000 dinars, 800,000 dirhams, 8 thousand horses, 8 thousand slaves and 8 thousand slave-girls as his legacy.

He died on the 8th day in the month of Rabia Awwal. Like Mamoon Rasheed, he was also obsessed with the question of the Quran' s creation and most of the scholars were hurt due to his preoccupation with this obscure philosophical point. Had he not suffered from this shortcoming he would have been called the greatest Caliph of the Abbasid dynasty. During his regime, the glory of the Abbasid Caliphate reached its zenith following which signs of decline began to be visible. Wathiq Billah The kunya of Wathiq Billah bin Motasim Billah bin Haroon Rasheed bin Mahdi bin Mansoor Abbasi was Abu }afar or Abu! Qasim.

His real name was Haroon. He was born of Qaratees, a slave girl, on the way to Makkah on 20 Shaban 196 A.H. His father made him his heirapparent. He sat on the throne after his death. He was very handsome and fair complexioned. His beard was thick and shapely.

His fair complexion was combined with paleness. There was a visible black mole in the white of his eyes. He was a great poet and literary expert. He was as efficient in Arabic literature as Mamoon to a certain extent The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) superior to him. But he was inferior to him in philosophy, practical skills and wisdom. He had seen academic symposia and seminars during Mamoon's regime.

He had a taste for knowledge and he was called Mamoon junior or Mamoon the second. Wathiq had committed to memory so many verses that none among the Abbasid Caliphs could match him in this respect. He was fond of eating and drinking like his father. He was a voracious eater. He used to give away big prizes and remunerations to poets and literary men. He honored men of letters and thought it essential to treat them respectfully.

However, he inherited the craze about the issue of the Quran and the created or uncreated word of Allah from his father and he was so over ambitious in this respect that he killed great scholars with his own hands thinking it to be a virtuous act. In the last phase of his life, a remarkable thing happened which led him to reduce or totally stop his activities about the Quran and its creation. Abu Abdur Rahman Abdullah bin Muhammad Azdi who was Imam Abu Dawood and Nasai' s teacher was brought to the court as a captive for his disbelief in the issue of the Quran and its creation. He put a question to Qadi Ahmad bin Abi Dawood who had been enjoying a status equivalent to that of the Prime Minister in the court since Motasim's time and believed in the issue of the Quran and its creation: "Please tell me whether the Prophet ~ knew or did not know that the Qur' an is a creation." Qadi Ahmad said: "Yes. He ~ knew it." Abu Abdur Rahman said: "Did the Prophet * give any instructions to the people regarding the belief of the Quran to be a creation?" Qadi Ahmad said: "The Prophet ~ did not say anything about it." Then Abu Abdur Rahman said, "This information the Prophet ~ did not teach the people and did not force them to believe in despite his knowledge of it, so then why don't you take the people's reticence as sufficient and why do you force them to accept it?" Wathiq was startled hearing this, stood up, left the court and went to his chamber in the palace and lay down on his bed. He kept repeating, "We are adopting stern measures regarding an issue about which the Prophet ~ kept silent." He then ordered Abu Abdur Rahman to be released and sent him to his native country comfortably with 300 red dinars as a reward.

The History of Islam -------------------- Abu Harb and the Natives of Damascus While discussing Caliph Motasim, it has been stated above that Motasim had sent Raja bin Ayyub to punish Abu Harb Yemeni. After waiting for a few days, he started a series of battles with Abu Harb. In the meantime, Motasim Billah died and Wathiq Billah succeeded to the throne. As soon as the natives of Damascus heard about his death, they rebelled. They besieged their governor within the Governor's headquarters and were collecting and arraying soldiers and had gathered a big army. As soon as Wathiq heard the news, he ordered Raja bin Ayyub to control Damascus first.

At that time, he was at war with Abu Harb at Ramla. In order to comply with this order, he left a very small army behind and taking the rest of the army with him proceeded towards Damascus. The natives of Damascus fought a bloody battle with him in which 1,500 natives of Damascus and 300 of Raja' s soldiers were killed. After having been defeated, the natives of Damascus begged for security and peace and the rebellion endep. After Damascus Raja went towards Ramla, defeated Abu Harb and took him captive. Abu Harb lost 20,000 men in this battle.

The Rise and Fall of Ashnas Following his succession to the throne Wathiq Billah made the Turk slave, Ashnas his deputy with total executive powers over all the Islamic territories. Prime Minister Mohammad bin Abdul Malik bin Zayyat who had been at this post since Motasim's times continued to enjoy this status even during Wathiq's regime. The post, which wa given to Ashnas, was called Deputy of the Dynasty it was created b Wathiq Billah for the first time. The Deputy of the Dynasty used all powers of the Caliph and was o higher rank than the Prime Minister. No other CalipJ:l invested anybod with so much power before this time. Though the Turks had suffered loss following Afsheen's death, his forces, platoons and cavalries stil survived and enjoyed honor as usual.

When Ashnas came into ful power over the entire Islamic world following Wathiq Billah' The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) succession to the throne, it marks the establishment of Turk rule in the world of Islam. However, Ashnas did not enjoy this power long and his powers were limited very soon. However, this precedent would prove to be responsible for the downfall and ruin of the Abbasid Caliphate. Wathiq Billah was fond of academic symposiums he used to sit with the scholars, the members of the government and listened to academic debates and ancient traditions. Most of the scholars were Arabs and they narrated the events of Haroon Rasheed' s times whenever they had a chance. They narrated to Wathiq Billah stories of the Barmuk's academic tastes and their generosity along with their power and influence and then details of their conspiracies against the dynasty of the Caliph and all the events that led to their ruin in a proper and effective manner.

Consequently, his eyes opened a bit and he began to put the Turks and Khorasani chiefs under surveillance. Most of them were found to be involved in misappropriation and Wathiq Billah started the process of collecting fines from them. It was in this connection that Ashnas' s powers were restricted. He died in 230 A.H. The End of Arab Dignity Until this point, the Abbasid dynasty had been reducing the leadership roles and positions of honor of the Arabs and the nonArabs had been continuously improving their positions. Because of being the cradle of Islam, Arabia commanded a special respect and because the Arabs were the first servants of Islam, there was a special reverence for them.

The dynasty of the Caliph itself came from an Arab family. That was why the non-Arabs never wished to humiliate the Arabs nor did the Caliphs send Khorasani and Turk armies to the Hijaz and Yemen to punish the Arab tribes. Whenever there arose any need for making arrangements for maintaining the administration of the Arab provinces, Arab, Iraqi or Syrian soldiers were sent. The consequence of this special reverence was that though the Arabs were weakened, every heart harbored honor for them. No one questioned the dignity of the Arabs. During Caliph Wathiq's regime the Arabs lost this special acknowledgement.

The details in brief are that there lived a good number of people belonging to the tribe of Banu Sulaim in the adjoining regions of Madinah. They attacked Banu Kanana and looted their goods. The History of Islam Such incidents of lootings and killings began among the Arabs simply because they were dismissed from serving in the conquering armies and the Abbasid Caliphs had gradually eliminated them from the military. In this situation, the fighting instincts of the Arabs began to be channeled into looting, plundering and robbing. When the ruler of Madinah, Mohammad bin Saleh, heard of Banu Sulaim's excesses he sent an army to punish and discipline them. The army suffered a crushing defeat at their hands leading to the spread of anarchy in all the regions lying between Makkah and Madinah and bringing to an abrupt halt the movement of caravans.

When Caliph Wathiq Billah received the news, he sent his Turk commander Bagha Kabeer with an army to the Hijaz. He reached Madinah in Shaban 230 A.H. and confrontations with Banu Sulaim took place. He defeated the Banu Sulaim. He arrested 1,000 of them, imprisoned them in Madinah and killed many of them. Bagha Kabeer along with his Turk army stayed in Madinah for about four months and continued to humiliate, subdue and terrify the Arab tribes in various ways. After the Hajj, Bagha Kabeer turned to Banu Hila), punished them like he had punished Banu Sulaim and arrested 300 men.

Then he turned to Banu Murrah. He went to Fadak and encamped there for 40 days and captured many men of Banu Fazarah and Banu Murrah and imprisoned them in Madinah. Then he called the chiefs and headmen of Banu Ghaffar, Thalbah and Ashja and took from them the oath of allegiance. Then he arrested 3,000 men of Banu Kilab released 2,000 of them and imprisoned 1,000 of them. Then he went to Yamamah, killed 50 men of Banu Numer and imprisoned 40. The inhabitants of Yamamah began to fight against Bagha Kabeer he killed 1,500 of them in several encounters and skirmishes.

The flame of fighting had hardly dimmed when Wathig Billah sent another Turk commander with a fresh army to reinforce him. Bagha Kabeer then ordered a general massacre all over Yamamah. When they fled, he pursued them until Yemen and killed thousands of them. In short, after badly mauling and humiliating the Arab tribes he arrested 2,000 Arab noble men and brought them to Baghdad. After arriving in Baghdad, he wrote to Mohammad bin Saleh to bring The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) all the captives he had put in jail in Madinah to Baghdad. He gathered all the prisoners he had captured on the expedition and brought all of them to Baghdad where they were put in jail.

In this way, Bagha Kabeer had the Arabs killed mercilessly and humiliated and subdued in various ways by Turks over a two-year period. Abdullah bin Tahir, the ruler of Khorasan, died in 230 A.H. Caliph Wathiq Billah retained Tahir's son as the ruler of Khorasan, Kerman, Tabristan and Rayy in accordance with Abdullah bin Tahir's will Ahmad bin Nasr' s Revolt and Death Ahmad bin Nasr bin Malik bin Haitham Khazai's grand father Malik bin Khazai was one of the deputies of the propagation of the Abbasids cause. Ahmed bin Nasr used to live in the company of the scholars of Hadith and was counted among them. He was opposed to the issue of the Quran's creation that was why a large group of people took the oath at his hands against the Caliphate of the Abbasids. He revolted in Baghdad on Wednesday night 3 Shaban 231 A.H. and beat the war drums.

The Baghdad Police swung into action and arrested him very tactfully. Ahmad bin Nasr and his men were sent to Wathiq Billah as captives. Wathiq killed Nasr with his own hands. He cut of his head and sent his body to Baghdad. The body was hung on the gate of Baghdad and his head on the clock tower of Baghdad. A special guard was deputed with instructions that he should not let the face be pointed towards the Qiblah (direction of prayer).

A sign was hung from his ear with the words: "This is Ahmad bin Nasr bin Malik's head whom the Caliph invited to accept the faith of Quran's creation but he declined. Then Allah quickly invited him to the fire of Hell." Ahmad bin Nasr's murder took place earlier than Abu Abdur Rahman Abdullah bin Mohammad Azdi's experience with the Caliph, which has been mentioned above. The Exchange Prisoners of War with the Romans The chain of battles with the Romans had been going on continuously. The Muslims continued to defeat the Romans and at times, they The History of Islam reached Constantinople. However, the Roman Empire could not be destroyed. During the period of the rightly guided Caliphs, the Iranian empire was totally annihilated but the Roman Empire survived.

Although Syria, Palestine, and Egypt were taken from the Romans and no stone was left unturned by the Muslims to capture Constantinople and enter Europe, civil wars among the Muslims started and Constantinople and Europe were spared from being overrun by the hooves of the Muslims' horses. The series of these internal struggles continued in such a way that they did not appear to have an end and none of the Caliphs had a chance and the time necessary to concentrate all their power on Europe nor was any of them able to stop the rebellions and uprisings in the Islamic territories. In short, the internal bickering of the Muslims saved the Roman Emperor in Constantinople and the other European countries. The skirmishes between the Muslims and the Christians along the borders continued. Sometimes a Caliph invaded the Romans and returned to the capital after threatening and punishing them but it was never possible for him to be away from his capital for an extended period of time. Even during Wathiq Billah's regime skirmishes with the Romans went on.

During Caliph Haroon Rasheed's time, the exchange of the Christian and Muslim prisoners took place twice. The exchange had taken place on the bank of the river Lams and on 10 Muharram 231 A.H. during Wathiq Billah's regime it took place there for a third time. The procedure adopted was as follows: Two bridges across the river were constructed in parallel. On one bridge, the Christian prisoners crossed over and on the other bridge the Muslim prisoners crossed from the other side. This was done to insure that the number of Muslims released equaled the number of Christians released. Wathiq Billah sent Khaqan on his behalf to the riverbank along with the Christian prisoners.

When an equal number of prisoners were exchanged and all the Muslim prisoners numbering 4,600 were released, there still remained many Roman prisoners in the Muslims custody. Saying, "In this exchange we should have the upper hand and this is a type of obligation on the Romans from us," Khaqan then set the remaining Roman prisoners free. The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) The death of Wathiq Billah Wathiq Billah came to suffer from dropsy. His whole body swelled up. He was made to sit on a hot oven. This improved his condition.

The next day the oven was heated a bit more and he sat for a longer period, which caused fever. They took him out and put him on a litter for a tour. When it was put down, they found him dead. Immediately members of the government Qadi Ahmad bin Dawood, Muhammad bin Abdul Malik Prime Minister ltakh, Waseef and Umar bin Farah assembled at the Caliph's palace and decided to enthrone Mohammad bin Wathiq Billah, a young boy of 9 years. At that moment Waseef addressed them saying, "Don't you fear Allah making such a young boy Caliph?" Hearing these words, they realized their mistake. They stopped and began to discuss who was the most deserving man.

At last, Wathiq Billah' s brother Jafar bin Motasim was called made to put on the royal robe and sit on the throne of the Caliphate. He was given the title Motawakkil Alallah, Motawakkil Alallah took the oath for Caliphate from all, led the funeral prayer and ordered the burial. Wathiq Billah was buried in Hadi palace. He ruled for 5 years and 9 months. He died on Tuesday 24 Thul Hijjah 232 A.H. at the age of 36. He was very firm and forbearing.

However, he committed excesses regarding the issue of the Quran's creation. He was cured of this craze at the end of his life. Note: Caliph Wathiq's body was left alone after death and everyone was busy taking the oath from Motawakkil Alallah's hands while an animal came ate his eyes out of his head. Motawakkil Atallah Motawakkil Alallah bin Motasim Billah bin Haroon Rasheed' s real name was Jafar. His kunya was Abul Fad!. He was born of a slave-girl named Shuja.

He ascended the throne after Wathiq's death on 24 Thul Hijjah 232 A.H. Immediately after becoming Caliph he disbursed salaries for 8 months to the army and made his son Muntasir the ruler of Hijaz, Yemen and Taif. The History of Islam Mohammad bin Abdul Malik's Deposition and Death Mohammad bin Abdul Malik Zayyat had been Prime Minister since Motasim's times. Even during Wathiq Billah's regime, he continued in that post. During Motawakkil Alallah's Caliphate, he remained Prime Minister and tl:\en he was deposed and punished. The following are the details: During his Caliphate, Wathiq Billah was displeased with his brother Motawakkil Alallah.

Motawakkil Alallah went to Prime Minister Mohammad bin Abdul Malik and requested him to recommend him to the Amir al-Muminin and improve his standing with him. Due to his long term of office, the Prime Minister he had grown a bit arrogant, ill tempered and unbalanced. He paid little attention to Motawakkil Alallah and treated him discourteously and said to him "Mend your ways and the Amir al-Muminin will automatically be pleased with you and no recommendation is needed." After that, he complained to Wathiq Billah against him saying, "He came to me for a recommendation to you. When I saw his hair growing like a woman, I did not talk to him." Wathiq called Motawakkil Alallah to the court, had his hair cut and turned him out of the court. The engineer of this humiliation was Mohammad bin Abdul Malik, Motawakkil Alallah after two months of his assuming power, ordered Itakh to arrest Mohammad bin Abdul Malik at home and send the message to all the occupied countries that all his property and goods wherever they were should be confiscated. In compliance with the order, Itakh imprisoned him, had his goods brought to Baghdad and deposited them in the royal treasury.

Mohammad bin Abdul Malik could not stand the rigors of captivity and died on 15 Rabi-al-Awwal 233 A.H. in that state. Omar bin Farah was also arrested and imprisoned like him in Ramadan 233 A.H. but was later released on payment of 1,100,000 dirhams. ltakh's arrest and death Itakh was a Turk slave. In his early years, he lived with Salam bin Abras and served as a cook and that is why he was known as Itakh Tabbakh (the cook). Finding him wise, well-mannered, strong-bodied and handsome Caliph Motasim purchased him from Salam Abras in ,... ________________ _,, __ ,..,,,,,.,,.,....... ___ The Caliphate of the Abbas ids (Second Phase) 199 A.H. As he was discerning and clever, he kept rising in rank. During Motasim' s regime, his respect and power increased many fold.

Those from the royal family accused of a crime were generally imprisoned in his house and put under his surveillance. Ajeef, Mamoon Rasheed' s descendants, Mohammad bin Abdul Malik and Omar bin Farah were kept as prisoners and killed under his charge. He was also in charge of defense, surveillance and delegations. He left for Hajj in Dhul Qadah 234 A.H. After his departure, Motawakkil appointed his servant Waseef to the post of surveillance. When he returned from Hajj and reached near Baghdad, lshaq bin Ibrahim at the insistence of Caliph Motawakkil invited him to Baghdad and then imprisoned him along with his two sons, Mansoor and Mozaffar. ltakh died in captivity and his two sons remained in prison until the end of Motawakkil' s Caliphate.

When Muntasir ascended the throne, he released them. The Oath for Succession ln 235 A.H., Mohammad bin Bayee bin Jalees revolted in Azerbaijan however, it was soon crushed by Bagha Kabeer. The same year Caliph Motawakkil took the oath from the people for the succession of his sons Mohammad, Talha and Ibrahim and declared that first Mohammad would be the Caliph followed by Talha. He gave titles of Muntasir and Motaz to Mohammad and Talha respectively. The western countries were given to Mohammad and the eastern countries to Motaz as landed estates. Later on, they were made successors to the throne and Syria was given to them as a landed estate.

The same year, Caliph Motawakkil changed the uniforms of the army and woolen coats were ordered to be used by tying them with a cord instead of the belt used formerly. The Dhimmis were restrained from constructing new places of worship. Instructions were issued in all the territories that no one should approach any government officials for financial help. The Christian Dhimmis were ordered not to hang the cross at their conferences. The same year Hasan bin Saha! and Ishaq bin Ibrahim bin Hasan bin Mus' ab, the nephew of Tahir bin Husain who had been the Baghdad Chief of Police since Mamoon Rasheed's regime died. Motawakkil made Mohammad bin Ishaq the Chief of Police.

He gave him the governorship of the province of Iran. It should be kept in mind that the Province of Iran was separate from Khorasan. The History of Islam The governership of Khorasan along with that of Tabristan was under the control of Tahir bin Abdullah Tahir bin Husain. The same year Caliph Motawakkil issued the decree that all the Christians should wear a scarf. The necktie is probably the memorial of this. In 236 A.H., he restrained the people from visiting the grave of Imam Husain ~ and the constructions around it were demolished.

The same year Obaidullah bin Yahya bin Khaqan was given the post of the Prime Minister. Revolt in Armenia The province of Armenia was governed by Yusuf bin Mohammad. Buqra bin Aswat, a prelate and the head of the prelates visited the governor's headquarters and begged Yusuf bin Mohammad for security. Yusuf arrested him along with his sons and sent them to Caliph Motawakkil. This caused great resentment among the prelates of Armenia against Yusuf. Buqrat bin Aswat's son-in-law Musa bin Zurara assembled them and sought their opinions.

All swore that they would kill Yusuf bin Mohammad. Then under Musa bin Zurara's command, the Christians revolted. Yusuf bin Mohammad came out to fight. The rebels killed him and his men in Ramadan 237 A.H. Hearing this news, Motawakkil sent Bagha Kabeer to Armenia. Bagha Kabeer passed through Mousil and Jazirah, encamped at Arzan and conquered it.

He killed 30,000 of Musa bin Zurara's men and also captured a large number. After that in 238 A.H., he picked up the rebellious prelates, punished them and sent them to Baghdad. Qadi Ahmad bin Abi Dawood's Deposition and Death Qadi Ahmad bin Abi Dawood commanded greater influence and power than the Prime Minister during Wathiq Billah's regime. The status quo was maintained during the initial period of Motawakkil. Caliph Motawakkil became displeased with Qadi Ahmad bin Dawood in 237 A.H. and ordered the confiscation of his goods, property and estates. Qadi Ahmad's son Abul Waleed sold his goods and property for 160,000 dirhams and presented the same to the Caliph.

Motawakkil deposed and jailed Qadi Ahmad and gave the post of Chief Justice to Yahya bin Aktham. Qadi Anmad suffered from paralysis at that time. Qadi Yahya bin The Caliphate if the A bbas1ds (Second Phase) Aktham was also dismissed by Motawakkil in 240 A.H. and Ahmad bin Abi Dawood died the same year 237 A.H. 20 days after his son Abu] Waleed's death. The same year the Christians in Hims took up arms, removed their ruler and captured the city. Caliph Motawakkil ordered the armies of Damascus and Ramla to move on Hims. These armies quelled the rebellion of the Christians and they exiled many of them.

The same year Motawakkil dismissed Qadi Abu Bakr bin Mohammad bin Abul Laith of Egypt and had him lashed. He appointed Imam Malik's disciple Harith bin Miskeen as Chief Justice of Egypt. Then the Caliph made Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir bin Husain bin Mus'ab Chief of the Baghdad Police while his brother Tahir bin Abdullah bin Tahir was made the governor of Khorasan. The Roman Invasion In 238 A.H. the governor of Egypt Ambasa bin Ishaq, called the army stationed along the coast of Dimyat to Egypt for some engagement. Finding the place unprotected, the Romans with a fleet of 100 ships looted Dimyat completely. They burned down the Central Mosque, looted the city's goods and put captives on their ships and sailed to Tunis.

They repeated the same there also. Ali bin Yahya Armini invaded the Roman Empire with the help of the army of Saifah and captured many Christians. In 241 A.H., the Roman empress Nadurah wanted to convert the Muslim captives to Christianity. Those who refused were killed. Many converted to Christianity out of fear of death. Then the Queen requested Motawakkil to exchange the prisoners.

Motawakkil sent his servant Saif with the Qadi of Baghdad Jafar bin Abdul Wahid to accompany the Christian prisoners. The exchange of the Muslim and Christian prisoners took place at the river Lams. Invasion on the Roman Empire After the above exchange of prisoners the Romans again committed a breach of treaty. They led a surprise attack and took away many Muslims as captives. The Muslim commanders chased the Romans but returned disappointed. Caliph Motawakkil sent Ali bin Yahya along with the army of Saifa to declare Jihad on the Roman Empire.

The Caliph left the capital and The History of Islam went to Damascus. He encamped there and was busy sending armies against the Romans and making the expedition a success. All members of the government accompanied the Caliph to Damascus. All the royal offices were also shifted there because the Caliph was inclined to stay there permanently. Hardly two months had passed since the Caliph's arrival in Damascus when an epidemic broke out and he had to return to the capital. Before leaving, he sent a big army under Bagha Kabeer's command to attack the Roman Empire.

Bagha Kabeer entered Roman territory and ordered a general massacre. He conquered many forts and did not hesitate killing and capturing the Romans. When the Romans surrendered and begged for amnesty, Bagha Kabeer pulled back at the Caliph's instance. The Romans violated the agreement again in 245 A.H. and they looted some Muslim cities. Ali bin Yahya attacked the Romans in retaliation, and looted them significantly. In 246 A.H., the Romans again harassed the Muslims.

They looted the border territories and desolated them. This time Caliph Motawakkil deputed land and navy forces to lead a multipronged attack on the Roman territories. This caused a major upheaval there. The Romans again begged for amnesty and expressed their will for reconciliation. The Muslims conceded to it willingly and again prisoners were exchanged at the Lams River. This time, in 246 A.H., 2,300 Muslim prisoners were recovered.

The Building of the City of )afaria In 245 A.H., Motawakkil had a new city named Jafaria built at the cost of 200,000 dinars not including a big palace in the center of the city called Luloo (pearl). It was taller than all the royal palaces. Some called it Jafaria, some Motawakkilia and yet some Makhoorah. Jafar bin Khayyat died the same year. In this year, Motawakkil had Najah bin Maslama beaten to death. He was a very influential man.

He was the executive of the office of Motawakkil's official proclamations. The charge of bribery was proved against him and he suffered this severe punishment. The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) The Murder of Motawakkil As has been mentioned above, Motawakkil had made his son Muntasir heir apparent. Muntasir was greatly influenced by the Shiites and believed in the creation of the Quran as did Wathiq and Motasim before him. But Motawakkil was a strict follower of Sunnah, a great adviser of the scholars of the Sunnah and a formidable critic on the issue of the Qur' an' s creation. He always remained engaged in putting an end to this problem with great courage.

This difference of belief between the father and the son led to an estrangement. Motawakkil made up his mind to make his second son Motaz his heir-apparent. As Muntasir and Motaz were born of two different women, there already existed a rivalry between them. When Caliph Motawakkil preferred Motaz to Muntasir, the latter turned inimical to his father. A few days before this Caliph Motawakkil had become angry with his Turk commanders Bagha Kabeer, Waseef Kabeer, Waseef Sagheer and Dawajan Ashrosani for some of their activities and seized their estates, the Turks were displeased with him. Though Bagha Kabeer was sent to the Roman territories, his son Musa bin Bagha was assigned to protect the royal palace.

When Bagha Kabeer found that Muntasir agreed to his views, he organized a group including his four sons and a few Turks and assigned them the task of murdering Motawakkil. One night when Muntasir and the other courtiers left the court and the Caliph remained with Fatah bin Khaqan and four other companions, the killers entered the royal palace by the door facing the Tigris River and attacked the Caliph. Fatah bin Khaqan was also killed with him. Leaving the two dead bodies, the killers with their blood-stained swords reached Mw1tasir the same night and congratulated him on becoming the Caliph. Muntasir immediately went to the royal palace and took the oath from the people. Waseef and other Turk chiefs came and took the oath.

When this news reached the minister Obaidullah bin Yahya bin Khaqan, he rushed to Motaz but Muntasir had already called Motaz to him and taken the oath from him. When the minister Obaidullah called on Motaz, 10,000 people including Azdi, Armeni and non-Arabs assembled there. They said to History of [slam him in one voice, "If you permit us, we shall kill Muntasir and his men." Obaidullah stopped them. The next morning Muntasir ordered Motawakkil and Fatah to be buried. This happened on 4 Shawwal 247 A.H. Caliph Motawakkil was murdered after being Caliphate for 14 years 10 months and 3 days.

He was 40. Motawakkil's Habits and Nature and a Few Important Incidents Immediately after assuming power, Caliph Motawakkil Alallah showed his interest and inclination towards the revival of the Sunnah. In 234 A.H., he invited all the scholars of Hadith to the capital Samarra and accorded them great honor. Before this during Wathiq and Motasim's regimes, they could not deliver lectures on Hadith in public and could not narrate Hadith regarding the vision of Allah. Motawakkil decreed them to teach Hadith at mosques freely and narrate Hadith about the attributes and vision of Allah. This pleased the Muslims and endeared him to them.

Lessons on Hadiths began to be taught at the mosques. He put an end to the practice of grave worship. This made the Shiites his enemies because the rites performed at the grave of Imam Husain ~ were stopped at once. In 240 A.H., the inhabitants of Khalat heard such a loud sound from the sky that many people died from its impact. Hailstones, the size of chicken eggs, fell in Iraq and 13 villages sank into the earth. In 243 A.H., a severe tremor was felt in North Africa, Khorasan, Tabristan and Isfahan.

Many mountains cracked and large numbers of people fell into the earth. Stones weighing 5 kg. fell on an Egyptian village. In Ramadan 243 A.H., the people of Ha lab (Aleppo) saw and heard a bird uttering, "O people fear Allah" followed by" Allah!" "Allah" 40 times. Then it flew away. The next day the same thing happened. They informed the people in the capital and 500 people witnessed it.

In 245 A.H., earthquakes took place in the whole world; many cities and forts fell to the ground; a mountain in Antakia fell into the ocean; the water in the springs of Makkah disappeared. Motawakkil spent 1,000,000 dinars to bring water from Arafat. Terrible sounds from the sky were heard. The Caliphate of the Abbas ids (Second Phase) Motawakkil was very generous. He gave more awards to the poets than any other Caliph had ever given. It was during his regime that Dhun Nun Misri appeared.

When the Egyptian governor called on Thul Nun Misri and enquired about his faith, he was satisfied and wrote accordingly to Motawakkil. Motawakkil called him to the capital and was very pleased with him. He respected him much. After Motawakkil's murder somebody saw him in a dream and asked, "What has Allah done with you?" Motawakkil said," Allah forgave me for whatever little I could do for the revival of the Sunnah." When he ascended the throne, the people thought about a suitable title for him. There was no agreement on it but when Motawakkil narrated his dream, all of them liked the title Motawakkil Alallah.' Once Motawakkil called the scholars to his palace including Ahmad bin Mada!. When all the scholars had arrived, Motawakkil also came, seeing him approaching all the scholars stood up to show respect except Ahmad bin Mada! who remained sitting.

Motawakkil said to his minister Obaidullah "Has this gentlemen not taken the oath?" Obaidullah said, "He has taken the oath but his eyesight is poor." Ahmed bin Madal at once said, "There is no defect in my eyes but I want to protect you from Allah's punishment for a Hadith says: 'Whosoever expects that people should stand up respect him he should make his accommodation in Hell."' Hearing this Motawakkil moved near Ahmad bin Madal. Yazid Mahlabi says: One day Motawakkil said to me, "The Caliphs were strict with their subjects in order to keep them in awe. But l treat my subjects kindly so that they may obey me by recognizing my Caliphate." Amr bin Sheban says: I saw Motawakkil in a dream two months after he was murdered. I said to him, "What did Allah do with you? Mo1awakkil said,' Allah forgave me for what I did for the revival of the Sunnah.' Then I said to him, 'What will happen to your killers?' He said, 'I have been awaiting my son Muhammad (Muntasir). When he comes I shall complain to Allah against him."' Caliph Motawakkil Atallah followed the Shafii school of thought and he was the first among the Caliphs to embrace this school of jurisprudence.

History of Islam Mustansir Billah Mustansir Billah bin Motawakkil Alallah bin Motasim Billah bin Haroon Rasheed's real name was Mohammad and his kunya was Abu Jafar or Abu Abdullah. He was born of a Roman African slave at Samarra in 223 A.H. After having his father Motawakkil killed, he sat on the throne on 4 Shawwal 247 A.H. He deposed both his brothers Motaz and Muayyad, who had been made heirs apparent by his father Motawakkil. The Turks had been dominating the Caliph's court and their power was increasing day by day. They had the upper hand in all affairs.

Seeing the Turks were on the ascendant and they might be harmful to him, he geared up to curtail and reduce their powers and influence. During his six-month Caliphate, he served the Shiites considerably. He allowed them to pay visits to Imam Husain's grave and granted all type of freedom to the Alawiites. Immediately after taking over the Caliphate, he made Ahmad bin Khaseeb the prime minister and made Bagha Kabeer the commander-in-chief. It was Bagha Kabeer and the other Turks who coaxed him to remove his brothers from succession. When he wanted to reduce their power, they were scared of him because he was wise and brave and they were sure he would succeed in his aim.

Therefore, they gave his physician lbn Taifoor 30,000 dinars as a bribe to use a poisoned scalpel while letting his blood in connection with curing a disease this led to his death. After being Caliph less than 6 months, he died on 5 Rabi-al-Awwal 248 A.H. At the point of death he said, "O my mother! I have lost both this world and the hereafter. I have killed my father and now I am going after him." Mustayeen Billah Mustayeen Billah bin Motasim bin Haroon Rasheed's real name wa Ahmad and his kunya was Abul Abbas. He was handsome and fai complexioned.

His face was pock marked and he stammered. He wa born of a slave-girl named Makhariq in 221 A.H. When Muntasir die the members of the government assembled to decide on who shoul The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) be chosen Calirh. Motawakkil's sons Motaz and Moayyad were present but the Turks were wary of them because they were responsible for their removal from succession. Motasim Billah's son Ahmad was enthroned and the title Mustayeen Billah was chosen for him. He was very noble, very eloquent and a literary scholar.

He sat on the throne on 6 Rabia Akhir 248 A.H. When Mustayeen Billah was being taken to the royal palace for enthronement Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir and the masses protested, revolted and presented Motaz's claim to the Caliphate. The Turks fought with them and many were killed and many escaped. While the fight was going on the Turks were taking the oath for Mustayeen Billah's Caliphate. When the uproar subsided, awards and posts began to be distributed. The message was sent to Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir to come and take the oath, which he did.

After the completion of the oath news arrived that Tahir bin Abdullah bin Tahir, the governor of Khorasan, passed away. Caliph Mustayeen Billah appointed Mohammad bin Tahir bin Abdullah as governor there. His uncle Talha and his son Mansoor were made rulers of Nishapur, and Sarkhas and Khwarzam respectively. Then his uncle Sulaiman bin Abdullah and his cousin Abbas were sent as rulers to Tabristan and Jurjan and Talqan respectively. In 248 A.H., Abdullah bin Yahya bin Khaqan sought permission to perform Hajj. The Caliph permitted him but immediately after his departure he assigned a commander named Abdullah bin Yahya to arrest and exile him.

He caught and exiled him to Riqqah accordingly. During the same period, the Turks wanted to murder Motaz and Moayyad. Ahmad bin Khaseeb stopped the Caliph from committing this illegal act. Immediately after sitting on the throne as Caliph, Mustayeen made a Turk chief Atamish his prime minister and Ahmad bin Khaseeb his deputy. The C:::aliph put Motaz and Moayyad under house arrest. After a short time Ahmad bin Khaseeb was also deposed and put under surveillance.

Besides becoming prime minister, Atamish was also made the ruler of Egypt and the western territories. Bagha Sagheer was made the governor of Halwan and Masabzan. Similarly, Ashnas was appointed commander in chief and put in charge of all government staff. In short, all the important posts were given to the Turks. I i;j ;:.! History of Islam In 249 A.H., the Romans launched an attack on the Islamic territories.

Two reputed chiefs Omar bin Abdullah and Yahya bin Yahya besides many other Muslims were martyred in the encounter. The Baghdad people were extremely shocked about the martyrdom of these two leaders and they all started complaining about the Turks that after getting power they not only killed the Caliphs and humiliated the noblemen but also neglected to declare Jihad against the infidels. That was why the two servants of Islam met their martyrdom and the Romans felt encouraged to attack the Muslims. These and other issues led to the rise of unrest in Baghdad and the people began to make preparations for Jihad. In other words the common people were not waiting for the military leaders and the armed forces to address the problem of the Romans they themselves formed an army for the Jihad. The Muslims from all around began to come and join the Jihad and the wealthy Muslims contributed the money necessary and a huge army left Baghdad to fight in the holy war against the Romans.

Mustayeen and the members of his government remained in Samarra as spectators and did not intervene. The Muslims who came out for Jihad reached Samarra and created trouble there. They broke open the jail and set the prisoners free. After that, the Turk chiefs Bagha, Waseef and Atamish faced these Muslims fighters with their armies. A large number of people were killed and their enthusiasm dissipated. Because Atamish had a greater hold on power and was able to utilize the royal treasury, Bagha and Waseef had enmity for him.

After Atamish, they had Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Ali made prime minister. After a short time there developed bad blood between Bagha Sagheer and Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Ali. Abdullah left Samarra out of fear of Bagha Sagheer. The Caliph appointed Mohammad bin Fadal Jurjani as the prime minister. Caliph Mustayeen was totally under the control of the Turks. Samarra was populated mostly by Turks and the Caliph was unable to get out of their control.

In this situation Yahya bin Omar bin Yahya bin Husain bin Zaid Shaheed, whose kunya was Abul Husain, revolted in Kufa. Kufa was ruled over by Ayyub bin Husain bin Musa bin Sulaiman bin Ali on behalf of Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir. Abu! Husain forced Ayyub out of Kufa, looted the royal treasury and occupied Kufa. The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) Abu! Husain then left Kufa and marched towards Wasit.

Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir sent Husain bin Ismail bin Ibrahim bin Husain bin Mus' ab to defeat him. The confrontation took "place midway to Wasit. Abul Husain defeated Husain bin Ismail and returned to Kufa. The inhabitants of Baghdad also were ready to help Husain bin Ismail, who rallied his forces and attacked Abu! Husain Yahya bin Omar. Yahya came out of Kufa and fought.

After a fierce battle, Abu! Husain was killed and his head was severed and sent to Caliph Mustayeen at Samarra. He put it into a box and kept it in the arsenal. Abu! Husain Yahya lost his life on 15 Rajab 250 A.H. As reward for his victory over Abu!

Husain, Caliph Mustayeen granted estates to Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir in Tabristan. One of the estates was near the border of Delam. When Mohammad bin Abdullah' s ruler went to take possession, a man named Rustam opposed him. The inhabitants of Delam sjded with Rustam and his two sons Mohammad and ]afar. At that time, Mohammad bin Ibrahim Alawi was present in Tabristan. Mohammad and Jafar called on him and said, "Please stake your claim to the caliphate.

We shall help you." He said, "Go to Rayy and put this request to Hasan bin Zaid bin Mohammad bin Ismail bin Hasan bin Zaid bin Hasan Sibt. He is my chief and leader." Mohammad and Jafar went to their father and briefed him about the meeting. He sent a man to Rayy. Hasan bin Zaid came to Tabristan. The people from Delam and Darban began to come and take the oath. A huge crowd collected and Hasan bin Zaid captured Tabristan, which was followed by Rayy.

Receiving this news, Mustayeen sent an army to defend Hamadan. It suffered defeat. Then Musa bin Bagha Kabeer was sent from the capital with an army. He took Tabristan from Hasan bin Zaid's control but Delam still remained under Hasan's control. Musa returned to Rayy. During those days, Caliph Mustayeen appointed Dalee! bin Yaqub a Christian as his minister.

Af_ter a short time, a Turk named Baghar developed a grievance against Dalee! Christian. Bagha Sagheer and Waseef declared Baghar guilty in the matter. The Caliph jailed him. The Turks created an uproar and Bagha Sagheer had Baghar killed. This, far from g_uelling the uproar, aggravated it and History of Islam the entire city of Samarra took up arms.

The flags of the insurgents were visible on all sides. Seeing the danger Caliph Mustayeen, Bagha Waseef, Shahik and Ahmad bin Saleh bin Shiraz left Samarra and went to Baghdad and lodged at Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir's house in Baghdad in Muharram 251 A.H. The royal offices and the whole staff followed the Caliph and went to Baghdad. The Turks felt ashamed after the Caliph had left for Baghdad. Six Turks from Samarra called on him and entreated him saying, "Please come to Samarra. We are ashamed of our impertinent acts.

We beg to be excused." Caliph Mustayeen reminded them of their disloyalties and impertinences and he refused to go to Samarra. The Turks returned to Samarra, took Motaz bin Motawakkil out of the jail and took the oath for his rule. Abu Ahmad bin Haroon Rasheed was also present there. When he was asked to take the oath, he said, " As 1 have taken the oath for Mustayeen and Motaz has accepted his dismissal from succession, I shall not take the oath." Motaz left Abu Ahmad alone and did not insist on his taking the oath. Bagha Kabeer's sons Musa and Abdullah also tobk the oath for Motaz. Thus all those who preferred Motaz, came to Motaz at Samarra and those who preferred Mustayeen left Samarra and went to Baghdad.

The rulers and governors of the provinces also followed suit. Some joined the one and some the other. There were two Caliphs, one in Samarra and the other in Baghdad. The dynasty of Tahir and the Khorasanis were more on Mustayeen's side while all Turks and some other chiefs joined Motaz. The Caliphs continued fighting for 11 months. Both entered into correspondence with the governors of the provinces and tried to win their sympathy.

This war was not confined to Samarra and Baghdad but spread to other provinces. However, the concentration was greater around Baghdad because the other areas were waiting to see the results from the capital. · Finally, in Thul Qadah 251 A.H. Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir, the commander of Mustayeen's army in Baghdad, launched such a The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) fierce attack on the Turks who were besieging Baghdad, that they were defeated and fled away. Bagha and Waseef were with Mustayeen in Baghdad. They also accompanied Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir with their small army of Turks consisting of men loyal to them and were part of Mustayeen's army. When Bagha and Waseef saw the Turks defeated and fleeing from the Khorasanis and Iraqis, their national and racial prejudice received a jolt.

They separated and joined the runaway army. The Turks became encouraged with their arrival, organized and ordered their armies to return and lay siege to Baghdad again. In Baghdad, the civilians spread the rumor that Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir was deliberately putting Caliph Mustayeen into trouble which led to the loss of his enthusiasm for the struggle. On 6 Muharram 252 A.H., Mustayeen Billah wrote to Motaz Billah recognizing his Caliphate and renouncing his own. Caliph Motaz then entered Baghdad, put the deposed Caliph under surveillance and sent him to Wasit. Mustayeen lived there under the custody of one of Motaz' s commanders for 9 months then he came back to Sarnarra and was slain at Caliph Motaz's suggestion.

Motaz Billah Motaz Billah bin Motawakkil Atallah bin Motasim Billah bin Haroon Rasheed was born of a Roman salve girl named Fatahyah at Samarra in 232 A.H. He was made Caliph in Samarra in Muharrarn 251 A.H. After being at war with Mustayeen Billah for one year, he succeeded in forcing him to abdicate. He was very handsome. Ashnas the Turk died the same year he was enthroned. He had left 50,000 dinars, which were seized. by Motaz Billah to run his administration.

When Motaz Billah took the throne, he was 19. He made Ahmad bin Israil his minister and allowed Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir to continue as the chief of the Baghdad Police. Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir was the governor of Khorasan his deputy lived in Khorasan and he himself lived in Baghdad. It was the Turks who had enthroned Motaz and so he was under their influence. The Khorasanis and Iraqis were in the army, which was stationed in Baghdad and Mohammad · History of Islam the entire city of Samarra took up arms. The flags of the insurgents were visible on all sides.

Seeing the danger Caliph Mustayeen, Bagha Waseef, Shahik and Ahmad bin Saleh bin Shiraz left Samarra and went to Baghdad and lodged at Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir's house in Baghdad in Muharram 251 A.H. The royal offices and the whole staff followed the Caliph and went to Baghdad. The Turks felt ashamed after the Caliph had left for Baghdad. Six Turks from Samarra called on him and entreated him saying, "Please come to Samarra. We are ashamed of our impertinent acts. We beg to be excused." Caliph Mustayeen reminded them of their disloyalties and impertinences and he refused to go to Samarra.

The Turks returned to Samarra, took Motaz bin Motawakkil out of the jail and took the oath for his rule. Abu Ahmad bin Haroon Rasheed was also present there. When he was asked to take the oath, he said, "As I have taken the oath for Mustayeen and Motaz has accepted his dismissal from succession, I shall not take the oath." Motaz left Abu Ahmad alone and did not insist on his taking the oath. Bagha Kabeer's sons Musa and Abdullah also tobk the oath for Motaz. Thus all those who preferred Motaz, came to Motaz at Samarra and those who preferred Mustayeen left Samarra and went to Baghdad. The rulers and governors of the provinces also followed suit.

Some joined the one and some the other. There were two Caliphs, one in Samarra and the other in Baghdad. The dynasty of Tahir and the Khorasanis were more on Mustayeen's side while all Turks and som other chiefs joined Motaz. The Caliphs continued fighting for 11 months. Both entered into correspondence with the governors of th provinces and tried to win their sympathy. This war was not confine to Samarra and Baghdad but spread to other provinces.

However, th concentration was greater around Baghdad because the other area were waiting to see the results from the capital. ' Finally, in Thul Qadah 251 A.H. Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahi , the commander of Mustayeen's army in Baghdad, launched such The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) fierce attack on the Turks who were besieging Baghdad, that they were defeated and fled away. Bagha and Waseef were with Mustayeen in Baghdad. They also accompanied Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir with their small army of Turks consisting of men loyal to them and were part of Mustayeen's army. When Bagha and Waseef saw the Turks defeated and fleeing from the Khorasanis and Iraqis, their national and racial prejudice received a jolt.

They separated and joined the runaway army. The Turks became encouraged with their arrival, organized and ordered their armies to return and lay siege to Baghdad again. In Baghdad, the civilians spread the rumor that Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir was deliberately putting Caliph Mustayeen into trouble which led to the loss of his enthusiasm for the struggle. On 6 Muharram 252 A.H., Mustayeen Billah wrote to Motaz Billah recognizing his Caliphate and renouncing his own. Caliph Motaz then entered Baghdad, put the deposed Caliph under surveillance and sent him to Wasit. Mustayeen lived there under the custody of one of Motaz' s commanders for 9 months then he came back to Samarra and was slain at Caliph Motaz's suggestion.

Motaz Billah Motaz Billah bin Motawakkil Alallah bin Motasim Billah bin Haroon Rasheed was born of a Roman salve girl named Fatahyah at Samarra in 232 A.H. He was made Caliph in Samarra in Muharram 251 A.H. After being at war with Mustayeen Billah for one year, he succeeded in forcing him to abdicate. He was very handsome. Ashnas the Turk died the same year he was enthroned. He had left 50,000 dinars, which were seized. by Motaz Billah to run his administration.

When Motaz Billah took the throne, he was 19. He made Ahmad bin Israil his minister and allowed Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir to continue as the chief of the Baghdad Police. Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir was the governor of Khorasan his deputy lived in Khorasan and he himself lived in Baghdad. It was the Turks who had enthroned Motaz and so he was under their influence. The Khorasanis and Iraqis were in the army, which was stationed in Baghdad and Mohammad I,, I l ~ History of Islam bin Abdullah used to pay their salaries. Motaz Billah st9pped their salaries and allowances. ln Rajab 252 A.H., he deposed his brother Moayyad from the succession, sent him to jail and had him killed.

In Ramadan 252 A.H., the army revolted because of not receiving their salaries and started to fight with Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir. Mohammad bin Abdullah quelled the rebellion with great difficulty. The same year saw a riot break out between the Turks and the Arabs starting a civil war. The inhabitants of Baghdad sided with the Arabs but the Turks succeeded fraudulently in killing and exiling the Arabs and their leaders. The same year Caliph Motaz Billah appointed Husain bin Abi Shorab to the post of Chief Justice. The respect for the institution of the Caliphate had disappeared, the governors of different provinces began t.o con~ider themselves independent and the Khawarij and Alawiites began to revolt.

Musawir bin Abdullah bin Musawir Bijli Khwarji captured Mousil and declared his independence and all the forces sent to fight him by the Caliph were defeated and chased away. In 253 A.H., the Turks demanded their generals Waseef, Bagha and Simataweel, to pay four months saJ.aries in advance. They told them that the treasury was empty and payment was not possible. The Turks grew restless and the generals informed Motaz Billah. Motaz Billah himself was helpless. The Turks caught Waseef and killed him.

At that time, there was a rivalry between Babakyal and Bagha Sagheer. The Caliph showed greater favor for Babakyal. Bagha made up his mind to put the Caliph to death but Motaz Billah somehow found out and Babakyal's men did away with Bagha Sagheer. Death of Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir M_ohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir, the governor of Khorasan died in Baghdad in 253 A.H. Before his death, his will made his son Obaidullah his deputy and the governor of Khorasan. Obaidullah's brother Tahir bin Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir opposed him.

They fell out regarding who should lead the funeral prayer. In light o the will, Obaidullah was declared to be his father's deputy. Late The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) Caliph Motaz Billah made another brother Sulaiman bin Abdullah bin Tahir the deputy of Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir and he made Baghdad his headquarters and began to discharge his duties and manage the expeditions. Ahmad bin Tuloon Among the Turkish generals, Babakyal like Bagha, Waseef and Simataweel was a famous and popular leader. The same year Motaz Billah deputed Babakyal as the governor of Egypt. Babakyal deputed on his own behalf Ahmad bin Tuloon as the governor of Egypt.

Tuloon was a Turk who was captured in the battle of Farghana. He was brought up in the family of the Caliph and was cow1ted as one of the royal slaves. His son Ahmad was brought up in the capital and was.well versed in administrative affairs. When Babakyal became the governor of Egypt, he was considering that who he should assign as the governor of Egypt on his behalf. His advisors named Tuloon. He agreed and sent Tuloon to Egypt where he took over and managed the affairs there.

Later, Caliph Mohtadi made the Turk Yarkooj the governor of Egypt who retained Ahmad bin Tuloon as his deputy in Egypt. In this way Ahmad bin Tuloon gained a firm hold on Egypt as a ruler and his descendants ruled it by s~ccession and minted their own coins there. In short, Egypt should be considered excluded from the Abbasid Caliphate from 253 A.H. or at least that the Tuloon government was founded in Egypt in 253 A.H. Yaqub bin Laith Saffar Both Yaqub bin Laith and his brother Amr bin Laith owned shops making copper and brass utensils in Sajistan. There were revolts in several places following the weakening of the Caliphate and the Khwarij also revolted. The Alawiites supporters also came out against the Abbasids.

Oneof them named Saleh bin Nasr Kanani took up arms. A group of the wealthy, noblemen and common masses collected around him. Yaqub bin Laith also joined them. Saleh fought and somehow captured Sajistan and forced the members of the Tahir dynasty out of Sajistan.' Saleh died after this victory. Dirham bin Hasan followed as his successor. However, the governor of Khorasan .

I I History of Islam captured and sent him to Baghdad. Saleh's group chose Yaqub bin Laith as its Amir. Yaqub, by virtue of his prudence and valor, completed the capture of Sajistan and expelled Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir' s governor of Herat, Mohammad bin Aus Ambari and took over Herat. He then began to conquer the territories of Khorasan. Meanwhile the governor of Iran, Ali bin Husain bin Shibil, wanted to conquer Kerman. Yaqub bin Lai th also wanted control over Kerman.

Yaqub bin Laith defeated and chased away Ali bin Husain's commanders and finally invaded and conquered Shiraz, the capital of Iran in 255 A.H. At once he went back to Sajistan and sent an application to the Caliph's court that read, "Great unrest was prevalent in this region. The people here have made me their Amir. I am obedient and loyal to Amir Al-Muminin." Gradually he removed the families of Tahir from Khorasan, occupied it and established his own permanent government. Tahir bin Husain's descendants had ruled over Khorasan continuously but they were always connected with the Caliph's court and one member of this family was always appointed to the administration of the Baghdad Police department. None of the Abbasids wanted to take Khorasan from the Tahir family because they had always regarded themselves as the servants and subordinates of the Abbasid Caliphs so they continued to receive title to the governorship from them and in return, the Tahir family would pay the fixed taxes to the Caliph.

However, the government which Yaqub bin Laith setup was different. It would become known as the Saffariah State and its details follow later on in the narrative. Motaz Billah: Deposition and Death Caliph Motaz was completely under the control of the Turk generals and whatever they wanted he would do for them. The treasury had been drained because the generals had usurped it. The soldiers demanded the Caliph to pay their salaries. The Caliph was helpless.

Finally, the Turks demanded payment or else they would kill Saleh bin Waseef who they considered responsible for manipulating the Caliph. Saleh bin Waseef was a Turk general and the Caliph was afraid of him. Seeing the problem Motaz went to his Roman mother Fatahyah for some money to solve the problem. She had large sums of money The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) but she refused to part with any on the pretext of impending poverty. The Turks, in coalition with Saleh bin Waseef, Mohammad bin Bagha Sagheer and Babakyal, armed themselves fully and went to the door of the Caliph's palace and called Motaz. Caliph Motaz sent word, "I have taken medicine.

I am too ill and weak to come out." Hearing this the Turks made a forced entry into the palace and brought out the Caliph dragging him by the legs. They beat him up, abused him and made him stand bareheaded in the sun in the courtyard. Then everybody who passed by slapped him in the face. When his humiliation went beyond limits, he was asked to abdicate. He refused. Then the chief judge Husain bin Abi Shorab and members of the government were called to witness the dismissal of the Caliph.

All of them put their signatures on it and Motaz was thrown into a dungeon without food and water leading ultimately to his death. This occurred in Rajab 255 A.H. He died on 8 Shaban 255~A.H. They brought Motaz's cousin Mohammad bin Wathiq from Baghdad and put him on the throne and bestowed on him the title of Mohtadi Billah. When Motaz's mother saw her son's arrest and humiliation, she escaped through a tunnel and went into hiding somewhere in Samarra. When Mohtadi become Caliph, she received amnesty from Saleh bin Waseef, the Caliph's deputy, and appeared in Ramadan 255 A.H.

When Saleh initiated inquiries about her wealth it came to light that she was in possession of 10,300,000 dinars and gold and jewels worth more than that although Motaz had asked for only 50,000 dinars, a sum which would have been sufficient to put an end to the unrest in the army. Saleh seized all her wealth and goods and said, "This unlucky woman had her son killed for 50,000 dinars although she had millions of dinars in her possession." Then he sent her to Makkah. She lived there until Motamid succeeded to the throne. Then she went to Samarra where she died in 264 A.H. Mohtadi Billah Mohtadi Billah bin Wathiq Billah bin Motasim Billah bin Haroon Rasheed's real name was Mohammad and his kunya was Abu Ishaq. He was born during his grandfather Motasim Billah' s period of Caliphate in 218 A.H.

He became Caliph on 29 Rajab 255 A.H. at the ,, :,j · .. ' i . History of Islam age of 37. He was light brown in complexion, lean and thin, handsome, pious and devout, just and brave. He struggled considerably to uphold the divine commandments. Right from his accession to his death, he continuously observed the fast but he did not have any supporters.

He came at such a bad time that it was difficult to restore the old Islamic honor and glory. Hashim bin Qasim says: During the month of Ramadan I was sitting near Mohtadi. It was evening. When I stood up to leave, he asked me to sit down. Then we broke the fast together and performed our prayer. When Mohtadi ordered supper, it was brought in a small willow basket.

It contained thin loaves of bread, a pinch of salt in a cup, vinegar in,another and olive oil in a third cup. He invited me to eat. I began to eat and thought that more food would follow so I ate slowly. Mohtadi looked at me and said, "Don't you observe the fast?" I said, "Yes" Then he said, "Will you not observe it tomorrow?" I said, "It is the month of Ramadan. Why shouldn't I observe it?" He said, "Then eat well and don't expect that more food will be coming for there is nothing here r xcept this." I~ w~s taken by surprise and said, Amir al Muminin! ,;What is this? Allah has given you all the delicacies, conveniences and comforts of life." He said, "Yes, that is true.

However, when I reflected, I found that Omar bin Abdul Aziz among Banu Umayyah was reduced to a skeleton due to his undereating and preoccupation with providing all facilities to his subjects. Then I turned my attention to my family and I was highly ashamed to find that we, the Banu Hashim, are quite unlike them. That is why I have adopted the way you see." He had put a strict ban on sports and entertainment, declared singing and playing musical instruments unlawful and prohibited the royal staff from being tyrannical to the people. In matters of administrative work, he was strict. He attended the court daily and handled the cases in open court. He used to do the accounting by having the accountants sit in front of him.

As has been recorded earlier, the Turks also made Mohtadi Billah Caliph. After enthroning him Saleh bin Wasif, the most influential among the Turks who dominated him most arrested and killed Ahmad bin Israil, Zaid bin Motaz Billah and Abu Nuh and confiscated their money and property. Then he arrested Hasan bin Mukhallad and seized his goods. When Caliph Mohtadi Billah came to know about The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) these incidents, he was extremely shocked and said, "Was ~heir arrest for an ordinary crime that they were also killed?" Following that the Caliph turned all the slave-girls and singers out of Samarra. He ordered all pets to be killed and the dogs to be set free. He made Sulaiman bin Wahab his minister.

But Saleh ibn Waseef, by virtue of his intelligence and careful planning, brought him under his control and began to rule himself. Musa bin Bagha was not present at the time of Motaz's deposition and Mohtadi's accession. He had been in Rayy. When he heard that Saleh had deposed Motaz and enthroned Mohtadi, he announced his intention of avenging Motaz's blood and marched to the capital. After he arrived, he sent a request to the Caliph for permission to come to him. Saleh went into hiding when he heard of Musa's arrival.

The Caliph permitted Musa to call on him. Soon after his arrival, he captured the Caliph. He then had him mounted on a mule and wanted to take him to the prison. Mohtadi said, "Musa! Fear Allah, what is it that you want?" Musa said, "My intention is good. Please swear that you will not side with Saleh." The Caliph swore.

M,usa took the oath at his hands immediately. Then Musa began to search for Saleh. The Caliph tried to reconcile between Musa and Saleh. Consequently, Musa and his men suspected that the Caliph knew where Saleh was and that it was he who was concealing him. The Turks met at Musa bin Bagha' s house for council, and thought of killing or deposing Caliph Mohtadi. The Caliph came to know about this meeting and sent for all of them to appear in his court.

He himself came to the court armed and with a face that reflected great anger. He said to the Turks, "I have come to know about your council. Do not take me like other Caliphs. As long as I hold the sword in my hand, I will kill most of you. I have left my will and I am ready to kill and be killed. Remember that enmity with me will prove fatal to you.

I declare on oath that I do not know where Saleh is." They were silent when they heard this and their conspiracy subsided. Then Musa proclaimed a 10,000 dinars reward for the capture of Saleh. By chance, Saleh was located and Musa had him killed, then had his head put on a spear and taken throughout the city. Mohtadi disapproved of it but he could not do anything against the Turk's power. He was quite helpless. Finally, he wrote a letter to the Turk . :I History of Islam chief named Babakyal asking him to kill Musa.

Babakyal showed the letter to Musa. Musa rushed with his army to the Caliph's palace. The people of the western territories and Farghana defended the Caliph and a number of encounters took place. Meanwhile Babakyal was put in Mohtadi's prison as a captive. Caliph Mohtadi had him killed and his head thrown over to the Turks side. This excited them even more and the Turks who were in the Caliph's army became angry at Babakyal's murder and went over to Musa's army.

During this period the Turks had besieged the Caliph, the subjects of Baghdad, Samarra and other places that had been praying for Caliph Mohtadi as they were. very pleased with his justice and generosity and thought of him as a righteous Caliph. However, the consequences were quite adverse. The Caliph was defeated. The Turks arrested him and had his testicles crushed until he died. This tragedy occurred on 14 Rajab 256 A.H. Caliph Mohtadi ran his Caliphate for 15 days short of a year.

He was 38 when he lost his life. After that, the Turks took Abul Abbas Ahmad bin Motawakkil out of captivity (he was in captivity at Josaq) and put him on the throne. They took the oath for him and chose Motamid Alallah as his title. Motamid Alallah Motamid Alallah bin Motawakkil Atallah bin Motasim Billah bin Haroon Rasheed was born of a Roman slave girl named Fatyan. Caliph Motamid made Obaidullah bin Yahya bin Khaqan his minister. Obaidullah fell off his horse and died in 263A.H.

Then Mohammad bin Mukhallad was made the minister. The Revolt of the Alawiites In 256 A.H. Ibrahim bin Mohammad bin Yahya bin Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Hanafia bin Ali bin Abi Talib alias Ibn Sufi and Ali bin Zaid Alawi revolted against the Abbasid Caliphate in Egypt and Kufa respectively. Ibn Sufi suffered defeat in several battles and fled from Egypt and went to Makkah where the governor of Makkah arrested him and sent him to Ahmad bin Tuloon in Egypt. He imprisoned him and later released him. After his release, he went to The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) Madinah where he died.

Ali bin Zaid revolted in Kufa and expelled the governor and took it over. Caliph Motamid sent a commander named Shah bin Michael to Kufa but he was defeated by Ali bin Zaid. Then the Caliph sent another commander named Kajoor who defeated Ali bin Zaid. In 256 A.H. he re-attacked Ali bin Zaid which resulted in his defeat and arrest. Kajoor went to the capital with him. Husain bin Zaid Alawi captured Rayy and Musa bin Bagha set out to fight against him.

A man named Ali posing as an Alawiite previously drew the people's attention to himself in Bahrain and then went to Ahsa. There he posed as an Alawiite but with a different lineage. As the Alawiites were revolting in different places, he had a strong craving for power and kept drawing people's attention to himself by posing as an Alawiite but his lineage continued to be questioned everywhere proving that he was not an Alawiite. At last, in coalition with a few slaves in Baghdad he went to Basra and announced to the slaves that whoever came over to him would be freed. It attracted many of them and they rallied around him. When the masters of the slaves came to him and wanted to talk about them, he had them arrested and later Ali released them.

The number of slaves continued multiplying under Ali's flag and he with fiery speeches coaxed and induced them to conquer territory with the power of their swords. Then he looted Qadsiya and its adjoining areas and returned to Basra. The people of Basra fought but were defeated. Following that, they fought with him several times but were defeated each time. The slave army captured Basra. The Caliph deputed the Turk Abu Bilal with a 4,000 man army under his command to confront them.

The confrontation took place near the river Riyan. The slaves defeated and chased them away. They captured not only Basra but also, Ahwaz and other places. The Turk leaders brought armies from the Caliph's court repeatedly but always returned defeated. Finally, it was Sayeed bin Saleh who crushed them and expelled them from Basra. However, on 15 Shawwal 257 A.H. they recaptured Basra and burnt it to the ground.

The beautiful buildings of Basra were reduced to ashes and rubble. Assessing the situation Caliph Motamid sent Mohammad Maroof alias Molid with a large army. The slaves came out of Basra and fought with him at the Maqul River. They put Molid's army to rout, History of Islam looted their goods and killed the fleeing soldiers. Then they returned to the Maqul River. Then the Caliph deputed Mansoor bin Jafar Khayyat to tackle the problem.

They came to fight under the command of their chief Ali bin Aban. There was a fierce battle. Swords dazzled until noon finally, Mansoor bin Jafar was defeated and killed. Hearing the news, Caliph Motamid Billah recalled his brother Abu Ahmad Muwaffaq, whom he had deputed as the governor of Makkah, gave him the governorship of Egypt, Qansareen and Awasim and ordered him to fight against the slaves. Then he gave another army to Mufleh and sent him to fight them also. These two armies marched to face the slave army.

In the battle that followed, Mufleh was killed and his men began to flee. This caused anxiety and disintegration among Muwaffaq's men. At last, Muwaffaq dodged the enemy and saved his army, reorganized them, came to the Abu Khaseeb River and fought with the slaves, defeated them and captured many of them he also freed many of his men from their captivity and returned to Samarra. That defeat did not crush them completely. They rallied again and started looting, killing and plundering. They continued on their looting and killing spree in Basra and Iraq until 270 A.H.

Yaqub bin Laith's Governorship In 256 A.H., the very first year of Motamid' s accession Mohammad bin Wasil bin Ibrahim Tamimi, an Iraqi Arab living in Iran for many years, conspired with some 1Kurds and killed the governor of Iran, Harith bin Seema and captured it. When Yaqub bin Laith Saffar found out, he invaded Iran. M'"uwaffaq thought it wise to save Iran from going under Yaqub Saffar's control so he had the letters of governorship for Takharistan and Balkh in Yaqub's name written by Motamid and sent to Yaqub bin Laith with the message: "Give up the thought of Iran and establish your government in Balkh and Takharistan." Yaqub bin Laith liked the idea and he made proper arrangements for Balkh and Takharistan, reached Kabul and arrested Ratbeel. Then he dispatched gifts to the Caliph. He visited Sajistan and began to take control of the cities of Herat and Khorasan. In 259 A.H., he captured -Khorasan and expelled all the The Caliphate of the Abbas ids (Second Phase) members of the Tahir family.

Caliph Motamid wrote him a threatening letter saying, "Be content with the cities and the governorship of that which has been given to you. Don't capture Khorasan." But Yaqub did not pay any heed to this warning. In 260 A.H., Hasan bin Zaid Alawi took an army from Delam and invaded Yaqub. In a fierce battle Hasan bin Zaid suffered defeat and returned to Delam and Yaqub conquered Sarya and Amul then he turned to Sajistan. The Rebellion in Mousil Motamid deputed the Turk commander Satgeen as the governor of Mousil. The Turks started perpetrating atrocities on the inhabitants of Mousil.

As a consequence of this abuse, they made Yahya bin Sulaiman their leader, beat the Turks and expelled them. The Caliph was informed of the rebellion. Turk armies were sent. Bloody battles were waged but the result was disastrous. The Caliph's army of Turks lost and Sulaiman bin Yahya's government was established in Mousil. This happened in 260-61A.H. lbn Mufleh, lbn Wasil, lbn Laith Saffar When Yaqub bin Laith invaded Iran to snatch it from Mohammad bin Wasil in 256 A.H. the Caliph bestowed on him the governorship of Balkh and Takharistan and sent him back.

Then he sent Abdur Rahman bin Mufleh with an army to win the province of Iran from Mohammad bin Wasil. Abdur Rahman and Mohammad began to fight. The Caliph deputed the Turk commander Tashtamar to reinforce Abdur Rahman bin Mufleh. Tashtamar was killed and in 262 A.H. Mohammad bin Wasil captured Abdur Rahman bin Mufleh. Caliph Motamid began lo correspond with Mohammad bin Wasil and initiated a move to liberate Abdur Rahman bin Mufleh.

Mohammad bin Wasil did not reply to his letters but killed Abdur Rahman bin Mufleh and began to prepare to invade the city of Wasit where Musa bin Bagha was stationed with his army. When Mohammad bin Wasil proceeded towards Wasit, Ibrahim bin Seema blocked his way. From the opposite side Abu Saj who was made governor of Iran by the Caliph sent his son-in-law Abdur Rahman to fight against History of Islam Muhammad bin Wasil and conquer Iran. Abu Saj was engaged in dealing with the slaves who had made more trouble in Basra and the surrounding area. When Abu Saj's son-in-law Abdur Rahman set out with the army, he came across the slaves' leader Ali bin Aban on the way. Ali bin Aban defeated and killed Abdur Rahman.

Mohammad bin Wasil and his army were ready to confront Ibrahim Seema at Ahwaz. In the meantime, news arrived that Yaqub bin Laith Saffar invaded Faras, so Muhammad Wasil Tamimi, ended the confrontation with Ibrahim Seema and returned to Iran. Finally, Saffar and Mohammad bin Wasil fought. Ibn Wasil lost and escaped and Yaqub Saffar captured Iran. Khorasan had already come under his rule and in 261 A.H., he brought all of Iran under his control. The Birth of the Government of the Samaniites The details about the Samani dynasty will follow later on.

However, in order to remind the readers and to maintain the sequence of events it is pertinent to say something about its origin here. Asad bin Saman was a member of a reputed and respectable family in Khorasan. He had four sons: Noah, Ahmad, Yahya and Ilyas. During the period when Mamoon Rasheed was staying in Merv, these four brothers called on him. On the suggestion of his Prime Minister Fadal bin Saha!, he appointed them to important posts. When Mamoon Rasheed proceeded to Baghdad after making Ghassan bin Abbad his deputy and the governor of Khorasan, the latter deputed Noah, Ahmad, Yahya, and Ilyas as the rulers of Samarkand, Farghana, Shash and Ashrosna, and Herat respectively.

When Mamoon Rasheed sent his famous general Tahir bin Husain as the governor of Khorasan, he also maintained the status quo by retaining them in their posts. However, when Noah bin Asad died Tahir annexed the regions of Samarkand to Yahya and Ahmad's territories. After a short time, Ilyas died, this was during Tahir's governorship, Tahir made Ilyas's son, Abu !shag Muhammad, the ruler of Herat. Ahmad bin Asad had seven sons: Nasr, Yaqub, Yahya, Ismail, Abul Ashas, Abu Khanam, Hameed and Asad. When Ahmad bin Asad passed away, his elder son Nasr succeeded him as the Governor of Samarkand. The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) Nasr continued to be given the governorship of this province until the Tahir family was dethroned from Khorasan and Yaqub bin Laith Saffar captured it.

In 261 A.H., Caliph Motamid Alallah sent the letter of governorship of Samarkand to Nasr directly. The Governor of this province used to receive the letter of Governorship from the Governor of Khorasan. In view of losing control over Khorasan and Yaqub Saffar gaining control over it, the Caliph thought it best that he should keep his leadership in Mawaraunnahr. Therefore, the letter was sent from the Caliph's court with the instruction that he should protect Samarkand from Yaqub Saffar. Nasr bestowed the state of Bukhara on his brother Ismail and he himself continued to rule over Samarkand. In 275 A.H., they developed resentment against each other, which escalated into a military confrontation.

Ismail won and Nasr came to Ismail in chains. Ismail ran to him and kissed his feet, made him sit on the throne and promised to obey him. They reconciled and both the brothers began to govern under the name of Ismail. This same Ismail founded the government of the Samanids, which will be dealt with later on in the narrative. The Oath for the Heir Apparent ln Shawwal 261 A.H., Caliph Motamid held open court and made the proclamation before all the courtiers that his son Jafar would be the heir apparent and after him his brother Ahmad Mowaffaq. However, in case Jafar did not reach the age of discretion, then Mowaffaq would be the Caliph first to be followed by Jafar.

Everyone took an oath on this proclamation. Jafar was given the title Mufawwad ilallah, and made the Governor of Africa, Egypt, Syria, Mousil, Jazirah and Armenia. Musa bin Bagha was made his deputy. Abul Wajid was entitled as Nasir li deenillah Al-Mowaffaq and made the Governor of the Eastern countries, Baghdad, Kufa, the route to Makkah, Yemen, Kaskar, Ahwaz, Iran, Isfahan, Rayy, Zanjan and Sindh. Two different flags were made for them. After this oath, Caliph Motamid assigned the task of punishing the rebel slaves to his brother Mowaffaq. l History of Islam The Battle of Saff ar Mowaffaq had hardly set out towards the rebellious slaves when the Caliph received news that Yaqub Saffar after capturing and consolidating Khorasan was marching towards the capital with his army.

The Caliph's brother Mowaffaq postponed his expedition against the rebels and returned to the capital. The Caliph himself left the capital and stayed at Zafranya and sent his brother Mowaffaq to fight with Saffar. The right flank was controlled by Musa bin Bagha while the left one was commanded by Masroor Balkhi. Mowaffaq was in the middle. They fought a very fierce battle from dawn to dusk. Sometimes Saffar' s army retreated and sometimes Mowaffaq' s army fell back.

The battle remained indecisive. Meanwhile the Caliph sent another army to aid Mowaffag. The arrival of this fresh army spelled defeat for Yagub bin Laith's army. Yagub and his soldiers fled. Mowaffaq and his army looted their camp. After being defeated Saffar moved towards Khazistan and stayed at Jandisabor.

Mowaffag could not follow Saffar and went to Wasit. He fell ill and returned to Baghdad. While Mowaffaq and Saffar were at war, Muhammad bin Wasil who had fled after loosing Iran to Saffar found an opportunity and rebelled, the field of opposition was empty and he recaptured Iran. When Saffar went to Jundisabor after his defeat, the slaves sent a letter to'"Saffar, goading him to fight against the Caliph and assuring him of their help. In reply to the letter Saffar quoted following Verses of Quran: "Say O Unbelievers ........ to you your religion and to me my religion." (109:1-6) And sent an army under the command of Omar bin Sirsi to fight against Muhammad bin Wasil. Omar bin Sirsi expelled Wasil from Iran and captured it.

After fighting with Yaqub Saffar, Motamid sent Musa bin Bagha to crush the rebellious slaves. Saffar sent a commander to Ahwaz. It was at Ahwaz that the three armies, the Caliph's, Saffar's and the slaves' clashed with one another. No one supported the other. Yagub Saffar left Jundisabor and went to Sajistan after deputing Aziz bin Sirri in Nishapur and his brother Omar bin Laith in Herat. These events took place in 261 A.H.

The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) The Conquest of Wasit After capturing Jundisabor and deputing his administrator, Yaqub Saffar had gone to Sajistan. A commander had been sent to Ahwaz. Finally, the slaves recognized Saffar's conquest of Ahwaz, made peace with Saffar and turned to Wasit. In Wasit, a Turk commander was in charge by the order of the Caliph. The Caliph's soldiers could not stand against the slaves and they defeated him and conquered Wasit. This occurred in 263 A.H.

Ahmad bin Tuloon' s occupation of Syria In 264 A.H., a Turk named Majoor ruled over Syria. His son succeeded him after his death. Upon receipt of this news Ahmad bin Tuloon left his son Abbas as his deputy in Egypt and he went to Damascus. Majoor' s son laid down his arms and Tuloon' s men captured Damascus and all their territories in 264 A.H. He stayed in Syria for two years and after making satisfactory arrangements, he went back to Egypt in 266 A.H. From this point, Ahmad bin Tuloon' s territory included Egypt and Syria.

Yaqub bin Laith Saffar's Death Yaqub bin Lai th Saffar had gained much power. Ahmad bin Abdullah Khajistani, Sayeed bin Tahir, Ali bin Yahya Kharji, Hasan bin Zaid Alawi, Rafe bin Harisimah had all made their claims to being the ruler of Khorasan, Tabristan and Iran. They had been at war with one another with no clear victor. Outwardly it seemed Yaqub bin Laith Saffar was more able, braver and more powerful and he possessed a larger territory. When Motamid realized that Syria had gone out of his control, a greater part of Iraq was under the slaves occupation and the eastern province of Khorasan and Iran had been lost, he thought it wise that the letter of Governorship of provinces like Khorasan should be given to Yaqub bin Laith from the Caliph's court. By making him legitimate, the Caliph felt that he could win his allegiance and these territories would have a proper administration.

The negotiations to arrange this had already started when Yaqub bin Lai th Saffar died of colic. The Caliph had sent the documents of Governorship of Iran to History of Islam Yaqub Saffar but it reached him when he was dying. After his death, his brother Amr bin Laith Saffar succeeded to the throne. He sent a declaration of his obedience and allegiance to the Caliph. The Caliph was overjoyed and bestowed on him the Governorship of Khorasan, Isfahan, Sindh and Sajistan in addition to making him the Chief of Police of Baghdad and Samarra. He also sent him a royal robe.

This appointment letter and the royal robe led to the recognition of his government willingly by the masses and added to his power. Extermination of the Rebel Slaves by Mowaff aq and Motazid The rebellion of the slaves and the repeated failure of the Caliph's armies against the slaves was not something ordinary. The slaves had been defeating the Caliph's armies and famous generals for 10 years and had destroyed the peace in the Iraqi cities. Each slave had forcibly kept 10 to 15 Alawi and Hashmi women. Their leaders named Bahbood and Khabbees used to verbally abuse the righteous Caliphs, the family of the Prophet (~ ) and his wives from their pulpits. Bahbood claimed to be omniscient and a Prophet.

These slaves had killed thousands of Muslims. Their continuous victories had left the people's hearts filled with terror and they put an end to the Turk's pride of valor. The Turk's trembled at their names. Ultimately, Caliph Motamid's brother Mowaffaq assigned his son Abu! Abbas who later became Caliph with the title Motazid Billah, the expedition to fight the slaves in Rabia Thani 266 A.H. After a very fierce battle near Wasit, he defeated them.

This was the first significant setback they received from the Caliph's army. After this Mowaffaq joined his son and both of them began to defeat them regularly over the next four years. The slaves' leader Khabbees was killed on 1 Saffar 270 A.H. and their reign of terror was ended. When news reached Baghdad that the slave leader was killed and the evil ended, there was a great celebration in the city. While father and son, Mowaffaq and Motazid were at war with the slaves the Khwarij had revolted in Mousil. Masawar Khwarji, as has already been stated, had been killed in 263 A.H.

His followers and disciples formed different groups and began The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) to fight with each other until 276 A.H. No effort was made by the Caliph's court to restore peace in the region, which lets us know the condition of things in the occupied territories. Anarchy in Khorasan When Yaqub Saffar died, Caliph Motamid appointed his brother Amr ·bin Laith as Governor. However, the supporters of the Tahir dynasty were still present in Khorasan. Two of them, Abu Talha and Rafe bin Harisimah, formed groups in the name of Husain bin Tahir and established their own government. They expelled Amr bin Laith's administrators from the cities of the territory then they quarreled with each other.

In the ensuing battles they used to seek help from the ruler of Bukhara, Ismail bin Ahmad bin Asad bin Samani. Ismail Samani sometimes would help one and sometimes the other and sometimes he would help their common enemy Amr bin Laith Saffar. In brief, there was great tension in these territories. During this time, Mowaffaq deputed Muhammad bin Tahir as Governor of Khorasan. In 271 A.H. Caliph Motarnid, who had given Amr bin Laith Saffar the Governorship of Khorasan, deposed Amr Saffar.

Muhammad bin Tahir stayed in Baghdad. He deputed Rafe bin Harisimah as the governor of Khorasan and his deputy. This did not make any difference or put an end to the unrest and anarchy in Khorasan and its adjoining provinces. Ahmad bin Tuloon's Death Ahmad bin Tuloon, who has already been dealt with in detail, had Egypt and Syria under his occupation. Caliph Motarnid was a Caliph in name only and his brother Mowaffaq by virtue of his wisdom and valor dominated all affairs of the Caliphate. Motarnid entered into correspondence with Ahmad bin Tuloon and wanted him to go to Egypt on his behalf.

This htrppened in 269 A.H. while Mowaffaq was engaged in war with the rebd slaves. Mowaffaq tried to make Motamid understand with the help of other leaders that supporting Ahmad bin Tuloon was not to their benefit and asked him to desist, because of this Mowaffaq became angry with Ahmad Tuloon. i History of Islam Ahmad Tuloon became sick in Antakia and died and his son Khumarwaih succeeded him as the Governor of Syria and Egypt. When Mowaffaq became free from the slave rebellion in 270 A.H., he sent Ishaq bin Kandaj and Muhammad bin Abu Saj to capture Syria. These two commanders began to conquer city after city. Khumarwaih sent an army to face them. These two commanders hesitated in starting the battle and were on the defensive.

In view of this, Mowaffaq sent his son A.bu! Abbas Motazid to Syria. Motazid pushed the Egyptian army back, conquered Damascus and continued to move ahead. Khumarwaih came to fight and Abu! Abbas Motazid suffered a defeat and returned to Damascus. The inhabitants of Damascus did not open the gate of city for him.

Helplessly, he went to Tartoos. Khumarwaih came to Damascus and the circulation of his coins and the Friday sermon in his name began. The inhabitants ~f Tartoos revolted and expelled Abu! Abbas Motazid and began to read Khumarwaih' s name in the Friday sermon. Abu! Abbas distressed and a failure went back to Baghdad.

Situation in Tabristan: Alawi, Rafe and Saffar It has been stated above that Hasan bin Zaid Alawi had estabfished his government with the assistance of the inhabitants of Delam. Hasan bin Zaid died in Rajab 270 A.H. Then his brother Mohammad bin Zaid assumed power in Tabristan. In 272 A.H., a Turk administrator of Qazween invaded Tabristan with an army of 4,000 men. Muhammad bin Zaid faced him with 8,000 soldiers but was defeated and took refuge in Jurjan. However, immediately after the departure of the victorious army he re-captured Tabristan.

In 275 A.H. Rafe bin Harisimah attacked Jurjan. Muhammad b.in Zaid fought and after a prolonged battle lost control over Tabristan. Finally, in 283 A.H., Rafe bin Harisimah was killed while fighting with Amr bin Laith, Muhammad bin Zaid reoccupied Jurjan but Amr bin Lai th Saffar dethroned him. In 288 A.H., Ismail Samani caught Amr bin Laith Saffar and sent him to Baghdad, Muhammad bin Zaid revolted in Delam again and captured Tabristan. Then Ismail Samani sent Muhammad bin Haroon to Tabristan.

Muhammad bin Zaid was killed in the encounter and his son Zaid bin Muhammad was caught and sent to jail in Bukhara. The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) Amr bin Laith Saffar Amr bin Laith Saffar had been given the Goverriorship of Khorasan, Sajistan and other territories by the Caliph's court as has been recorded above and Iran was also under his control. In 271 A.H., a letter of his dismissal was issued from the Caliph's court and the administrator of Isfahan, Ahmad bin Abdul Aziz bin Abi Walf, was instructed to fight Amr bin Lai th and liberate the Province of Iran. They clashed and Amr bin Laith was defeated but he retained his hold on the Province Iran. Ultimately in 274 A.H., Mowaffaq himself invaded Iran, he took the Province of Iran from Amr bin Laith and returned to Baghdad. Amr bin Lai th went to Kerman and Sajistan and began to rule over Sajistan and Khorasan successfully.

Then he sent gifts to the Caliph's court and enhanced his influence and in 278 A.H., he received the governorship of the territory of Mawaraunnahr, Bukhara, Samarkand etc., from the Caliph's court. Ismail bin Ahmad Samani had been ruling over Mawaraunnahr successfully. With the receipt of the governorship of Mawaraunnahr Amr bin Laith became busy collecting soldiers, arms and equipment. When Ismail bin Ahmed Samani found out, he wrote to Amr bin Laith: "I have been lying here out of the way in this border area. You have a larger country. Let me lie here and don't try to remove me." Amr bin Laith did not pay any heed to the letter and attacked him.

Ismail Samani fought Amr bin Lai th who was captured and sent to jail in Samarkand. In 288 A.H., Ahmed sent him to the Caliph in Baghdad. He remained there until Caliph Motazid's death. When Muktafi Billah came to power, he had him killed. Conditions in Makkah and Madinah In Madinah, Muhammad bin Hasan bin Jafar bin Musa Kazim and his brother Ali bin Hasan began to fight against each other. Fear of the government was non-existent.

Civil wars were raging everywhere. These two brothers also created an upheaval in Madinah. Many men on both sides were killed. In 277 A.H., for one month Friday congregational prayers could not be held in Madinah. The same conditions existed in MaKkah also. Yusuf bin Abu Saj was the i .

I I' History of Islam Governor of Makkah. Ahmad bin Muhammad Tai was awarded the letter of governorship from the Caliph's court in his place. Ahmad Tai sent his slave Badr as the leader of the pilgrimage on his behalf. Yusuf fought against him. The confrontation took place in front of the Holy Mosque around the Ka'bah. Yusuf arrested Badr.

Badr's soldiers and the pilgrims launched a joint attack, arrested Yusuf, sent him to Baghdad and freed Badr. The situation everywhere was deteriorating. Mowaffaq's Death Caliph Motamid Billah was a nominal Caliph. His brother Mowaffaq, by virtue of his valor ~nd wisdom, dominated over all state affairs. He was the virtual Caliph though he was not the legal Caliph. As mentioned above, Mowaffaq was also the heir apparent.

Prior to his rule, the Turk chiefs had been ruling and dominating the Caliph's court. Mowaffaq maneuvered and succeeded in breaking their power. Since he had defeated the rebel slaves, his and his son's popularity increased considerably among the Muslims. The Turk chiefs had been unable to defeat the sfaves and they didn't dare to oppose him. However, since the entire administration had totally collapsed anarchy continued to spread. The power that had held the dynasty together was now dissipated and the territories were asserting their independence and autonomy, which could not be suppressed.

Yet, Mowaffaq's presence in the capital was a great source of strength and no one had the heart to challenge his leadership or expunge his name from the Friday sermon. When Mowaffaq returned from Isfahan, he came down with the gout. He was treated by physicians but in vain. He died on 22 Saffar 278 A.H . and was buried at RaSaffan.' Though Caliph Motamid was living, he was only a figurehead. Following Mowaffaq's death, the members of the government and generals of the army unanimously selected Mowaffaq's son Abu! Abbas Motazid as the heir apparent and Caliph Motamid made an announcement of his succession and placed him in his .father's position.

Since Motazid was a very experienced and brave man, he came to dominate over all the state administration like his father and Caliph Motamid remained ineffectual. I. The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) Qaramata In 278 A.H., a man in Kufa named Hamdan, popularly known as Qaramata, introduced a new religion. He was an extranist Shiite. He believed that the Imams were only seven in number: 1. Imam Husain (RA) 2.

Ali Zianul Abedeen (RA), 3. Baqar bin Ali (RA) 4. Jafar Sadiq (RA) 5. Ismail bin Jafar 6. Muhammad bin Ismail 7. Obaidullah bin Muhammad.

He called himself the deputy of Obaidullah bin Muhammad although Muhammad bin Ismail did not have a son named Obaidullah. He regarded Muhammad bin Al-Hanafia bin Ali bin Abi Talib as a prophet and added the following words to the call to prayer: "I bear witness that Muhammad bin Hanafia is a Messenger." He declared the Holy Mosque in Jerusalem as the direction for Prayer, which was made only two times a day, before sunrise and after sunset. He maintained that some verses. were revealed to Muhammad bin Al-Hanafia. Monday instead of Friday was considered the holy day of the week and he did not do any work on that day. He believed that only a few days of fasting a year was compulsory. He declared date juice unlawful while wine was made lawful.

He said bathing after coition was unnecessary, (this of course is in direct contravention of Islamic law.) He made certain animals legal to be eaten while others were forbidden and declared unlawful. Whoever opposed him was declared worthy of death. He chose for his title Qaim Bil-Hag. He talked to the chiefs of the slaves Khabbees and Bahbood about his new religion and wanted to convert them to his views but they d~d not attach any importance to him. Eight years after their defeat he began to propagate his beliefs in Kufa and many people began to accept them. Becoming aware of his activities the Governor of Kufa had him arrested and put in jail.

The guards of the jail were derelict in their duties and he escaped. His followers publicized the event as if he had special powers. Gradually people from a far began to talk about this religion and join it. There are a group of people who trade guidance for falsehood and are infatuated with the blind despite their ability to see and worship that History of Islam which is senseless despite their having intelligence. These people are found throughout history until our present time and they were the type of people who rushed to embrace Qaramafa's new religion. Succession of Motazid As mentioned above after Mowaffaq's death, Motazid was made the heir apparent and he was to be the Caliph after Jafar bin Motamid.

Jafar bin Motamid was first in succession to the throne and Motazid was second after him. His father Mowaffaq was also the second in succession behind Jafar but in 279 A.H. Motamid, being impressed by Motazid's power and ability gave priority to him as heir apparent over his own son Jafar and had the certificates authorizing his succession issued to the Governors in the provinces. The Roman War The Romans have not been mentioned during the discussion of this turbid period of Motamid's Caliphate. In 257 A.H. Saqalabi, a relative of the king of Constantinople, Michael bin Rafael, killed him and usurped the throne.

In 259 A.H., the Romans invaded Maltiya but were defeated. In 263 A.H., they captured the fort of Karkarah, adjacent to Tartoos, from the Muslims. In 264 A.H., Abdullah Rasheed bin Kaoos invaded Roman territory with 40,000 Syrian border troops. In the initial stage he was successful but later was captured and sent to Constantinople. In 265 A.H., the Romans led an attack on Ain Ofa, 400 Muslim were martyred and 400 were captured. The same year the Roman emperor freed Abdullah bin Rasheed and sent him with a few volumes of the Qur' an to Ahmad bin Tuloon as gifts.

In 266 A.H., the war ships of the Muslims and the Romans clashed with each other at a place adjacent to the Island of Saqliya. The Muslims lost and the Romans captured several of their boats. The remaining ships took shelter on the coast of Saqliya. Ahmad bin Tuloon's Syrian deputy launched a successful attack on Rome and captured a large amount of spoils of war. In 270 A.H., the Romans numbering 100,000 attacked Qalmiya, situated at a distance The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) of 6 miles from Tartoos. The Governor of Tartoos, Mazyar, launched a night attack on the Romans and 70,000 of them were killed.

The Chief Prelate was captured and their Great Cross also came into the Muslim's possession. In 273 A.H., the governor of Tartoos, Mazyar, attacked the Romans and returned victorious. In 278 A.H., Mazyar and Ahmad Jofi jointly invaded the Roman Empire. During the battle, Mazyar was hit on the head by a stone from a catapult. He stopped the fight and started to return to the capital but died on way. The Muslims buried him at Tartoos.

Although there was a great upheaval in the Islamic world and civil wars had broken out all over, the Romans failed to score any major success against the Muslims. Motamid's Death Caliph Motamid Alallah bin Motawakkil Alallah died on 20 Rajab 270 A.H. and was buried at Samarra, the capital of the Abbasid Caliph since Motasim Billah bin Haroon Rasheed shifted there. Motamid left Samarra and chose to live in Baghdad, which then became the capital. It was due to this change of capital that the Turk chiefs who dominated over the Caliph and his court lost their power suddenly. This shifting of the capital was the idea of Motamid' s wise brother Mowaffaq. During Motamid' s regime, the powers of the government and its wealth had declined.

The members of the government as described, dissented, hated and opposed one another openly. All the occupied territories were in a shambles and there were riots and anarchy everywhere. The people had lost the fear of the Caliph's authority. Whoever found an opportunity usurped the territory he could. The governors of the provinces stopped sending taxes. There was total lawlessness all over.

Whoever captured a territory would introduce his own law. Atrocities began to be perpetrated upon the people and the governors subjected them to all sorts of harassments with impunity. Banu Saman established their government in Mawaraunnahr, Banu Saffar in Sajistan, Kerman, Khorasan and Persia. Hasan bin Zaid in Tabristan and Jurjan, the rebel slaves in Basra, uballa and Wasit, the Khwarij in Mousil and Jazirah, Ahmad bin Tuloon in Egypt and Syria I I ,, I \ :1 ,1 Ii History of Islam and Ibn Aghlab in North Africa. Besides these, there were other minor chiefs who were busy fighting trying to capture smaller territories and states. The only symbol of the Caliph that remained was that they mentioned his name in the Friday sermon but none of his orders were complied with.

Mowaffaq spent all his energy and life in fighting riots and disturbances but except for the extermination of the rebel slaves, he failed to achieve any other significant success. It was at that time that the criminals like qaramata made their advances. Similarly during the same period Obaidullah bin Obaid who descended from the Egyptian kings and the Shiites of Yemen, claimed to be the Mahdi (a future Muslim leader that was spoken of by the Prophet ~ )- He took the majority of the members of the Banu Kenana tribe and went to the western territories where in stages, he found an independent government in Egypt and the rest of North Africa. During the same period, the well-known Islamic scholars and Muhaddith like Imam al-Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Abu Daud, Tirmidhi and lbn Majah died. In short, 23 years of Motamid's caliphate passed in this state of disintegration, distress and disappointment. Comment Nearly 150 years have passed since the Caliphate of Banu Abbas ended.

The Abbasid caliphate began with 100 years of grandeur and progress. The signs of decline started appearing with the death of Motasim Billah in 272 A.H. Inauspicious days befell the caliphate and for 20 years, the negative impact continued until Motawakkil Alallah's murder. During this period it was expected that the Abbasid caliphate would bring back its 100 years of lost glory and power but with Motawakkil Alallah's murder in 247 A.H. their abilities suddenly became paralyzed leaving no chance for restoration. We have studied the 22-year period of aging. The caliphate survived for several hundred years more in this debilitated form.

Many different centers of Islamic rule were established. The caliphate of Baghdad or the Abbasid Caliphate retained its glory but little and it was not to be a serious power again. With the given circumstances if the remainder of the Abbasid Caliphate is dealt with in the same detail as we have dealt with it up to this point in history, the readers' interest in history will evaporate The Caliphate of the Abbasids (Second Phase) and they will feel unnecessarily and mentally burdened. Brevity has been maintained and in the rest of the narrative, our concentration will be on the important events. At this point in the narrative many new lineages and new dynasties of rulers are emerging and to record them parallel to each other is difficult. However, their beginnings and how they came to assume power in relation to their connection to the Abbasids is important and will be referred to in their proper places.

The greatest mistake of Banu Umayyah was that it provided the way to ruin by introducing hereditary succession and got the Muslims habituated to this evil practice. Similarly, the fault of Banu Abbas is no less than that of Banu Umayyah. They effaced every object of Banu Umayyah and demolished and leveled to the ground all their memorials. However, they fully protected the evil practice of hereditary succession and hastened the Muslim's ruin. The second major error they committed was that right from their very beginning they opposed the Arabs and sympathized with the new Muslims from Iran who were still subject to the prejudices of their culture. From the first Caliph Saffah to Mamoon Rasheed each caliph except Mahdi reduced the power of the Arabs and goaded and pushed ahead those still enamored with the Zoroastrian religion with the result that the Abbasids were unable to expand beyond the circle of victories set by Banu Umayyah and gradually that area of their authority continued to shrink.

Only a few of the former Zoroastrians grasped the real glory and morality of Islam. The other descendents of the Zoroastrians created many problems and hardships for the Abbasid caliphs but the wise and farsighted of them succeed in overcoming these problems. Motasim Billah organized the Turks of Mawaraunnahr as a new group in the balance of power. Their national and racial heritage was different than the Khorasanis. His plan would have proved effective if he had not made the Turks more powerful than the Khorasanis and had made the Arabs equal to them in power. However, the Arab's relation with the Abbasids continued to be diminished.

Motasim Billah' s shifting of the capital to the Turkish village Samarra proved a great boon to the progress of the Turks. He preferred them probably because they were free from the influence of the Alawiites. The i I , History of Islam Abbasids, who were Arabs, hated the Arabs simply because the Alawiites were Arabs. These Alawiites influence on the Zoroastrian Iranians whom the Banu Abbas used and counted on was great. This continuously led to conflicts and deception. Distancing himself from these two groups, Motasim selected a third group historically free these machinations.

However, the Turks unlike the Iranians were not cultured or well versed in statecraft. They needed a strong and alert hand to control them and use them to their best advantage. Had there been even a few leaders with the heart and faith of Haroon and Mamoon, the glory of the caliphate of the Abbasids would have gone higher. Motasim was wise enough to make Samarra the capital but coupled with the weakness of his successors and the diminished Arabic element, created many problems, which his successors could not remedy. The Turks were nomadic fighters without vision. They could neither establish their own government nor did they turn to the Alawiites to establish a dynasty.

The Alawiites had removed themselves from open contention for the Caliphate after becoming tired and frustrated with their failures. There was no clear apprehension of any real danger to the caliphate of the Abbasids from them. After Motasim when commotion and turmoil erupted in the land, the Alawiites had a far-reaching impact on all the provinces and all the governors and administrators throughout the Islamic territories and they became busy establishing their own separate and independent governments. The examples of Andalusia, Morocco and North Africa were clearly known by all. With the failure of the heart, the circulation of blood to all the organs of the body stopped. Observing the independence and lawlessness of the Governors and administrators the Alawiites, Khwarij, rebel slaves, Qaramatins and others geared up to take a chance to establish their own governments.

The conditions deteriorated to such an exte,1t that even a Mansoor or Haroon could probably not have succeeded. Motawakkil's murder was the blackest and the most inauspicious incident of the Abbasid caliphate. Had Mowaffaq succeeded Motawakkil, he might have possibly controlled the situation but he did not get a chance to work as the caliph and his son, Motazid who was ambitions and brave like his father, received the caliphate when the disease of anarchy had become quite incurable.