In the previous article, we tackled the second ruling period of Isa al Nushari, the death of Caliph Al Muktafi and Caliph Jaafar Al Muqtadir Billah’s assuming power while he was only 13 years old.
A revolution was staged against Al Muqtadir, as historian Sheikh Muhammed al Khudry mentioned: “As if the young age of Al Muqtadir didn’t appeal to the people, so the leaders, judges and authors met with Minister Al Abbas Ibn al Hassan and agreed together to oust Al Muqtadir, and to crown Abdullah Ibn al Mu’taz instead… On the following day, they ousted Al Muqtadir and pledged allegiance to Ibn al Mu’taz… And the news was issued announcing so, Al Muqtadir was ordered to leave the Caliphate house, he obeyed and asked for a grace period until night”. However, Al Muqtadir’s friends and supporters who remained with him didn’t accept the Caliphate to be grasped and given to someone else, so they advised him to fight Ibn al Mu’taz and to attck him his house at the night, he agreed and provided them with weapons.
When Ibn al Mu’taz’s supporters saw this, they fled and left him alone, so he fled disguised to a house. Sedition was raged, despoil and murder pervaded over Baghdad and thieves assaulted people and stolen money. Meanwhile, Al Muqtadir moved with his soldiers, arrested Ibn al Mu’taz and imprisoned him until his death, then he killed all his supporters. Thus, Ibn al Mu’taz remained in Caliphate only for one day and night, after which he was ousted and died, his son was killed together with some of the judges and scholars who agreed on ousting Al Muqtadir, and so, Al Muqtadir was restored to Caliphate.
During the days of Al Muqtadir, the Caliphate was featured with weakness, Al Khudry states: “Thus ended the sedition which was the beginning of the Caliphate’s weakness and collapse. Deterioration intensified during the reign of Al Muqtadir until the Caliphate had not enjoyed the minimum authority or respect! Al Muqtadir was a naïve boy (unaware and careless) who knew nothing about policy and bravery…” In addition to this, his mother and the handler of the internal affairs of the Caliphate house interfered in the rule affairs, bribes spread for attaining high posts; twelve ministers assumed ministries during his reign, among which some had assumed it twice and thrice! Good people did not last for a long time in posts because their stability depended on the consent of Al Muqtadir’s mother, the household manager and the servants of the house… A state which afflicted the elegance of the state, toppled its inviolability that the commons kept no respect at all for the state.” Ibn al Atheer says, “The turmoil increased as his friends interfered; they threw away money and spoiled the state affairs, ruled were violated and intentions became villain. The Caliph was concerned with removing and arresting his ministers, taking the counsel of women and servants and acting according to their opinions, thus, the kingdoms rebelled and the workers allured to take over the borders”. What made the situation worse was the rising power of the Qarmatians during the reign of Al Muqtadir, which undermined security in Iraq and Hejaz, they seized a number of cities including Hagr, Al Ahsa, Qatif and others. The Qarmatians attempted to conquer Baghdad many times until they managed to enter it in 311 AH (923 AD) as they killed its people and looted their money, then they returned to the Hajj caravans coming back from Mecca, they robbed and captivated a large number of them, leaving others starving and thirsting to death in the desert. The people of Baghdad knew about that, and they were furious. Al Muqtadir wrote to Abu Tahir, the Qarmatians’ leader, asking him to release the captives he kept, he agreed and asked for Al Busra and Al Ahwaz governorates in return, yet Al Muqtadir didn’t respond and embarked on sending rulers and armies to fight him, an army following another, and…
Stories about beautiful Egypt never end!
The General Bishop
Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
