Al-Rashïd is Responsible for these Events
It was Harun al-Rashïd who created the enmity and discord between his two sons, for he appointed al-Amï~n as a king after him and nominated al-Ma'mu`n as a successor after al-Amï~n; concerning that he wrote promises and covenants, made (some people) bear witness to that, and then he ordered the document of regency to be hung on the Ka'ba; whilst he was fully aware of the violent enmity between the two brothers. As a result sorrowful events occurred and resulted in killing ten thousand people and destroying Baghdad. In this connection a poet expressed his deep regret toward al-Rashï~d's procedure, saying:
I say out of the grief in my own soul and the increasing tears of my eye: Firmly prepare yourself for terror; you will meet that which will prevent you from sleeping.
Surely if you stay long, you will see an affair which will prolong for you depression and sleeplessness.
The opinion of the well-mannered king regarding dividing the caliphate and country is the most evil one.
If he had followed the opinion with knowledge, his black partings would have turned white.
Through the opinion he desired to put an end to the differences between his two sons and to make them show affection toward each other.
But he indifferently exited enmity (between them) and made dispersion inherit their friendliness.
He lighted between them a fierce war and made it easy for them to avoid leadership.
So woe be to the subjects shortly after that, for he (al-Rashïd) has given to them as gift intense distress, clothed them in an endless tribulation and made them accompany declination and corruption.
Copious seas will flow out of their blood; they will not see their exhaustion.
So the sin of that is always against him, whether that is right or wrong!
1
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1. Al-Tabari, Tarikh, the events of the Year 186 A.H.
( 784 )
Destructive Battles
When al-Amïn officially removed his brother from succession and informed him of that, he summoned 'Ali b. 'Isa, gave him a gold shackle, and said to him: "Shackle al-Ma'mun and do not kill him until you bring him to me." He gave him two million dinars in addition to furniture, horses and mules. When the news concerning the procedures which al-Amïn took against his brother came from Baghdad, al-Ma'mu`n deposed his brother. He appointed himself as a general ruler over Islamic world; deprived al-Amïn of land tax; removed his name from the embroidery, the dirham, and the dinar; mutinied against him; summoned Ta`hir b. al-Husayn and Harthema b. A'yun to war against him; and supplied them with an army.
The two armies met in al-Ray and a terrible battle took place between them, at which rivers of blood flowed. Finally al-Ma'mu`n's Army gained a victory over al-Amïn's Army; the commander-in-chief of his armed forces was killed; and all his provisions and weapons were looted. Then Ta`hir b. al-Husayn wrote to al-Fadl b. Sahl, al-Ma'mu`n's minister, to tell him about this marvelous victory and to congratulate him on it. He has mentioned in his letter: "I am writing to you while the head of 'Ali b. 'Isa is on my lap; his ring is in my hand; and praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds."
So al-Fadl hastened to al-Ma'mu`n, gave him good news of this victory, and congratulate him on the caliphate. As for al-Ma'mu`n, he became sure of the victory, hence he sent gifts and properties to Ta`hir, thanked him very much for that, named him
Dha` al-Yaminayn wa Sa`hib Khayr al-Yadayn (the possessor of the two right hands and owner of the best hands), and ordered him to head for Iraq in order to occupy Baghdad and to but an end to his (al-Ma'mu`n's) brother.
When al-Fadl b. al-Rabï', al-Amïn's minister, came to know of the defeat of the army and murder of 'Ali b. 'Isa b. Maha`n, he became perplexed and was sure of the fatal blow which befell them; concerning that the poet says:
I wonder at the people who hope for a success in an affair through which affairs are not completed.
( 785 )
And how is complete that which they have concluded and sought while dissoluteness is in the foundation of their building?
The seductive Satan whose promises are delusive have invited them to error.
He achieves through them (his goals) and play with them just as wine plays with him who drinks it.
They have treacherously schemed against the Truth and al-Ma'mun; the fallacious are never successful!
He (al-Ma'mun) is just, excellent, and kind to us; the hearts show love for him.
The final results of the affairs are surely for him; the Sharï'a and the Zabur bear witness to that.
1
This poetry gives an account of the victory of al-Ma'mu`n. It shows that he wined the caliphate; that the authority did not go well with al-Amï~n, for the foundation of those who supported him was standing on licentiousness and oppression; that error and temptation moved them; and that al-Ma'mu`n was victorious, for he was just and highborn, and made the hearts of the people incline to him.
Baghdad is besieged
Al-Ma'mu`n's Army, headed by Tahir b. al-Husayn, went in a hurry to Baghdad, and it could blockade it. As for al-Amïn, he was sure of defeat, so he wrote to Ta`hir and asked him for security for his own soul, his family, and his supporters. He promised to hand over the caliphate to his brother al-Ma'mu`n. However, Ta`hir said: "He (al-Amïn) has been besieged; his wing has been broken; and his sinful followers have been defeated. No, by Him in whose hand is my soul, (I will not leave him) until he puts his hand in my hand and yields to me." He did not responded to anything of what he (al-Amïn) wanted.
Accordingly, Baghdad remained besieged for a long time to the extent that the features of civilization wherein were destroyed; poverty and misery dominated all its inhabitants; the mischievous and deviants
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1. Al-Mas'udi, Murujj al-Dhahab, vol. 3, p. 310.
( 786 )
assassinated the innocent, looted properties, and followed women. So a group of the good people headed by Sahl b. Sala`ma resisted them with their own weapons and drove them away from Baghdad.
Any how, Baghdad suffered heavy casualties, lost its embellishment and radiance; bereavement, sadness, and mourning spread all over its districts. Hence a group of poets lamented over it; among them is al-A'ma`, who says in his poem:
I weep for burning and demolishing houses, looting seeds and provisions, manifesting veiled women bareheaded; they went out without veil or loincloths.
You could see them bewildered, not knowing where to go, fleeing just like fleeing antelopes.
Baghdad seemed as if it was not the best view and place of amusement which the eye of a viewer and of a beholder had seen.
Yes such was it, but the decree of the fates took away its beauty and dispersed its unity.
What had befallen the people before them befell them, so they have become conversations reported by those in deserts and cities.
O Baghdad! O house of the kings and place of obtaining various kinds of wishes! O place of pulpits!
O garden of the world! O place of seeking riches and of creating funds through the stores!
Explain to us, where are those as far as I knew that they lived in the flourishing meadow of livelihood?
And where are those kings who walked in processions in the morning and were as beautiful as the bright stars?
The whole poem is pain and anguish for the destruction which included both properties and souls in Baghdad. Another poet describes the condition of Baghdad and the destruction occurred wherein, saying:
Who envied you, O Baghdad? Were you not the delight of
the eye for a time?
Were not there in you people whose neighborhoods and
( 787 )
houses were one of the ornaments?
The time shouted to them through separation and they perished. What a kind of pain of separation have you found through them?1
Another poet mourned for Baghdad and the tragedies which befell its inhabitants, saying:
My eye wept for Baghdad when it lost the freshness of the elegant life.
Worries have taken the place of our delight and distress replaced our plenty.
The eye of an envier befell us and annihilated our people with the catapult.
So some people were forcibly burnt by fire, and a female weeper wailed over a drowned one.
A female crier calling out: O my friends! A female sayer saying: O my brother!
A woman with intensely white and deep black eyes, coquetry, limbs perfumed with musk called out to the compassionate one but there was none compassionate, for the compassionate one was lost along with the gentle one.
And people took their goods out of the shadow of a world, but it was sold at every market.
And an emigrant with a distant house placed without a head in the middle of the road.
He was among their dead, so they did not know to which party he belonged.
There was no son to stay with his father, and the friend escaped from the friend. 2
This poem shows that Baghdad led a life of chaos, for murder spread; there was no security; and fear dominated it.
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1. Ibid., p. 316.
2. Ibid., p. 317
( 788 )
Al-Amïn is murdered
Al-Ma'mun's Army besieged al-Amï~n; yet he was absorbed in amusement and glee. The historians narrated: "Al-Amïn was fishing along with a group of his servants. He was in love with one of them called Kawther. Kawther went out in order to look at the army which surrounded the palace, and he was wounded in the face. Al-Amïn came to him, washed the blood off his face, and said:
They have struck the delight of my eye, and because of me they have struck him! May Allah punish the people who have burnt him!1
News about his defeated army and his besieged palace successively came to him; still he paid not attention to all of that and went on, along with Kawther, catching fish and putting them into a large basin, and said: "Kawther has caught three fish, and I have caught nothing except two fish."
In spite of that critical situation, he went on amusing himself. Any how, the vanguards of al-Ma'mu`n's Army attacked him, beheaded him, and sent his head to Ta`hir b. al-Husayn, who installed it on a spear, and recited these words of Him, the Exalted: O Allah, Master of the Kingdom, You give the kingdom to whomever You please and take away the kingdom from whomever you please.2
A poet satirized him, saying:
If a king occupies himself with amusement, then decide against his kingdom through woe and destruction.
Do you not see that the sun descends in the Balance when it leaves early in the morning; and it is the sign of amusement and glee.
Tahir sent al-Amïn's head to al-Ma'mu`n in Khurasan. When al-Ma'mun saw the head, he became sad and felt sorry for him; however, al-Fadl said to him: "Praise belongs to Allah for this great favor, for
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1. Roudat al-A'yan fi Akhbar Mashahir al-Zaman, photographed, available at al-Sayyid al-Hakim Library, serial no. 3902, p. 103.
2. 'Uyun al-Tawarikh, vol. 3, p. 211.
( 789 )
Mohammed (i.e. al-Amïn) wished to see you in this state in which you have seen him."
Then al-Ma'mu`n ordered the head of his brother to be installed on a piece of wood in the door yard. Then he gave salaries to the soldiers and ordered them to curse the head. Each soldier took his salary and cursed it. A non-Arab soldier took his salary, and it was said to him: "Curse this head." "May Allah curse him and his parents," he retorted. It was said to him: "You have cursed the Commander of the faithful (i.e. al-Ma'mu`n)." Al-Ma'mu`n heard him, but he overlooked him. Then he ordered the head of his brother to be brought down and to be returned to Iraq, so it was buried along with the body.1
With this tragedy al-Amïn's life ended, and it gives an account of that al-Ma'mu`n was cruel toward his brother and had no mercy on him, and that he was merciless because he craved for the kingdom.
As for al-Amïn, he did not face Imam al-Rida, peace be on him. Perhaps, the reason for that is that he was busy warring against his brother al-Ma'mun.
The Government of al-Ma'mun
Before we speak about the affairs of Ima`m al-Rida`, peace be on him, during the time of al-Ma'mu`n, it is necessary to give a brief account of al-Ma'mu`n as follows:
His Mother
As for al-Ma'mu`n's mother, she was a female slave; she was one of the servants in al-Rashï~d's palace; al-Rashïd had entrusted her with cooking food. The historians said that she was the ugliest and dirtiest female slave in al-Rashïd's kitchen. Some sources said: "Mrs. Zubayda played chess with Ha`ru`n al-Rashï~d and beat him, so she asked him to have a sexual intercourse with the ugliest slave-wife in the kitchen, who was Mara`jil. Ha`ru`n al-Rashïd refused that and gave her the land tax of Egypt and Iraq in order to exempt him from that, but she refused and did not accept it. Then he yielded to her decision
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Al-Mas'udi, Murujj al-Dhahab, pp. 225-226.
(790 )
and had a sexual intercourse with Mara`jil, and she born him al-Ma'mu`n. 1"
Al-Ma'mu`n was born in the year 170 A. H. when al-Rashïd became a caliph. When al-Rashïd was given good news of him, he named him al-Ma'mun as a sign of good omen. 2 Al-Ma'mu`n's mother died during her confinement, so al-Fadl b. Sahl took care of bringing him up.
Those who harbored malice against al-Ma'mu`n used his mother and his incapability of undertaking the caliphate as means to satirize and slander him. His brother al-Amï~n said to him:
If men vie with each other for their excellence, then you stop, for you cannot vie (with them).
Your Lord has given to you what you desired, but you meet that which is contrary to your caprice with Mara`jil.
You ascend the pulpits every day hoping for that which
you cannot attain after me. 3
During the days of the discord he reviled him because of his mother and wrote to him:
O son of her who was sold by auction for the smallest price among the people at the market.
Every place of the stitch of a needle in you has a sperm
from someone else.
So al-Ma'mu`n answered him, saying:
The mothers of men are mere containers and depositories, and the female-slaves have qualified ones.
Many an Arab woman does not beget, and non-Arab one often begets in the female-slave's quarters. 4
Praising al-Amïn and dispraising al-Ma'mu`n's mother, al-Raqqa`shi says: "He was not born by a slave-wife well-known at the market of the traders. 5"
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1. Al-Dimyari, Hayat al-Hayawan, vol. 1, p. 72.
2. Asr al-Ma'mun, vol. 1, p. 210.
3. Al-Dimyari, Hayat al-Hayawan, vol. 1, p. 72.
4. 'Asr al-Ma'mun, vol.1, p. 210.
5. Al-Adab al-Sultaniya, p. 212.
( 791 )
Al-Ma'mu`n had no defect on the side of his mother, for Islam has demolished all these fanatical, pre-Islamic instincts and regarded all human races as equal; therefore none has an excellence over the others except through reverential fear.
Al-Ma'mun's Qualities
As for al-Ma'mu`n's psychological qualities and trends, they are as follows:
Treachery
As for treachery, it was among al-Ma'mu`n's characteristics and one of his elements. For example, he appointed Ima`m al-Rida`, peace be on him, as his successor, but when his political ambitions terminated, he betrayed him through giving him fatal poison to drink; we will explain that in the chapters that follow. Similarly, he betrayed a group of the eminent figures of his time of whom he was cautious; who are as follows:
1. 'Abd Allah Bin Musa al-Hadi
He criticized al-Ma'mu`n and shouted at him when he had a drink with him. Al-Mamun was displeased with 'Abd Allah, so he imprisoned him in his house and ordered some guards to sit at his door. Then he pardoned him and ordered the guards to leave his door. 'Abd Allah was fond of hunting, so al-Ma'mu`n put poison in a francolin and gave it to a servant of his in order to give it to him to eat. That was when 'Abd Allah was at Mu`sa` Abad. When he felt poison, he said to his companions: "This is the last thing which he (al-Ma'mu`n) gave me to eat.1 "
2. Ishaq Bin Musa al-Hadi
When al-Ma'mu`n was in Khurasa`n, Isha`q headed some units of the army and occupied some areas of it, so al-Ma'mu`n secretly sent his son and one of his servants, and they killed him; then his son took the servant and whipped him to death.2
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1. Asma' al-Mughtalim, p. 200.
2. Ibid., p. 199.
( 792 )
3. Hamïd Bin 'Abd al-Hamïd al-Tusi
Al-Ma'mu`n invited him (Hamïd) to have a meal. Ahmed b. Abu` Kha`lid al-Ahwal was with him; he was one of those who harbored malice against Hamïd and among his enemies. When it was time (for them) to have the meal, al-Ma'mu`n sat Ahmed beside him. Hamïd was displeased with that, and he said to al-Ma'mu`n: "O Commander of the faithful, may Allah not make me die until he make me see that the world is easy to you, that you may see which of us is more useful to you."
Ahmed seized the opportunity and said to al-Ma'mu`n: "O Commander of the faithful, he hopes that corruption and discord will dominate your kingdom."
As for al-Ma'mu`n, he became angry, left the food and did not finish it, and concealed that in his heart. When he wanted to marry Boura`n, he said to Hamï~d: "O Abu` Gha`nim, I have permitted you to make a pilgrimage." Hamï~d happily departed and ordered his baggage to be prepared. As he was fond of having sexual intercourse, Gabriel b. Bakhtishu`' went in to him and said to him: "O Abu` Gha`nim, be in a hurry. I hope that you will bring with you some slave-wives while they are pregnant." Then he gave him (poison) to drink. 'Abd Allah al-Tayfu`ri was at the meeting; he had knowledge of medicine. When he saw the drink, he understood the matter and said to Gabriel: "Abu` Gha`nim has become weak because of this (drink)."
Al-Tayfu`ri meant that he understood the assassination which had been schemed against Abu` Gha`nim. Abu` Gha`nim had the drink (of poison) and it immediately acted on him. Al-Tayfu`ri began treating him and he got well a little bit, but he (al-Ma'mu`n) gave him poison to drink again and put an end to him. 1
4. Al-Fadl Bin Sahl
Al-Fadl b. Sahl was the minister and adviser of al-Ma'mu`n. As al-Ma'mu`n was afraid of him, he secretly sent someone to assassinate
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1. Ibid.
( 793 )
him in the bath-house. We will explain this matter in the researches that follow.
These are some persons whom al-Ma'mu`n assassinated; therefore, he followed the example of Mu'a`wiya, who was the first king to open the door to assassination and treachery in the time of Islam.
Cruelty
Another example of al-Ma'mu`n's qualities is that he was cruel and merciless, for he ordered his brother to be killed and his head to be brought to him. If he had had a tendency of mercy, he would have pardoned his brother, who asked him for pardon and security and was ready to hand over the authority to him. Yet another example of his cruelty is that when he had assassinated Ima`m al-Rida`, peace be on him, he treated the 'Alawides with cruelty and severity. That was when he ordered his executioners to kill and punish them severely everywhere. 1
Slyness
The Islamic diplomacy in the 'Abba`sid time did not witness any person slyer than al-Ma'mu`n or more knowledgeable than him in political affairs. He was a first-class politician, for he, through his deception, was able to overcome most terrible events which befell him and were about to fold his life and authority. Through an excellent skill he was able to put an end to his brother al-Amïn, who was strongly supported by the 'Abba`sid family and the high military commanders. He was also able to suppress the great revolt of Abu` al-Sara`ya`, the inspired leader. It is worth mentioning that this revolt widely spread and included most Islamic regions when the revolutionists dominated them. The motto of the revolt was 'the summons to al-Rida` from the family of Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family.' Al-Ma'mun forced Imam al-Rida peace be on him, who was the only leader of the 'Alawide family and high
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1. Hayat al-Imam al-Rida.
( 794 )
authority of Islamic world to leave Medina` for Khurasa`n. Then he forced him to accept regency and ordered all the organs of his government to announce the outstanding merits of Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, and of the rest of the pure Ima`ms. Moreover he ordered the currency to be minted in the name of Ima`m al-Rida`, peace be on him. In this manner he made the revolutionists and the military forces who adopted the authority of the ahl al-Bayt, peace be on him believe that he had 'Alawide beliefs, and that he was earnest in handing over the caliphate to the 'Alawides, to the extent that they thought that there was no need to continue the revolt and to shed blood. Meanwhile he was able to discover the Shï'ite elements whom his fathers were unable to discover. In this manner he suppressed those revolts. I (i.e. the author) think that this is one of the most marvelous, political schemes which the world has ever known throughout the stages of history.
Inclination to Amusement
Al-Ma'mu`n extremely inclined to amusement. The following are examples of his inclination to amusement:
A. His Playing Chess
Chess was the most lovable game to al-Ma'mu`n. He was fond of it, so he described it through the following poetry lines:
A square, red ground (made) from skin between two thousand (persons) described by generosity.
They discuss war, so they occupy (places) like it without striving therein to shed blood.
This attacks this, and that attacks this, and the eye of war does not sleep.
So look at the horses which have surged at a battle between two armies without a drum nor a flag. 1
This poetry contains an exact description of chess. I (i.e. the author) think that al-Ma'mu`n was the first to describe it in detail, and
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1. Al-Mustatraf, vol. 2, p. 306.
( 795 )
that he took this game from his father Harun al-Rashïd, who was the most skillful person in chess. It is worth mentioning that Harun gave chess pieces to the King of France, and that the pieces are still available in the Museums of France. 1
B. His Fondness of Music
Al-Ma'mu`n was fond of singing and music. The historians said that al-Ma'mu`n extremely admired Abu` Isha`q al-Mousli, who was the greatest musician and singer in Arab world, and concerning whom he said: "When he sings, my increasing Satanic temptations go away from me. 2"
Al-Ma'mun enlivened his nights through singing, dancing, and playing on the lute. He imitated his father Harun al-Rashïd, who did not mention the name of Allah in his palace; rather his nights were red.
C. His Drinking Wine
Al-Ma'mu`n was alcoholic; he drank wine by day and night, paying no attention to the sin which resulted from this unlawful thing.
With this quality we will end our speech about al-Ma'mu`n's qualities and tendencies.
