Beautiful Egypt 164 – «His Teeth Were Smashed» July 17, 2016

   In the previous article, we spoke about Abu Ja’far al-Mansur, the second Abbasid caliph. We tackled the internal and external challenges he had encountered at the beginning of his tenure, and how he overcame them. Likewise, we spoke of his story with Al-Asmai’, poet and philologist, who was able to make the caliph restore poets’ rewards.

   Ibn al-Athir, the historian, says that al-Mansur wanted to build a fence around Kufa and Basra. So, he decided to collect its expenses from the inhabitants of the two cities. Yet, his workers told him it was difficult to know the exact population of each city. So, al-Mansur asked a herald to roam in both cities, telling people that the caliph would give each person five dirhmas, after which he imposed a forty-dirham tax on all who wrote their names down in the bonus records! One poet commented on this, saying:

The Prince of believers did a thing bizarre:

To give us five dirhams, and forty gather.

Founding Baghdad:

   The caliphate premise was in al-Hashimiyah. But al-Mansur wanted to move away from Kufa. So, he decided that the new capital be Baghdad. It was founded in 145 Hijri (763 A.D.) It is said that he kept looking for a place to have the city founded, until it came to pass that he spent one night at a place called Al-Qasr which he liked. So, he decreed that the new city be built there. He laid its foundation stone by himself and brought artisans, builders, architects, sages, and scientists. Thus, the important parts of the city were accomplished in one year; the rest was completed within four years.

   Baghdad is located on the west bank of River Tigris: halfway amidst the Levant, Armenia and the East. It is round in shape. It was fortified by the so-called “Greater Fence” which had four gates. The Gate of Levant led to the Levant. The Gate of Kufa led to Kufa, that of Basra led to Basra and that of Khorasan led to Persia. Inside the city, Al-Khold palace as well as al-Mansur Mosque were built. Likewise, ministries, houses, and military barracks were established. The caliph brought scientists from the four corners of earth to Baghdad, making it not only the capital of the caliphate, but of knowledge as well.

   Al-Mansur continued to support the State until it became quite renowned. When he felt he was about to die, he handed over the State affairs to Mohammed al-Mahdi, his son, asking him to take care of them. He died on his way to Mecca in 158 Hijri (775 A.D.) He had been caliph for twenty-two years then.

   Abu Ja’far al-Mansur appointed Saleh bin Ali proconsul of Egypt, then Abul Oun who he deposed, to appoint Mussa bin Ka’b in his stead.

Mussa bin Ka’b (141 Hijri) (758-759 A.D.)

   Mussa bin Ka’b bin Oyayna, of Tamim was appointed by Abu Ja’far proconsul of Egypt, after deposing Abul Oun. He was the first to pledge allegiance to caliph Abu al-Abbas. But he was arrested by the Umayyads. So, he suffered a lot. He was a tied to a donkey’s rein and pulled. In effect, his teeth were smashed. As he ruled Egypt, he would repeat the phrase, “When I had teeth, I had no bread. When the bread came, the teeth had been gone!” He and Abu Ja’far respected each other; so, Abu Ja’far assigned him the police authority of Egypt, then, appointed him proconsul.

   Upon his arrival in Egypt, Mussa bin Ka’b resided at al-Askar. He asked his sentries not to request his audience unless there was something important. Hence, nobody would meet him, unless he had something important to ask, or he had allowed him to come over. Shortly afterwards, the caliph deposed him. He wrote him a message, saying, “I am not deposing you out of wrath. Yet, I heard that a worker called Mussa was killed in Egypt. I feared lest it be had been you.” Mussa bin Ka’b left Egypt, having been proconsul for seven months and a few days. Some historians maintain that the caliph received him courteously and assigned him the police authority for a second time, after which he died. Yet, others claim that he died on his way back.

Mohammed bin al-Asha’th (141-143 Hijri) (759-776 A.D.)

   His full name is Mohammed bin al-Asha’th bin Oqba bin Ahban of Khoza’h. Abu Ja’far appointed him proconsul of Egypt. Bin al-Asha’th was quite intelligent and brave. He was one Bani al-Abbas’s great princes. During his tenure, the caliph sent him Nawfal bin al-Furat to assign him the collection of the agricultural land tax (kharaj). Should al-Asha’th accept, well and good; should he not, Nawfal would take up this responsibility. Bin al-Asha’th refused the assignment. Thus, Nawfal took up the ministries and taxes responsibility.

   At that time, Bin al-Asha’th sent an army to Morocco, but it was defeated. In 142 Hijri (759 A.D.), he went to Alexandria, leaving the affairs of Egypt to Mohammed bin Mu’awiya. He was deposed shortly afterwards. It was then that Humayd bin Qahtaba took over for a year and one month. It came to pass that after bin al-Ash’ath had been deposed, he went to the caliph who made him one of his renowned princes. Bin al-Asha’th accompanied Mohammed al-Mahdi, the heir apparent, in his war against the Roman Empire. But he got sick on the way, and died.

Humayd bin Qahtaba (143-144 Hijri) (762 A.D.)

   Abu Ja’far appointed Humayd bin Qahtaba bin Shayb bin Khaled bin Ma’dan al-Ta’y proconsul of Egypt, after deposing Mohammed bin al-Asha’th. Bin Qahtaba was brave. He had a military adeptness. He came to Egypt accompanied by lots of soldiers. Then, the caliph sent him a great army led by Abu al-Ahwas al-Abdi to conquer Africa. The armies met in Cordoba. Abu al-Ahwas was defeated, and returned to Egypt. So, Humayd led an army to Barca where he defeated Abu al-Khattab’s troops, after which he returned victorious to Egypt. He stayed in office for one year and two months after which he was deposed. Leaving Egypt, he returned to the caliph who made him one of his renowned princes. Later, he sent him to conquer Armenia, then Kabul, after which he was assigned Khorasan until he died during al-Mahdi’s tenure.

Yazid bin Hatem (144-152 Hijri) (762-769 A.D.)

   Abu Ja’far also appointed Yazid bin Hatem bin Qabisah proconsul of Egypt. He was brave and generous. So much so, that one poet lauded him, saying:

The two Yazids in generosity do differ.

Timtam, do not think I knocked you over;

I just do praise the bountiful giver.

   During his tenure, the Alawites’ appeared in Egypt. Many people continued to follow them until they got to know that Ibrahim bin Abdullah bin Hassan ibnul Hassan was killed. The caliph rewarded him by assigning him Barca in 149 Hijri (766 A.D.) During his tenure, the Copts of Xois rebelled. So, he sent a great army which the Copts defeated, though. So, the caliph deposed him after a seven-year and four-month long tenure. He was succeeded by Abdullah bin Abdel Rahman bin Mu’awiya bin Hudayj, whereas Yazid was assigned Morocco. He remained there until he died.

   At that time, Pope Khail I had already departed. Pope Mina was chosen forty-seventh patriarch of Alexandria. So, another story begins… Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center