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In the previous article, we dealt with some of Egypt’s rulers, namely, Abdullah bin Abdel Rahman and Mohamed bin Abdel Rahman, his brother, as well as Mussa bin Ali. Likewise, we tackled the biography of Pope Mina I who suffered from the attempts of a monk called Peter to usurp the patriarchal see. Yet, God defeated him. At that time, caliph Abu Ja’far al-Mansur died, after a twenty-two year tenure, to be succeeded by Mohammed al-Mahdi, his son.
Caliph Mohammed al-Mahdi (158-169 Hijri) (775-785 A.D.)
Abu Abdullah Mohammed al-Mahdi bin al-Mansur took over after Abu Ja’far al-Mansur, his father. He became the third Abbasid caliph. Historians maintain that his father cared very much for his upbringing. Unlike his father, Al-Mahdi was generous. He was tolerant. Yet, he was quite strict with his enemies and opponents. He started by releasing all those who were imprisoned during his father’s tenure for simple charges. He also replaced execution by imprisonment for some political prisoners. He set Al-Hassan bin Ibrahim the Alawite, free, and gave Alawites back their property that had been confiscated. Likewise, he returned fines to their owners, as his father had put that money in safe called “Treasury of the Wronged”. Historians note that during one of his crusades, he passed by a house in ruins. It was owned by Abu Salamah. He stopped, brought his children and followers, and distributed twenty thousand dinars among them, acknowledging their father’s generosity with him and his family at the beginning of his tenure. Also noteworthy is that in 160 Hijri, during his pilgrimage, Al-Mahdi gave the needy of Mecca about thirty million dirhams and one hundred and fifty thousand gowns.
Al-Mahdi cared a lot for his subjects. Taghribirdi mentions how Yacoub bin Dawoud won al-Mahdi’s favor after the latter had consulted him regarding Al-Hassan bin Ibrahim. Yacoub said, “O’ Prince of believers! You are quite just to your subjects. You are benevolent to them. So much so that they set high hopes on you. Henceforth, certain issues remain. If I tell you about them, you are sure to handle them. Likewise, there are issues which you are unaware of. Should I let you know of them, you will not hesitate to deal with them.” Al-Mahdi ordered Yacoub to tell him about all these issues. So, he would always look to him for advice. This is how Yacoub won al-Mahdi’s favor. In effect, al-Mahdi wrote a certificate of acknowledgement that he considered Yacoub his brother in God. He appended this certificate to a will in which he bequeathed Yacoub one hundred thousand dirhams.
Al-Mahdi’s tenure, however, witnessed some seditions and rebellions, such as the rebellion of Syria, that of Khorasan, and that of the Apostates.
One of Marawan II’s sons attempted to rebel against the Abbasids. So, he rebelled in Syria. Yet, al-Mahdi prevailed, arrested the rebel, put him in jail, then released him. Likewise a rebellion broke out in Khorasan between 158 and 160 Hijri (775 and 777 A.D.) It was led by a Hashim bin Hekmit (aka. Atta’) He was nicknamed “Al-Muqana’” (the masked man) for he used to cover his face with a golden mask. He used to believe in Reincarnation (transmigration). He claimed he was a prophet, saying that God’s spirit appeared in Adam, then in Noah, then in Abu Muslim, then in him!
He had mutinous teachings, which made many people follow him. His followers used to wear white clothes. So, they were called the “whitened”. Al-Muqana’ became so powerful that al-Mahdi sent his commanders and army to besiege him in his castle at Kesh. Having no other solution save giving up, he poisoned himself, his family, and followers.
The Apostates’ rebellion took place in Gorgan, eastern the Caspian Sea. It was called the “reddened”, for they wore red clothes. They constitute a religious sect that spread its teachings in Khorasan and the provinces of western Persia to reach Iraq eventually. The teachings of the “reddened” included some of Mazdak’s who allowed all sorts of money, and women. They also included some of Mani’s who promoted the presence of a world of light ruled by the good god, along with his angels, as well as a world of darkness and materialism ruled by the devil and his angels. Man himself is part of the world of darkness. His body is part of the evil matter. That is why he called for asceticism and abstaining from marriage. Seeing that the State was negatively affected by these teachings, al-Mahdi fought them.
Moreover, the Abbasid State was attacked by the Roman Empire in 163 Hijri (780 A.D.) Byzantines ransacked Marqas and burned it. Al-Mahdi dispatched Hassan bin Qahtaba to find that they had retreated. So, he demolished some of their cities and abodes. But, they raided again. So, al-Mahdi led a great army and went to fight them, leaving the State affairs to Mussa, his son. Al-Mahdi made Aleppo the center of his military operations, dispatching Harun, his son, along with efficient commanders to combat the Byzantines. Harun prevailed. So, they requested reconciliation of which Harun approved and returned to Aleppo, after he had had them pay a forfeiture to retrieve their country and prisoners.
Al-Mahdi appointed Harun proconsul of the western region, Armeniaand Azerbaijan, making Thabet bin Mussa and Yahya bin Khaled his assistants. In 165 Hijri (782 A.D.), the Byzantines violated the reconciliation agreement. Harun fought and defeated them, killing many. Then he headed toward Constantinople. So, empress Irene, widow of late Leo IV and prince regent, requested truce, pledging to pay a per capita yearly tax (jizya) and army catering fees in case of retreating. Harun accepted her conditions, and truce continued for three years.
In 160 Hijri (777 A.D.), al-Mahdi sent a sea crusade to India, attacking the city of Barbad and burning the statue of Buddha and some of his followers. Yet, the crusade was a failure, due to the spread of disease. Moreover, the fleet was destroyed by winds near the coast of Persia. Al-Mahdi tried to retrieve Andalusia between 161 and 163 Hijri (778 and 780 A.D.), but he failed.
Al-Mahdi appointed several ministers who became quite renowned during his tenure. It is said that al-Mahdi wanted the State to prosper and his subjects to live happily. He was a progenitor of the golden age that was to come. Al-Mahdi appointed Mussa al-Hadi, his son, heir apparent, to be succeeded by Harun. He died at the age of forty-three in 169 Hijri (785 A.D.)
Before al-Mahdi’s tenure, Egypt was ruled by Mussa bin Ali. That was during Abu Ja’far al-Mansur’s tenure. The latter was first succeeded by Mohammed al-Hadi who supported Mussa proconsul of Egypt until he was deposed in 161 Hijri (778 A.D.), to be succeeded by Eissa bin Luqman.
Eissa bin Luqman of Gomah (161-162 Hijri) (778-779 A.D.)
Eissa bin Luqman bin Mohammed bin Hateb of Gomah was appointed proconsul of Egypt by al-Mahdi. It is said that when al-Mahdi appointed him, he said, “I have assigned you the job of Abdul Aziz bin Marawan and Saleh bin Ali.” Yet, Eissa ruled Egypt for only four months, to be succeeded by Wadih al-Mansuri. This is not the end of the story… Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
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