Beautiful Egypt 177 – «Al-Amin and Al-Ma’mun» October 16, 2016

   In the previous article, we resumed tackling the incidents which Pope Mark II had witnessed until his departure in 819 A.D. Then, we spoke of Caliph Mohammed al-Amin and how historians had different views regarding his character. Some asserted that he lacked in political adeptness, was reckless, and extravagant. They added that he also lacked insight. Meanwhile, others maintained that he was kind. They supported their argument with this story: it came to pass that somebody asked him to arrest al-Ma’mun’s two sons. So, he got upset and said, “How come you ask me to arrest my sons and shed my kinsmen’s blood? This is but corruption!” Also, he was said to be cultured, well-read in several fields, such as languages, jurisprudence (fiqh), history, and literature. Moreover, some claimed that he was smart, which his tutors, al-Asmai’ and al-Kisa’i, had vouched for. He was witty, eloquent, kind and forgiving.

   As for the State’s conditions during his tenure, trouble started: only for wars to ensue between al-Amin and al-Ma’mun. We already mentioned that Harun al-Rashid had divided the State amongst his sons, giving the East to al-Ma’mun (Khorasan, Rey till Hamadan), the West to al-Amin (Egypt, Morocco, and the Levant), and al-Jazeera, the Militarisms, and the capitals to al-Mu’taman. He set a succession plan as follows: al-Amin was heir apparent, followed by al-Ma’mun, then al-Mu’taman.

   Al-Rashid documented this in deeds which were hung on the Kaaba as he was conducting pilgrimage (Hajj) in 186 Hijri. He asked the brothers to be faithful to each other, and demanded that al-Amin leave the entire East to his brother al-Ma’mun with its militarisms, provinces, troops, taxes, money houses, charity, and post.

   Yet, after al-Rashid’s death on his way to Khorasan to overcome the rebellion of Rafi’ bin al-Layth, accompanied by al-Ma’mun, al-Amin sent his father a messenger called Bakr bin al-Mu’tamer, carrying two messages. The first was addressed to al-Ma’mun in which he condoled him on their father’s death, demanding the caliphate for himself and naming al-Ma’mun heir apparent to be succeeded by al-Mu’taman. The second message was addressed to his brother, Salih, asking him to pledge allegiance from his followers for him, then al-Ma’mun, followed by al-Mu’taman. He enticed him to come over fast with troops and supplies, not to make any decision (major or minor) without seeking al-Fadl bin al-Rabi’’s advice first. The latter was with Harun al-Rashid at the time of his death. In effect, al-Fadl bin al-Rabi’ sent the troops back, after which he went to Baghdad to pledge allegiance to al-Amin. Al-Amin was pleased and appointed him minister and assigned him governance affairs.

   On the other hand, al-Ma’mun headed to Khorasan and the East. He practiced a moderate policy, making al-Fadl bin Suhayl his mentor and minister. He was on good terms with tribe chiefs and his subjects, for he reduced taxes. Likewise, he asked jurists to be fair. So, the country was filled with justice. His subjects loved and supported him. Also, he kept his promise with his brother al-Amin, inquiring after him and sending him presents.

   Thus, the two brothers lived in peace which was temporary, though. Al-Amin’s page instigated rift and strife between them. So much so that war almost broke out! Al-Fadl bin al-Rabi’ enticed al-Amin to make his son Mussa heir apparent instead of al-Ma’mun. Al-Amin abided by his minister’s advice. This took place by the end of 194 Hijri (809 A.D.), after which he deposed al-Qassim from the assignments given to him by his father Harun al-Rashid.

   When the news reached al-Ma’mun, he realized that his brother wanted to depose him. So, he stopped writing to him. A terrible political conflict ensued. Also, during that year, al-Amin sent a delegation to al-Ma’mun. It was presided by al-Abbas bin Mussa bin Eissa. He asked him to give Mussa bin al-Amin priority as heir apparent. But, al-Ma’mun refused. No sooner had al-Amin known this, than he implemented al-Fadl’s advice, deposing al-Ma’mun and appointing his son heir apparent. Historians maintain that, “Al-Fadl did not suffice with this or even more, such as forbidding imams from praying for Abdullah al-Ma’mun and al-Qassim bin al-Rashid in mosques. He hired traitors to speak ill of al-Ma’mun. Then, al-Amin sent someone to get him the documents hanging on the Kaaba and tore them up.

   At that time, al-Ma’mun had dispatched troops to secure his borders, for war seemed close. So was it. When al-Ma’mun refused his brother’s claim, the latter sent an army led by Ali bin Eissa bin Mahan to overcome his brother. This took place on Jumada al-Akhira 10, 195 Hijri (March 10, 811 A.D.). When al-Amin’s army reached Rey where al-Ma’mun’s troops were guarding the borders under the command of Tahir bin al-Hussein, a fierce battle broke out, and al-Ma’mun’s army emerged victorious.

   Al-Amin did not stop. He sent another army led by Abdul Rahman bin Jablah to Hamadan. The two armies fought each other, and al-Ma’mun’s troops were also victorious, after which they started marching toward Qazvin which proconsul, appointed by al-Amin, fled. So, al-Ma’mun appointed one of his followers proconsul there.

   The two defeats which al-Amin experienced led to turmoil in Baghdad. In turn, al-Amin and his minister mobilized a 40-thousand-sentry army led by Ahmed bin Muzid and Abdullah bin Humayd who marched to Helwan to send al-Ma’mun’s army away. However, the two commanders clashed and returned to Baghdad, which gave al-Ma’mun’s army a chance to move forward. Tahir bin al-Hussein entered Helwan in 196 Hijri (811-812 A.D.) Then, al-Ma’mun started getting ready to march to Baghdad from both the East and West. So, he sent Hartama bin A’yan to Helwan and asked Tahir to head to Ahvaz. Thus, he besieged Baghdad from both directions.

   At that time, al-Amin was enfeebled, for rebellions against him broke out in Mecca, Medina and the Levant. Then, al-Hussein bin Ali bin Eissa, who he dispatched to overcome the rebellion of the Levant, also rebelled against him. The man returned suddenly to Baghdad, having decided to depose al-Amin. He instigated the people of Baghdad against him, then arrested him and his mother and imprisoned them in his palace in Baghdad. Having done so, al-Hussein declared al-Ma’mun caliph. Yet, some people of Baghdad rebelled against al-Hussein, arrested him, and restored al-Amin to his throne. They relinquished al-Hussein to him, but he forgave him and re-assigned him the army’s affairs. However, his sentries killed him!

   At that time, al-Ma’mun’s troops conquered Persia, Wasit, Kufa, Basra, and al-Mada’in, which opened the road to Baghdad. Here, another story begins. Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center