Al-Amin

Al-Amin

Muhammad ibn Harun al-Amin (787–813) ( _ar. محمد الأمين بن هارون الرشيد), Abbasid Caliph. He succeeded his father, Harun al-Rashid in 809 and ruled until he was killed in 813.

Caliph

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari records that Harun al-Rashid several times impressed on his sons they should respect each other and honour the succession as Harun arranged it. In A.H. 186, Harun had al-Amin and al-Ma'mun sign pledges during a pilgrimage to Mecca that both would honour his will. Al-Amin, would receive the Caliphate and al-Ma'mun would become governor of Khurasan in eastern Iran and would furthermore be granted almost complete autonomy. On al-Amin's death, according to Harun's decision, al-Ma'mun would become Caliph.

Hostility towards al-Mamun

Al-Ma'mun had distrusted al-Amin before their father's death and convinced Harun to take him with him on Harun's last journey east. Although Harun had instructed the Baghdad commanders of this expedition to remain with al-Ma'mun, after Harun's death they returned to Baghdad. Al-Amin sought to turn al-Ma'mun's financial agent in Rayy against al-Ma'mun and he ordered al-Ma'mun to acknowledge al-Amin's son Musa as heir and return to Baghdad. Al-Ma'mun replaced his agent in Rayy and refused the orders. His mother was Persian and he had strong support in Iran.

The brothers had different mothers. Al-Amin was prompted to move against al-Ma'mun by meddlesome ministers, especially al Fadl ibn ar Rabi. Al-Amin had Harun's succession documents brought from Mecca to Baghdad, where he destroyed them. Al-Amin sent agents east to stir opposition to al-Ma'mun. However, a careful watch at the frontier denied these the opportunity. Al-Amin denied al-Ma'mun's request for his family and money and kept them in Baghdad.

Battle of Rayy

In March 811 Al-Amin dispatched an army under Ali ibn Isa ibn Mahan against Al-Ma'mun. Ali advanced on Rayy. Ma'mun's capable general Tahir bin Husain met and defeated Ali who was killed.

Internal rebellions

Al-Amin faced unrest in Syria. He sent Abd al-Malik ibn Salih to restore order there. There was fierce fighting and Abd al-Malik died. Al-Amin sent Ahmad ibn Mazyad and Abdallah ibn Humayd east, each with an army (al-Tabari v. 31 p. 100 says each had 20,000 men). However, Tahir's agents sowed discord and these two armies fought against each other.

Al-Amin faced an uprising in Baghdad led by Ali ibn Isa's son Husayn. This was quelled and Husayn was killed. Tahir took Ahwaz and gained control of Bahrayn and parts of Arabia. Basra and Kufa swore allegiance to al-Ma'mun. Tahir advanced on Baghdad and defeated a force sent against him. In Mecca, Dawud ibn Isa reminded worshippers that al-Amin had destroyed Harun ar Rashid's succession pledges and led them in swearing allegiance to al-Mamun. Dawud then went to Marv and presented himself to al-Ma'mun. Al-Ma'mun confirmed Dawud in his governorship of Mecca and Medina.

Siege of Baghdad (812-813)

Tahir advanced and set up camp near the Anbar Gate. Baghdad was besieged. The effects of this siege were made more intense by the rampaging prisoners who broke out of jail. There were several vicious battles, such as at al-Amin's palace of Qasr Halih, at Darb al- Hijarah and al-Shammasiyyah Gate. In that last one Tahir led reinforcements to regain positions lost by another officer. Overall the situation was worsening for al-Amin and he became depressed.

When Tahir pushed into the city, al-Amin sought to negotiate safe passage out. Tahir reluctantly agreed on the condition al-Amin turn over his sceptre, seal and other signs of being caliph. Al-Amin tried to leave on a boat, apparently with these indications he was caliph. He rejected warnings he should wait. Tahir noticed the boat. Al-Amin was thrown into the water, swam to shore, was captured and brought to a room where he was executed. His head was placed on the Anbar Gate. Al-Tabari (v. 31 pp. 197-202) quotes Tahir's letter to al-Ma'mun informing that caliph of al-Amin's capture and execution and the state of peace resulting in Baghdad.

Legacy

The fact that Al-Amin was known to be fond of eunuchs was seen by many at the time as a deficit in his character. [Bernard Lewis, Race and Color in Islam (1979) ] Al-Tabari notes this fondness for eunuchs. He also records accounts of al-Amin's intense irritation when singers sang songs that were not very auspicious. Al-Amin is described by this historian as being extravagant.

Al-Amin had appealed to his mother, Zubaida, to arbitrate the succession and champion his cause as Aisha had done two centuries before. Zubaida refused to do so.

Notes

Bibliography

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari History volume xxxi, "The War Between Brothers," transl. Michael Fishbein, SUNY, Albany, 1992


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Amin al-Husseini — Le mufti Husseini Amin al Husseini (Jérusalem, 4 juillet 1895 (1313 AH)[1] Beyrouth, 5 juillet[ …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Amin al Husseini — Le mufti Husseini Amin al Husseini (Jérusalem, 4 juillet 1895 (1313 AH)[1] Beyrouth, 5 juillet[ …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Amin (Name) — Amin, auch al Amin arabisch ‏الأمين‎, DMG al Amīn, ist ein arabischer Name mit der Bedeutung gewissenhaft oder vertrauenswürdig . In englischer Umschrift wird er oft als Ameen wiedergegeben. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Varianten 2 Bekannte Namenst …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Amin Wardak — (né en 1951) est un ancien moudjahid afghan : il fut l’un des plus importants commandants de la résistance afghane face à l armée soviétique lors de la première guerre d Afghanistan (1979 1989). Sommaire 1 Biographie 2 Publication 3 Annexes …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Amin Golestan — Parast Birth name Amin Golestan Parast Born 5 June 1988 (1988 06 05) (age 23) Origin Dubai, UAE Genres House …   Wikipedia

  • Amín Abel Hasbún — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Amin Abel Hasbún (12 de octubre de 1942 24 de septiembre de 1970) fue un ingeniero y activista político dominicano de origen árabe. Contenido 1 Biografía 1.1 Estudios …   Wikipedia Español

  • AMIN DADA (I.) — AMIN DADA IDI (entre 1923 et 1926 ) Appartenant à la petite tribu nubienne des Kakwa dans le nord ouest de l’Ouganda, Idi Amin Dada passe son enfance à garder les chèvres; après quelques études élémentaires vite terminées, il s’engage à vingt et… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Amin Kamil — (1924 ) is a major voice in Kashmiri poetry and one of the chief exponents of modern ghazal in the language [Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology By K. M. George [http://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C pg=PA695 lpg=PA695 dq=amin+kamil… …   Wikipedia

  • Amin Joseph — (born April 26, 1978) is an American stage, television, and film actor. He is a regular on the Cinemax series Zane’s Sex Chronicles (2008) as rapper Tarriq.BiographyAmin was born in Far Rockaway Queens, and was raised in Harlem, New York. As a… …   Wikipedia

  • Amin Gemayel — 2007 Amin Gemayel (* 22. Januar 1942 in Bikfaya bei Beirut) ist ein libanesischer Politiker und ehemaliger Staatspräsident des Libanon. Amin Gemayel stammt aus einer libanesischen Politikerdynastie. Sein Vater Pierre Gemayel gründete im Jahre… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Amin Abad — (Persian: امين آباد) is small village south of Shahreza, in Isfahan Province near the border of Fars Province along the main highway No. 7 connecting Isfahan to Shiraz [ [http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q hl=en geocode= time= date= ttype=… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”