The Abbasid Dynasty Caliphs, Founding, administration

The Holden period of Islam

Founding of the Abbasid Dynasty

The Abbasid Dynasty is traced back to an uncle of Hazrat Muhammad(SAW) Al-Abbas. It belonged to Hashimite from the Quraysh tribe of Makkah. Abu Muslim began the political uprising in 747 CE.  In 750 CE in the battle of Great Zab in Mesopotamia they defeated Marwan II, the last Ummayad Caliph. Abbasid caliphate was established and Abu al Abbas Al Saffah took the charge as a first Abbasid Caliphate.

The Abbasids stayed in power for almost 500 years (750- 1258CE). There were 36 successive caliphs who ruled during the period. Abu Jaffer Mansur, Harun ur Rashid, Mamun ur Rasheed were amongst the prominent rulers of Abbasid Dynasty.

The history and guide towards Abbasid caliphate can be divided into two parts . The first period was the Golden Age of the caliphate, extending from the establishment of their empire to the death of the tenth Abbasid Caliph, Al Mutawakkil in 861 CE. The second period was the decline of the caliphate which extends from 861-1258CE.

The Abbasid moved the capital from Kufa to Baghdad in 762 CE. Baghdad was a well planned city designed in a circular shape. It had a beautiful mosque in the middle and had high walls all around the city. The art, culture and learning flourished in Baghdad. Many intellectuals came here to study. Baghdad was considered the centre of learning at that time. The currency of Harun ur Rasheed and many other at AbbasidCaliphate was called dinar.

The design of new city of Baghdad was circular in such a way that each gate of city led directly to the corresponding city of empire. The famous Madrasah Al Mustansirya in Baghdad Iraq is still a centre of attention.

Here is Timeline of first ten caliphs of Abbasid Dynasty

1. Abu Al Abbas (750- 754CE)

2. Abu Jaffar Mansur (754-775CE)

3. Abu Abdullah Al-Mahdi (775-785CE)

4. Abu Musa al Hadi (785-786CE)

5. Harun ur Rasheed (786- 809CE)

6. Ameen ur Rasheed (809-813CE)

7. Mamun-ur- Rasheed (813-833CE)

8. Mustahsim billah (833-842CE)

9. Wasiq billah (842-847CE)

10. Al Mutawakkil (847-861)

Administrative system of Abbasid Caliphate

During the Abbasid Dynasty, the form of government was an absolute monarchy. The head of the state was the caliph or khlifa and had all powers. There was a system of Shura. Shura was advice-giving council and it had the members from the royal family, the elite class, ministers, and common people.

The court judge was called a qazi.

The wazir was second to caliph and had ample authority. A wazir could conduct hearings against a qazi. The head of administration was called Hajib who presnted the work of the government and the ambassador to the caliph.