The king's dream.
Recognized by its domes and arches, Baghdad was the largest city in the world. Rome, Athens and Alexandria did not even come close to their heyday. With a population of over one million, the city housed dozens of palaces for the royal family, generals, and ministers. In the large houses of the affluent, marble pillars, stairs leading down to the river or to the hallway. Curtains on plastered walls, ceramic tiled floors on which carpets were laid in winter and removed in summer. Cow pillows on the floor. A lower floor wall opened into the courtyard in the center, with a small fountain installed. Below this is a kitchen with an iron lattice, so that air can pass through. In the summer, the family slept on the roof. In the cold room (sundab) in the basement to avoid the heat in the afternoon. In contrast, the homes of the poor used to be multi-storey in densely populated areas. Palm tree trunk beam roof and mud brick walls. The city's wide streets were regularly cleaned. A network of canals drained from the Tigris to supply water to homes. The atmosphere in the bazaar smelled of local and imported spices and perfumes, and the fish caught from the river, the aroma of shabot. Citizens of Baghdad will enjoy a walk along the river.
This city of Alif Laila's stories has been devastated many times. Within a few decades of his settlement, the city's first destruction was at the hands of his son. But this story is not about destroying this city. The most important character in the Islamic Golden Age is Abu al-Abbas Abdullah, known in history as al-Mamun.
Insurgents who raised black flags from Khurasan overthrew the Benuamiya government in 751. The Umayyad family, defeated on the battlefield, was invited to a banquet for peace, and during this bloody banquet, 80 members of the family were killed, ending the 90-year Umayyad Caliphate. Only one prince of Benuamia escaped. This was the beginning of the five hundred years of the Abbasid Caliphate, known as the Islamic Golden Age. For his capital, the Abbasid Caliph founded a new city on June 30, 762, renamed Madinat al-Salam, then Baghdad. The city was a center of science, literature, philosophy, architecture, painting, glassware, textiles and technology. The Bait-ul-Hikma (House of Wisdom), built in the gardens in the style of the Sassanid University of Dirty Shapur, is a major center of science of its time.
Abbasi Caliph Haroon Al-Rashid.
Al-Mamun was born in the same year that the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid became caliph. His mother was a slave girl obtained in the campaign to crush the Persian uprising. Haroon al-Rashid's second son was born to his wife, Zubeida, who was Al-Amin. Mamun was handed over to Minister Jafar Barmaki for education and training, where he memorized the Qur'an, recited poetry, read history, Arabic grammar and mathematics. But his greatest interest was in philosophy and theology. This was the reason for his obsession with science in later life.
When it came to choosing the Crown Prince, the pure race was given priority. In 802, Aaron performed the Umrah with his teenage sons, and the announcement was made here. Al-Amin was to receive the Khilafah. Al-Mamun to be the Governor of Khurasan. He took an oath of allegiance from his sons and kept the document in a box inside the Kaaba. (This is called the Mecca Protocol). ٰ
There was a revolt in Khurasan during the reign of Haroon Al-Rashid. Aaron took the army to fight him. Mamun was with them. Aaron died on the way. Mamun, 23, took over, ending the uprising. Gained control of Khurasan. His Minister Fazl helped in this. Taxes were reduced to quell the uprising. Al-Fadl also helped establish a good image of Mamun and a power base. Meanwhile, Amin and Mamun started quarreling. Amin made his son his successor in place of Crown Prince Mamun and demanded taxes from Khurasan. The forces that had gone with Mamun were called back. Mamun began to gather his army in Khurasan.
Under the command of General Tahir of Persia, Mamun attacked the Abbasi Caliphate. The first battle took place in Tehran, after which Mamun took over Persia. The advance of Mamun's forces continued. In 812 she was knocking on the door of Baghdad. The great siege began. Amin was a popular caliph. He had the support of the people during his four years in power. The assailants faced stiff resistance. After attacks by catapults and setting fire to various places in the city, breaking the bridge over the Tigris and very long battles, Mamun's forces were victorious. Much of Baghdad was reduced to ashes. Al-Amin intended to flee, but then surrendered at the behest of his advisers, but Amin was beheaded. He was cut and presented to his brother Mamun.
Mamun returned to the city of Maro in Khorasan (in present-day Turkmenistan). It remained the capital of the Abbasid Empire for some time. He made Ali Reza his successor not in his family. The decision proved highly unpopular in Baghdad. Mamun had to return. On the same trip, Ali al-Reza and Wazir al-Fadl mysteriously died. In 819, six years after the plunder of Baghdad, Mamun returned to rebuilt Baghdad and took up residence in the palace built by Jaffar Barmaki.
The history books present Amin as incompetent and Mamun as a worthy caliph. Probably a factor as to why they're doing so poorly. However, Mamun's period was a very important period in history. The Islamic Golden Age is the age of knowledge. Mamun was not the first caliph to support this endeavor, but the passion and dedication with which he did so, the atmosphere of free dialogue and thought, is unparalleled.
The Arab historian Ibn Nadim writes in his book "List" that Mamun came to Baghdad and had a dream, which he narrated in Mamun's language.
I saw a man in a dream. Thick eyebrows, blue eyes, bald head, healthy body. I asked, "Who are you?" He replied, "Aristotle." I asked, "Philosopher, tell me what is true, what is good?" Aristotle replied, "Whatever you know by your intellect." I said, "After that?" Aristotle said, "That which is agreed upon by public opinion." I said, "After that?" "Nothing after that," said Aristotle. I said, "Then I'll recognize him."
This dream of Mamun may be the imagination of a historian, but there is no doubt that Mamun spent the rest of his life in it to the point of madness. The work coming from all over the world was being translated in the House of Wisdom before. Translation work has been expedited. It does not contain any subject matter. Greek, Persian, Sanskrit, wherever it was found, began to be translated into Arabic. Mamun himself used to go to Bait-ul-Hikmah every day. Participated in discussions. The tradition of using knowledge from all over the world was added. Exploring nature was considered a good value. Science has never received so much government patronage. As a result, it was at this time that the great names of science began to emerge in Arabia.
Mamun's madness brought science to life in Baghdad many centuries after the fall of the Alexandrian library.
This story of this chapter of history is true but like every short story many things are left out. Why Baghdad? Why did this happen in the Abbasid Caliphate? What else was going on with it? (Amin and Mamun's war was not only for the power of two brothers, it was also a war of ideas, in which there were no heroes or villains, this conflict lasted for centuries). What does this eighth-century history have to do with today's world? (In many ways there is a deep connection). Nothing can be understood in isolation. If you want to read it in detail, this is the book for you. It also includes a good discussion on today's science in Pakistan.
Vehara Ambakar.
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