Al-Amin
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Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid (787–813) (Arabic: محمد الأمين بن هارون الرشيد), Abbasid Caliph. He succeeded his father, Harun al-Rashid in 809 and ruled until he was killed in 813.
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 Muhammad al-Amin and Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun sign pledges during a pilgrimage to Mecca that both would honour his will. Muhammad Al-Amin, would receive the Caliphate and Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun would become governor of Khurasan in eastern Iran and would furthermore be granted almost complete autonomy. On Muhammad al-Amin's death, according to Harun's decision, Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun would become Caliph.
Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun had distrusted Muhammad 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 Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun, after Harun's death they returned to Baghdad. Muhammad Al-Amin sought to turn Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun's financial agent in Rayy against Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun and he ordered Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun to acknowledge Muhammad al-Amin's son Musa as heir and return to Baghdad. Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun 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. Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid was prompted to move against Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun by meddlesome ministers, especially al Fadl ibn ar Rabi. Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid had Harun's succession documents brought from Mecca to Baghdad, where he destroyed them. Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid sent agents east to stir opposition to Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun. However, a careful watch at the frontier denied these the opportunity. Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid denied Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun's request for his family and money and kept them in Baghdad.
In March 811 Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid dispatched an army under Ali ibn Isa ibn Mahan against Ma'mun. Ali advanced on Rayy. Ma'mun's capable general Tahir ibn Husain met and defeated Ali who was killed. Tahir moved on Hamadhan. He defeated Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid's general Abd ar Rahman and took the city. Abd ar Rahman was granted safe passage away, but attacked Tahir by surprise. Tahir prevailed and Abd ar Rahman was killed in the battle.
Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid faced unrest in Syria. He sent Abd al-Malik ibn Salih to restore order there. There was fierce fighting and Abd al-Malik died. Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid sent Ahmad ibn Mazyad and Abdallah ibn Humayd east, each with an army (at 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.
Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid 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 Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun. Tahir advanced on Baghdad and defeated a force sent against him. In Mecca, Dawud ibn Isa reminded worshippers that Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid 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 Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun. Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun confirmed Dawud in his governorship of Mecca and Medina.
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 Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid'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 Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid and he became depressed.
When Tahir pushed into the city, Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid sought to negotiate safe passage out. Tahir reluctantly agreed on the condition Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid turn over his sceptre, seal and other signs of being caliph. Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid tried to leave on a boat, apparently with these indications he was caliph. He rejected warnings he should wait. Tahir noticed the boat. Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid 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. At Tabari (v. 31 pp. 197-202) quotes Tahir's letter to Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun ibn Harun informing that caliph of Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid's capture and execution and the state of peace resulting in Baghdad.
The fact that Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid was known to be fond of eunuchs was seen by many at the time as a deficit in his character.[1] At Tabari notes this fondness for eunuchs. He also records accounts of Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid's intense irritation when singers sang songs that were not very auspicious. Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid is described by this historian as being extravagant.
Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid 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.
[edit] Character
Al-Masudi in Meadows of Gold relates a number of anecdotes that illumine somewhat the character of this caliph. One of these (p. 142) describes his reaction to a lion let loose. The lion charged al-Amin. Calmly the caliph grasped a cushion, shielded himself from its fierce claws, caught it by its ears and plunged his dagger into it killing it. Al-Masudi also relates (p. 133) the three dreams of al-Amin's mother: on his conception, on his birth and on his weaning. On each of these occasions she saw three women who made ominous predictions concerning the child's future.
Another tale describes al-Amin besieged in Baghdad seemingly preoccupied with a pet fish. He also mentions the slave girl who sang ill-omened songs during this siege, so annoying al-Amin. However the translators note (p. 443) that she is seeking to shame him to fight.
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari History volume xxxi, "The War Between Brothers," transl. Michael Fishbein, SUNY, Albany, 1992
- al-Masudi, The Meadows of Gold, the Abbasids, transl. Paul Lunde and Caroline Stone, Kegan Paul, London and New York, 1989
| Preceded by Harun al-Rashid |
Caliph 809–813 |
Succeeded by al-Ma'mun |
