Posted by Aziza
The Abbasid Caliphate (الخلافة العباسية) was the third Islamic dynasty following the Umayyad Dynasty (الخلافة الأموية). The word Abbasid is derived from the name of prophet Muhammad’s uncle, Al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib. The Abbasids opposed the Umayyads and tried to weaken their power by gaining the favor of groups who opposed them, especially the Shiites.
Abu al-‘Abbās ‘Abdu’llāh as-Saffāh (أبو العباس عبد الله السفاح) organized a rebellion against the Umayyads in Iran and Khurasan In 750. He defeated the Umayyads and was proclaimed Caliph on the Greater Zab River. After that, he eliminated the Umayyads and removed other opposition including the former Shiite allies. The Abbasids moved the capital city from Damasus to Iraq where there was less support for the Umayyads. Caliph Abu Ja’far Al-Mansur (أبو جعفر المنصور) founded Baghdad city in 762 to be the capital of the Abbasid empire. The Abbasid caliphate flourished for two centuries, with great rulers who expanded the empire and paid a lot of attention to literature, science and translation.
By the middle of the 8th century Baghdad became an important centre for learning and science. The House of Wisdom (بيت الحكمة) was built in Baghdad to be a major library and centre for translation. Major books in all languages known at that time were translated into Arabic. Harun al-Rashid (هارون الرشيد) is considered the most famous Abbasid Caliph. His reign was characterized by advancements in all fields. Muslim scholars and scientists benefited from the works translated from different languages at the time of the Abbasids. Major developments achieved at that age included development of mathematical, geometric and astronomical knowledge. Al-khwārizmī invented Algebra. In addition, scientists and physicians developed the areas of science and medicine such as anatomy, description of various diseases and their treatment, etc.
Various factors contributed to the decline of the Abbasid dynasty including power rivalry between eligible heirs to the caliphate, the rise to power of the Mamluks, i.e. Turkish officers appointed in Muslim armies, and external threats of the Byzantine Empire and the Mongols. The Abbasid rule was ended in 1258 at the hands of Hulagu Khan, the Mongol conqueror.
Posted by Aziza
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The Umayyad Dynasty (الخلافة الأموية) is the second dynasty to rule the Islamic empire. The capital of the Umayyad caliphate was Damascus, and during the Umayyad rule, the Islamic state extended to include new territories in Asia, Africa, as well as Andalucía in Spain and Portugal.
The Umayyad Caliphate (الخلافة الأموية) began 6 months after the death of the last Rightly Guided Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Talib (علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب), with the rule of Mu’aweya Ibn Abi Sufyan (معاوية بن أبي سفيان) in the year 661 AD. Mu’aweya’s time was marked by peace, prosperity and expansion of the Islamic state to new territories. He established the first navy in the history of Islam and managed to conquer the islands of Crete and Rhodes. During the rule of his son, Yazid (يزيد), unrest happened between him and supporters of Al-Hussayn Ibn Ali (الحسين بن علي) who opposed his succession, which was known as the second Fitna. Al-Hussayn was killed in the Battle of Karbala (كربلاء). This battle is considered to be a milestone in the history of the Shiite sect. Yazid pursued his opponents to Medina and Mecca, besieged Mecca and destroyed the Kaaba. He died during the siege and was succeeded by his son Marwan who, along with his successors, tried to assert the Umayyad rule and to eliminate opposition. At the time of the Umayyads, the first Islamic coin was introduced, and the Dome of the Rock was constructed in Jerusalem. Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (عمر بن عبد العزيز) was interested in internal reform. He introduced a new taxation system and the application of Sharia. The successors of Umar, continued the territorial expansion until they reached Spain in the West and Central Asia in the East.
The Umayyad Dynasty was significantly weakened by internal competition and civil war among the Umayyads themselves, which was capitalised upon by the Abbasids who gained power in Khurasan in 746, and started to gain power and territories from the Umayyads, until the defeat of the Umayyads in the Battle of Zab in 750 AD.
Posted by Aziza
Arab history is often identified with the history of Islam. Before Islam, Arabs lived as nomads in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. They lived as tribes where water sources were found, and they often worked in trade with other tribes and nations of Yemen and the Levant. At times, stronger tribes raided and acquired weaker tribes. Pre-Islam, these tribes were mostly pagan; yet Jews, Christians and Mandaeans lived there as well. Although Islam was strongly resisted in the beginning, it came as a uniting force to the competing tribes. With the advent of Islam and its spread around the Arabian Peninsula, tribes that embraced Islam found a common faith to bring them together. After the death of Prophet Mohammed, the message of Islam started to spread beyond Arabia.
The first group of Caliphs known as the Rightly Guided Caliphs (الخلفاء الراشدون), followed the prophetic traditions. The first Caliph (أبو بكر الصديق) “Abu Bakr” fought Wars of Apostasy (حروب الردة) against those tribes that deviated from Islamic teachings and traditions. After subduing them, he sent his armies to open territories at the borders of Arabia and to fight against the Persian and Byzantine armies. Abu Bakr was succeeded by (عمر بن الخطاب) “Umar Ibn Al-Khattab” who expanded the Islamic empire by the acquisition of Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Palestine and Syria. With the expansion of the Islamic Empire, Umar appointed governors of different provinces and established a regular army and a treasury for the Islamic state.
After the death of Umar, disagreements occurred regarding who should be appointed Caliph. Eventually, (عثمان بن عفان) “Uthman Ibn Affan” was chosen to succeed Umar. Expansions continued during the rule of Uthman; in addition, he compiled a written version of the Quran for the first time and sent it to different provinces. He established a navy and conquered Cyprus. The reign of Uthman was a time of prosperity and freedom, and these encouraged old tribal loyalties to stir sentiments against Uthman who was old and weak at that time. Moreover, the Romans and the Persians encouraged Rebellions against Uthman to regain territories that they had lost to the Muslims. Rebellions started in the provinces of Egypt and Kufa and ended by his besiege and assassination in Medina.
After the death of Uthman, (علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب) “Ali Ibn Abi Talib” became Caliph. He was the cousin of Prophet Mohammed and his son-in-law. The beginning of Ali’s caliphate was a difficult time, as turmoil started after the death of Uthman, as division occurred between those who wanted to punish those responsible for the death of Uthman and those who wanted to restore peace in Medina before creating more trouble. One of Uthman’s relative Mu’aweya ibn Abi-Sufian declared a parallel caliphate in Damascus. While Ali was trying to resolve disagreements in Medina and fighting battles in Iraq, he moved his capital to Kufa in Iraq; meanwhile, Mu’aweya started to gain more territories for his new caliphate including Egypt, Yemen and other areas. Ali was eventually assassinated. The trouble at the later times of the rightly guided caliphs resulted in the emergence of (الشيعة) “Shi’a” faction, which refers to those who supported Ali.
