The Caliphate of al-Muhtadī bi-Llāh

Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn al-Wāthiq ibn al-Muʿtaṣim. The oath of allegiance to him was taken on Wednesday night, the eve of the last day of Rajab of this year (1), after al-Muʿtazz had formally deposed himself in his presence, calling witnesses to his own incapacity to manage the affairs of the caliphate and declaring his wish that someone else shoulder its responsibilities—namely Muḥammad ibn al-Wāthiq bi-Llāh. He then stretched out his hand and al-Muhtadī accepted it before anyone else did. Next the dignitaries pledged their allegiance, followed by the general populace. A written instrument was drawn up for al-Muʿtazz, attesting to his abdication, his inability, and his pledge of allegiance to al-Muhtadī.

On the last day of that same Rajab a massive upheaval erupted in Baghdad. The common people stood firm behind their deputy governor, Sulaymān ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṭāhir, and called for the oath to be given to Abū Aḥmad ibn al-Mutawakkil, for the inhabitants of Baghdad had no knowledge of the oath that had already been sworn in Sāmarrāʾ to al-Muhtadī bi-Llāh ibn al-Wāthiq. Many of the Baghdadis were killed or drowned. When, however, on the seventh of Shaʿbān the people at large pledged allegiance to al-Muhtadī bi-Llāh and the news reached Baghdad, they calmed down, affairs returned to normal, and al-Muhtadī’s hold on the caliphate became secure. Praise belongs to Allah.

In Ramadan of that year vast sums of money and priceless jewels were discovered in the possession of Qabīḥa, the mother of al-Muʿtazz. These included nearly two million dinars, emeralds the like of which had never been seen, filling almost a makkūk (2); another makkūk of large pearls, and a kylaja of red rubies, likewise without parallel.

These treasures had previously been hidden with Ṣāliḥ ibn Waṣīf, but were stripped (3) from him, after which Qabīḥa would implore against him, saying:

“O Allah, disgrace Ṣāliḥ ibn Waṣīf just as he tore away my covering, killed my son, scattered my family, took my wealth, sent me into exile, and violated me!”

The Turkish troops had earlier demanded from her son al-Muʿtazz fifty thousand dinars for their stipends, guaranteeing him in return that they would kill Ṣāliḥ ibn Waṣīf. As he lacked the funds, he appealed to his mother Qabīḥa—may Allah disfigure her—but she refused to lend them, claiming she possessed nothing. Later, however, the wealth we have just described was found in her keeping. Her annual revenues from estates alone amounted to ten million dinars.

Thus the caliphate became firmly established in the hands of al-Muhtadī bi-Llāh. He was, praise be to Allah, a righteous caliph. On one occasion he said to the officers: “I have no mother whose revenues (4) reach ten million dinars a year. All I seek is sustenance; I want nothing beyond that save something for my brothers, for need has touched them.”