al-Muhtadi facts for kids

al-Muhtadi المهتدي
Caliph Commander of the Faithful
Dirham of al-Muhtadi, minted in Wasit in 869
14th Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate
Reign	21/22 July 869 — 21 June 870
Predecessor	al-Mu'tazz
Successor	al-Mu'tamid
Born	c. 833 Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate
Died	21 June 870 (aged c. 37) Samarra, Abbasid Caliphate
Burial	Samarra
Issue	Abu Bakr
Full name Abu Ishaq Muhammad ibn Harun al-Wathiq al-Muhtadi bi-'llāh
Dynasty	Abbasid
Father	al-Wathiq
Mother	Qurb
Religion	Sunni Islam

Al-Muhtadi was a Caliph (ruler) of the Abbasid Caliphate. His full name was Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad ibn al-Wāthiq. He was also known by his special title, al-Muhtadī bi-'llāh, which means "Guided by God."

He ruled for a short time, from July 869 to June 870. This period was part of a difficult time for the Abbasid Empire, known as the "Anarchy at Samarra." During this time, there was a lot of fighting and instability.

Early Life and Family

Family tree of the Abbasid caliphs of the ninth century

Al-Muhtadi was born around 833. His father was Caliph al-Wathiq, who ruled from 842 to 847. His mother was named Qurb, and she was from Greece.

When his father died in 847, some officials thought about making young al-Muhtadi the new caliph. However, they chose his uncle, al-Mutawakkil, instead.

Challenges Before Al-Muhtadi's Rule

Before al-Muhtadi became caliph, the empire faced big problems. The previous caliph, al-Mu'tazz, struggled with money. There wasn't enough money to pay the soldiers. This lack of funds caused a lot of trouble.

The civil war made things even worse. Money stopped coming in from different parts of the empire. This meant the caliph couldn't keep his promises to important leaders.

The city of Baghdad became very unstable. The caliph made changes that weakened his own power. This allowed the Turkic soldiers, who were very powerful, to gain even more control.

How Al-Muhtadi Became Caliph

By 869, two powerful Turkic leaders, Salih ibn Wasif and Ba'ikbak, were in charge. They removed an important official named Ahmad ibn Isra'il.

The caliph at the time, al-Mu'tazz, couldn't pay the Turkic soldiers. So, in July 869, a group of people from the palace removed him from power. He was put in prison and died a few days later. After this, al-Muhtadi, who was his cousin, became the new caliph.

Al-Muhtadi's Time as Caliph

Al-Muhtadi became caliph on July 21 or 22, 869. He wanted to be a good and fair ruler, like an earlier caliph named Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz. He lived a simple and religious life. He even removed all musical instruments from the court.

He made sure to personally oversee court cases where people complained. This made the common people support him. He was strong and determined. He wanted to bring back the caliph's power, which had been lost during the "Anarchy at Samarra."

Al-Muhtadi faced rebellions in some areas. But his biggest challenge came from the powerful Turkic commanders. In the first few months, Salih ibn Wasif was the most powerful. But he also struggled to find enough money for the soldiers.

Another powerful Turkic leader, Musa ibn Bugha, returned to Samarra in December 869. He forced al-Muhtadi to promise to punish Salih. Salih went into hiding, and the soldiers became angry. They almost removed al-Muhtadi from power.

Al-Muhtadi promised to forgive Salih, but Salih didn't appear. So, the soldiers started to loot Samarra. Musa and his troops stopped them. Soon after, Salih was found and killed by Musa's men. This made Musa the most powerful official in the government.

Downfall and Death

When Musa left to fight against a group called the Kharijites, al-Muhtadi saw a chance. He encouraged people to turn against Musa and his brother, Muhammad. Muhammad was accused of stealing money and was found guilty. Even though al-Muhtadi had promised to pardon him, Muhammad was executed.

This made Musa very angry. He marched his army back to the capital. Musa's army defeated the troops loyal to the caliph. Al-Muhtadi refused to give up his position. He tried to use his religious authority to gain support from the people.

However, he was killed on June 21, 870. His cousin, al-Mu'tamid, became the next caliph.

Ja'far ibn Abd al-Wahid ibn Ja'far al-Hashimi led the prayers at al-Muhtadi's funeral.

Sources

• Cobb, P. M. (2000). "ʿUmar (II) b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz". The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume X: T–U. Leiden: E. J. Brill. 821–822. 
• Kennedy, Hugh (2004). [Al-Muhtadi at Google Books The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates: The Islamic Near East from the 6th to the 11th Century] (Second ed.). Harlow: Longman. ISBN 978-0-582-40525-7. Al-Muhtadi at Google Books.
• Kennedy, Hugh (2006). [Al-Muhtadi at Google Books When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty]. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306814808. Al-Muhtadi at Google Books.
• Waines, David, ed. (1992). [Al-Muhtadi at Google Books The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXVI: The Revolt of the Zanj, A.D. 869–879/A.H. 255–265]. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies.. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-0763-9. Al-Muhtadi at Google Books.
• "al-Muhtadī". The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume VII: Mif–Naz. (1993). Leiden: E. J. Brill. 476–477. 
• Bosworth, C. E. (1993). "al-Muʿtazz Bi’llāh". The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume VII: Mif–Naz. Leiden: E. J. Brill. 793–794. 
• Kennedy, Hugh (2001). [Al-Muhtadi at Google Books The Armies of the Caliphs: Military and Society in the Early Islamic State]. London and New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-25093-5. Al-Muhtadi at Google Books.

• Özaydin, Abdülkerim (2006). "Mühtedî-Billâh". TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol. 31 (Muhammedi̇yye – Münâzara). Istanbul: Turkiye Diyanet Foundation, Centre for Islamic Studies. 526–527.