Itakh's
arrest and death
Itakh was a Turk slave. In his early
years, he lived with Salam bin Abras and served as a cook and that is why he
was known as Itakh Tabbakh (the cook). Finding him wise, well-mannered,
strong-bodied and handsome Caliph Motasim purchased him from Salam Abras in 199
A.H. As he was discerning and clever, he kept rising in rank. During Motasim's
regime, his respect and power increased many fold. Those from the royal family
accused of a crime were generally imprisoned in his house and put under his
surveillance. Ajeef, Mamoon Rasheed's descendants, Mohammad bin Abdul Malik and
Omar bin Farah were kept as prisoners and killed under his charge. He was also
in charge of defense, surveillance and delegations. He left for Hajj in Dhul
Qadah 234 A.H. After his departure, Motawakkil appointed his servant Waseef to
the post of surveillance. When he returned from Hajj and reached near Baghdad,
Ishaq bin Ibrahim at the insistence of Caliph Motawakkil invited him to Baghdad
and then imprisoned him along with his two sons, Mansoor and Mozaffar. Itakh
died in captivity and his two sons remained in prison until the end of
Motawakkil's Caliphate. When Muntasir ascended the throne, he released them.
The
Oath for Succession
In 235 A.H., Mohammad bin Bayee bin
Jalees revolted in Azerbaijan however, it was soon crushed by Bagha Kabeer. The
same year Caliph Motawakkil took the oath from the people for the succession of
his sons Mohammad, Talha and Ibrahim and declared that first Mohammad would be
the Caliph followed by Talha. He gave titles of Muntasir and Motaz to Mohammad
and Talha respectively. The western countries were given to Mohammad and the
eastern countries to Motaz as landed estates. Later on, they were made
successors to the throne and Syria was given to them as a landed estate.
The same year, Caliph Motawakkil
changed the uniforms of the army and woolen coats were ordered to be used by
tying them with a cord instead of the belt used formerly. The Dhimmis were
restrained from constructing new places of worship. Instructions were issued in
all the territories that no one should approach any government officials for
financial help. The Christian Dhimmis were ordered not to hang the cross at
their conferences. The same year Hasan bin Sahal and Ishaq bin Ibrahim bin
Hasan bin Mus'ab, the nephew of Tahir bin Husain who had been the Baghdad Chief
of Police since Mamoon's regime died. Motawakkil made Mohammad bin Ishaq the
Chief of Police. He gave him the governorship of the province of Iran. It
should be kept in mind that the Province of Iran was separate from Khorasān.
The governorship of Khorasan along
with that of Tabristan was under the control of Tahir bin Abdullah Tahir bin
Husain. The same year Caliph Motawakkil issued the decree that all the
Christians should wear a scarf. The necktie is probably the memorial of this.
In 236 A.H., he restrained the people from visiting the grave of Imam Husain (رضي الله عنه) and the constructions around it were
demolished. The same year Obaidullah bin Yahya bin Khaqan was given the post of
the Prime Minister.
Revolt
in Armenia
The province of Armenia was governed
by Yusuf bin Mohammad. Buqra bin Aswat, a prelate and the head of the prelates
visited the governor's headquarters and begged Yusuf bin Mohammad for security.
Yusuf arrested him along with his sons and sent them to Caliph Motawakkil. This
caused great resentment among the prelates of Armenia against Yusuf. Buqrat bin
Aswat's son-in-law Musa bin Zurara assembled them and sought their opinions.
All swore that they would kill Yusuf bin Mohammad. Then under Musa bin Zurara's
command, the Christians revolted. Yusuf bin Mohammad came out to fight. The
rebels killed him and his men in Ramadan 237 A.H. Hearing this news, Motawakkil
sent Bagha Kabeer to Armenia. Bagha Kabeer passed through Mousil and Jazirah,
encamped at Arzan and conquered it. He killed 30,000 of Musa bin Zurara's men
and also captured a large number. After that in 238 A.H., he picked up the
rebellious prelates, punished them and sent them to Baghdad.
Qadi
Ahmad bin Abi Dawood's Deposition and Death
Qadi Ahmad bin Abi Dawood commanded
greater influence and power than the Prime Minister during Wathiq Billah's
regime. The status quo was maintained during the initial period of Motawakkil.
Caliph Motawakkil became displeased with Qadi Ahmad bin Dawood in 237 A.H. and
ordered the confiscation of his goods, property and estates. Qadi Ahmad's son
Abul Waleed sold his goods and property for 160,000 dirhams and presented the
same to the Caliph. Motawakkil deposed and jailed Qadi Ahmad and gave the post
of Chief Justice to Yahya bin Aktham.
Qadi Ahmad suffered from paralysis
at that time. Qadi Yahya bin Aktham was also dismissed by Motawakkil in 240
A.H. and Ahmad bin Abi Dawood died the same year 237 A.H. 20 days after his son
Abul Waleed's death. The same year the Christians in Hims took up arms, removed
their ruler and captured the city. Caliph Motawakkil ordered the armies of
Damascus and Ramla to move on Hims. These armies quelled the rebellion of the
Christians and they exiled many of them. The same year Motawakkil dismissed
Qadi Abu Bakr bin Mohammad bin Abul Laith of Egypt and had him lashed. He
appointed Imam Malik's disciple Harith bin Miskeen as Chief Justice of Egypt.
Then the Caliph made Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir bin Husain bin Mus'ab
Chief of the Baghdad Police while his brother Tahir bin Abdullah bin Tahir was
made the governor of Khorasan.
The
Roman Invasion
In 238 A.H. the governor of Egypt
Ambasa bin Ishaq, called the army stationed along the coast of Dimyat to Egypt
for some engagement. Finding the place unprotected, the Romans with a fleet of
100 ships looted Dimyat completely. They burned down the Central Mosque, looted
the city's goods and put captives on their ships and sailed to Tunis. They
repeated the same there also. Ali bin Yahya Armini invaded the Roman Empire
with the help of the army of Saifah and captured many Christians. In 241 A.H.,
the Roman empress Nadurah wanted to convert the Muslim captives to
Christianity. Those who refused were killed. Many converted to Christianity out
of fear of death. Then the Queen requested Motawakkil to exchange the
prisoners. Motawakkil sent his servant Saif with the Qadi of Baghdad Jafar bin
Abdul Wahid to accompany the Christian prisoners. The exchange of the Muslim
and Christian prisoners took place at the river Lams.
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