The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

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498 AL-MA'MUN [chap, i.xvi.
A.li. 198-
218.
Ma'mun
proclaims
All ai-Ri(Li
heirapparent,
ix. 201 A.H.
817 A.D.
Bagdad
revolts.
Ibrahim
proclaimed
Caliph, I i.
202 A.H.
July 20,
817 A.D.
Towards the close of the )-ear, weary of the struggle, the
leaders at Bagdad came to terms with Al-I.Tasan, the Viceroy,
who published an amnesty, promising six months' pa.y to
the troops, and the people their allowances according to
their stipendiary roll. Things were settling down on this
footing, when the Capital was again thrown into confusion,
by an act of inconceivable infatuation on the part of Al-
Ma'mun.
This w^as no less than the adoption by the Caliph of
'All, surnamed Ar-Rida ("the well pleasing"^), the eighth
Imam of the Shl'a or party of 'All, who was summoned to
Merv and, though twenty-two years older than the Caliph
himself, proclaimed heir-apparent. The Wazir, no doubt,
persuaded his subservient master that this w^as the likeliest
means of putting an end to the 'Alid insurrection in the
West. At an earlier period, a coalition between the houses
of 'All and Al-'Abbas might possibly have been successful.
It was now an idle dream ; and at the present moment,
when the two factions were arrayed against each other
in strife implacable, the act was one of suicidal folly.
Thus the edict went forth throughout the Empire that
allegiance was to be sworn to 'All ar-Ricla as next in
succession to the throne ; and the more publicly to mark
this new departure, the national dress was changed from
'Abbasid black to Shi'a green. Towards the end of the
year, Al- Hasan received from his brother command to
proclaim and carry out this order, which fell like a thunderbolt
upon the Capital. The Shl'a were feared and hated
there, and the 'Abbasids at court felt the blow as aimed at
the very existence of their dynasty. All rose in rebellion,
ready to depose Al-Ma'mun and choose another Caliph in
his stead. Al-Mansur no longer opposed the measure ; and
so on the last Friday of the year, instead of prayer for
Al-Ma'mun as reigning sovereign, Ibrahim, brother of Al-
Mansur, was saluted Caliph ; and shortly after the oath of
fealty taken in his name. It is the same Ibrahim whom we
have already met in the moonlight scene by the Tigris. He
was the son of Al-Mehdi by an African slave-girl
;
proficient
in m-usic, song, and poetr}', he altogether lacked strength
'
That is, " the one chosen as such from amongst the Prophet's
descendants."
Ibn al-Athlr.