The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

578 THE RUWEIIIID DYNASTY [cTiAr. i.xxv.
A,H. 334- prevented from raising to the Caliphate a scion of the house
^2l of '^^^ by alarm for his own safety, and fear of rebellion, not
in the capital alone, but all around. For the Caliphate of
Bagdad, on its spiritual side, was still recognised throughout
the Muslim world wherever the orthodox faith prevailed,
excepting always Spain. The Fatimid Caliphs, on the
other hand, claimed spiritual supremacy not only in
Egypt, but, as Shi'a, contested the pulpits of Syria also, and
on one occasion even those of Bagdad. In the East the
spiritual dominance varied, but, Persia and the Deilem
excepted, the balance clearly favoured orthodoxy. The
Turkomans were staunch SunnTs. The great Mahmud, of
Eastern fame, held always a friendly attitude towards the
Caliphs, and his splendid victories in the Indian Empire were
accordingly announced from the pulpits of Bagdad in
grateful and glowing terms. The pages of our annalists
are now almost entirely occupied with the political events
of the day, in the guidance of which the Caliphs had seldom
any concern, and which therefore need no mention here.
We shall notice only the few occasions on which we hear
them spoken of.
Muti' The next Caliph, son of Al-Muktadir, called Al-Muti' or
334-363 A.H. Obedient to the Lord, had long aspired to the office. Between
him and Al-Mustakfi bitter enmity existed, which led him
to retire into hiding. When the Buweihids entered Bagdad,
he''came forth from his
retirement, and, establishing himself
at the new Court, by his sinister influence contributed to his
cousin's fall. When this occurred, and he succeeded to the
Caliphate, the Amir made over his cousin to him
; and it
was while under his custod\- that the wretched Al-Mustakfi
had his eyes put out. But neither did Al-Mutl' gain much
by his subserviency to the new rulers. He was no longer
allowed a voice in nominating the Wazir. A mere pittance
doled out for his
support, the office was shorn of every token
of respect and dignity. ShI'a observances were set up, such
as public mourning on the anniversary of Al-Hosein's death,
and rejoicing on that of the Prophet's supposed testimony in
'All's favour.^ On one occasion they went so far as to post
'
Namely, 18th Dhu'l-Hijja. The received tradition is that on that
day, coming home from the Farewell Pilgrimage, Mohammad gathered
his followers at the pool Khumm, and addressed them on their various