Hundred Great Muslims

HundredGreat Muslims
365
Rashid gave a thorough education and training to his two sons, Ameen and
Mamoon, who were well versed in the arts of peace and war. In 186 A.H., the
Caliph made a pilgrimage to Makkah and deposited in the Kaaba two documents
executed by his two sons, binding them in solemn terms to abide by the
succession arrangements made by him.
The munificence of Haroon ar-Rashid, his talented Ministers and Courtiers,
especially the Barmakides, who vied with each other in the patronage of sciences
and arts, attracted around them in Baghdad a galaxy of intellects from all over
the known world. This enabled Baghdad to become in a short time the greatest
metropolis and the highest seat of learning in the world. Rashid expanded the
Department of Translation and Scientific Studies founded by his grandfather
Mansoor. It reached its zenith during the reign of his son, Mamoon ar-Rashid.
Eminent scholars and artists who flourished during the time included the
grammarian Asmai; legists and theologians, Imam Yusuf, Imam Shafi, Abdullah
bin Idrees, Isa bin Yunus and Sufian Suri; musician Ibrahim Mosuli and physician
Gabriel. "Rashid", says Ibn Khaldun, "followed in the footsteps of his
grandfather except in parsimony for no Caliph exceeded him in liberality and
munificence".
Rashid established diplomatic relations with a number of countries in the
West and the East. He was the first to receive at his Court embassies from the
Emperor of China and the Ruler of France, Charlemagne. He presented him a
clock which was an object of wonder for the people of the West.
While on hisway to put down disorders which had broken out in Khorasan,
Haroon's illness from which he was suffering took a serious turn at a village
named Sanabad near Toos. Feeling his end near, he assembled all his family
members and said: "All those who are young will get old, all who have come
into the world will die. I give you three directions: observe faithfully your
engagements, be faithful to your Imams (Caliphs), and be united amongst
yourselves". He then distributed large sums of money among his attendants
and troops. He breathed his last two days later, on the 4th of Jamadi-us-Sani,
193 A.H. (809 A.C.), after a glorious reign of 23 years and six months.
Ameer Ali pays eloquent tributes to Rashid's brilliant rule in the following
terms; "Weigh him as carefully as you like in the scale of historical criticism,
Haroon ar-Rashid will always take rank with the greatest sovereigns and rulers
of the world. It is a mistake to compare the present with the past, the humanities
and culture of the nineteenth century and its accumulated legacy of civilization,
the gifts of ages of growth and development, with the harshness and vigour of a
thousand years ago. The defects in Rashid's character, his occasional outbursts
of suspicion or temper were the natural outcome of despotism. That he should
with the unbounded power he possessed, be so self-restrained, so devoted to the
advancement of public prosperity, so careful of the interests of his subjects, is a
credit to his genius. He never allowed himself the smallest respite in the discharge
of his duties; he repeatedly travelled over his Empire from the East to the West