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History of Islam Vol 3 of 3 by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

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The Spainish Caliphs<br />

119<br />

Condition <strong>of</strong> the Umayyads during the Rule <strong>of</strong> Abdullah<br />

At the time <strong>of</strong> the accession <strong>of</strong> Abdullah the condition <strong>of</strong> the Umayyad<br />

dynasty in Spain had touched a new low. The treasury was empty.<br />

The annual revenue, which had once gone up to one million dinars<br />

had now come down to one hundred thousand dinars annually. Apart<br />

from the Christian States Cordova had given birth to two strong<br />

rivals, which were equal to the central rule. On one side was Umar bin<br />

Hafsun and Ibn Marwan on the other. Ibn Hafsun was wiser and his<br />

style <strong>of</strong> governance had attracted a larger number <strong>of</strong> people and they<br />

liked to be governed <strong>by</strong> him. But since he was declared an apostate,<br />

many Muslims withdraw their support from him and turned towards<br />

his rival Ibn Marwan. Ibn Hafsun had no truck with the Christians<br />

despite his being labeled an apostate but Ibn Marwan, despite being a<br />

Muslim had friendly relations with Alfonso, the ruler <strong>of</strong> Asturias and<br />

others. Some Arab chiefs had their estates in the environs <strong>of</strong> Seville<br />

and<br />

had settled there. But in view <strong>of</strong> the turbulent situation, they rose<br />

in revolt and occupied Seville. The same types <strong>of</strong> feudal rulers seized<br />

Granada. Thus, two more power bases rose<br />

as Ibn Hafsun and Ibn<br />

Marwan's rivals. These four all took up arms against each other and<br />

Cordova had no power to punish any <strong>of</strong> them. He sometimes played the<br />

role <strong>of</strong> a peacemaker because each <strong>of</strong> them recognized Abdullah bin<br />

Muhammad as his king, although they were all independent in practice<br />

paying no tribute to the king. But since the Arab chiefs did not treat the<br />

new-Muslims well they in large number left to join Ibn Marwan.<br />

During the same period, two Governors <strong>of</strong> the Northern cities inflicted<br />

a heavy setback on the Christian plans to end the Muslim occupation<br />

<strong>of</strong> Spain. Governor Lab bin Muhammad <strong>of</strong> Talsuna with a small band<br />

drove away the forces <strong>of</strong> the king <strong>of</strong> Asturias when he moved towards<br />

the south. Abdur Rahman bin Marwan on the other hand sent word to<br />

his friend, the king <strong>of</strong> Asturias that he would be the first man to take<br />

him on in case he overstepped his bounds. This warning silenced the<br />

Christians for sometime for they knew well that their invasions would<br />

help to bring the warring Muslim powers together.<br />

Ibn Hafsun very cleverly corresponded with Aghlabid<br />

Africa and requested to make the Abbas.d Caliph Issue him

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