He is considered one of the most famous of the Abbasid caliphs, and upon assuming power the era of their prosperity began, Caliph Harun al-Rashid who took over the caliphate in Baghdad on September 14, 786 CE.

On that day, the Abbasid state entered a new era that witnessed many achievements.

The region extending from Central Asia to the Atlantic Ocean flourished, and its star shone during the time of the Caliphate of Al-Rasheed, where he was known for his interest in scholars and his religious commitment, as well as his achievements that contributed to the development of the entire region, and cultural and Islamic activities flourished, to be called the "Islamic Golden Age".

Upbringing and personality

He is Harun al-Rashid, the fifth Abbasid caliph, the son of the Caliph al-Mahdi Muhammad ibn al-Mansur Abu Jaafar Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Abbas bin Abd al-Muttalib al-Hashemi.

Historical sources differed in mentioning the year of his birth, it was said in 146 AH, and it was said 147 AH, and it was said 148 AH - which is more likely - and it was said that he was born in 150 AH, according to the Iraqi historian and academic Badi 'Muhammad Ibrahim.

Ibrahim added in his interview with Al-Jazeera Net that Caliph Al-Rashid grew up in the custody of his father, Caliph Al-Mahdi, and took care of his education and education, as he received his education at the hands of senior scholars and trustworthy imams.

The professor of history at Anbar University believes that Al-Rasheed's receipt of the fundamentals of education and upbringing by these scholars is what contributed to the formation of his personality and his scientific and cultural formation, indicating that this upbringing made him a scholar of literature, Arab news, jurisprudence and hadith.

The Iraqi historian considers that the Caliph Al-Mahdi deliberately prepared Al-Rasheed to be a caliph after his brother Al-Hadi, as he instilled in him the love of jihad, and sent him to the conquests and with him the most efficient leaders of his time, so he entrusted him with noble war deeds to be strengthened and his personality formed in the manner in which he can bear the burdens of the caliphate and manage its affairs.

Abd al-Sattar Mutlaq, an academic specializing in the history of the Islamic East during the Abbasid era, says that Harun al-Rashid gained knowledge at the beginning of his youth at the hands of Al-Kasaei, who was appointed by his father Al-Mahdi as a teacher who would stay with him throughout his time and remained with him throughout his life.

Mutlaq, a professor of Islamic history at Anbar University, added in his interview with Al-Jazeera Net that Al-Rasheed learned literature, grammar, jurisprudence and other sciences from Al-Kasaei, and Al-Mufaddal Al-Dhbi - the author of the book The Proverbs of the Arabs - had a great impact on Al-Rasheed’s personality, so he memorized a lot of poetry, literature, governance and sermons, and became knowledgeable Days of the Arabs and their likes.

His love for scholars

Caliph Al-Rasheed liked scholars and jurists to the point that if he went for Hajj, he would take 100 jurists with him with their children, according to academic and researcher in Islamic history Ammar Mardi.

In his interview with Al-Jazeera Net, Mardi added that Al-Rasheed, upon the death of Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak, sat for condolences and ordered the notables to console him, as he used to go to Al-Fadil bin Ayyad himself and hear his preaching from him.

The professor of history at the Iraqi University indicates that Al-Rasheed had councils with Al-Kasaei and Al-Asma'i, and this is not evident when he made Abu Yusef a judge for judges and asked him to write a book on Kharaj, Ushur, Charity, and Al-Jawali, so the Kharaj book came in the best way.

His succession and politics

Al-Rasheed was pledged to the caliphate after the death of his older brother, Caliph Musa al-Hadi, in Rabi 'al-Awwal in 170 AH (September 14, 786 CE), under a covenant from his father al-Mahdi, who was 22 years old.

Historians and researchers believe that the period of his caliphate was one of the greatest and brightest what the Islamic state went through during the Abbasid era.

Caliph Harun al-Rashid's policy was characterized by imposing the prestige of the caliphate and its authority on all the lands of the state, and he faced several internal and external movements that were working to undermine the pillars of the caliphate, the most prominent of which was the Kharijite revolution led by Al-Walid bin Tarif Al-Shari, the revolt of Yahya bin Abdullah Al-Alawi, the Khorasan revolution, and the conflict between Al-Qaysiya and al-Yamaniyah, in addition to the Alawite opposition, according to historian Badi 'Muhammad Ibrahim.

Why was the title Rasheed?

Mardi says that Caliph Harun was called Rashid as a result of his many conquests, martial prowess, wisdom and rationality, and it was said that his father called him the title in one of the invasions with the Romans.

Sheikh al-Tabari mentions that Caliph Harun led a military campaign against the Romans when he was young. He returned victorious, appointing him crown prince and calling him "Al-Rashid."

Mardi added that Al-Rashid invaded Al-Roum when he was 15 years old in the succession of his father, so he invaded Constantinople and in favor of Queen Irene, and that she redeemed her kingdom from him with 70 thousand dinars, which is sent every year to Baghdad.

And the researcher in Islamic history continues that one of his military exploits was that he separated the Levantine Thaghour from the Jazira into two military regions, and called the Levantine the capitals, meaning the castles and cities in which the soldiers occupied, and the capital was Manbij, and he often led the battles himself.

For his part, Mutlaq confirms that Al-Rasheed knew that he used to perform Hajj for a year and invade for a year, and he opened his reign with a rapid invasion of the country of Rome, then he returned to Hajj.

House of wisdom

Caliph Harun al-Rashid has great achievements mentioned by historians and researchers, perhaps the most prominent of which is the "House of Wisdom", as Mardi confirms that this house is one of his scientific exploits, and that it is the first general book house to appear in Islam, indicating that this house developed further in the succession of his son Al-Ma'mun.

Mardi added that Al-Rasheed ordered the collection of various ancient books and manuscripts in various languages ​​on a large scale, and he made them supervisors of scholars, as John Ibn Masawayh was a translator of the old books that were placed in that house.

It is noteworthy that the House of Wisdom has become a center for scientific research, and its departments varied between translation, copying, authoring and binding, and had a great impact on the transmission of science and civilization.

Mutlaq confirms this, and says that Harun al-Rashid paid great attention to science and culture, pointing out that he established the House of Wisdom and transferred to him the books that Caliph Al-Mansour stored in his palace.

Baghdad's golden age

Baghdad witnessed during the reign of Harun al-Rashid a great development in the aspect of civilization and institution-building, and it became a destination for students of knowledge from different countries of the world.

Mutlaq notes that the residents of Baghdad lived during the reign of al-Rasheed in a distinctive economic and social level, and Baghdad became one of the most prominent civilized cities.

He continues that Al-Rasheed founded the largest public library that opened its doors to scholars and scholars, and brought to it many books written in Arabic, as well as books written in other languages, and he entrusted translators to translate them into Arabic.

Mutlaq continues, saying, "One of the most important books that she contains are books of medicine, philosophy, astronomy, and books of human sciences," pointing out that the Rashidun Caliph was bestowed upon his workers with gifts and gifts.

He adds that Baghdad witnessed during his reign a large number of madrassas in which boys were taught, in addition to the spread of preaching and guidance circles and science councils, until Baghdad made it a destination for scholars and students of knowledge.

Regarding his support for the medical field and its workers, the specialist in Islamic history confirms that Harun al-Rashid was a supporter of medicine, and he allocated monthly salaries to doctors in order to monitor the health of his citizens.

Mutlaq points out that although Baghdad was built by Caliph Abu Jaafar al-Mansur, it was associated with the name of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, and this is due to the stage of development and the trend towards civilization, civilized advancement and well-being in which people lived during the reign of Rashid until he knew his era in the golden age of Baghdad.

Historian Ibrahim confirms that during the rule of the rational al-Rasheed, the Islamic caliphate in general, and its capital, Baghdad in particular, reached the apogee of its political and civilizational position, indicating that it was endowed with enemies and that literature, art and various sciences flourished in it.

He adds that the greatest jurists, hadiths, and reciters flocked to Baghdad, and doctors and engineers used to come from everywhere, as well as poets, translators, writers, singers and musicians.

Ibrahim points out that science flourished during that period until Baghdad became the destination of every scientist and student of knowledge, pointing out that Caliph Harun al-Rashid's establishment of the House of Wisdom contributed to the revitalization of the scientific movement on the largest scale.

For his part, the researcher Mardi affirms that Baghdad has associated its name with the name of Harun al-Rashid because it reached its golden age in his caliphate, so that the city prospered and the caliphate was completed with his justice, modesty and interest in science and scholars.

Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi mentioned this by saying, "Most of what was a building and a family in the days of Al-Rasheed, for the world is the continent of bedding, the circuit of the fertile fields, the resource of the projects," according to Mardi.

His death

Al-Rasheed did not complete his fifth decade of life until he passed away, and historians mention that the cause of his death was a bug in his stomach that was hidden from everyone, even the closest people to him, and they were his safe and faithful sons, and he was forced to go out to Khurasan to eliminate the rebellion of Rafi bin al-Layth, and on his way he felt close to him. The disease intensified, and the matter was revealed to one of his close friends, and he died in the city of Tus in Persia in the year 193 AH / 808AD at the age of 45 years.