Harun al-Rasheed

Harun al-Rasheed, the famous Abbaside Khalifa was born in Baghdad, in the year 760 A.C. He succeeded to the throne of the Khilafat on the death of his father, Khalifa Musa al-Hadi and became the ruler of the Muslim State in the year 786 A.C.

Harun was renowned for his enlightened rule and for his wisdom. He was a great patron of the arts, crafts, literature, science and all forms of learning. Every branch of these flourished magnificently during his rule and Baghdad became the fabulous city of material and cultural prosperity. He established and maintained state owned hospitals where members of the public received medical treatment without any cost to themselves.

Haroun al-Rasheed was himself a scholar of repute. He was also a great soldier, brave, courageous and resourceful. The Eastern Roman Empire was subjugated by the Muslims and the Romans had to pay money as tribute in terms of an agreement. The Roman Emperor, Nicephorous refused to honour the agreement by informing the Khalifa that it was degrading for Romans to continue paying the tribute to the Muslims. He threatened war if the Khalifa persisted in his demands.

Haroun al-Rasheed immediately despatched a courier to the Roman court with the message: "I have received your threat. You will see - not read - my reply". Haroun himself led his army to the battlefield and the two armies were locked in a fierce battle at Heraclea. The Romans were defeated and a fresh agreement of peace was signed in terms of which the Romans now had to pay a larger amount each year than was the case in the previous agreement.

Great literary and scientific treasures from many parts of the world were collected by Muslim scholars who were specially sent out in search for them. These were preserved, translated and became part of the Khalifa's magnificent library called Darul-Hikmah (the House of Wisdom). The library was systematically divided into various departments. A renowned scholar and translator named al-Fadl ibn Naubakht, was appointed as the Chief Librarian. A vast number of books in the library were efficiently arranged and catalogued. Book binders were in permanent employment in the library to add beauty and grace to the rare and precious volumes. Among the rare manuscripts preserved in the library were a document written by the Prophet Muhammad's grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, on parchment and the writings of Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Hasan.

The example set by the Khalifa was followed by his ministers, officials and the wealthy people, and we learn that Yahya Barmeki, a minister of Harun al Rasheed owned a big library which contained a large collection of Persian and Greek manuscripts.

On a visit to Makkah on pilgrimage, his wife Zubaida, drew Harun al Rasheed's attention to the sufferings of the pilgrims through the lack of water and expressed a desire to do something about it. Harun al Rasheed went into the matter, and considered the practicability of building an underground canal to transport water to the Holy City. He engaged engineers to undertake the work and at huge cost, fresh water was made to flow to the city of Makkah through an underground canal which is known as the Nehr-e-Zubaida.

A writer's description of the city of Baghdad during the rule of Haroun al-Rasheed will give the reader some idea of the heights of prosperity reached by the capital city of the Muslim Empire: "All provinces of the Empire sent their products by sea or river or along the highways to Baghdad, which had become the centre of the world and the greatest trading port in history. Of this period people said: 'It was one long wedding day and an everlasting feast'. It was so glorious a time that people doubted their good fortune and wondered whether they were dreaming".
[Robert Payne in "The Holy Sword"[.

Haroun al-Rasheed died in the year 809 A.C.