2019-08-13 Tue

Al Muktafi Billah was a Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate reigning from 902 until 908. Al-Muktafi was a successful ruler, "a man of sensibility, a gourmet and an appreciator of the verses of poets like Ibn al-Rumi". The great ruler died today on 13th August 908.

The son of Al Mutadid, he ascended to the throne in year 902. He immediately faced battle with the Qarmatians, a schismatic and political movement, and defeated them once in 903 and in 907. In a war against the Byzantine Empire, he defeated the general Andronicus in battles in Tarsus. His reign also saw the incorporation of Egypt and the parts of Syria ruled by the Tulunid dynasty.

Historian Harold Bowen writes, "The Caliphate seemed in his day almost to have regained its former glory", having overcome the Qarmatian challenge and regained Egypt and Syria.

He died in 908, and the weakling Al Muqtadir became Caliph, leading to the terminal decline of the Caliph. The above shown gold Dinar was issued under his reign from Misr mint. The obverse of a coin depicts the inscription ‘La Ilaha Allah’. On the other hand, the reverse of a coin has ‘Allah Muhammadur Rasulullah Al Muktafi Billah’.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions