An Abbāsīd Vizier in 6th/12th Century: The Political and Administrative Influence of Adūd al-Dīn Ibn al- Muslima

Abstract

Adūd al-Dīn Ibn al-Muslima belonged to a family that served in the Abbāsid bureaucracy for many years and was appointed as an ustādār to replace his father, Izz al-Dīn Abd Allāh ibn Hibat Allāh, after the latter’s death. In the time afterwards, Ustādār Ibn al-Muslima steadily increased his influence and became prominent as the most likely candidate to be appointed vizier after Ibn Hubayra’s sudden death by poisoning. But Caliph al-Mustanjid assigned Ibn al-Baladī, the financial inspector (nāzir) of Wāsit, who had no direct connection with the political circles of Baghād instead of Ibn al-Muslima, to the vizireate. Ibn al-Muslima realized that the caliph sought to curtail his political and administrative authority, and allied with Amīr Qaymaz, one of the influential figures of the period, and they enthroned al-Mustadī by deposing al-Mustanjid. As his first action, al-Mustadī appointed Ibn al-Muslima to the vizierate; Amīr Qaymaz to the army command (amīr al-jaish); and Kamāl al- Dīn, the son of Adūd al-Dīn, to the office of ustādār. The aim of this article is to analyze the role of Adūd al-Dīn Ibn al-Muslima, one of the most influential members of Banū Muslima family, on political events as an ustādār and vizier in Abbāsid administrative history. First, the article will introduce the reader to Ibn al-Muslima’s family, his relationship with Caliph al-Mustanjid and former vizier Abū Ca‘far Ahmad ibn al-Baladī, and, also look at whether Ibn al-Muslima had a part in the poisoning of Vizer Ibn Hubayra. This will be followed by an assessment of his role in the killing of Caliph Mustanjid and al-Mustazī’s becoming caliph, as well as his appointment to the vizireate, and his power struggle with Amīr Qaymaz. Additionally, to provide a complete picture of the issues at hand, this study tries to show the relationships that existed between the people who were around Ibn Muslima. Finally, Ibn Muslima’s falling out with Caliph al-Mustazī and the former’s death is addressed.