The Manners, Norms, and Customs (Rusoom) of the House of Governance in the First Age (Era) of the Abbasid Caliphate 750 – 865Ad

By Dr. Talab Sabaar Mahal

Literally the concept of Al-Rasm means an attempt of picturing things and generally it means all the customs habits manners superstition and laws that limits the way of communication between the caliph (the successor) and the common people including his favorite.
In the field of specialized study a book was written in the fifth century of Hijra by HilalIbnMuhsin Al-sababi called (Rusum Dar Al-khilapha) in addition to what was written by Al-Jahidh in his book "Al-taj in kings' morality" concerning this subject but containing only some of Al-Rusum.
Al-Maukib contained the Arts of walking (the rule) and manners of approaching the Caliph and the right way of talking to him while walking. The main conclusions of this study is the fact that nothing but the reflection of the true Islamic customs who claim that Arabs had taken most of their customs and manners from the kings of other nations.
Also ABBASI Caliphs did apply the Islamic law in managing their affairs following the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and the four rightly- guided Caliphs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503599437

Dr. Talab Sabaar Mahal

Name: Talab Sabbar Mahal Owaid Al-Janabi Birth place and Date: Iraq / Salahaldeen/ Baiji /1950 Languages: Arabic and English Education : PhD in history from College of Education / Baghdad University1995. M. A. in history from College of Arts - Salahaldeen University 1989 B. A. from College of Arts. University of Baghdad / 1974 B.A. in English Language/ English Department/ College of Education. Tikrit University 2006 Scientific Rank: Professor. Experiences: -Taught many graduate and undergraduate courses - Supervision of Theses and Dissertations: -Supervised many phd master level theses and dissertation on different kinds of historical and civil knowledge. -Writing of many researches in the field of middle ages and the Arab Islamic civilization and published those researches in high Caliber research magazines.

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Copyright © 2015 by Dr. Talab Sabbar Mahal.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5035-9944-4

                eBook           978-1-5035-9943-7

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Rev. date: 10/19/2015

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Contents

Introduction Research Scope and Analysis of Sources

A- Research Scope:

B- Analyzing Sources and References:

Preface

Chapter One The Caliphate’s Slogan, Insignias (Emblems), and Titles

A- The Caliphate’s Slogan

1- Blackness of Flags

2- Blackness of Clothes:

B- Insignias (Emblems) of the Caliphate:

1- Stand

2- Purda

3- The Ring

4- The Sword:

5- The Rod

6- Al-Sarir (the Chair that the caliph used to sit on):

7- Al-Suka (This term stands for the minting of Arabic and Islamic coins):

8- Tiraz (Style and Ornament of Textiles and Fabric):

9- Al-Khaleq and Giving Awards

10- Jewelry Of The Caliphate:

Section Two Nicknames and Titles

A- Nicknames

B- Titles:

First – Official Nicknames, And They Are Divided Into:

A- Official Nicknames (General Ones):

B- Official Titles (Private Ones):

1- Reasons For Utilizing Titles

2- Particularity of These Titles

3- The Modality of Their Circulation

4- Time And Rusoom Of Their Utilization

Second – Unofficial And Public Titles:

Third – Titles Of Ministers and Commanders

Chapter Two Rusoom Of The Pledge Of Allegiance And The States And What’s Written In It

Section I The Elements of the Pledge of Allegiance

First: Parties of the Pledge of Allegiance

Second: Pledges

1- Caliph’s Pledges for Heirs Apparent:

2- What the Heirs Apparent Pledge to The Caliphs

3- What the Heirs Apparent Pledge to the Citizens of the State

Third: Text of Pledge of Allegiance and Included Oaths

Modality of Taking The Pledge Of Allegiance

1- Method of Starting:

2- The Method Of Substitution – And That Was Done By One Of The Following Means:

Four – Other Rusoom

1-Designation of Banners:

2- Assigning Titles:

3- Walking In Front Of the Crown prince With Spears:

4- Charity

5 – Preparing the Crown prince and Making Him the Caliph’s Surrogate:

Rusoom of Appointing the Ministries

Appointing of Jurisdictions

1 – Governing the States of the Caliphate

2- Appointing of Judges

3- Jurisdiction of Grievances

4- Jurisdiction of Prayer

5- Jurisdiction of Pilgrimage

6- Jurisdiction of Taxes

Section Two General Correspondences, Their Customs, and Rusoom

A- General Letters (Formal)

B- Private Letters (Informal)

The General Letters and Their Important Contents:

1-Basmalah (saying in the name of God) and the names of writers:

2- Al-Salam (peace be upon you)

3- Al-Tahmid

4- Main body

5- Conclusion

6-History:

7- Signatures:

Chapter Three Councils of the Caliphate, Their Rusoom and Types

Section One The Withholding and the Rusoom of Contact

1- Permission and Ranks of Seating

2- Manners Of Greeting (Al-Salam)

3- Ranks of Seating

4- Manners of Conversation

A- Not To Start Talking And The Good Listening

B- Eloquence And The Good Speech

C- No Self-Honoring While Speaking With Caliphs

D- No Repetition Of The Speech

5- Ethics Of Eating

6- Other Ethics And Manners

Section two Kinds of councils

Form of council

1- Government Councils

2- Council of Consideration of Grievances:

3- The Councils of Advisory and Debate:

4- The Council of Poets:

5- The Late Night Gatherings And Entertainment:

Receiving The Messengers Of The Kings:

Chapter Four Parades of the Caliphate, Its Elements, and Rusoom

First: The clothing, what the caliphs would wear and what would the people who enter on them enter

A- Clothing Of The Head

1- The Crown:

2- The Cowls And The Turban And The Coats:

B- Clothings Of The Trunk

C- Fragrance And Perfume

Secondly: Preparing The Vehicle:

Third: Preparing The Personnel

Types of Processions:

The Manners Of Riding Along:

Introduction

RESEARCH SCOPE AND ANALYSIS OF SOURCES

A- Research Scope:

The topic of manners, norms, and customs– which are termed as Rusoom in Arabic, a term that will be used hereafter – constitute an important historical aspect since the Rusoom are considered one of the cultural features that reflect the nature of the patterns and modalities of formal life in the Abbasid caliphate. The topic of Rusoom and what it involves, garners a high level of significance because the house of governance and ruling class(Dar of Caliphate) portray the central component of this grand country that expanded and swelled all over the world.

Therefore, it is necessary to examine the way of formal life in Dar of Caliphate because of the actions and duties of governors of various regions that belonged to the caliphate, and businessmen in those regions. What the governors and businessmen did – who were integral to this large and sprawling caliphate – was just a microcosm for the nature of the established social order and way of living, in the caliphate’s lifetime.

Here, it is an important to note that the task of conducting research in the subject of Rusoom necessitates the research to be exact and accurate in checking the facts made available. The length of the era under consideration and the variety of influences on the developments in this era played a role in complicating the task of the researcher.

The Abbasid caliphate structurally represented and embodied a political identity in its time of existence for more than five centuries, but the actual and real effect of internal and external authoritarianism played a prominent role in controlling the direction of development of the caliphate, including the formal aspects of it. Therefore, the internal structure for the nature of the ruling order in the caliphate consisted of several different episodes at the core, despite its general unity in theoutward, visible frame.

Through the succession of centuries of the caliphate’s time, there came about a vast degree of historical change and cultural accumulation. However, these developments brought about by time may not apply in even proportions to the Abbasid history, as they were not always consistent and did not regularly follow a single trend; these developments went into up-phases at times, and down-phases at others. Furthermore, there was a disparity of historical roles during these times, and this disparity was made apparent in the state’s strength and its prosperity to the degree of grandeur, which took place in the time of the first generation of caliphs, and what followed that of tides in political life for this institution as the result of a group of internal and external influences.

In the later years where the caliphate suffered its gradual downfall, until its termination at the hand of the Mongols, the caliphate struggled for survival, and fought hard, deriving its fading strength from the glory of its primary principles that led to its initial nourishment in the golden age, and the originality and authenticity of heritage that was passed down the years, from the first caliph to those who came after him.

Thus, it must be the case that the gaping differences between the first era, and those that followed it, were reflected on the political stage, on the manifestations of Rusoom in Dar of Caliphate, considering that the Rusoom offered the telltale signs of the political life at the heart of the caliphate. Based on this information, it is hard to give a clear picture on the reality of Rusoom through the centuries as just one unit, considering the aforementioned information on disparity and lack of uniformity in the long time of the caliphate.

It could be the case that any general examination and research in this topic can only form an incomplete picture about the historical approach of the research objectives, because a researcher will surely use a selective method in choosing the text and documents that support his argument. Therefore, the research may present a picture that seems complete on the outside, but at the same time it may contain degree of deficiency given its lack of incorporation of continuous and new information on the topic of Rusoom. Therefore, here, it can be said that the selection of a narrow topic and certain sub-subjects from one of the Abbasid eras, and discussing those items in detail, seems the right thing to do.

It could be the case that the first Abbasid age (or era) is one of the superior Abbasid ages (or eras) when it comes to researching the field of Rusoom and examining the landmarks of the system, since this era is the basis for the accumulation of events that followed. Additionally, this era exemplifies the time interval in which most milestones and features of the system crystalized. The crystallization of these events happened in this time period, mostly at least, with some milestones added on in later parts of the Abbasid caliphate.

The research may devote a lot of effort and time studying and discussing the historical facts and details of the reigns of Al-Mansur, Al-Rashid, and Al-Ma’mun because of their long ruling periods and richness with positive developments. On the other hand, the research may spend a short time and exert a small effort studying some other Abbasid ages (or eras), such as the reigns of Al-Haadi, Al-Amin, and Al-Waatheq, and that is because of their deficient rulings on one end, and the presence of internal conflicts in some of these eras, on another end.

It is possible to say that the topic of Rusoom, generally, has not been studied extensively, except for what Al-Saabi has presented in this field – while focusing on a specific time period – and some of what has appeared in the book of Al-Taj, whose writing is probably attributable to Al-Jahidh. Therefore, it is strongly needed to do research that focuses specifically on the topic of Rusoom starting in the first era of the Abbasid caliphate, and explaining how these procedures and norms evolved with time.

The research has been divided into an introduction and four chapters. The introduction contains information about the definition of Rusoom, in language and terminology, and an explanation of the evolution of its meaning and usage. Finally, the introduction includes an explanation about the prominent features of Dar of Caliphate.

Chapter I introduces the caliphate’s slogan and its insignias (emblems), while explaining the reason for selecting blackness as the caliphate’s slogan. In addition, this chapter offers a clarification for the meanings of caliphate’s emblems (insignias) and how they were circulated. In the second section of chapter I, it is explained that titles were implemented as one of the Rusoom of Dar of Caliphate, while underlining the norms and customs regarding the bestowing of these titles, and their utilization.

The second section of this chapter considers the topic of correspondences, which were one of the important Rusoom in Dar of Caliphate, and this subject constitutes an important aspect in how the appointments and nominations went about for senior government positions.

Moreover, this section discusses the appointing of governors, given what these appointments revolved around, in regards to the text included in the inauguration oaths, and the Rusoom surrounding the acceptance of nominations. After that, this section examines the subject of general, formal communications, while paying particular attention to the most formal aspects of those communications, and how they were developed.

Chapter III examines the following: The council of caliphs and introducing Al-Hijaaba,and its most important Rusoom, the how of asking permission and seating people by their ranks, and then reminding those people – the visitors – of the types of councils; the definition of Hijaaba will be offered later on in the book. In addition, this chapter emphasizes the Rusoom and rules that were applied in every situation of the caliphs’ councils.

Chapter IV examines the following: Describing the caliphs’ parades, through introducing the meaning and description of parades in etymology and common usage, and then explaining the evolution that took place to the meaning of this word, and how that evolution led to a change in the meaning to a new and modern one, keeping pace with cultural development.

Moreover, this chapter describes one of the most important elements that composed the framework of parades, like the selection of individuals who would escort the caliphate – as part of the parade – how they mobilized, dressed with special cladding, and setting up the vessels that were specialized for the parades. Finally, this chapter discusses the most important Rusoom that were customary to follow during a parade.

B- Analyzing Sources and References:

Handwritten Sources

One of these sources include the book of Ibn-Tayfoor (born in 893 AD), which is called Ektiyar al-MandhoomWa al-Manthoor.This book has served as one of the most important sources in enriching the research with information that does not exist in other texts, and that is manifested in the letters that were collected by Ibn Tayfoor, that are unparalleled, such as the letter of Ibn Al-Mukfaq about companionship that Ibnal-Mukfaq wrote to Al-Mansur, and the letter of Al-Khamis and the letter of Al-Rashid to the rulers and kings of Rome, and many others.

In addition, the researcher has benefited from what is between the lines in these letters, to garner valuable information about the features of Rusoom and their properties. Furthermore, Ibn-Tayfoor has preserved many texts about nominations, appointments, oaths, and inaugurations, which are texts of special significance, and he is the only one who mentioned a lot about these topics in his time. Even though Muskawiya (born: 1030 AD) in his book, Tajaarub al-Umam,andIbn Al-Jawzi (born: 1200 AD) in his book Al-Muntadhem,even though they both took information from the pioneer historians who preceded them, still, the historical novels that they presented have significance that cannot be underestimated.

Finally, the researcher has benefited from some humorous stories that centered on the first era of the Abbasid caliphs. These stories were written by an anonymous author about how the delegation from territories under the control of the dynasty spoke to the caliph in an intellectual manner and concisely, to tell him details about the situation in the regions they resided in, which were outside the caliphate.

Printed Sources

Rusoom books: The book of Al-Saabi (born: 1056 AD) called Rusoom Dar al-Khilaafa, takes the lead in this field of studies, since it is considered a study specialized on the topic of Rusoom that were prevalent during the caliphate, and this is where the significance of Al-Saabi’s book emanates, since it explained many Rusoom and how they developed, highlighting some important details.

Here, it is an important to note that the style or manner of the era of the Abbasid caliphate – that Al-Saabi lived in – is reflected in what he documented in his valuable book. However, the modern reader may find themselves studying something different and unseen to them, since Al-Saabi gave the information that he presented in his book, while considering the time of his era and the circumstances surrounding that. Therefore, it is possible that the reader may get confused at first, but this would be normal and not an unexpected feeling.

Al-Saabi also ignored an essential part of the topic of Rusoom and that topic is related to the Rusoom of taking the pledge of allegiance and nominating senior government officials and governors. He did not spend enough time explaining the importance of the subject of titles and the pertinent Rusoom. Furthermore, Al-Saabi authored his book nearly three centuries after the establishment of the Abbasid caliphate, after which many of Rusoom had already developed for the era considered by the research. Moreover, some of these Rusoom changed with time, so the ones that were implemented at the beginning of the caliphate may not have been the same a century or so later.

Of the other writings in this area, there is the book ofAl-Taj Fi Akhlaaq al-Melook that is attributed to Al-Jahidh, and this book included valuable information, and mentioned many disclosing events that took place in this era of the Abbasid caliphate (750 – 865 AD). As a result, the book of Al-Jahidh has been essential to the research presented here, and has supplemented it with a vast amount of information on the different aspects of Rusoom.

General History

The book of Al-Tubari (born: 1056 AD), called Tarikh al-Rusul Wa al-Melook, is one of the most important sources about this era of the caliphate, especially the events that the book mentioned during the years that are researched by this book. Even though Al-Tubari does not pay particular attention to highlighting Rusoom in his documentation of events, but his supplementation for a story and telling it in a varying manner according to the differences of its tellers, is what gives the researcher the opportunity to find some Rusoom in these different stories, as some of these stories refer to the pledges of allegiance and nominations in these periods.

In addition, these stories describe the formation of some council or parades and some of the costumes and fashion of the time. In addition, Al-Ya’qubi (born: 922 AD) in his books of Tarikh’ and Mashaakilat al-Naas Li Zamaanahum, he presented original stories and important ones in pointing to the features and notabilities of the early Abbasid caliphs, and how that affected life in the capital due to the procedures and Rusoom that were pursued by the caliphs. In addition, these books discuss the creation of caliphs’ guards and Al-Hujaab, who were people who acted as doormen to the caliph’s palace and told his visitors where to sit and how to talk to the caliph.

Despite the fact that Khalifa Ibn-Khayaat (born: after 904 AD), an Arab historian, had lived in the heart of the era, bestowing him with special importance, but the reader finds him giving only a light description of the era’s events, and only pointing briefly to the important events.

In the field of conquests, Al-Balatheri (born: 892 AD), emerges through his book Futuh al-Buldaan, and Ibn A’tham al-Koofi (born: 926 AD), also surfaces in his book Al-Futuh. Although these two books get their significance because they deal with conquests and discuss them deeply, in addition to the events that accompanied those landmarks, it is not possible for the author to simply select out the important stories from the books, while choosing to exclude other information presented that may not be relevant, but still essential to mention and portray to the reader. This is especially the case with Al-Balatheri, who had mentioned in the back of his book information about money and currency used at the time, and how they played clear significance in the topic of Rusoom.

The Book of Baghdad by Ibn Tayfoor had been lost, and only the sixth part of it was found. Despite only having hands on one part, it is the one that contains news on Caliph Al-Ma’munsince the time of entering Baghdad and until his death. This book presents important information that supplemented the research with significant texts about this age (or era), given the details that were mentioned in it about Caliph Al-Ma’mun.

Al-Mas’oodi (born: 957 AD) in his books, Merooj al-Dahab and Al-Tanbih Wa al-Eshraaf and Akhbaar al-Zamaan, is distinguished in offering news about this era of the caliphate, andin providing exceptional stories in the field of describing palaces and furniture, and speaking about jewelry and perfume, and a lot of what can be included in the section of Rusoom.

In the authorships and writings by Judge Al-Tanukhi (born: 959 AD), there are several novels and narrations about this era, in addition to humorous stories about the caliphs, ministers, governors, and judges, and some parts of their biographies. In all of that, there are many forms of Rusoom that are discussed, Rusoom that applied to the relationship between the elites and senior government officials. Al-Tanukhi repeated some of these novels in his other book, Al-Faraj Ba’ed al-Shida, with slight differences. It should be noted that Aba Al-Hasan Hulaal Al-Saabi (born: 959 AD) had quoted a lot of text from Al-Tanukhi, and especially in his book Al-Wuzaraa’.

Another important source for conducting this research Was one of the first books of Al-Askari (born: 1004 AH) because in it, there are valuable indications about the first signs for the appearance of some Rusoom and the first of those who applied the Rusoom.

Biographies

Ibn Hishaam (born: 833 AH) in his book Al-Sira took care in writing the biographies for the Prophet (r) and his honorable companions, and paid attention to many details like the color of clothes, flags, and slogans (emblems) in war. Something similar like this can be found in the writings of Ibn Sa’ad (born: 844 AH) in his book Al-Tabakaat al-Kubraa, and this valuable information provided the researcher with vast amount of information about the many principles that the Abbasids have depended on, in order to reproduce and imitate the Prophet’s(r)black clothing, and choosing that color in his flags and banners during Wars, making blackness the banner and slogan of the Abbasid caliphate.

The book of Al-Balatheri,Ansaab al-Ashraaf, is considered very significant because it covers important aspects of events in the life of who he wrote biographies for, and as such he has presented a sound historical material in the field of Rusoom, as when pointing to the care of some caliphs to the topic of outfit and Arabic perfume, and illustrating the form of relationships between the sons of the different caliphs.

The book of Al-Jahshiari (born: 942 AH), Al-Wuzaraah wa al-Kutaab was distinguished by being an additional and supplemental study for the biographies of ministers and writers in the Abbasid state. In addition, this book shed light on the relationship of this important group of the government’s employees to the caliph, and the responsibilities of the latter in ruling the state and directing the municipalities. By mentioning the biographies for several of these men and invoking the details of what happened to them, Al-Jahshiari has thus presented the research with valuable stories and narrations in varying and numerous aspects.

Al-Khatib Al-Baghdaadi (born: 1070 AH) in his book Tarikh Baghdad presented at the onset of it some prominent information on the maps of Baghdad and the nature of its construction. Furthermore, he went on in later chapters to talk about biographies for the people of Bagdad, who visited the city, and the types of people who populated it. These biographies gave a lot of indications for the representatives of the Abbasid caliphate in the era under consideration, discussing the various positions held by these representatives.

Although Ibn Khalkaan (born: 1282 AH) and Al-Dahabi (born: 1347 AH) wrote their books in a later time, making them less significant, and even though they quoted from many preceding historians, still, their books, Wafiyaat al-A’yaan and Sayr A’laam al-Nubalaa’, did provide the research with some beneficial text.

Geographical Books

For the books that speak of the geography of different countries, there is special significance in enriching the research with some text, as these books specialized in providing geographic information about places and countries. These books also included historical and cultural reports.

The author chose to mention the book of Al-Buldaan by Al-Ya’qubi where the latter provided uncommon and rare information about the relationship of caliphs with their companions, governors, and close advisors, and about the days where the caliphs sat and conversed with the public, listening to their concerns, etc.

Then there is the book of Bagdad Madinat al-Salaam by Ibn Al-Fakih Al-Hamdaani (born: around 902 AH) and it included information and reports about designs of Baghdad. There is another book, and that is