Full Name: Abu al-‘Abbās ‘Abd Allāh ibn Muhammad
Reign: 750–754 CE
Title: Al-Saffah (السفّاح) – “The Blood-Shedder” or “The Slaughterer”
Dynasty: Abbasid (بنو العباس)
Capital: Kufa (briefly), then Anbar
🌟 Background & Rise to Power
- Abu al-Abbas was born in 721 CE in Al-Humayma, in modern-day Jordan, into the Banu Hashim, the same clan as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- The Abbasids were descendants of Al-Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib, the uncle of the Prophet ﷺ, giving them a strong claim to leadership among Muslims, especially in contrast to the Umayyads.
- Discontent had been growing under Umayyad rule, especially among non-Arab Muslims (mawali), Shia, and Kharijites, due to perceived injustices, racial bias, and centralized authoritarian control.
- The Abbasids built a secret revolutionary movement based in Khorasan, a region in present-day Iran and Central Asia, led by Abu Muslim al-Khurasani.
⚔️ Revolution & Battle of the Zab (750 CE)
- In 747 CE, the Abbasid Revolution formally began under black banners — symbolizing their call to justice.
- In 750 CE, Abbasid forces led by Abu Muslim defeated the Umayyad Caliph Marwan II at the Battle of the Zab River in Iraq.
- Marwan fled to Egypt but was eventually captured and executed.
- The Umayyad Caliphate, which had ruled since 661 CE, was brought to an end.
👑 Becoming Caliph
- After victory, Abu al-Abbas was declared Caliph in Kufa in 750 CE, during a Friday sermon.
- He took the title “Al-Saffah”, meaning “The Blood-Shedder”, either:
- As a warning to remaining Umayyads and opposition, or
- As a symbol of his resolve to purify and reset leadership in Islam.
🩸 Purge of the Umayyads
- Al-Saffah led a brutal extermination campaign against the remaining Umayyad family, many of whom were massacred at a banquet under false pretenses.
- Only one Umayyad prince, Abd al-Rahman ibn Mu’awiya, escaped to Al-Andalus (Spain), where he founded the Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba in 756 CE.
🏛 Early Abbasid Policies
- Al-Saffah moved the capital temporarily to Al-Hashimiyya near Kufa, then his brother Al-Mansur would later establish Baghdad as the permanent capital.
- He sought to restore a more Islamic and just rule, appealing to:
- Non-Arab Muslims who had felt marginalized under the Umayyads
- Shia factions who hoped for leadership from the Ahl al-Bayt (though they would later turn against the Abbasids)
- He established Persian-influenced administration, including the use of viziers and a more formal bureaucracy.
⚰️ Death and Succession
- Al-Saffah ruled for only four years. He died in 754 CE, likely from smallpox.
- He was succeeded by his brother Abu Ja’far al-Mansur, who became one of the most important Abbasid caliphs, consolidating the empire and founding Baghdad.
🧾 Legacy
- Though his reign was short, Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah is remembered for:
- Founding the Abbasid dynasty that would rule for over 500 years
- Ending the Umayyad Caliphate
- Beginning a new era that would emphasize learning, inclusion of non-Arabs, and eventually lead to the Golden Age of Islam
