Full Name: Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn al-Muqtadir
Title: Al-Muttaqī Billāh (المتقي بالله) – “The God-Fearing”
Reign: 940–944 CE
Dynasty: Abbasid
Father: Al-Muqtadir
Predecessor: Ar-Radi
Successor: Al-Mustakfi
Capital: Baghdad
🪑 Rise to the Caliphate
- Al-Muttaqi became caliph after the death of his cousin Ar-Radi in 940 CE.
- His rise was overseen by the influential commander Muhammad ibn Ra’iq, the Amir al-Umara (Commander of Commanders), who had real control over the government.
- Though of mild nature and religiously devout, Al-Muttaqi was ill-equipped to manage the increasing factionalism and instability of his time.
⚔️ A Caliph Amid Warlords
- During Al-Muttaqi’s reign, the Abbasid Caliphate was fractured:
- Military generals and warlords held actual authority.
- The caliph had little control over the provinces.
- Baghdad itself was under siege from rival Turkish and Daylamite (Persian) factions.
Main Power Players:
- Ibn Ra’iq – initial power behind the throne, but soon challenged.
- Tuzun – Turkish general who emerged as a dominant force.
- Hamdanids of Mosul – regional dynasty that temporarily sheltered the caliph.
🏃♂️ Flight and Resistance
- Facing pressure and the threat of assassination in Baghdad, Al-Muttaqi fled the city in 941 CE.
- He sought refuge with Nasir al-Dawla, the Hamdanid ruler of Mosul, hoping to build an alliance against his rivals.
- With Hamdanid military backing, he briefly returned to Baghdad in an attempt to assert authority — but this proved unsustainable.
- Constant power shifts made Baghdad unstable and dangerous for any caliph seeking independence.
😔 Betrayal by Tuzun (944 CE)
- General Tuzun, now dominant in Baghdad, invited Al-Muttaqi back under the guise of reconciliation.
- Once Al-Muttaqi arrived, Tuzun had him arrested and blinded, a common method of permanently removing caliphs without direct killing.
- Al-Muttaqi was then deposed, and Al-Mustakfi was installed in his place — a more compliant figure for Tuzun and later the Buyid rulers.
🧾 Legacy of Al-Muttaqi
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| 🕋 Religious Devotion | Known for his sincere piety and ascetic character. |
| ⚔️ Powerless Leadership | Unable to control military elites or resist the warlords. |
| 🏃♂️ Fleeing Caliph | Moved between cities, seeking allies, but ultimately betrayed. |
| 👁️ Blinded & Deposed | A tragic end to a caliph who tried to remain independent. |
📜 In Summary:
Al-Muttaqi (940–944 CE) was a symbol of religious sincerity caught in a brutal political landscape.
He was unable to overcome the ambitions of military leaders and was ultimately blinded and removed from power.
His reign reflects the extreme decline of Abbasid political influence, where the caliph had little more than ceremonial importance.
