Full Name: Abu Muhammad Musa ibn Muhammad al-Hadi
Title: Al-Hadi (الهادي) – “The Rightly-Guided”
Reign: 785–786 CE (about 1 year)
Dynasty: Abbasid
Father: Al-Mahdi (3rd Abbasid Caliph)
Brother & Successor: Harun al-Rashid
Capital: Baghdad
🧬 Background
- Born in 766 CE, Al-Hadi was the eldest son of Caliph Al-Mahdi.
- Groomed for power from a young age and designated heir apparent during his father’s reign.
- Known for being strong-willed, independent, and somewhat hot-tempered.
- Before becoming caliph, he governed important regions like Tabaristan and showed military talent.
👑 Becoming Caliph
- Al-Hadi ascended the throne in 785 CE upon the sudden death of his father, Al-Mahdi.
- He took power smoothly, but trouble soon followed — especially with his younger brother Harun al-Rashid, who had also been designated as the second heir.
⚖️ Governance & Style
- Al-Hadi wanted to rule independently, free from his mother’s or advisors’ influence.
- Known for being stern and justice-oriented, but also harsh and at times authoritarian.
- He reversed some of his father’s tolerant policies, particularly toward the Alids (descendants of Ali).
- Some rebellions from Shia groups occurred during his reign, including a notable one in the Hejaz.
👩👦 Conflict with His Mother – Al-Khayzuran
- Al-Hadi’s mother, Al-Khayzuran, had played a powerful political role during Al-Mahdi’s reign.
- She wished to continue wielding influence, but Al-Hadi openly opposed her involvement.
- Their power struggle became intense, with Al-Hadi attempting to remove her influence, seize her wealth, and even allegedly plotting her confinement or execution.
- According to some accounts, this conflict contributed to mystery surrounding Al-Hadi’s death.
⚔️ Succession Crisis
- Al-Hadi tried to remove Harun al-Rashid from succession and replace him with his own son.
- However, this move was opposed by court elites, generals, and his mother.
- The resulting tension weakened his position and increased political instability.
⚰️ Mysterious Death (786 CE)
- Al-Hadi died suddenly in September 786 CE, after just over a year in power.
- Cause of death is debated:
- Some say it was natural illness (possibly tuberculosis or stomach issues).
- Others accuse Al-Khayzuran of arranging his poisoning to secure Harun al-Rashid’s succession.
🧾 Legacy
- Al-Hadi’s reign was short and turbulent, marked by:
- Internal family conflict
- A more hardline stance on governance and opposition
- Efforts to centralize power in the caliph alone
- Though brief, his rule set the stage for the famed reign of Harun al-Rashid, under whom the Abbasid Caliphate would reach its cultural and political peak.
