Muhammad b. al-'Alqami: Difference between revisions

Muhammad b. Muhammad b. 'Ali b. Abi Talib b. 'Alqami (ruled 591 – 656 A.H.) known as Ibn Al-'Alqami was a Shi'ite politician and the last minister of [[Abbasid]] [[caliphate]]. Some of Sunni historians criticized his behavior in the event of occupation of Baghdad, while they admired his capabilities, and knowledge in governance.

Ibn 'Alqami was born in 591 A.H. but some sources stated that he was either 63 or 66 years old at the time of his death which means he was born in 590 or 593 A.H.

A number of historians regarded Ibn 'Alqami as an Iranian who was from [[Qom]], while some of them regarded him an Arab whose lineage goes back to Asad b. Khuzayma, an ancestor of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. Also a number of sources stated that he was from Banu Asad tribe living a Nile [[Iraq]].

Ibn 'Alqami was a Shi'ite politician who fanatically supported his religion.

Ibn 'Alqami learned [[Nahw]] (Arabic synax) and literature in his young ages in [[Hilla]] from Ibn Ayyub 'Amid al-Ru'asa, a Shi'ite scholar. Then he moved to [[Baghdad]] where he learned qira'a (reciting) from Abu al-Baqa' 'Abd Allah b. Husayn al-'Ukbari.

He moved to stay with his maternal uncle, 'Adud al-Din Abu Nasr Mubarak b. Dahhak al-Qummi, a great scholar in [[Abbasid]] caliphate; he was in charge of the documents of Al-Mustansir's court. Ibn 'Alqami stayed with him for a while and then he was appointed as the head of the Bureau of Buildings, where he learned the techniques of writing letters and composing court letters. After the death of 'Adad al-Din, Ibn 'Alqami left the Bureau and became a recluse.

Ibn 'Alqami was a notable scholar and a poet in his time; he mastered writing Arabic texts. He was very good at calligraphy and he always encouraged scholars. Ibn 'Alqami had a library with ten thousand exquisite books.

[[Ibn Abi al-Hadid]] who wrote a famous commentary on [[Nahj al-Balagha]] and his brother always supported Ibn 'Alqami. Ibn Abi al-Hadid also dedicated that book to Ibn 'Alqami which brought many gifts to him. Another work called [[Al-Sab' al-'Alawiyyat]] which contains eulogistic qasa'id was also dedicated to Ibn 'Alqami.  

After some time when Shams al-Din Abu al-Azhar Ahmad b. Naqid achieved a position, he asked Ibn 'Alqami to return. Then he worked as the supervisor of ceremonies in the court until Shawwal 629 (A.H.). In that time he took part in a plan of removing Mu'ayyid al-Din al-Qummi from ministry of [[Al-Mustansir]].

Ibn Naqid was appointed as the minister of Al-Mustansir in 19 Shawwal 629 A.H. and Ibn 'Alqami was given a high court position which he held for a long time until the end of caliphate of [[Al-Mustansir]] and a few years after the caliphate of Al-Musta'sim.

After the death of Al-Mustansir, his son Al-Musta'sim became the caliph. When his minister passed away, Ibn 'Alqami was appointed as the minister which he held for fourteen years until the fall of [[Abbasid]] caliphate.

In Muharram in 656 A.H. Hulagu managed to occupy [[Baghdad]]. Ibn 'Alqami visited him alone, which brought rumors that he supported Hulagu and contacted him by sending letters to him. According to Wassaf al-Hadra, who regarded Ibn 'Alqami as an antagonist in his narration, he frequently sent his men to Hulagu and encouraged him to occupy Baghdad. After some time when the caliph and minister visited Hulagu, the caliph was murdered. However Ibn 'Alqami became known in the city, so that people stayed his house to save their lives from the Mongols.

When [[Baghdad]] was completely occupied and the caliphate was overthrown, Hulagu appointed Ibn 'Alqami as the minister again and he also chose Fakhr al-Din Damghani as the chief of administration and 'Ali Bahadur as the Sheriff of Baghdad, then he left the city. This time Ibn 'Alqami held ministry until his death in Jamadi al-Thani 656 A.H.

Ibn 'Alqami passed away in the 2nd of Jamadi al-Thani 656 (A.H.); Ibn Taqtaqi and Hindu Shah stated that he passed away in Jamadi al-Awwal of the same year. His body was buried in a Shi'ite cemetery in Baghdad.

Ibn 'Alqami had some children including:

Ibn 'Alqami was a capable and knowledgeable minister. Although some of Sunni historians criticized Ibn 'Alqami's behavior in the fall of Baghdad, they admired his ability and knowledge in governance.

Ibn 'Alqami was a moderate and supporter of tolerance against the Mongols. He managed to predict Abbasid inability to face the oppositions as he was aware of the number of and ability of the troops and Emirs of [[Abbasid]] caliphate. As a result, he consulted the caliph to apply a peaceful approach toward the oppositions in order to prevent mass bloodshed. The policy he proposed was a reason that historians regarded him as a Shi'ite follower. Some believed he planned to remove Sunni Abbasids in order to bring a branch of [['Alavis]] to take over the caliphate.

Some of historians including Minhaj used repulsive phrases about Ibn 'Alqami, while some including Ibn Jawzi, who passed away before the fall of Baghdad, admired and praised Ibn 'Alqami.

Shi'ite historians regarded Ibn 'Alqami a prominent, religious and generous man. Putting historians' ideas about him aside, it should not be in doubt that Ibn 'Alqami was a enthusiastic Shi'ite Muslim. When he achieved power, he put [[Friday prayer]] on hold to build a school for Shi'ites and he ordered to perform Friday prayers in that school.

Al-Saghani, a scholar of [[Lughat]] in that time, dedicated two of his books Majma' al-Bahrain and Al-'Ibab al-Zakhir wa al-Libab al-Fakhir to Ibn 'Alqami.

Ibn 'Alqami had a friendly relationship with [[Ibn Tawus]], the famous Shi'ite scholar.

In the event of fall of Baghdad, Ibn Abi al-Hadid and his brother, Al-Muwaffaq al-Din were captured by the Mongols. Ibn 'Alqami put so much efforts and managed to save their lives.