Abu Ahmad Imprisons His Son Abu al-Abbas al-Mu'tadid

حبس أبي أحمد ابنه أبا العباس المعتضد

c. April 888 CE · 6 Shawwal 275 AH

Baghdad

In 275 al-Muwaffaq imprisoned his son Abu'l-Abbas — the future caliph al-Mu'tadid — and the prince's men and ghilman armed and riotous filled Baghdad until al-Muwaffaq rode out to al-Rusafa and told them: 'What is with you? Do you think you have more pity on my son than I? He is my son and I needed to discipline him' — and they dispersed, on Tuesday 6 Shawwal 1.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Early Abbasid Caliphate
Region
Levant & Iraq
Review
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In time

880890900 c.
Abbasid Fragmentation

In space

Baghdad

Map: Natural Earth, public domain · places and route from the graph

Summary

In 275 AH Abu Ahmad al-Muwaffaq imprisoned his son Abu al-Abbas, later known as al-Mu'tadid billah. His followers rioted and took up arms, and Baghdad was thrown into turmoil. 1

The scene

The young prince's attendants armed themselves, until Abu Ahmad himself rode out and reached al-Rusafa. He said to them, "What is the matter with you? Do you think you care more for my son than I do? He is my son, and I needed to correct him." And they dispersed. This was on Tuesday, the sixth of Shawwal. Four years later Ja'far al-Mufawwad was removed from the heir apparency, and in 279 AH Abu al-Abbas had the oath of allegiance taken in his own name in that position. 2

Connections

Explore the connections

Occurred at
Baghdad
Had participant
Abu Ahmad al-Muwaffaq· al-Mu'tadid bi-llah

People and things also explored

Baraz al-Rawz palace· The appointment of Amr ibn al-Layth over the lands beyond the Balkh river· Unrest over the Christian accused of insulting the Prophet, 284· The division of the realm between al-Mufawwid and al-Muwaffaq· Siege of Baghdad in the strife of al-Musta'in and al-Mu'tazz· The Nizamiyya Madrasa of Baghdad· al-Muwaffaqiyya· Bayt al-Hikma — the House of Wisdom

Sources

  1. al-Muntazam fi Tarikh al-Muluk wa'l-Umam — Ibn al-Jawzi , p. 98
  2. al-Muntazam fi Tarikh al-Muluk wa'l-Umam — Ibn al-Jawzi , p. 98,122-123
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Abu Ahmad Imprisons His Son Abu al-Abbas al-Mu'tadid”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/abu-al-abbas-imprisonment-275/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.

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Related

Baraz al-Rawz palace

In 287 al-Mu'tadid ordered a palace at his chosen spot in Baraz al-Rawz; the householders of Bab al-Shammasiyya were bought out to clear the site, the wall traced, and a river-dais begun for him to occupy until the palace finished — but his illness struck and he died before its completion.