“Historians used to study history of the Abbasid Dynasty in Baghdad 132-656 A.H. (750-1258 C.E.) under different titles like the Abbasid Caliphate, the Abbasid Empire or Medieval history of Islam. Such titles are not used in these notes and are not recommended for the study of this period.The Caliph or Amir al-Muminin is the leader of Muslims who is responsible for the Islamic laws (shari’ah) and its implementations in the life of Muslims, as Ibnu Khaldun put in a short form when he defined al-Khalafa (caliphate) as : “Hirasatul din wa siyasatu al-Dunya bihi”.
Islamic Caliphate is the system of Islamic government and state that was founded after the death of the Prophet (PBUH) in the first century A.H. (7th C.E.) and continued from that time until the year 1343 A.H./ 1924 C.E. when Kamal Attaturk ended the caliphate.
Throughout the history of the caliphate, there were famous leaders and families who held the caliphate post such as the first four Caliphs, Umayyad Dynasty, Abbasid Dynasty, Fatimid Dynasty, and the ‘Usmanli Dynasty.
I think that it is better and more accurate to look at the history of the Caliphate as a continuation of events from the time of Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, until 1924 the end of the Caliphate in Turkey. Under the history of the Caliphate, we have the Righteous Orthodox Caliphs, Umayyad Dynasty, Abbasid Dynasty, Fatimid Dynasty and the Usmanli Dynasty. We have one Caliphate and different dynasties. This is just like the dynasties of Ancient Egyptian history. When we say Umayyad Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate, Fatimid Caliphate etc, we present Islamic history in separated parts not as a continuation of one unit.
It is also not accurate to call this period the ‘Abbasid Empire’ because Caliphate and Empire are different systems. They are different in their concepts and the practicing of authority, the appointment of the head of the state and the question of the constitution.
When we refer to the Emperor, we are referring to a completely different system compared to the system of the caliph. Of course it is not correct to say the Emperor Harun al-Rashid. He was not an Emperor, he was a Caliph. Similarly, it is not correct to call the Roman Empire Caesar ‘the Caliph’. He was an Emperor!
On the other hand it is also not correct to study history of Abbasid as ‘Medieval History of Islam’. The term medieval is one of three parts used by Europeans since the seventeenth century to interpret and study the history of Europe. Medieval history is the dark period of Europe that lies between the ancient Greco-Roman civilization and the rebirth of that civilization in modern Europe 5th to 15th centuries (2nd to 9th centuries A.H.).
When we say medieval Islam we will look for ancient Islam and modern Islam. These periods: Ancient before the 5th century (2nd century before Hijra/BH), the Medieval between the 5th and the 15th (2nd to 9th centuries A.H.) and the Modern from the 15th century C.E.(9th A.H.) are divisions in the European history based on certain regional events in Europe. It is not necessary to use these periods in studying history of the world or any other regional history. We are supposed to study and divide history of Islam according to our own periodization….
Furthermore, this study presents a suggestion of using the “Hijra” to date the events before the time of the prophet SAW (PBUH). This is just like the usage of B.C. for the events that occurred before the birth of Jesus Christ.”
Throughout the history of the caliphate, there were famous leaders and families who held the caliphate post such as the first four Caliphs, Umayyad Dynasty, Abbasid Dynasty, Fatimid Dynasty, and the ‘Usmanli Dynasty.
I think that it is better and more accurate to look at the history of the Caliphate as a continuation of events from the time of Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, until 1924 the end of the Caliphate in Turkey. Under the history of the Caliphate, we have the Righteous Orthodox Caliphs, Umayyad Dynasty, Abbasid Dynasty, Fatimid Dynasty and the Usmanli Dynasty. We have one Caliphate and different dynasties. This is just like the dynasties of Ancient Egyptian history. When we say Umayyad Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate, Fatimid Caliphate etc, we present Islamic history in separated parts not as a continuation of one unit.
It is also not accurate to call this period the ‘Abbasid Empire’ because Caliphate and Empire are different systems. They are different in their concepts and the practicing of authority, the appointment of the head of the state and the question of the constitution.
When we refer to the Emperor, we are referring to a completely different system compared to the system of the caliph. Of course it is not correct to say the Emperor Harun al-Rashid. He was not an Emperor, he was a Caliph. Similarly, it is not correct to call the Roman Empire Caesar ‘the Caliph’. He was an Emperor!
On the other hand it is also not correct to study history of Abbasid as ‘Medieval History of Islam’. The term medieval is one of three parts used by Europeans since the seventeenth century to interpret and study the history of Europe. Medieval history is the dark period of Europe that lies between the ancient Greco-Roman civilization and the rebirth of that civilization in modern Europe 5th to 15th centuries (2nd to 9th centuries A.H.).
When we say medieval Islam we will look for ancient Islam and modern Islam. These periods: Ancient before the 5th century (2nd century before Hijra/BH), the Medieval between the 5th and the 15th (2nd to 9th centuries A.H.) and the Modern from the 15th century C.E.(9th A.H.) are divisions in the European history based on certain regional events in Europe. It is not necessary to use these periods in studying history of the world or any other regional history. We are supposed to study and divide history of Islam according to our own periodization….
Furthermore, this study presents a suggestion of using the “Hijra” to date the events before the time of the prophet SAW (PBUH). This is just like the usage of B.C. for the events that occurred before the birth of Jesus Christ.”
SOURCE: Introduction to a book entitle "History of the Ummah: Abbasid Dynasty (132-656 AH)" by Professor Ahmed Elyas Hussein, former history lecturer of International Islamic University Malaysia. + for me, he is like a 'Godfather' of Islamic History :).
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