The safe-conduct for the Abbasid ‘Abd Allāh b. ‘Alī (d. 764)

Bibliographic Data

ID21009006
AuthorsAndrew Marsham (0000-0002-5184-855X, University of Manchester), C F Robinson, Christopher Robinson (0000-0001-6146-566X, University of Oxford)
Year2007
Volume70
Issue2
Pages247-281
Publication date2007-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0041-977X • E-ISSN: 1474-0699
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0041977x07000420
OpenAlexW2058021047
LanguageEN
Citations received2

In his Ta’rīkh al-Mawṣil , al-Azdī (d. 945) records the safe-conduct ( amān ) said to have been written for the surrender of the Abbasid ‘Abd Allāh b. ‘Alī (d. 764) to his nephew, the caliph al-Manṣūr. This text has been overlooked in discussions of early Abbasid history and in studies of the work of Ibn al-Muqaffa‘ (d. c . 756), who is widely credited with its production. This article presents an annotated translation of the amān and considers its transmission, authenticity, attribution and significance. Parallels with epigraphic, documentary and literary sources suggest that it was indeed originally composed in the early Abbasid period and that it conforms to developing conventions for amān s. Thus, it is important evidence for political theory and practice in the mid-eighth-century caliphate. Furthermore, it probably substantially reflects the agreement between the caliph and his uncle and may indeed be the work of Ibn al-Muqaffa‘

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Authorship attribution · Caliphate · Islam · Linguistics · Literature · Nephew and niece · Parallels · Political science · Politics · Surrender · Theology · Classics · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · History · Islamic Studies and History · Law · Medieval and Classical Philosophy · Philosophy