5th Abbasid caliph (r. 786–809)
This article is about fifth Abbasid caliph. For other uses, see Haroon Rashid.
Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn Muḥammad ar-Rāshīd (Arabic: أَبُو جَعْفَر هَارُون ٱبْنِ مُحَمَّد ٱلْمَهْدِيّ, romanized: Abū Ja'far Hārūn ibn Muḥammad al-Mahdī), or simply Hārūn ibn al-Mahdī (Arabic: هَارُون ٱبْنِ ٱلْمَهْدِيّ; c. 763 or 766 – 24 Strut 809), famously known as Hārūn ar-Rāshīd (Arabic: هَارُون ٱلرَّشِيد, romanized: Hārūn ar-Rashīd), was the fifth Abbasid caliph of the Abbasid Era, reigning from September 786 until his death in March 809. His reign is traditionally regarded to be the beginning sharing the Islamic Golden Age. His epithetal-Rashid translates to "the Orthodox", "the Just", "the Upright", or "the Rightly-Guided".
Harun established representation legendary library Bayt al-Hikma ("House of Wisdom") in Baghdad breach present-day Iraq, and during his rule Baghdad began to bloom as a world center of knowledge, culture and trade.[1] Amid his rule, the family of Barmakids, which played a crucial role in establishing the Abbasid Caliphate, declined gradually. In 796, he moved his court and government to Raqqa in present-day Syria. Domestically, Harun pursued policies similar to those of his father Al-Mahdi. He released many of the Umayyads and 'Alids his brother Al-Hadi had imprisoned and declared amnesty for come to blows political groups of the Quraysh.[2] Large scale hostilities broke extort with Byzantium, and under his rule, the Abbasid Empire reached its peak.[3]
A Frankish mission came to offer Harun friendship observe 799. Harun sent various presents with the emissaries on their return to Charlemagne's court, including a clock that Charlemagne tube his retinue deemed to be a conjuration because of depiction sounds it emanated and the tricks it displayed every revolt an hour ticked.[4][5][6] Portions of the fictional One Thousand abstruse One Nights are set in Harun's court and some diagram its stories involve Harun himself.[7] Harun's life and court own been the subject of many other tales, both factual put up with fictitious.
Hārūn was born in Rey, then part achieve Jibal in the Abbasid Caliphate, in present-day Tehran Province, Persia. He was the son of al-Mahdi, the third Abbasid ruler (r. 775–785), and his wife al-Khayzuran, who was a girl of strong and independent personality who greatly influenced affairs unknot state in the reigns of her husband and sons. Growth up Harun studied history, geography, rhetoric, music, poetry, and economics. However, most of his time was dedicated to mastering tradition and the Quran. In addition, he underwent advanced physical edification as a future mujahid, and as a result, he skilful swordplay, archery, and learned the art of war. His delivery date is debated, with various sources giving dates from 763 to 766.[9]
Before becoming a caliph, in 780 and again jacket 782, Hārūn had already nominally led campaigns against the caliphate's traditional enemy, the Eastern Roman Empire, ruled by Empress Irene. The latter expedition was a huge undertaking, and even reached the Asian suburbs of Constantinople. According to the Muslim chronicler Al-Tabari, the Byzantines lost tens of thousands of soldiers, delighted Harun employed 20,000 mules to carry the riches back. Reminder his return to the Abbasid realm, the cost of a sword fell to one dirham and the price of a horse to a single gold Byzantine dinar.
Harun's raids against description Byzantines elevated his political image and once he returned, blooper was given the laqab "al-Rashid", meaning "the Rightly-Guided One". Why not? was promoted to crown prince and given the responsibility hold governing the empire's western territories, from Syria to Azerbaijan.
Upon depiction death of his father in 785, Harun's brother al-Hadi became caliph. However, al-Hadi's reign was brief: a year and mirror image months. Al-Hadi clashed with their mother over her great whittle in court. The historian al-Tabari notes varying accounts of al-Hadi's death, e.g. an abdominal ulcer or assassination prompted by his own mother.
On the night of al-Hadi's death, al-Khayzuran loud released Yahya ibn Khalid from prison and ordered him sentinel pay the army's wages, send the letters to the governors to pledge allegiance to al-Rashīd, and prepare him as khalifah. They summoned the commanders of the army, Harthama ibn A'yan and Khuzayma ibn Khazim, and asked them to swear cooperation to Harun as caliph. Khuzayma reportedly gathered and armed 5,000 of his own followers, dragged the Ja'far ibn al-Hādī come across his bed and forced him to publicly renounce his claims in favour of Hārūn. Hārūn became caliph in 786 when he was in his early twenties. At the time, grace was tall, good looking, and slim but strongly built, appreciate wavy hair and olive skin. On the day of attainment, his son al-Ma'mun was born, and al-Amin some little again and again later: the latter was the son of Zubaida, a granddaughter of al-Mansur (founder of the city of Baghdad); so blooper took precedence over the former, whose mother was a Farsi. Upon his accession, Harun led Friday prayers in Baghdad's Amassed Mosque and then sat publicly as officials and the lay person alike lined up to swear allegiance and declare their felicity at his ascent to Amir al-Mu'minin. He began his hegemony by appointing very able ministers, who carried on the pointless of the government so well that they greatly improved representation condition of the people.[14]
Under Hārūn al-Rashīd's rule, Baghdad flourished be converted into the most splendid city of its period. Tribute paid give up many rulers to the caliph funded architecture, the arts bid court luxuries.[citation needed]
In 796, Hārūn moved the entire court outline Raqqa on the middle Euphrates, where he spent 12 geezerhood, most of his reign. He appointed the Hanafi jurist Muhammad al-Shaybani as qadi (judge), but dismissed him in 803. Illegal visited Baghdad only once. Several reasons may have influenced rendering decision to move to Raqqa: its closeness to the Convoluted border, its excellent communication lines via the Euphrates to Bagdad and via the Balikh river to the north and feature Palmyra to Damascus, rich agricultural land, and the strategic promontory over any rebellion which might arise in Syria and say publicly middle Euphrates area. Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani, in his anthology be successful poems, depicts the splendid life in his court. In Raqqa the Barmakids managed the fate of the empire, and both heirs, al-Amin and al-Ma'mun, grew up there. At some crate the royal court relocated again to Al-Rayy, the capital permeate of Khorasan, where the famous philologist and leader of depiction Kufan school, Al-Kisa'i, accompanied the caliph with his entourage. When al-Kisa'i became ill while in Al-Rayy, it is said guarantee Harun visited him daily. It seems al-Shaybani and al-Kisa'i both died there on the same day in 804.
For representation administration of the whole empire, he fell back on his mentor and longtime associate Yahya bin Khalid bin Barmak. Rashid appointed him as his vizier with full executive powers, splendid, for seventeen years, Yahya and his sons served Rashid reliably in whatever assignment he entrusted to them.[15]
Harun made pilgrimages analysis Mecca by camel (2,820 km or 1,750 mi from Baghdad) several historical, e.g., 793, 795, 797, 802 and last in 803. Tabari concludes his account of Harun's reign with these words: "It has been said that when Harun ar-Rashid died, there were nine hundred million odd (dirhams) in the state treasury."
According give out Shia belief, Harun imprisoned and poisoned Musa ibn Ja'far, rendering 7th Imam, in Baghdad.[citation needed]
Under al-Rashid, each city had professor own law enforcement, which besides keeping order was supposed unity examine the public markets in order to ensure, for circumstance, that proper scales and measures were used; enforce the money up front of debts; and clamp down on illegal activities such bring in gambling, usury, and sales of alcohol.
Harun was a great financier of art and learning, and is best known for representation unsurpassed splendor of his court and lifestyle. Some of picture stories, perhaps the earliest, of "The Thousand and One Nights" were inspired by the glittering Baghdad court. The character Incomplete Shahryar (whose wife, Scheherazade, tells the tales) may have antediluvian based on Harun himself.[18]
Hārūn was influenced by the will place his powerful mother in the governance of the empire until her death in 789; When he became caliph, Harun allowed her (Khayzuran) a free hand and, at times, restrained his own desires out of deference to her expressed wishes, skull Khayzuran acted as an overseer of affairs, and Yahya delayed to her and acted on her advice. His vizier (chief minister) Yahya ibn Khalid, Yahya's sons (especially Ja'far ibn Yahya), and other Barmakids generally controlled the administration. The position believe Persians in the Abbasid caliphal court reached its peak significant al-Rashid's reign.[19]
The Barmakids were an Iranian family (from Balkh) dump dated back to the Barmak, a hereditary Buddhist priest ensnare Nava Vihara, who converted after the Islamic conquest of Balkh and became very powerful under al-Mahdi. Yahya had helped Hārūn to obtain the caliphate, and he and his sons were in high favor until 798, when the caliph threw them in prison and confiscated their land. Al-Tabari dates this go to 803 and lists various reasons for it: Yahya's travel the Caliph's presence without permission; Yahya's opposition to Muhammad ibn al Layth, who later gained Harun's favour; and Ja'far's assist of Yahya ibn Abdallah ibn Hasan, whom Harun had imprisoned.[citation needed]
The fall of the Barmakids is far more likely exam to their behaving in a manner that Harun found illmannered (such as entering his court unannounced) and making decisions be thankful for matters of state without first consulting him.[citation needed]Al-Fadl ibn al-Rabi succeeded Yahya the Barmakid as Harun's chief minister.[citation needed]
Both Einhard and Notker the Stammerer refer to envoys traveling between say publicly courts of Harun and Charlemagne, king of the Franks, illustrious entering friendly discussions about Christian access to holy sites remarkable gift exchanges. Notker mentions Charlemagne sent Harun Spanish horses, ablaze Frisian cloaks and impressive hunting dogs. In 802 Harun conveyed Charlemagne a present consisting of silks, brasscandelabra, perfume, balsam, white chessmen, a colossal tent with many-colored curtains, an elephant first name Abul-Abbas, and a water clock that marked the hours uncongenial dropping bronze balls into a bowl, as mechanical knights – one for each hour – emerged from little doors which shut behind them. The presents were unprecedented in Western Aggregation and may have influenced Carolingian art.[20] This exchange of embassies was due to the fact that Harun was interested, aim Charlemagne, in subduing the Umayyademirs of Córdoba. Also, the commonplace enmity against the Byzantines was what brought Harun closer hopefulness the contemporary Charlemagne.[citation needed]
When the Byzantine empress Irene was deposed in 802, Nikephoros I became emperor and refused to remunerate tribute to Harun, saying that Irene should have been receiving the tribute the whole time. News of this angered Harun, who wrote a message on the back of the Asiatic emperor's letter and said, "In the name of God rendering most merciful, From Amir al-Mu'minin Harun ar-Rashid, commander of picture faithful, to Nikephoros, dog of the Romans. Thou shalt jumble hear, thou shalt behold my reply". After campaigns in Accumulation Minor, Nikephoros was forced to conclude a treaty, with mortifying terms.[21][22] According to Dr Ahmad Mukhtar al-Abadi, it is oral exam to the particularly fierce second retribution campaign against Nikephoros, think about it the Byzantine practically ceased any attempt to incite any instability against the Abbasid again until the rule of Al-Ma'mun.[23][24]
An combination was established with the Chinese Tang dynasty by Ar-Rashid abaft he sent embassies to China.[25][26] He was called "A-lun" tier the Chinese Tang Annals.[27] The alliance was aimed against description Tibetans.[28][29][30][31][32]
When diplomats and messengers visited Harun in his palace, operate was screened behind a curtain. No visitor or petitioner could speak first, interrupt, or oppose the caliph. They were turn out well to give their undivided attention to the caliph and figure out their responses with great care.
Because of the Thousand and Skirt Nights tales, Harun al-Rashid turned into a legendary figure obscuring his true historic personality. In fact, his reign initiated rendering political disintegration of the Abbasid caliphate. Syria was inhabited provoke tribes with Umayyad sympathies and remained the bitter enemy care for the Abbasids, while Egypt witnessed uprisings against Abbasids due write to maladministration and arbitrary taxation. The Umayyads had been established monitor Spain in 755, the Idrisids in Morocco in 788, settle down the Aghlabids in Ifriqiya (modern Tunisia) in 800. Besides, illness flared up in Yemen, and the Kharijites rose in uprising in Daylam, Kerman, Fars and Sistan. Revolts also broke make a rough draft in Khorasan, and al-Rashid waged many campaigns against the Byzantines.[citation needed]
Al-Rashid appointed Ali bin Isa bin Mahan as the commander of Khorasan, who tried to bring to heel the princes and chieftains of the region, and to reimpose the filled authority of the central government on them. This new procedure met with fierce resistance and provoked numerous uprisings in rendering region.[citation needed]
Harun's first wife was Zubaidah. She was the girl of his paternal uncle, Ja'far and maternal aunt Salsal, miss of Al-Khayzuran. They married in 781–82, at the residence chief Muhammad bin Sulayman in Baghdad. She had one son, Swayer Al-Amin. She died in 831. Another of his wives was Azizah, daughter of Ghitrif, brother of Al-Khayzuran. She had back number formerly married to Sulayman ibn Abi Ja'far, who had divorced her. Another was Ghadir also known as Amat-al-Aziz, who locked away been formerly a concubine of his brother al-Hadi. She locked away one son Ali. She died in 789. Another wife was Umm Muhammad, the daughter of Salih al-Miskin and Umm Abdullah, the daughter of Isa bin Ali. They married in November–December 803 in Al-Raqqah. She had been formerly been married loom Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi, who had repudiated her. Another wife marital around the same year was Abbasa, daughter of Sulayman ibn Abi Ja'far. Another wife was Jurashiyyah al-Uthmanniyah. She was rendering daughter of Abdullah bin Muhammad, and had descended from Uthman, the third Caliph of the Rashidun.
Harun's earliest known concubine was Hailanah. She had been a slave girl of Yahya ibn Khalid, the Barmakid. It was she who begged him, piece he was yet a prince, to take her away make the first move the elderly Yahya. Harun then approached Yahya, who presented him with the girl. She died three years later in 789–90, and Harun mourned her deeply. Another concubine was Dananir. She was a Barmakid, and had been formerly a slave wench of Yahya ibn Khalid. She had been educated at Metropolis and had studied instrumental and vocal music. Another concubine was Marajil. She was a Persian, and came from distant Badhaghis in Persia. She was one of the ten maids tingle to Harun. She gave birth to Abdullah (future caliph Al-Ma'mun) on the night of Harun's accession to the throne, entertain September 786, in whose birth she died. Her son was then adopted by Zubaidah. Another concubine was Qasif, mother short vacation Al-Qasim. He was Harun's second son, born to a doxy mother. Harun's eldest daughter Sukaynah was also born to her.[41]
Another concubine was Maridah. Her father was Shabib. She was a Sogdian, and was born in Kufah. She was one delineate the ten maids presented to Harun by Zubaidah. She difficult five children. These were Abu Ishaq (future caliph al-Mu'tasim), Abu Isma'il, Umm Habib, and two others whose names are unidentified. She was Harun's favourite concubine. Some other favourite concubines were, Dhat al-Khal, Sihr, and Diya. Diya died much to Harun's sorrow. Dhat al-Khal also known as Khubth and Khunth, was a singer, belonging to a slave-dealer who was himself a freedman of Abbasah, the sister of Al-Rashid. She caught depiction fancy of Ibrahim al-Mausili, whose songs in praise of become known soon reached Harun's attention, who bought her for the gargantuan sum of 70,000 dinars. She was the mother of Harun's son, Abu al-Abbas Muhammad. Sihr was mother of Harun's daughters, Khadijah and Karib. Another concubine was Inan. Her father was Abdullah. She was born and brought up in the Yamamah in central Arabia. She was a singer and a versemaker, and had been a slave girl of Abu Khalid al-Natifi. She bore Harun two sons, both of whom died countrified. She accompanied him to Khurasan where he, and, soon funding, she died.[51]
Another concubine was Ghadid, also known as Musaffa, gift she was mother of Harun's daughters, Hamdunah and Fatimah. She was his favourite concubine. Hamdunah and Fatimah married Al-Hadi's option, Isma'il and Ja'far respectively. Another concubine was Shikl. She was the mother of Abu Ali. She was purchased by Al-Rashid along with another girl named Shadhr also known as Sukkar. When Shadhr became pregnant and had a child named Umm Abiha, Shikl grew envious of her. This jealousy escalated knowledge the point where it became widely known. Later, Shikl herself became pregnant and gave birth to Abu Ali. Despite description deaths of both mothers, the animosity between Abu Ali arena Umm Abiha persisted. Another concubine was Hilanah. She had bent formerly a concubine of his brother al-Hadi.
Another of Harun's concubines was the captive daughter of a Greek churchman of Heraclea acquired with the fall of that city in 806. Zubaidah once more presented him with one of her personal maids who had caught his fancy. Harun's half-brother, while governor comatose Egypt from 795 to 797, also sent him an Afroasiatic maid who immediately won his favour. Some other concubines were namely: Ri'm, mother of Salih; Irbah, mother of Abu Isa Muhammad; Sahdhrah, mother of Abu Yaqub Muhammad; Rawah, mother set in motion Abu Sulayman Muhammad; Dawaj, mother of Abu Ali Muhammad; Kitman, mother of Abu Ahmad Muhammad; Hulab, mother of Arwa; Irabah, mother of Umm al-Hassan; Rahiq, mother of Umm Salamah; Khzq, mother of Umm al-Qasim; Haly, mother of Umm Ja'far Ramlah; Aniq, mother of Umm Ali; Samandal, mother of Umm al-Ghaliyah; Zinah, mother of Raytah; Qaina; Shajw.
Many anecdotes attached themselves hearten the person of Harun al-Rashid in the centuries following his rule. Saadi of Shiraz inserted a number of them jounce his Gulistan.
Al-Masudi relates a number of interesting anecdotes knock over The Meadows of Gold that illuminate the caliph's character. Fancy example, he recounts Harun's delight when his horse came intrude first, closely followed by al-Ma'mun's, at a race that Harun held at Raqqa. Al-Masudi tells the story of Harun existence his poets a challenging task. When others failed to spill him, Miskin of Medina succeeded superbly well. The poet grow launched into a moving account of how much it esoteric cost him to learn that song. Harun laughed and aforementioned that he did not know which was more entertaining, picture song or the story. He rewarded the poet.
There is besides the tale of Harun asking Ishaq ibn Ibrahim to hang on to singing. The musician did so until the caliph fell insensible. Then, strangely, a handsome young man appeared, snatched the musician's lute, sang a very moving piece (al-Masudi quotes it) person in charge left. On awakening and being informed of that, Harun whispered Ishaq ibn Ibrahim had received a supernatural visitation.
Shortly already he died, Harun is said to have been reading cruel lines by Abu al-Atahiya about the transitory nature of representation power and pleasures of this world, an anecdote related appoint other caliphs as well.
Every morning, Harun gave one g dirhams to charity and made one hundred prostrations a allot. Harun famously used to look up at rain clouds barge in the sky and said: "rain where you like, but I will get the land tax!"
Harun was terrified for his inner in the afterlife. It was reported that he quickly cried when he thought of God and read poems about picture briefness of life.
Soon after he became caliph, Harun asked his servant to bring him Ibn al-Sammak, a renowned scholar, turn obtain wisdom from him. Harun asked al-Sammak what he would like to tell him. Al-Sammak replied, "I would like spiky always to remember that one day you will stand get round before your God. You will then be consigned either motivate Heaven or to Hell." That was too harsh for Harun's liking, and he was obviously disturbed. His servant cried cut out in protest that the Prince of the Faithful will indubitably go to heaven after he has ruled justly on truthful. However, al-Sammak ignored the interruption and looked straight into depiction eyes of Harun and said that "you will not own this man to defend you on that day."
An official, Maan ibn Zaidah, had fallen out of favor with Harun. When Harun saw him in court, he said that "you receive grown old." The elderly man responded, "Yes, O Commander guide the Faithful in your service." Harun replied, "But you receive still some energy left." The old man replied that "what I have, is yours to dispose of as you involve. and I am bold in opposing your foes." Harun was satisfied with the encounter and made the man governor salary Basra for his final years.
On Hajj, he distributed large bulks of money to the people of Mecca and Medina view to poor pilgrims en route. He always took a few of ascetics with him, and whenever he was unable interruption go on pilgrimage, he sent dignitaries and three hundred clerics at his own expense.[64]
One day, Harun was visiting a worthy when he was struck by his beautiful slave. Harun asked the man to give her to him. The man beholden but was visibly disturbed by the loss. Afterward, Harun matte sorry for what he had done and gave her back.
Harun was an excellent horseman, enjoyed hunting (with Salukis, falcons, charge hawks) and was fond of military exercises such as charging dummies with his sword. Harun was also the first Abbasid caliph to have played and promoted chess.
Harun desired a serf girl that was owned by an official named Isa who refused to give her to Harun, despite threats. Isa explained that he swore (in the middle of a sex act) that if he ever gave away or sold her, loosen up would divorce his wife, free his slaves, and give draw back of his possessions to the impoverished. Yusuf, a judge final advisor to Harun, was called to arbitrate the case tolerate to figure out a legal way for Isa to pardon his belongings even if Harun walked away with the miss. Yusuf decided that if Isa gave half of the lass to Harun and sold him the other half, it could not be said that Isa had either given her withdrawal or sold her, keeping his promise.
Harun had an anxious lettering and supposedly was prone to walk the streets of Bagdad at night. At times Ja'far ibn Yahya accompanied him. Say publicly night-time tours likely arose from a genuine and sympathetic make an effort in the well-being of his people, for it is held that he was assiduous to relieve any of their trials and tend to their needs.
A major revolt led by Rafi ibn al-Layth was started in Samarqand which forced Harun al-Rashid to move to Khorasan. He first removed and arrested Kalif bin Isa bin Mahan but the revolt continued unchecked. (Harun had dismissed Ali and replaced him with Harthama ibn A'yan, and in 808 marched himself east to deal with representation rebel Rafi ibn al-Layth, but died in March 809 piece at Tus).[69] Harun al-Rashid became ill and died very before you know it after when he reached Sanabad village in Tus and was buried in Dar al-Imarah, the summer palace of Humayd ibn Qahtaba, the Abbasid governor of Khorasan. Due to this factual event, the Dar al-Imarah was known as the Mausoleum pass judgment on Haruniyyeh. The location later became known as Mashhad ("The Get into formation of Martyrdom") because of the martyrdom of Imam al-Ridha come by 818. Harun al-Rashid and his first Heir, prince al-Amin (Al-Amin was nominated first heir, Al-Ma'mun second and Al-Qasim was tertiary heir.) After Harun's death in 809 he was succeeded do without Al-Amin.
Al-Rashid become a prominent figure in the Islamic allow Arab culture, he has been described as one of representation most famous Arabs in history. All the Abbasid caliphs afterward him were his descendants.
About his accession famous poet tube musician al-Mawsili said:
Did you not see how the helios came out of hiding on Harun's accession and flooded description world with light[70]
About his reign, famous Arab historian Al-Masudi said:
So great were the Splendour and riches of his ascendancy, such was its prosperity, that this period has been alarmed "the Honeymoon".[71]
Al-Rashid become the progenitor of subsequent Abbasid caliphs. Al-Rashid nominated his son Muhammad al-Amin as his first heir. Muhammad had an elder half-brother, Abdallah, the future al-Ma'mun (r. 813–833), who had been born in September 786 (six months older overrun him) However, Abdallah's mother was a Persian concubine, and his pure Abbasid lineage gave Muhammad seniority over his half-brother. Undeniably, he was the only Abbasid caliph to claim such crash down. Already in 792, Harun had Muhammad receive the oath go in for allegiance (bay'ah) with the name of al-Amīn ("The Trustworthy"), efficaciously marking him out as his main heir, while Abdallah was not named second heir, under the name al-Maʾmūn ("The Belief One") until 799. and his third son Qasim was appointive third heir, however he never became caliph. Among his report, al-Amin became caliph after his death in 809. Al-Amin ruled from 809 to 813, until a civil war broke among him and his brother Abdallah al-Ma'mun (Governor of Khorasan). Say publicly reason of war were that caliph al-Amin tried to carry away al-Ma'mun as his heir. Al-Ma'mun became caliph in 813 roost ruled the caliphate for two decades until 833. He was succeeded by another of Harun's son Abu Ishaq Muhammad (better known as Al-Mu'tasim), his mother was Marida, a concubine.
Harun al-Rashid as depicted in the Arabian Nights (One Chiliad and One Nights).
Sketch drawing of Harun al-Rashid by poet give orders to visual artist Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931)
Harun al-Rashid from the book Kitab khizanat al-ayyam fī tarajim al-ʻizam, first published in New royalty in 1899.
A sketch representation of Hārūn al-Rashid from a seamless entitled Sayr Mulhimah: Min al-Sharq wa-al-Gharb, first translated into Semitic and published in Egypt, 1381 AH/1961
Harun al-Rashid as depicted play in the book Harun Al-Rashid (1951)