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Dynasty: Abbasids
Ruler: Saffah (Abu el-abbas)
Reigned: H 133-137 (750 AD - 754 AD)
Denomination: AR Dirhem (Anonymous)
Mint: El-Kufat* near Nejef, Iraq
Date of Issue: 133 AH=751 AD
Obverse: Margin: "In the name of Allah this Dirhem was minted in El-Kufat in the year 133" (Bismillah) Centre: "There is no God except Allah. (There is) no partner to him." (Kalima)
Reverse: Margin: "Muhammad is the messenger of God. He sent him with guidance and the true religion to prevail over all other religions even if the polytheists abhor it." (Sura 9 Verse 33) ("Second Symbol") Centre: "Mohammed the messenger of Allah"
Reference: Album 211
Weight: 2.8 gms
Diameter: 24.3 mm
Comment: *El-Kufat gave it's name to "Kufic" script.

ABBASID DYNASTY - SAFFAH

  • The name "Abbasid" is derived from the name of the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, al-Abbas (died c. 653), of the Hashimite clan of the Quraysh tribe in Mecca.
  • From c. 718, members of the family sought to gain control of the empire from the Umayyad dynasty, winning much support, especially from Shi'i Arabs and Persians in Khorasan.
  • A revolt in 747, under Abu Muslim, led to the defeat of Marwan II, the last Umayyad caliph, at the Battle of the Great Zab River (750) in Mesopotamia and to the proclamation of the first Abbasid caliph, Abu al-Abbas as-Saffah.
  • When Abu al-Abbas became Caliph, he eliminated the opposition, including the Umayyads, the Alids, other Abbasid leaders. He called himself as-Saffah, "the blood-shedder".

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