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This article is about an Abbasid caliph. For the Islamic prophet, see Muhammad.
Muhammad ibn Harun al-Amin
محمد الأمين بن هارون الرشيد
6th Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate
Reign 809–813
Predecessor Harun al-Rashid
Successor al-Ma'mun
Full name
Muhammad al-Amin ibn Harun al-Rashid
Dynasty Abbasid
Father Harun al-Rashid
Mother Zubaida
Born 787
Died 813
Religion Islam

Muhammad ibn Harun al-Rashid, better known by his regnal name of al-Amin (April 787 – 24/25 September 813) (Arabic: محمد الأمين بن هارون الرشيد‎), was the sixth Abbasid Caliph. He succeeded his father, Harun al-Rashid in 809 and ruled until he was deposed and killed in 813, during the civil war with his brother, al-Ma'mun.


Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari records that Harun al-Rashid several times impressed on his sons they should respect each other and honour the succession as Harun arranged it. In A.H. 186, Harun had al-Amin and al-Ma'mun sign pledges during a pilgrimage to Mecca that both would honour his will. Al-Amin, would receive the Caliphate and al-Ma'mun would become governor of Khurasan in eastern Iran and would furthermore be granted almost complete autonomy. On al-Amin's death, according to Harun's decision, al-Ma'mun would become Caliph.

Hostility towards al-Mamun[edit]

Main article: Fourth Fitna


The brothers had different mothers. Al-Amin was prompted to move against al-Ma'mun by meddlesome ministers, especially al-Fadl ibn al-Rabi'. Al-Amin had Harun's succession documents brought from Mecca to Baghdad, where he destroyed them. Al-Amin sent agents east to stir opposition to al-Ma'mun. However, a careful watch at the frontier denied these the opportunity. Al-Amin denied al-Ma'mun's request for his family and money and kept them in Baghdad.


Internal rebellions[edit]



Siege of Baghdad (812–813)[edit]

Tahir advanced and set up camp near the Anbar Gate. Baghdad was besieged. The effects of this siege were made more intense by the rampaging prisoners who broke out of jail. There were several vicious battles, such as at al-Amin's palace of Qasr Halih, at Darb al- Hijarah and al-Shammasiyyah Gate. In that last one Tahir led reinforcements to regain positions lost by another officer. Overall the situation was worsening for al-Amin and he became depressed.

When Tahir pushed into the city, al-Amin sought to negotiate safe passage out. Tahir reluctantly agreed on the condition al-Amin turn over his sceptre, seal and other signs of being caliph. Al-Amin tried to leave on a boat, apparently with these indications he was caliph. He rejected warnings he should wait. Tahir noticed the boat. Al-Amin was thrown into the water, swam to shore, was captured and brought to a room where he was executed. His head was placed on the Anbar Gate. Al-Tabari (v. 31 pp. 197–202) quotes Tahir's letter to al-Ma'mun informing that caliph of al-Amin's capture and execution and the state of peace resulting in Baghdad.


The fact that Al-Amin was known to be sexually attracted to male eunuchs was seen by many at the time as a deficit in his character.[1] Al-Tabari notes this fondness for eunuchs. He also records accounts of al-Amin's intense irritation when singers sang songs that were not very auspicious. Al-Amin is described by this historian as being extravagant. It was also reported that his mother arranged for slave women to be dressed in masculine clothing in the hope of inducing him to adopt more conventional morals.[2]

Al-Amin had appealed to his mother, Zubaida, to arbitrate the succession and champion his cause as Aisha had done two centuries before. Zubaida refused to do so. As al-Ma'mun refused to acknowledge Al-Amin's son Musa as heir,the throne went to al-Ma'mun.


  1. ^ Bernard Lewis, Race and Color in Islam (1979)
  2. ^ Ed. C. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Leiden, 1983


Born: 787 Died: 813
Sunni Islam titles
Preceded by
Harun al-Rashid
Caliph of Islam
Succeeded by