The Abbasid State in the Fourth Century AH - Tenth Century AD

Abstract

This study explores the Abbasid Caliphate during the 4th century AH / 10th century CE, a pivotal era in Islamic history marked by significant political, cultural, and intellectual shifts. The research highlights the conditions of the Abbasid state before and after the rise of the Buyids, examining the scholarly debate surrounding this period. While some Orientalists such as Adam Mez, Sigrid Hunke, and Thomas Arnold described it as a "Golden Age," many classical Muslim historians like Miskawayh, Ibn al-Jawzi, and Ibn al-Athir viewed it as a time of sectarian domination and decline. The study adopts a narrative-analytical historical method, relying on primary sources contemporary to the period, including Tajarib al-Umam by Miskawayh, Muruj al-Dhahab by al-Masʿudi, and al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh by Ibn al-Athir. Through this approach, the research aims to provide a balanced and evidence-based understanding of the era.