From our vantage point in the 21st century, it is clear that Haroon al Rashid is by far the most famous Arab caliph. His renown is not some modern phenomenon either: he may occasionally pop up as a cultural reference or on a trivia show, but he was immortalized early in the epic One Thousand and One Nights. His time in charge is generally thought of as the h ... Show More
Aug 2022
Episode 52: Power struggle
Now that we’ve covered Haroon al Rashid’s foreign wars, we can get started with the messy conflicts which took place within the umma, and within his administration itself. The caliphate’s distant west slowly broke away during his reign, but his armies faced off and defeated vario ... Show More
45m 11s
Aug 2022
Episode 53: Downfall of the Baramika
Royal advisors, court attendants, and other officials began to hold some real political power in the Abbasid caliphate, a development which progressed with every caliph who came after the micromanaging al Mansur. The Baramika during al Rashid’s reign represented the pinnacle of t ... Show More
30m 21s
Oct 2023
Who was Hunayn ibn Hishaq?
<p>How did this famed Arab physician shape the future of medicine and influence the Muslim Empire for centuries to come? From his humble beginnings as an outspoken student, he would later become the head of the House of Wisdom, the creator of eye medicine, and one of the most pro ... Show More
12m 46s
Nov 2024
True Arabian Nights | How Early Islamic Education Shaped a Golden Age?
Read, Read, Read!True Arabian Nights invites you into the heart of one word: 'Read.' This episode explores how a single command ignited the minds of early Muslims, fostering a culture of learning, wisdom, and intellectual achievement. Journey with us to understand the impact of K ... Show More
16m 6s
Jul 2023
The Firebrand from Damascus (Part 1)
Ibn Taymiyyah is known as the “Sheikh of Islam” to his admirers, and to his detractors, one of the most significant antecedents of modern Salafi Jihadism. Simultaneously a genius scholar, brutal warrior and unflinching polemicist, he is one of the most important pioneers of a mil ... Show More
52m 46s