The Last Abbasid Caliph
Abu Ahmad Abdullah Al-Mustasim Billah, son of Al-Mustansir, holds the distinction of being the final Abbasid caliph. His ascension to the caliphate occurred in the month of Jumada Al-Akhirah in the year 640 AH. The Abbasid caliphate met its demise with his execution at the hands of Hulagu Khan in 656 AH. Al-Mustasim was recognized for his virtuous character, eloquence, and exceptional skill in reciting and mastering the Quran. The hadith scholar Al-Dimashqi narrated forty prophetic traditions from him. His minister was Al-Muayyad Al-Din Muhammad ibn Al-Alqamī; however, he was known for harboring animosity towards the Abbasid state.
The Caliphate of Abdullah Al-Mustasim Billah
Abdullah Al-Mustasim Billah was appointed as caliph at the age of thirty, with a few additional months. The ceremony was overseen by Sharaf Al-Din Abu Al-Fadhl Iqbal Al-Mustansiri, and the first to pledge allegiance were his cousins and members of Banu Abbas, followed by ministers, dignitaries, judges, scholars, jurists, and members of the ruling elite. His day of coronation became a significant event in history. One notable act that reflects Al-Mustasim’s benevolence was his charitable contributions during the severe plague that ravaged Iraq.
The Fall of Baghdad
Baghdad fell to the Mongols, aided by traitors and hypocrites within the state. Among the prominent figures contributing to this downfall was the minister Ibn Al-Alqamī, who harbored resentment against the caliph and the Muslim populace. He facilitated a drastic reduction in the military forces, shrinking the fighting cadre from one hundred thousand to a mere ten thousand. Furthermore, he enticed Hulagu to invade Baghdad. During Hulagu’s siege, Ibn Al-Alqamī acted as an intermediary between him and Al-Mustasim Billah, downplaying the significance of the impending invasion and suggesting that the caliph should be executed. When peace negotiations were initiated, the caliph ventured out with seven hundred escorts. However, he was captured and brought before Hulagu, where he and his two eldest sons were executed. His youngest son, along with his sisters and a thousand daughters from the Abbasid lineage, were taken captive.