The Caliphs

Recent Episodes

Episode 51: Holy warrior

Posted July 17, 2022 • 00:36:45

Haroon al Rashid is commonly portrayed as a martial caliph, one who menaced the Byzantine empire and led a tireless crusade against them. He is praised...

Episode 50: Al Rashid

Posted July 3, 2022 • 00:31:32

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...

Episode 49: Al Hadi

Posted June 19, 2022 • 00:31:06

The sudden passing of Mohammad al Mahdi led his son Musa al Hadi to become the umma’s next leader sooner than anyone would have expected. With a wild...

Episode 48: Al Mahdi

Posted June 5, 2022 • 00:37:02

Al Mansur’s long reign transformed the caliphate in countless ways, most of them for the better. It provided a kind of stability the umma desperately...

Episode 47: The city of peace

Posted May 22, 2022 • 00:34:01

Perhaps most significant among al Mansur’s many triumphs was his founding of a new capital for his administration, a glorious new city which would...