Abdulrahman, the Falcon of Quraysh
Under the Abbasids' pursuit for dominance, war was declared upon the Umayyads, leading to the seizure of the Umayyad caliphate. Scattered and hunted, every Umayyad fled for their lives. In a village by the Euphrates river, one young Umayyad found shelter. His name was Abdulrahman bin Muawiyah bin Hisham bin Umayyah of Quraysh. Raised under the wise and watchful eyes of his grandfather, Caliph Hisham, absorbing from him the essence of leadership and embodying the legacy of his forefathers - he was destined for greatness. Despite finding refuge far from the Abbasids, peace remained distant. His 13-year-old brother, alert to the danger, came running with news of the approaching black flags. Abdulrahman took his brother and what gold he could carry, instructing the others where to meet him and ran with determination, until he reached the Euphrates. There, he plunged into the river, urging his brother to follow. The Abbasids halted on the bank, noticing the boy’s struggle, they called out with false assurances. But Abdulrahman begged his brother to keep going towards him. The boy swam towards the shore where, upon reaching land, he was brutally executed in front of his brother. Abdulrahman, with no choice but to continue, managed to escape and eventually found shelter in Cyrenaica, where he remained for five years.
Since the time of Caliph Hisham, Alandalus has been riddled with tribal conflicts, as the Qahtani and Adnani Arabs were locked in an ongoing power struggle, each determined to assert their claim to govern. In a fleeting attempt at peace, they even agreed to alternate control, a fragile solution that brought only temporary peace—power, once held, is rarely relinquished without conflict. Abdulrahman had spent five years carefully orchestrating, securing allies, gathering ships, and constructing a network that spanned across borders. When he finally set sail for Almuñécar, his determination was unwavering. Once in Alandalus, his strategy was simple: you either joined his forces, or he would face you in battle and emerge victorious. He fought his way through, undeterred, until he reached Cordoba in the year 755 CE. At just 25 years old, he declared the city as the seat of the Umayyad Emirate, establishing the last bastion of Umayyad rule—not in the east, but in the far west. This pivotal moment likely altered the course of history, as his transformation of Alandalus laid the foundations for the flourishing of knowledge and culture that would eventually ignite the European Renaissance.
Many saw his youth as a chance to seize power. They miscalculated. Abdulrahamn was relentless and stood firm, trusting no one, and swiftly silencing any who opposed him. His greatest rival, the Abbasid caliph, named him the Falcon of Quraysh, a title that commanded both fear and respect. He was not merely a ruler; but a visionary, laying the foundation of a civilization that would echo through time. He built a formidable army, ensuring the security of his realm and the strength of his leadership, fortified Córdoba with a protective wall, and raised the Great Mosque, a monument of both faith and artistry. The wisdom he inherited from his grandfather’s Rosafa by the Euphrates, where the land itself taught him the art of cultivation, deeply influenced his rule. The first date palm in Europe, a gift from his sister, was planted in the Rosafa of Córdoba, symbolizing the link between his past and the new world he was forging. The arches of the Great Mosque, reminiscent of the date groves of his youth, reflected his enduring connection to his Arab roots in the east. Under his vigilant watch, Alandalus thrived.
He was a leader who walked among his people, often seen in his distinctive white attire, which became a symbol of his identity. Among his people, he moved with a calm authority, attending to their needs and standing with them in moments of grief at funerals. He would often lead the people of Cordoba in prayer. Abdulrahman was quick in action, sharp in intellect, and eloquent in speech, his legacy left a profound and lasting impact on history. Abdulrahman closely observed his two eldest sons, Hisham and Sulaiman, for signs of leadership. In gatherings, Hisham would steer conversations towards science, poetry, and history, while Sulaiman often indulged in trivial matters. As a proud Arab who valued his ancestors, Abdulrahman tested his sons by reciting a poem. When Hisham instantly identified it as the work of Imru Alqayis of Najd in Arabia, Abdulrahman embraced him warmly, as if Hisham himself had composed verses in his honor. This gesture solidified Hisham's standing as the rightful successor, while Sulaiman was dismissive in his response saying that he had better things to do than memorize the verses of Arabs, this revealed his lack of understanding and wisdom. Abdulrahman then devoted himself to nurturing Hisham's leadership qualities.
Abdulrahman was a gifted poet himself, often reflecting with beautiful nostalgia on the land of his ancestors in his verses. When those who had helped him reclaim Umayyad rule in Alandalus turned against him, hoping for a share of power, they accused him of merely relying on luck. In response, Abdulrahman crafted a powerful poem, speaking of the envious who betrayed him and emphasizing that maintaining good fortune requires both cleverness and skill. He asserted that as long as his lineage endured, the rule would remain firm and strong.
لا يلف ممتنّ علينا قائل لولاي ما ملك الأنام الداخل
سعدي وحزمي والمهنّد والقنا ومقادر بلغت وحال حائل
إنّ الملوك مع الزمان كواكب نجم يطالعنا ونجم آفل
والحزم كلّ الحزم أن لا يغفلوا أيروم تدبير البريّة غافل؟
ويقول قوم سعده لا عقله خير السعادة ما حماها العاقل
أبني أميّة قد جبرنا صدعكم بالغرب رغما والسعود قبائل
ما دام من نسلي إمام قائم فالملك فيكم ثابت متواصل
He passed away in 788 CE at the age of 59, after ruling for nearly 34 years during which he transformed the land culturally, agriculturally, militarily, and urbanely. He left behind a solid foundation for greatness, one that, if carefully maintained, could have endured for centuries—and indeed, it nearly did. To learn more about the events that followed during the last Umayyad ruler of Alandalus in 1031 CE, you can explore the subsequent history here.
By Tarfah Alrawaf
All photos and videos are taken by me