The Caliph Who Sent an Army for One Woman

10 Jul

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

The Tyrant with a Virtue

Al-Mu‘tasim Billah, son of Harun al-Rashid and the eighth Abbasid caliph, was undoubtedly an oppressor. He killed scholars and imprisoned others over disputes in aqīdah. But this article isn’t about dissecting his legacy—it’s about one famous incident that highlights a virtue sorely lacking in today’s Muslim rulers: jealousy over a Muslim’s honour being violated.

One of the most striking examples of Al-Muʿtaṣim’s reign occurred in 837 AD. That year, the Byzantine emperor Theophilos led an army of 100,000 from Constantinople into Muslim lands in northern Mesopotamia. His forces ravaged the cities of Zibatrah and Malatya, brutally mutilating Muslim captives—blinding them and cutting off their noses. Waves of terrified refugees fled to Samarra as Zibatrah fell into enemy hands. Panic and despair spread among the Muslims.

A Woman’s Call for Help

Amidst this chaos, in the city of Umūriyyah (Amorium), a Muslim woman was taken captive by the Romans and publicly abused. In her desperation, she cried out: “Wā Muʿtaṣimā!—Where are you, O Muʿtaṣim?”

A Roman remarked in a sarcastic manner: “Where are you calling out to Mu’tasim and how can he answer you? Will he be able to ride on the fastest of horses and come to your aid?” He slapped her in public, dragging her away.

A Muslim man witnessed the incident and rushed to the Caliph’s court. He declared: “O Ameerul Mo’mineen! I am coming from a place called Umuriyah and I have indeed seen a most amazing event. A Christian slapped a female slave who was a Muslim. In this state of helplessness, the female slave cried, ‘O Caliph Mu’tasim! Where are you?”

Al Mu’tasim became red with anger, responding to her plight with a simple line: “Labbaiki” (I am here at your call).

The Seige of Umuriyah

The Caliph joined the army which besieged the city of Umuriyah, however the siege took longer than expected. He consulted his generals who suggested he should attack during the time of harvest. However, this was far away so the caliph rejected this idea. He walked around the camp to hear the opinion of his men, catching the conversation of a slave criticising his military strategy. The slave declared that if he had control of the army he would defeat these people and capture the city in a day.

The next morning the caliph confronted him over his words. The slave replied, "If you give me the command of the army, then I will certainly defeat these people and capture this city with the Divine Help of Allah Almighty.”

Al Mu’tasim instantly put him in charge of the army.

As promised, an army besieged the town in a day and entered the city.

When Mu’tasim billah entered the city, he found the woman and brought her forward. He asked her.

“Has Mu’tasim come to your aid or not?”

Elated, she nodded in agreement.

This was the sole moment the Muslim army had poured its immense effort into—an effort that required the finest horses, thousands of soldiers, and a siege. Yet it was a moment of deep significance for many reasons.

Unity Under One Cause

This victory was not the result of one man, but the unified actions of many. Without the messenger who delivered the news, the Caliph who gave the command, the army that marched, or the slave who led them to the gates—none of it would have been possible.

It was the collective effort of the Muslims that restored the honour of a single woman. This reminds us that true strength lies not just in leadership, but in a nation united by a shared cause.

It’s this very unity that we are missing today—and so desperately need to revive.

The Honour of the Muslims is Sacred

What drove Al-Muʿtasim—a ruler surrounded by controversy—to be moved by the cry of a single woman in a distant land?

Perhaps he understood one simple truth: it is a disgrace for a leader to witness the humiliation of fellow Muslims, no matter how far away. The woman was not killed, yet he levelled an entire town to restore her honour.

You don’t need to be a scholar to have ‘izzah—a deep sense of pride and dignity—for the Muslim Ummah. Even the most unlearned among us can possess this trait.

When enemies seek to break a nation, they target its most vulnerable. Today, Muslim men, women, and children continue to suffer—met with nothing but global silence.

The Situation Today

The story of Al-Muʿtasim and the woman shows that a leader can be moved by honour and a genuine desire to defend, especially when fellow Muslims suffer far away.

This mentality is desperately needed now.

Across the world, oppressed believers cry out for help amid ongoing humiliation. Every day, Palestinian women are stripped and degraded at checkpoints, their dignity shattered.

Muslim sisters in France are forced to unveil themselves and are often expelled from public life simply for their choice of clothing. Sudanese women suffer sexual violence amidst an ongoing genocide. Meanwhile, chilling images emerge of Syrian women leaving Sednaya prison after Assad’s fall, clutching children they never had when they entered.

Every day, bombs fall over Muslim lands, turning cities into graveyards displayed on our screens. Men, women, and children desperately need liberation from oppression. Yet we cannot even send an army to free one nation—let alone rescue a single Muslim woman.

When this suffering becomes the norm, it reveals a troubling reality: an Ummah lacking leadership, honour, and identity.

If a controversial caliph could fight for one woman’s honour, what excuse do we have as millions die unnoticed?

We ask Allāh to raise among us guided leaders who follow the way of the Prophet (sallAllāhu ʿalayhi wasallam), implementing His guidance, liberating the oppressed, and restoring honour to this Ummah. Ameen.

Jazākallāh khayran for reading. Please share your thoughts in the comments—your feedback, insights, and reflections are deeply appreciated.

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