ISLAMIC, 'Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Muktafi, AH 289-295 / AD 902-908. Dirham (Silver, 25 mm, 3.11 g, 6 h), Makka (Mekka), AH 292 = AD 904/5. Album 244.1. Very rare. Very fine.


The caliphate of al-Muktafi was a time of turmoil, a the Qarmatians, a religious sect, brought parts of Arabia under its control and even laid siege to Dimashq in AH 290. In an attempt to unite Muslims, Jews and Christians under his leadership, Qarmat declared that Christ, Mahdi (the last Iman), the archangel Gabriel and the prophets of the Old Testament were all one and the same person. However, the caliph defeated the Qarmatians in AH 291 despite their early successes and had their leader beheaded. The present issue was struck in the year thereafter in Mekka, the holiest of all cities, and as all issues from Mekka, it is very rare.