Abu+Al-Abbas

avery coombe 471 words Greatness is a person who is distinguished and important, and who has reached this status by contributing to a group or cause that is greater than themselves. Abu Al-Abbas, first caliph and starter of the Abbasid Dynasty, was the greatest leader ever because he brought back the falling Islamic Empire, and supported and promoted his religion, Islam. His rebellion against the falling Ummayad Dynasty happened during a time when people were furious about high taxes, constant (and often unsuccessful) campaigning against other nations, the bad economy and many prejudices against different ethnicities including biases towards certain tribes, discriminatory taxes, and hypocrisy. These problems fueled the rebellion that Abu Al-Abbas and his family started. Abu al-Abbas’s rebellion against the falling Ummayad Dynasty was not only successful, but it also led to popular social changes, such as non-Arab Muslims being more accepted in society and having more rights. A dramatic surge of conversions to Islam came also after the rebellion. Abu Al-Abbas was strongly passionate about fighting for his empire and for his people. He said that he would “spill whatever blood was required to eliminate any opponents.” Abu Al-Abbas’s armies crushed the Ummayad family, their supporters and other rebel groups such as the Shia Muslims. He was prepared to kill not to gain personal power, but to support his country and his people, a true sign of greatness. The Abbasid Dynasty tracked down and killed almost every member of the Ummayad Dynasty but a few managed to escape. They fled to Spain where one of them established himself as the caliph. This was Abu’s one weakness, this second, rival caliph, but the Ummayad Caliphs never again gained much power and did not influence the empire the Abbasids ruled over. Abu al-Abbas’s passion for his country and his religion drove him to do great things and to create an empire that would survive almost five hundred years, and would be a renaissance of philosophy and science. He was a fighter for people of all races and ethnicities. Abu al-Abbas was, truly, the greatest leader and man there has ever been.
 * The Greatness of Abu Al-Abbas**

//Bibliography//

"Abu al-Abbas." //World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras//. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. "Abbasid Revolution." //World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras//. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. "Abbasids." 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica. Unknown. “Greatness” //Urban Dictionary.// 2012. Web. 9 Apr. 2012.