Abbasid DynastyAbbasid Dynasty751-870 AD751-870 AD

Egypt now gets a taste of a Shiite Dynasty. Egypt now gets a taste of a Shiite Dynasty. The Abbasids (related to the uncle of The Abbasids (related to the uncle of Mohammed) take power from the Umayyads Mohammed) take power from the Umayyads by killing all but 1 of the men from the by killing all but 1 of the men from the dynasty.dynasty.

They did this because of the corruption and They did this because of the corruption and degradation that the Umayyads were degradation that the Umayyads were bringing on Islam bringing on Islam

To further distance themselves from the To further distance themselves from the former ruling family, the Abbasids moved former ruling family, the Abbasids moved the seat of the Caliph from Damascus to the seat of the Caliph from Damascus to Baghdad.Baghdad.

Initially, it started with good relations with Initially, it started with good relations with the Coptsthe Copts

Again, the biggest problem was the Again, the biggest problem was the Waly’s greedinessWaly’s greediness

46 Walys governed Egypt during these 46 Walys governed Egypt during these 117 years.117 years.

24! Of them were during the reign of 24! Of them were during the reign of Caliph Harun El-Rashid (Caliph for 23 Caliph Harun El-Rashid (Caliph for 23 years)years)

The Caliph feared the separation of Egypt The Caliph feared the separation of Egypt if any Waly were to stay a long time and if any Waly were to stay a long time and may succeed to attract the people around may succeed to attract the people around himhim

Soon, as before, the collection of the geza Soon, as before, the collection of the geza promoted serious injustice for the Copts.promoted serious injustice for the Copts.

One episode stands out when Prince One episode stands out when Prince Ibrahim sent Lazarus, a Nestorian, Ibrahim sent Lazarus, a Nestorian, with some men to Egypt with orders with some men to Egypt with orders to collect the columns and marble to collect the columns and marble from the churches to decorate the from the churches to decorate the Palaces of the Caliphs and princesPalaces of the Caliphs and princes

The group marveled at the building The group marveled at the building of St Mena at Maryout and its of St Mena at Maryout and its ornaments and the beauty of its ornaments and the beauty of its coulmns and colored marble SO…coulmns and colored marble SO…

They destroyed the church and took They destroyed the church and took all the beautyall the beauty

Pope Joseph mourned this day and night Pope Joseph mourned this day and night as he took care to restore the churchas he took care to restore the church

The Lord struck Lazarus with a plague in The Lord struck Lazarus with a plague in Alexandria and he became very poorAlexandria and he became very poor

Pope Yusab (Joseph)’s response: “Who is Pope Yusab (Joseph)’s response: “Who is he that resists the Lord? For he shall be he that resists the Lord? For he shall be crushed.”crushed.”

During the period 725-825, there were 7 During the period 725-825, there were 7 major Coptic revoltsmajor Coptic revolts

Done in protest of the injustice of the Done in protest of the injustice of the WalysWalys

The last revolt ended with a horrible The last revolt ended with a horrible massacremassacre

During this time:During this time:– women were forced to wear women were forced to wear

prostitutes’ attire, men had to wear odd prostitutes’ attire, men had to wear odd clothes and to ride donkeys onlyclothes and to ride donkeys only

– Large houses of the Christians were Large houses of the Christians were seized and turned into mosquesseized and turned into mosques

– The tax went sky highThe tax went sky high– Great numbers of Copts were kicked Great numbers of Copts were kicked

out of their jobsout of their jobs– While some churches were destroyed, While some churches were destroyed,

others were banned from praying in others were banned from praying in themthem

– The number of Muslims exceeded the The number of Muslims exceeded the number of Christiansnumber of Christians

Why the change in demographics?Why the change in demographics?– 4000 soldiers came with Amr in 641 AD4000 soldiers came with Amr in 641 AD– Another 4000 were sent by Caliph OmarAnother 4000 were sent by Caliph Omar– Arabs are immigrating b/c of the wealth Arabs are immigrating b/c of the wealth

achieved by the first comersachieved by the first comers– During this period, the Walys each brought During this period, the Walys each brought

their contingent of soldiers, families with Turk their contingent of soldiers, families with Turk slaves who all stayed even after the Waly leftslaves who all stayed even after the Waly left

– Obaid Allah Ibn Alhabhab, a tax collector, in Obaid Allah Ibn Alhabhab, a tax collector, in 728 brought 3000 Arabs by permission of 728 brought 3000 Arabs by permission of Caliph Hesham Ibn Abdallah – where they Caliph Hesham Ibn Abdallah – where they stayed east of the Deltastayed east of the Delta

This last influx of Arabs had a This last influx of Arabs had a catastrophic and lasting impact of Coptic catastrophic and lasting impact of Coptic EgyptEgypt

These people mingled with the Copts and These people mingled with the Copts and worked in the farms and lived in Egyptian worked in the farms and lived in Egyptian villagesvillages

This was a change from the other This was a change from the other immigrants who did NOT mingle with the immigrants who did NOT mingle with the Natives but rather lived in their own cities Natives but rather lived in their own cities

Omar didn’t permit any immigrant Omar didn’t permit any immigrant muslims to work as farmers or to own muslims to work as farmers or to own lands but to focus on war and politicslands but to focus on war and politics

Because of this “separation”, they had no Because of this “separation”, they had no real influence on Copts by spreading real influence on Copts by spreading religion or languagereligion or language

With this new group sent by Omar, With this new group sent by Omar, however, all was about to change. however, all was about to change.

After the initial invasion, the Arabs used After the initial invasion, the Arabs used translatorstranslators

Many Coptic words were mingled with Many Coptic words were mingled with Arabic due to the slave Coptic women Arabic due to the slave Coptic women serving in the houses of Arabsserving in the houses of Arabs

Some of these words are used until nowSome of these words are used until now In 706 during the Caliphate of Alwalid Ibn In 706 during the Caliphate of Alwalid Ibn

Abdelmalek, the Arabic language became Abdelmalek, the Arabic language became the official onethe official one

In order to keep their governmental jobs, In order to keep their governmental jobs, Copts learned ArabicCopts learned Arabic

Coptic names of cities change to ArabicCoptic names of cities change to Arabic There was an order to translate Christian There was an order to translate Christian

and Coptic books into Arabic to review its and Coptic books into Arabic to review its contentscontents

Arabic was the language of politics, Arabic was the language of politics, administration, culture and muslim administration, culture and muslim religion; while Coptic was still used by the religion; while Coptic was still used by the Egyptians in the villages for at least 4 Egyptians in the villages for at least 4 centuries after the invasioncenturies after the invasion

In a serious precedent, the Caliph El Hakim In a serious precedent, the Caliph El Hakim Bi-Amr Illah issued a decree to stop using Bi-Amr Illah issued a decree to stop using Coptic even in houses or public places and Coptic even in houses or public places and to cut the tongues of those who refused to to cut the tongues of those who refused to speak Arabic over Copticspeak Arabic over Coptic

To the extent that Churches would be To the extent that Churches would be destroyed if Coptic could be heard destroyed if Coptic could be heard outsideoutside

In the 12 century, Pope Gabriel issued an In the 12 century, Pope Gabriel issued an order to read scripture in Arabic after order to read scripture in Arabic after Coptic in churchesCoptic in churches

Coptic language stayed in use for Coptic language stayed in use for communications in lower Egypt until 17communications in lower Egypt until 17thth century and until 16century and until 16thth in upper Egypt in upper Egypt

In 18In 18thth century, Copts wrote in Arabic century, Copts wrote in Arabic letters while it stayed in use as Church’s letters while it stayed in use as Church’s languagelanguage

Psalm 37Psalm 37

Glory Be to God Forever!Glory Be to God Forever!