The painting Ibn Fadlan Is Reading the Letter from Caliph Al Muqtadir to Almysh Khan depicts an important event in the history of Tatar nation — the nobility of Volga Bulgharia adopted Islam as the official religion. Niyaz Khazizakhmetov, a prominent artist, created this watercolour. He always strived to depict all the known and available details of a historic event.
Almysh, the Khan of Volga Bulgharia addressed Arab Caliph Al Muqtadir for assistance and support in his struggle against Khazar Khaganate. Caliph responded favourably, and the diplomatic party led by Susan ar-Rassi left Baghdad for Bulgharia on June 1, 921. It is most likely, that Ibn Fadlan was the second-in-command of the mission. He recorded all the things he saw on the way. The only counterpart of his manuscript called Risala (account or journal) was found in 1920 in the tomb of Imam Ali ibn-Riz in Mashhad (Iran). The document was not preserved fully; it lacks the ending. However, the story of the mission to Volga Bulgharia is very detailed.
Ibn Fadlan received the honour of reading out the letter from Caliph Al Muqtadir to Almysh Khan and to present the gifts. He was wearing savad for the ceremony — black clothes for the top bahadurs especially brought from home. Almysh Khan and his nobility stood upright while listening in sign of respect to Caliph.
Almysh, the Khan of Volga Bulgharia addressed Arab Caliph Al Muqtadir for assistance and support in his struggle against Khazar Khaganate. Caliph responded favourably, and the diplomatic party led by Susan ar-Rassi left Baghdad for Bulgharia on June 1, 921. It is most likely, that Ibn Fadlan was the second-in-command of the mission. He recorded all the things he saw on the way. The only counterpart of his manuscript called Risala (account or journal) was found in 1920 in the tomb of Imam Ali ibn-Riz in Mashhad (Iran). The document was not preserved fully; it lacks the ending. However, the story of the mission to Volga Bulgharia is very detailed.
Ibn Fadlan received the honour of reading out the letter from Caliph Al Muqtadir to Almysh Khan and to present the gifts. He was wearing savad for the ceremony — black clothes for the top bahadurs especially brought from home. Almysh Khan and his nobility stood upright while listening in sign of respect to Caliph.
The mission’s interpreters provided simultaneous interpretation. When the reading was over, Almysh Khan cried “Allah is great!” so that “the earth quaked”.
Then the ruler, his wife and children were smothered with Dirhams and given pearls, precious clothes and fragrances. In their turn, they invited Ibn Fadlan and his companions to the feast, where Almysh Khan recognised Caliph as his master and called himself by an Islamic name Jafar ibn Abdullah. In Arabic Abdullah means “servant of God”; when a man adopts Islam, his father, who did not have a Moslem name, is usually called so.
Ibn Fadlan is praised for binging Islam to the Volga region. In the mission he was responsible for the work of lawyers and teachers he had brought with him with the purpose to enlighten the Bulghar people about the laws and traditions of Islam. He faced a difficult challenge, when Caliph did not send him money to build a fortress for protection against Khazars (though he had promised to do so). This brought tension into their relationship. Nevertheless, Volga Bulgharia acceded the Moslem world.
Then the ruler, his wife and children were smothered with Dirhams and given pearls, precious clothes and fragrances. In their turn, they invited Ibn Fadlan and his companions to the feast, where Almysh Khan recognised Caliph as his master and called himself by an Islamic name Jafar ibn Abdullah. In Arabic Abdullah means “servant of God”; when a man adopts Islam, his father, who did not have a Moslem name, is usually called so.
Ibn Fadlan is praised for binging Islam to the Volga region. In the mission he was responsible for the work of lawyers and teachers he had brought with him with the purpose to enlighten the Bulghar people about the laws and traditions of Islam. He faced a difficult challenge, when Caliph did not send him money to build a fortress for protection against Khazars (though he had promised to do so). This brought tension into their relationship. Nevertheless, Volga Bulgharia acceded the Moslem world.
