Our mind rolls back to centuries when we hear about Baghdad. It is a historical land witnessed the evolution of sciences and cultures. The sweet memories of great Islamic scholars existed around the city. It has been the capital of Islam for about 500 years. Universities like Munthasariya and Nizamiya, thousands of Islamic scholars and scientists were born here. Proclamations of Caliph Mansoor, Chitchats of Haroon Rasheed and Zubaida, philosophical thoughts of Maumoon, boisterous laughers of Hollakove, wailings of Mustha hsim and roars of Saddam Hussein are entangled in its atmosphere. Greatest Islamic Scholars of ever times like Abu Haneefa, Ahmmed Ibn Hambel and Sufi saints like Junaid,  Sariyussaqthi and Muhyiddin Abdul Qader Jeelani (May Allah Mercy upon them) take their last rest here. The golden days of Arabic literature made an initial stage for the flowing of poets from here. Among them is the resplendent poet Abu Nuvaz. Besides, it is very remarkable that the first work in economics, Kithabul Kharaaj was written by Abu Yousuf in this city. Islamic spiritual leaders like Imam Shafi (R) who came from Egypt conducted debates in the mosques and palaces situated in Baghdad with some other scholars like Muhammad (R), the pupils of Abu Haneefa (R) and they influenced each other. This kind of debates was very helpful in having some tremendous changes in both sides. The emergence of new aspect (Jadeed) and old aspect (Qadeem) in Shafi school of thought is an example. In this way, an educational revolution was initiated in Baghdad.

Baghdad is the second largest city in Meddle East, Caliph Mansoor, the grand son of Ibn Abbas (R) established it in Hijra 136(AD 754). This great city, which left 1295 years behind, was established by Mansoor to make it the capital of Abbasid dynasty. In the era of Prophet (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him) and three renowned Caliphs, the capital of Islamic Govt. was holy Medina. Nevertheless, during the reign of Ali (R) it was alleviated to Kufa and afterwards to Damascus in the days of Umayyad dynasty. When Abbasid Caliphs conquered Umayyad in 132H, the capital in Iraq was Anbar, a place situated at the east shore of Euphrates. In this nearby city of Kufa, the influence of Shiya prevailed in an increased level. Therefore, Al Mansoor had not his way against them as he lacked mass support during agitations like the famous Ravandi. One of the key arguments of Shiya was that Abbasids have seized the deserved to them.      

The uncomfortable circumstances, in addition to the sandstorm blown always in the banks of Euphrates, generated hatred towards the mind of Al Mansoor. He started his journey with an invigilating troupe enquiring a proper place for his capital. When his troupe reached in a fantastic area surrounded by rivers, filled with trees and where Tigris River seemed to be twisting and whirling, Mansoor stopped his journey. 

Another river Sara also joined with Tigris from here. This place very much blessed by rivers and small canals as well as overflowed always got through with romantic beauty. Even if it situated in the west bank of Tigris it is not so far from Euphrates. Al Mansoor preferred the very strategically important area, furnished with fertilized land, fresh air and comfortable climate. Indian and chine’s goods easily reached here through Basra and Tigris, besides European goods reached through Euphrates. Persia, the back born of Abbasid dynasty is very near to Tigris. Khurasanis can reach here without much difficulty, in critical stages though Khurasan stands in the east shore of Tigris.

The place that was made firstly by an Iranian emperor for entertainment became very famous on the name Baghdad. There were many Christian centers in the neighboring areas. Monasteries and convents had remained here even after it became the capital of Abbasid dynasty. One of the great Arab poets in medieval period composed from here many poems that praised wine and virgins in this place.

A story in spite of its suspected background is narrated like this: When a Christian priest asked about the name of the king, who went on to construct a city here, to an officer of Al Mansoor, he replied that his name was Abdullah. He also mentioned his pet name and surname. Then the priest explained that the king could not construct the city, for their religious scriptures referred to another one, blessed among people known as Miqlas. When Mansoor was informed this story he was very happy for he had a name Miqlas in past called by his nurse. Once in childhood, when Mansoor came his house with friends there was nothing in house to give party to them. Then he pleased his friends by stealing her thread, which she used for spinning. When the old woman knew the matter, she called Mansoor Miqlas. After long days, he was renamed Mansoor and was sure of constructing the city.

Baghdad was very famous on the name ‘Bagdan’. According to Yaqooth, the historian, the term Baghdad derived from two Persian terms ‘bagh’ and ‘dad’, which means the garden of Dad. Bagh means garden and Dad means its owner. Bagdan means the contribution of Bag, the famous idle. According to some ideologists, Bag means the very dirty form of Begawan [god worshipped by Hindus] and Bagman means the contribution of Bagawan. Iraq was the part of Iran until it was liberated during the rule of Caliph Umar[R]. Religion and the language of Iranians and Indians had kept a similarity in primitive years.

Mansoor gave the name Madeenathussalam to the city. It means the city of peace. This city was built up by employers, engineers and technicians came from different corners of the world. Yaqooth says that their number was one hundred thousand. Consulting astrologers was a weakness of Caliph Al-Mansoor. It is reported by yaqooth [Thareekhul Islam page: 369] that the foundation of Baghdad was laid in the time prescribed by astrologers.

Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah Mercy upon him) had under taken significant role of an engineer in the construction of the city. Once, Caliph Mansoor had asked him to decorate the position of judge. When imam refused it, Caliph took an oath of entrusting a profession to Abu Hanifa (R) and even though he expressed his hesitation, he was compelled to accept it. Giving bricks was the job assigned for him. He had to give thousands of bricks, so it became a difficult to count down the bricks, ehhCounting the rows of bricks by a stick, this difficult could be tackled and so this instrument got a very wide spread acceptance in construction field. The custom of laying the foundation of the city was celebrated with pomp. According to historians for the construction works of the fantastic historic city, about 1,50,00000  Dinars were spent. Before 13 centuries, undoubtedly it is a great amount.

After long period, the Tartar guilt named Hulakukhan killed the last Abbasid Caliph ‘Musthahsim’ and burned Baghdad. Thousands of people were murdered in the tragedy, in addition to this, hundreds of libraries were burned. Because of throwing the ashes to the Tigris, a flood havocs the city sustaining for three days in the river.

The destroyed Baghdad was reconstructed after Second World War when Hashemite established their dynasty there. In 1932 when Briton entrusted the rule to the hand of Faisal Bin Shareef Hussein, the history of independent Iraq started. The military revolution by General Abdul Kareem Qasim in 1958 washed out the royal rule. Consequently, Iraq became a republic. Baghdad, being the center of Islamic culture for about five centuries is remembered still by Iraqis.