Discussion of Student Mithaq Hafez Nima’s Thesis

A master's thesis, entitled (The Impact of the Political Conditions in the Abbasid Era on the Writings of Al-Jahiz 132AH-255AH), was discussed in the Department of History at the College of Arts at the University of Basrah.

The thesis presented by the student Mithaq Hafez Nima included three chapters. The first chapter discussed Al-Jahiz’s relationship with the statesmen and his writings for the Abbasid state, the second chapter discussed the political situation and its impact on Al-Jahiz’s writings, and the third chapter dealt with the political and religious conflicts in the first Abbasid era and their impact on Al-Jahiz’s writings.

The thesis aims at identifying and analyzing some of Al-Jahiz's books, which, through the course of events, made it necessary for him to engage in the political arena, out of his desire to raise the status of the Abbasids.

The thesis concluded:

1- Similar to al-Jahiz’s relationship with the Abbasid caliphs, he had relations with statesmen, as he was close to them and enjoyed their gifts in exchange for his writings.  

3- His pen had a great impact on rooting the issue of the Abbasid caliphate. 

4- His supportive position for the Abbasid authority at the expense of the right clarifies the contradiction in his ideas.