فدية منديل الرها
فدية منديل الرها
c. 943 CE · 331 AH
In 331 the Byzantines reached Arzan, Mayyafariqin and Nisibis, killing and taking captives, then asked for a kerchief kept in an Edessa church — said to bear the image the Messiah imprinted when he wiped his face — in exchange for releasing all their captives; it was sent and the prisoners freed 1.
At a glance
- Era
- The Early Abbasid Caliphate
- Region
- Levant & Iraq
- Review
- Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it
In time
Overview
In 331 AH the Romans asked the Muslims for a cloth kept in the church of Edessa, in exchange for the release of Muslim captives. 1
Al-Suyuti's account
Al-Suyuti reports that the Romans reached Arzan, Mayyafariqin and Nasibin, killing and taking captives. Then they asked for the cloth which they claim Christ wiped his face with, leaving his image on it, in return for the release of all whom they had taken. The cloth was sent to them and the captives were released. 1
Ibn al-Jawzi's account
Ibn al-Jawzi reports that a letter came from the king of the Romans asking for the cloth and promising to release a large number of Muslim captives. The caliph al-Muttaqi consulted the jurists and judges. Some present said that giving it up would be a humiliation to Islam. Ali ibn Isa said that freeing the Muslims from captivity had the better claim. Al-Muttaqi then ordered the cloth handed over and the captives freed. 2
Sources
- Tarikh al-Khulafa — al-Suyuti (Dar al-Minhaj edition), p. 609-610
- al-Muntazam fi Tarikh al-Muluk wa'l-Umam — Ibn al-Jawzi, p. 623-624
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “فدية منديل الرها”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/edessa-mandil-331/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.