Abassa (fl. 8th c.)

Arabian noblewoman. Name variations: Abbasa. Born around 765; died in 803 or later; daughter of a Persian maiden and al-Mahdi, 3rd Abbasid caliph (or ruler) of Baghdad (present-day Iraq); half-sister of Musa al-Hadi (4th Abbasid caliph, r. 785–786), Harun al-Rashid (Haroun al-Raschid; 5th Abbasid caliph, r. 786–809), Ulayya (an Arabian singer), and Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi; stepdaughter of al-Khaizaran ; married Jafar (or Jaffar) ibn Yahya al-Barmeki, member of the powerful Barmak (Barmek, Barmakis, Barmakids or Barmecide) family; children: twin boys.

Abassa was the half-sister of Harun al-Rashid, whose 8th-century court, depicted by the mythical storyteller Scheherazade in the Arabian Nights, was known for its opulence and learning. Harun was a dynamic ruler during the golden age of the Abbasid Empire, which stretched from India to North Africa and was celebrated by poets, musicians, and writers of the time. As the fifth and most famous Abbasid caliph of Baghdad, he encouraged the arts and foreign influence. He could also, however, be treacherous.

Harun's loyal friend and grand vizier (high officer or minister) was Yahya, a member of the powerful, wealthy Persian family originally founded by Barmak. The Barmakis had considerable influence over the Abbasid caliphs. Yahya, who had tutored Harun, had a daughter, the songstress Dananir al Barmakiyya , and two sons, Fazl (Fadl) and Jafar. Because the sons grew up with Harun and were loyal during a struggle for succession, they earned a reputation as the "little viziers" and continued their influence over him.

Thanks to his eloquence, intelligence, and charm, Jafar (named Giafar in the Arabian Nights) was a close companion to caliph Harun. Suffering from insomnia, Harun liked to have someone knowledgeable to talk with through the long nights and to join him on after-hour carousals. In some sections of the Nights, Jafar is one of Harun's late-night companions in sorties through Baghdad.

Harun al-Rashid's half-sister Abassa was another who drew his affection. Abassa was said to be so beautiful and accomplished that Harun lamented their status as brother and sister; he believed no other husband to be worthy of her. Longing to have Abassa join him on his evening excursions (which would have gone against Islamic convention), Harun decided to marry Abassa to his friend Jafar. This enabled him to indulge in the camaraderie of his two boon companions during his nocturnal roaming. The marriage, arranged for appearances and convenience, was conditional. Jafar was never to treat Abassa as his wife. But legend tells us that Abassa fell in love with Jafar and arranged to take the place of a slave girl who was sent to his rooms on Friday nights. Jafar, initially horrified and fearful of the consequences, went along with the subterfuge nonetheless. When twin sons were born in secret, they were sent away to Mecca to be reared. Their deceit was discovered in 803, and Harun had nearly the entire Barmakis family destroyed: Yahya was killed, Jafar was put to death while praying, and Fazl was paralyzed from shock.

One story contends that Harun also had Abassa and her two sons killed, while another reports that, dismissed from his court, Abassa wandered about, desolate, reciting her own story in song. Some Arabic verses composed by her, which commemorate her misfortune, are still extant. In the divan (a collection of poems) entitled Juba, Abassa's genius for poetry is mentioned, and a specimen of her composition addressed to her husband Jafar, in six Arabic lines, appears in a book written by Ben Abu Haydah.