He was content with the company of scholars and storytellers, never lacking in a session with them. His circle was not limited to the scholars of his own people and nation, but he also summoned a group of Christian, Jewish, Greek, Persian, and even Zoroastrian scholars, and they were pleased with him. He did not differentiate between any of them in terms of honor and generosity.

When Caliph Al-Ma'mun died, his brother Al-Mu'tasim bin Harun al-Rashid, the third, feared him. He was the first to adopt the title of "Al-Mu'tasim" in his epithet, so he named himself Al-Mu'tasim billah. He had appointed Kidar as the governor of Egypt, as he was his deputy there. Then he wrote to him, ordering him to dismiss the Arabs from the Diwan of Egypt and cut off their stipends. In the month of Rabi' al-Akhir in the year 218 AH, he dismissed Ibn Kidar. In the year 219 AH, Musa bin Al-Muzaffar died and was replaced by Musa bin Al-Abbas, known as Al-Shay'i, and others called him Al-Shay'i. In the year 220 AH, he summoned Malik, whom some called Al-Hindi and others Al-Kindi. Malik was dismissed, and the governorship of Egypt was entrusted by order of the Caliph to Ibn Kidar, the aforementioned. In the year 221 AH, Ja'far bin Anas was appointed, and he was the last to govern Egypt by order of Al-Mu'tasim. In the month of Rabi' al-Awwal in the year 223 AH, Caliph Al-Mu'tasim was afflicted with an illness in Samarra. In the year 224 AH, he died. It is strange that this Caliph, despite his fortune, was born in Sha'ban, which is the eighth month of the lunar year, and he was the eighth Caliph of the Abbasids. He was born in the year 179 AH and died in the year 224 AH, at the age of forty-five years and ten months. He left behind twenty-four sons and eight daughters. He participated in many battles and expeditions. Finally, upon his death, two hundred thousand dinars and one hundred thousand dirhams were found in his treasury. It is said that based on this strange coincidence, he was called "the eighth." This Caliph marked the beginning of the decline of the Arab state, and the reason for this decline was his weak policy, his lack of virtues and manners, and his illiteracy. However, he was strong in body, weighing a thousand pounds, and could walk a thousand steps. He was also brave and fond of war, acquiring weapons, horses, and armor. He was the first to enlist the Turks and use them in war.