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Al-Mu'tadid, Abbasid Caliph from 892-902, presided over nearly a decade of recovery for the Abbasid Caliphate, restoring Abbasid control over the provinces of Jazira, Thughur, and Jibal, and reining in the disloyal Tulunid and Saffarid vassal states, at least nominally. He also moved the capital back to Baghdad, engaged in major building projects, and reformed the tax system and administration to support his military campaigns. However, by the time of al-Mu'tadid's death in 902, a number of major threats appeared that would eventually plague the Abbasids, such as the rise of the Qarmatians and growing factionalism in the bureaucracy. Yet, this was in the hands of less capable successors.

If al-Mu'tadid lived 10-20 years longer, continuing to reign as Caliph, could the decline of the Abbasids be reversed?
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