Barid System and intelligence in the Early Age Islamic world

From the early ages one of the most important needs of human being is communication. People have formed different organisations to meet this need. We meet with "Barid" as a postal and communication system in the history of Islam. Muslims have come in communication activities from the period of Prophet Mohammad. The insitutionalization seen at the state government during the period of Caliph Omar closely affected the communication activities. The Postal System was used as a inteeligence service during the Umayyad Dynasty. The Communication activities insitutionalized as "Divanul Barid" during the Abbasid Dynasty.'Barid', which had organisation, roads, facilities and workers, was a big organisation. Barid was both a multi functional organisation and a intelligence service. There were so many intelligence agents who were working for the Barid. `Barid? was like ears and eyes of the Caliph because he could learn everything thanks to Barid. there was a hierarchical structure among the workers of the Barid. Mounts, infantry postmen, pigeons-couriers, fire towers and ships were used as communication appliances. There were roads and certain directions used by the Barid System. On these roads there were postal stations where postmen could have rest and change their tired horses.Key Words: Barid,Intellegence,Prophet Mohammad,Caliph Omar,Umayyad,Abbasid