Benjamin of Tudela, a Spanish Jew who travelled to Baghdad in 1168, described the situation of the Iraqi Jewry in these words:

‎"In Baghdad there are about forty thousand Jews, and they dwell in security, prosperity, and honour under the great Caliph [al-Mustanjid, 1160-70 CE], and amongst them are great sages, the Heads of the Academies engaged in the study of the Law…"