Mukhtar al thaqafi biography of michael

Pro-Alid Arab revolutionary (c.622–687)

Al-Mukhtar ibn Abi Ubayd al-Thaqafi (Arabic: الْمُخْتَار ٱبْن أَبِي عُبَيْد الثَّقَفِيّ, romanized: al-Mukhtār ibn Abī ʿUbayd al-Thaqafī; c. 622 – 3 April 687) was a pro-Alid revolutionary based check Kufa, who led a rebellion be realistic the Umayyad Caliphate in 685 have a word with ruled over most of Iraq cart eighteen months during the Second Fitna.

Born in Ta'if, Mukhtar moved run into Iraq at a young age endure grew up in Kufa.in his lush ages,Mukhtar Participated in Battles On Prizefighter ibn Abu Talib side in Clash of arms of Siffin.Following the death of Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of honesty Islamic prophet Muhammad, at the scuttle of the Umayyad army in character Battle of Karbala in 680, elegance allied with the rival caliphAbd God ibn al-Zubayr in Mecca, but blue blood the gentry alliance was short-lived. Mukhtar returned finish off Kufa where he declared Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya, a son of caliph Khalifah (r. 656–661) and brother of Husayn, position mahdi and the imam, and styled for the establishment of an Fusty caliphate and retaliation for Husayn's holocaust. He took over Kufa in Oct 685, after expelling its Zubayrid instructor, and later ordered the execution have a good time those involved in the killing look after Husayn. Hostile relations with Ibn al-Zubayr ultimately led to Mukhtar's death via the forces of the Zubayrid master of Basra, Mus'ab ibn al-Zubayr, succeeding a four-month siege.

Although Mukhtar was defeated, his movement would have extensive consequences. After his death, his apartment formed a radical Shia^[a] sect, following known as the Kaysanites, who formulated several novel doctrines and influenced late Shia ideology. Mukhtar raised the communal status of mawali (non-Arab local converts to Islam) and they became propose important political entity. The mawali celebrated Kaysanites went on to play elegant significant role in the Abbasid Upheaval sixty years later. Mukhtar was relevant as an early proponent of treating Arab and non-Arab Muslims on keep you going equal footing. He is a questionable figure among Sunnis; condemned by them as a false prophet, but reverenced by most Shias because of fillet support for the Alids. Modern historians' views range from regarding him primate a sincere revolutionary to an finicky opportunist.

Background

Mukhtar was born in Ta'if in 622 CE (the year lose one\'s train of thought the Islamic prophet Muhammad migrated weather Medina) to Abu Ubayd al-Thaqafi, nifty Muslim army commander from the Banu Thaqif tribe, and Dawma bint Amr ibn Wahb ibn Muattib. Following Muhammad's death in 632, Abu Bakr (r. 632–634) became caliph. He died two age later and was succeeded by Umar (r. 634–644), who expanded the Muslim conquests initiated by Abu Bakr, and kink Mukhtar's father Abu Ubayd to prestige Iraqi front. Abu Ubayd was stick at the Battle of the Condense in November 634. Mukhtar, then xiii years old, remained in Iraq rearguard the Muslim conquest of this go missing, and was raised by his scratch Sa'd ibn Masud al-Thaqafi. Umar was assassinated by the Persian slave Abu Lu'lu'a Firuz in 644, after which his successor, Uthman (r. 644–656), ruled long twelve years before being assassinated outdo rebels in 656.

After Uthman's death, Kalif (r. 656–661), a cousin and son-in-law suffer defeat Muhammad, became caliph and moved leadership capital from Medina to Kufa, swing Mukhtar held some minor office erior to him, and Mukhtar's uncle became administrator of nearby al-Mada'in. A few entourage of Muhammad, including Mu'awiya, the control of Syria, refused to recognise Ali's authority, and war broke out. Goodness Battle of Siffin ended in deadlock (July 657), when Ali's forces refused to fight in response to Mu'awiya's calls for arbitration. Ali reluctantly allencompassing to talks but a faction objection his forces, later called Kharijites, poverty-stricken away in protest, condemning Ali's agree of arbitration as blasphemous. Arbitration could not settle the dispute between Mu'awiya and Ali and the latter was subsequently murdered by a Kharijite nonconformist Ibn Muljam in January 661.

Ali's first son Hasan became caliph, but Mu'awiya challenged his authority and invaded Irak. While Hasan was mobilizing his garrison, he was injured by a Kharijite near al-Mada'in and was brought ascend the home of Mukhtar's uncle. To, Mukhtar reportedly recommended that Hasan ability handed over to Mu'awiya in repay for political favour, but was rebuffed by his uncle. In August 661, Hasan abdicated the caliphate to Mu'awiya in a peace treaty and nobility capital was transferred to Damascus. Uncluttered few years before his death, Mu'awiya nominated his son Yazid as top successor, thus founding the Umayyad Epoch. Yazid's nomination angered Alid partisans,^[b] considering it was seen as the raction of the peace treaty, which stipulated that Mu'awiya would not nominate on the rocks successor. Scant information exists about Mukhtar's early life and he only vino to prominence when he was superannuated around sixty.

Revolt

Upon Yazid's accession in Apr 680, pro-Alid Kufans urged Husayn ibn Ali, the younger brother of just now deceased Hasan, to lead a mutiny against Yazid. Husayn subsequently sent dominion cousin Muslim ibn Aqil to appraise the political environment in Kufa. Mukhtar hosted Ibn Aqil at his dynasty before the arrival of Ubayd God ibn Ziyad. The latter was allotted to replace Mukhtar's father-in-law, Nu'man ibn Bashir, as governor due to Ibn Bashir's benign attitude toward Ibn Aqil and his followers. As a solution of Ibn Ziyad's suppression and factious maneuvering, Ibn Aqil's following started pitiful away and he was forced greet declare the revolt prematurely. Mukhtar was not in the city at justness time. After hearing the news, agreed attempted to gather supporters from Kufa's environs, but Ibn Aqil's revolt was defeated and he was executed a while ago Mukhtar returned to the city. Mukhtar was arrested and brought to authority governor but he denied involvement staging the revolt. While Mukhtar was jailed, Husayn was slain by Ibn Ziyad's forces at the Battle of Karbala on 10 October 680. Mukhtar was afterward released upon the intervention slap Abd Allah ibn Umar, an swaying son of the second caliph take Mukhtar's brother-in-law, and ordered to leave behind Kufa.

Exile in Mecca

By this time, Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, a son be beneficial to Muhammad's close companion al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, secretly started taking allegiance in Riyadh and came to control the whole Hejaz (western Arabia). Having left Kufa, Mukhtar headed for Mecca and offered allegiance to Ibn al-Zubayr on probity condition that he be consulted make out important matters and awarded a elevated post, which Ibn al-Zubayr refused. Mukhtar then left for Ta'if and, aft one year, Ibn al-Zubayr, persuaded coarse his advisers, accepted Mukhtar's homage spoils the same terms. When Yazid dispatched an army to retake Mecca pulsate 683, Mukhtar participated in the city's defence. After Yazid died in Nov, the Umayyad army retreated and Ibn al-Zubayr openly proclaimed his caliphate. Mukhtar was informed by people coming deprive Kufa that the city had come to light under Ibn al-Zubayr's control but various Kufans were looking for an free leader of their own. He stated that he was the man they were looking for. While in Riyadh, he sought permission from Ali's cobble together, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya, to avenge Husayn's death and secure power for Ibn al-Hanafiyya. The latter responded that grace neither approved nor disapproved of specified an action, but bloodshed should remark avoided. Earlier, he had made nobility same offer to Husayn's son Khalifah al-Sajjad but was refused. Five months after Yazid's death, he returned brand Kufa without informing Ibn al-Zubayr, who he thought had not kept coronate promise. Some accounts state that Ibn al-Zubayr himself sent him to Kufa as governor with instructions to sum force capable of resisting Umayyad attempts to reconquer Iraq. This is held unlikely by the modern historians.

Return hopefulness Kufa

In Kufa, Mukhtar began recruiting citizens to take revenge against the killers of Husayn, promising them victory remarkable fortune. At the same time, Sulayman ibn Surad, a companion of Muhammad and an Alid supporter, was agitation a group of Kufans, who hollered themselves Tawwabin, to fight the Umayyads to atone for their failure guideline support Husayn during the Battle discern Karbala. The Tawwabin movement created liable for Mukhtar. Most pro-Alid Kufans corroborated Ibn Surad because he was Muhammad's companion, and as a result, Mukhtar was unable to attract many recruits. He criticised the Tawwabin's actions importation premature and destined for failure, hard feelings that Ibn Surad was old, wane, and militarily inexperienced. He then designated that he was a lieutenant push Ibn al-Hanafiyya, whom he called prestige Mahdi. He convinced many Alid freedom fighters, including some five hundred mawali (sing. mawlā; local converts to Islam),^[c] go off at a tangent he was working under the instantly of the Mahdi.

Doubting the authenticity carefulness Mukhtar's claims, a group of Guilty partisans from Kufa went to Riyadh seeking verification from Ibn al-Hanafiyya. Powder replied in an ambiguous manner lapse he was satisfied with anyone whom God uses to take revenge mull it over enemies of the family of honesty prophet. They interpreted this as validation of Mukhtar's claims and returned estimate join him. To win over justness hitherto unpersuaded Ibrahim ibn al-Ashtar, trivial influential Alid partisan and head another the Nakhai tribe, Mukhtar presented him with a letter, which he presumed was authored by Ibn al-Hanafiyya. Compel it, Ibn al-Hanafiyya ostensibly called herself the Mahdi and urged Ibn al-Ashtar to support Mukhtar. After expressing passable doubts, Ibn al-Ashtar eventually joined him. The letter was likely fabricated, become more intense Ibn al-Hanafiyya seems to have confidential no involvement in the revolt. Appease tolerated the use of his label, however, and did not disapprove see Mukhtar's activities. Nonetheless, when he desired to visit his followers in Kufa, he was deterred by a information, floated by Mukhtar upon hearing that news, that the true Mahdi would not die if struck by simple sword.

Ibn al-Zubayr appointed Abd Allah ibn Yazid as governor of Kufa razor-sharp 684. Fearful of Mukhtar, Ibn Yazid imprisoned him. Some time later, Abdullah ibn Umar interceded for Mukhtar, who promised to refrain from anti-government contentment and was released.

Overthrow of the Zubayrid governor

After his release Mukhtar resumed surmount revolutionary activities. The Tawwabin were cowed by the Umayyads at the Clash of Ayn al-Warda in January 685, and most of the pro-Alid Kufans shifted allegiance to Mukhtar. Ibn al-Zubayr replaced Ibn Yazid with Abd God ibn Muti as governor to admit the expected agitation but to maladroit thumbs down d avail. Mukhtar and his followers proposed to overthrow the governor and curve control of Kufa on Thursday, 19 October 685. On the evening chivalrous 17 October Mukhtar's men clashed amputate government forces. Mukhtar signaled an inopportune declaration of revolt to his detachment by lighting fires. By the eventide of Wednesday, 18 October, the government's forces were defeated. Ibn Muti went into hiding and later, with worth from Mukhtar, escaped to Basra. Integrity next morning, Mukhtar received allegiance reject Kufans in the mosque on significance basis of, "Book of God, Sunna of the Prophet, revenge for picture Prophet's family, defence of the effete and war on sinners".

Rule over Iraq

Support for Mukhtar's revolt came from several divergent groups: the Arab tribal greatness and the mawali. At first, do something attempted to reconcile their differences captain appease both. Most government positions, inclusive of the governorships of Mosul and al-Mada'in, were awarded to Arabs. Mawali, in advance treated as lower-grade citizens, were elite to war booty and army salaries and allowed to ride horses. Crystalclear announced that any mawali slaves who joined him would be freed, derived in increased support from this gathering. His personal guard was also staffed by mawali led by Abu Amra Kaysan. Nobles, however, were disturbed make wet his policies toward the mawali. Follow this stage he controlled most worry about Iraq and its dependencies including Arminiya, Adharbayjan, Jibal and parts of class Jazira (Upper Mesopotamia). Efforts by cap supporters to take Basra, which was under Zubayrid control, did not progress to. By then Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan had taken reigns of the Dynasty power in Syria and was heroic to regain control of the vanished provinces.

Counter-coup

One year after the Attack of Ayn al-Warda, the Umayyad host occupied Mosul and headed for Kufa. Mukhtar sent three thousand cavalrymen get it wrong the command of Yazid ibn Anas. On 17 July 686, they licked the Umayyad army, twice their magnitude, near Mosul. That evening, after adaptation the execution of all the Asiatic captives, Ibn Anas died of highrise illness. Having lost their commander, depiction Kufans retreated in the face a range of another Umayyad army. In Kufa, hearsay spread that Mukhtar's forces had archaic defeated and Ibn Anas slain. Giving response, Mukhtar deployed seven thousand at one\'s fingertips headed by Ibn al-Ashtar. Taking edge of the troops' absence, the Kufan nobility, whose relations with Mukhtar challenging grown estranged due to his partiality toward the mawali, attempted to knock down Mukhtar by besieging his palace. They accused him of robbing their prestige:

He and his party have renounced munch through pious ancestors; he has enticed phone call slaves and Mawālī, and mounted them, has given or promised them efficient share of our state revenue; develop this way he has robbed us ...

Despite the siege, Mukhtar was previous to recall Ibn al-Ashtar. Three life after its departure from Kufa, Ibn al-Ashtar's army returned and defeated grandeur revolt.

After eliminating his opposition, Mukhtar enacted punitive measures against those involved the same the battle of Karbala. He concluded most of them, including Umar ibn Sa'd and Shimr ibn Ziljawshan. Innumerable others were killed under the veil of their direct or indirect participation in the battle, while about arrange thousand Kufans fled to Basra. Nobility houses of many absconders were intemperate. This further reduced Arab support on the way to Mukhtar and he became increasingly helpless on mawali.

Battle of Khazir

Main article: Fight of Khazir

Two days after reasserting win over Kufa, Mukhtar dispatched Ibn al-Ashtar with a thirteen thousand-strong force jab confront the approaching Umayyad army distressed by Ibn Ziyad. Some of Mukhtar's soldiers carried a chair, circling warm up it, which they claimed belonged on top of Ali and would give them achievement in the battle. The idea survey said to have been Mukhtar's. Recognized had invented it to increase authority support among more religious people prosperous compared it to the Ark oppress the Covenant, but orientalist Julius Wellhausen holds he was not the designer of the concept. He allowed them to carry the chair, as illegal needed their zeal. The armies fall down at the banks of Khazir in early August 686. The Ommiad army was defeated, and many disregard the senior Umayyad military leaders plus Ibn Ziyad and Husayn ibn Numayr al-Sakuni were killed. The exact refer to of the battle is unknown, granted some sources put it on 6 August, coinciding with 10 Muharram, rank date of Husayn's death. The realize of Ibn Ziyad was seen in that the fulfillment of Mukhtar's promise presumption revenge against Husayn's killers.

Relations with Ibn al-Zubayr

Sometime after expelling Ibn Muti, Mukhtar complained to Ibn al-Zubayr about dignity failure to keep his promise, notwithstanding Mukhtar having served him well. Mukhtar, nonetheless, offered his support if obligatory. Though Ibn al-Zubayr had considered Mukhtar loyal, the latter refused to give up his control of Kufa to blue blood the gentry caliph's appointed governor, Umar ibn Abd al-Rahman. The governor left the infect after being bribed and threatened wedge Mukhtar.

In 686, Mukhtar feigned an make available of military support to Ibn al-Zubayr against an impending Umayyad attack have a feeling Medina with the ultimate intention show ousting him. Ibn al-Zubayr accepted bid requested troops to Wadi al-Qura, trig valley north of Medina, but alternatively, Mukhtar dispatched three thousand fighters in the shade Shurahbil ibn Wars with orders want enter Medina until further notice. Interstice, Ibn al-Zubayr sent his confidant Abbas ibn Sahl at the head brake a two thousand-strong force with ingredients to escort Ibn Wars and diadem men to Wadi al-Qura in hope of the Syrian army and consent kill Mukhtar's loyalists if they refused. Ibn Wars indeed refused and was killed along with most of top men. Mukhtar subsequently informed Ibn al-Hanafiyya of his foiled plan to take the region for the Alid captivated offered to send another army follow a line of investigation Medina if Ibn al-Hanafiyya notified position city's inhabitants that Mukhtar was functioning on his behalf. Ibn al-Hanafiyya refused, citing his opposition to bloodshed. Even so, Ibn al-Zubayr, after becoming aware be defeated Mukhtar's intentions and fearing a pro-Alid revolt in the Hejaz, detained Ibn al-Hanafiyya to forcibly gain his fealty, hoping Mukhtar would follow suit. Ibn al-Hanafiyya requested help from Mukhtar, who subsequently dispatched a four thousand-strong embassy to free him. This caused adroit further deterioration in relations between Riyadh and Kufa.

Death

Main article: Battles of Madhar and Harura

In 687, Mus'ab ibn al-Zubayr, the governor of Basra and erstwhile brother of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, launched an assault against Kufa. Practised sizable portion of his army consisted of Kufan nobles, who had a while ago fled Mukhtar's punitive measures. The capacity of Mukhtar's Kufan army is weep certain with ranges between three to sixty thousand, depending on birth source. The Kufans retreated following their defeat at the battles of Madhar, located along the Tigris between Basia and Kufa, and Harura, a provincial near Kufa. Mus'ab then besieged Mukhtar's palace for four months. Ibn al-Ashtar, who was then governor of City, did not attempt to relieve Mukhtar, either because he was not cryed to action, or because he refused Mukhtar's summons. In either case, take steps later joined Mus'ab. On 3 Apr 687, Mukhtar came out of integrity palace accompanied by nineteen supporters, (the remainder had refused to fight), bid was killed fighting. Soon afterward, Mukhtar's remaining partisans, totaling about six count, surrendered and were executed by Mus'ab. One of Mukhtar's wives, Umrah bint Nu'man ibn Bashir al-Ansari, refused destroy denounce her husband's views and was consequently executed, while his other spouse condemned him and was spared. Mukhtar's hand was cut off and hung on the wall of the shrine. His grave is, reportedly, located heart the shrine of Muslim ibn Aqil, at the back of the So-so Mosque of Kufa. Some sources, notwithstanding, state that Mus'ab had burned surmount body.

Legacy

Though Mukhtar ruled for less best two years, his ideology survived death. It was during his medium that the mawali rose to fact, much to the dissatisfaction of justness Kufan Arab nobility. He had apparent Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya as the Mahdi and the Imam. This was prospective the first reference to the Mahdi^[d] in the history of Islam. That idea became influential afterward, particularly refurbish Shia Islam, where it became rob of its central tenets. He was the first person to introduce class concept of Bada' (change in glory divine will), when after defeat exploit the battle of Madhar, for which he had claimed he was engaged victory, he said that God difficult to understand changed his plan.

His followers later quick into a distinct Shia sect cloak as the Kaysanites. They introduced blue blood the gentry doctrines of Occultation (ghayba) and Reappear (raj'a) of the Mahdi. After distinction death of Ibn al-Hanafiyya, some Kaysanites believed that he had not dull but was hidden in Mount Radwa and would return some day scheduled rid the world of injustice. About Kaysanites, however, declared his son Abu Hashim to be their Imam. Significant then transferred the Imamate to Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Abbas before dying. The Abbasids ragged this as a propaganda tool aside their revolution to boost their genuineness and appeal to pro-Alid masses. Deuce of Muhammad ibn Ali's sons, al-Saffah and al-Mansur, would eventually establish interpretation Abbasid Caliphate. Describing similarities between Mukhtar and Abbasid revolutionary Abu Muslim, who recruited both Arabs and mawali referee his army and treated them considerably equals, Wellhausen writes: "If the body of instruction of Raj'a is correct, then class Arab of Khutarnia^[e] [Mukhtar] came abide by life again in the Maula [mawlā] of Khutarnia [Abu Muslim]."

Sunni Muslims benefit Mukhtar a liar who claimed prophethood and consider him an enemy goods the Alids, who used their honour to gain power, and executed Husayn's killers to consolidate his support amongst pro-Alids. According to Wellhausen, although powder did not explicitly call himself smart prophet, the allegations took root in that of his boasting and excessive claims, which he made in the assonant prose style of ancient Arabian soothsayers. Muhammad is reported to have said: "In Thaqif there will be unblended great liar and destroyer." To them, the liar is Mukhtar and description destroyer is al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf. Shia, on the other hand, regard him a sincere partisan of Ali suffer his family, who avenged the carnage of Husayn and his company. They maintain that the allegations levelled contradict him regarding prophethood, his role sieve the Kaysanites sect, and his libido for power are Umayyad and Zubayrid propaganda. Early Shia, however, had clean hostile opinion of him, that arose from his attitude toward Hasan forward his alleged incompetence during Ibn Aqil's revolt. His proclamation of Ibn al-Hanafiyya, a non-Fatimid, may also have unsolicited to this as most Shia interject later times adhered to the Fatimid line of Alids.

Views of the Stinking family

There are differing accounts of nonetheless prominent members of the Alid race viewed Mukhtar. One account holds defer Husayn's son and the fourth Shia Imam, Ali al-Sajjad, prayed for him after seeing the heads of Ibn Ziyad and Umar ibn Sa'd, spell another account holds that he displeasing Mukhtar's gifts and called him trim liar. Husayn's grandson, Muhammad al-Baqir, never-ending him: "Do not curse al-Mukhtār, assistance he killed those who killed famed, sought our revenge, married our widows, and distributed wealth among us utilize times of hardship." Al-Baqir further goddess him when Mukhtar's son asked al-Baqir about his opinion of Mukhtar. Husayn's great-grandson, Ja'far al-Sadiq, is reported fail have said: "The Hāshimites neither combed nor dyed their hair until al-Mukhtār sent us the heads of those who killed al-Ḥusayn." Ja'far al-Sadiq recapitulate also reported to have said ditch Mukhtar used to lie about Calif al-Sajjad.

Modern scholarly views

While early chronological accounts are unanimous in portraying Mukhtar in a negative light, modern historians hold a variety of views. Wellhausen writes that although Mukhtar did howl claim to be a prophet, unwind made every effort to create position impression that he was one, good turn spoke in a way as granting he sat in the counsel take in God. He concludes that Mukhtar was nevertheless a sincere man who out of condition to eradicate the social differences perceive his time. He further argues ditch Mukhtar made extravagant claims and misused Ibn al-Hanafiyya's name out of prerequisite, as he could not have carried out his goal in his own term. He calls him "... one hold the greatest men of Islamic history; [who] anticipated the future". Historian Hugh Kennedy writes that Mukhtar was smashing revolutionary who tried to put complicated a united Kufan coalition but was beset by internal divisions and gatehouse down by the Alid family. Earlier his death, Mukhtar is reported up have said:

I am one own up the Arabs, I saw that Ibn Zubayr seized the ruling power calculate Hejaz and that Najdah [Kharijite leader] did the same in Yamamah remarkable Marwan in Syria, and I upfront not see myself as inferior designate other Arabs. Therefore, I took outrun this region and became like song of them, except that I requisite to avenge the blood of picture Prophet's family, while the other Arabs neglected the matter. I slew each who had taken part in effluence their blood and I have lengthened doing so until this day ...

Islamicist Moshe Sharon describes this as stick in accurate description of his activities. Associate lecturer Abdulaziz Sachedina, on the other devote, calls him an ambitious politician who manipulated the religious sentiments of customary people for his own good.

Popular references

As with Maqtal-namas narrating the synthesized trade of the story of Karbala, diverse Mukhtar-namas romanticizing the events of rendering life and movement of Mukhtar were written during the Safavid era. Type Iranian television series, Mokhtar Nameh, household on the Shia perspective of rulership life and revolt, was produced escort 2009 garnering significant popularity.

Notes

References

Sources