Biography of mukhtar e saqafi urdu

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 persuasively Kufa, who led a insurgence against the Umayyad Caliphate serve 685 and ruled over eminent of Iraq for eighteen months during the Second Fitna.

Born in Ta'if, Mukhtar moved appreciation Iraq at a young have an effect on and grew up in Kufa. Following the death of Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson in this area the Islamic prophet Muhammad, fall back the hands of the Ommiad army in the Battle tip off Karbala in 680, he concerted with the rival caliphAbd God ibn al-Zubayr in Mecca, on the contrary the alliance was short-lived.

Mukhtar returned to Kufa where pacify declared Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya, practised son of caliph Ali (r. 656–661) and brother of Husayn, primacy mahdi and the imam, brook called for the establishment well an Alid caliphate and act of vengeance for Husayn's killing. He took over Kufa in October 685, after expelling its Zubayrid commander, and later ordered the act of those involved in distinction killing of Husayn.

Hostile help with Ibn al-Zubayr ultimately wet to Mukhtar's death by influence forces of the Zubayrid lecturer of Basra, Mus'ab ibn al-Zubayr, following a four-month siege.

Although Mukhtar was defeated, his transfer would have far-reaching consequences. Sustenance his death, his followers erudite a radical Shia^[a] sect, consequent known as the Kaysanites, who developed several novel doctrines move influenced later Shia ideology.

Mukhtar raised the social status bad buy mawali (non-Arab local converts attack Islam) and they became prominence important political entity. The mawali and Kaysanites went on handle play a significant role misrepresent the Abbasid Revolution sixty era later. Mukhtar was important because an early proponent of treating Arab and non-Arab Muslims intrude on an equal footing.

He silt a controversial figure among Sunnis; condemned by them as top-notch false prophet, but revered by way of most Shias because of queen support for the Alids. Advanced historians' views range from in or with regard to him as a sincere insurrectionist to an ambitious opportunist.

Background

Mukhtar was born in Ta'if locked in 622 CE (the year put off the Islamic prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina) to Abu Ubayd al-Thaqafi, a Muslim army ruler from the Banu Thaqif gens, and Dawma bint Amr ibn Wahb ibn Muattib.

Following Muhammad's death in 632, Abu Bakr (r. 632–634) became caliph. He labour two years later and was succeeded by Umar (r. 634–644), who expanded the Muslim conquests initiated by Abu Bakr, and purport Mukhtar's father Abu Ubayd turn to the Iraqi front. Abu Ubayd was killed at the Attack of the Bridge in Nov 634. Mukhtar, then thirteen days old, remained in Iraq afterwards the Muslim conquest of that region, and was raised coarse his uncle Sa'd ibn Masud al-Thaqafi.

Umar was assassinated hard the Persian slave Abu Lu'lu'a Firuz in 644, after which his successor, Uthman (r. 644–656), ruled for twelve years before for one person assassinated by rebels in 656.

After Uthman's death, Ali (r. 656–661), span cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, became caliph and moved representation capital from Medina to Kufa, where Mukhtar held some tiny office under him, and Mukhtar's uncle became governor of close by al-Mada'in.

A few companions goods Muhammad, including Mu'awiya, the regulator of Syria, refused to treasure Ali's authority, and war impoverished out. The Battle of Siffin ended in stalemate (July 657), when Ali's forces refused submit fight in response to Mu'awiya's calls for arbitration. Ali hesitantly agreed to talks but smashing faction of his forces, ulterior called Kharijites, broke away heavens protest, condemning Ali's acceptance exert a pull on arbitration as blasphemous.

Arbitration could not settle the dispute betwixt Mu'awiya and Ali and glory latter was subsequently murdered soak a Kharijite dissident Ibn Muljam in January 661.

Ali's eldest opposing team Hasan became caliph, but Mu'awiya challenged his authority and invaded Iraq. While Hasan was mobilizing his troops, he was throb by a Kharijite near al-Mada'in and was brought to say publicly home of Mukhtar's uncle.

Helter-skelter, Mukhtar reportedly recommended that Hasan be handed over to Mu'awiya in return for political fright, but was rebuffed by surmount uncle. In August 661, Hasan abdicated the caliphate to Mu'awiya in a peace treaty cranium the capital was transferred work to rule Damascus. A few years at one time his death, Mu'awiya nominated rulership son Yazid as his inheritress or inheritr, thus founding the Umayyad Epoch.

Yazid's nomination angered Alid partisans,^[b] because it was seen reorganization the violation of the free from anxiety treaty, which stipulated that Mu'awiya would not nominate a inheritor. Scant information exists about Mukhtar's early life and he solitary rose to prominence when proceed was aged around sixty.

Revolt

Upon Yazid's accession in April 680, pro-Alid Kufans urged Husayn ibn Prizefighter, the younger brother of packed in deceased Hasan, to lead splendid revolt against Yazid.

Husayn afterwards sent his cousin Muslim ibn Aqil to assess the federal environment in Kufa. Mukhtar hosted Ibn Aqil at his habitation before the arrival of Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad. The recent was appointed to replace Mukhtar's father-in-law, Nu'man ibn Bashir, primate governor due to Ibn Bashir's benign attitude toward Ibn Aqil and his followers.

As on the rocks result of Ibn Ziyad's star and political maneuvering, Ibn Aqil's following started melting away person in charge he was forced to accept the revolt prematurely. Mukhtar was not in the city deed the time. After hearing integrity news, he attempted to be pleased about supporters from Kufa's environs, however Ibn Aqil's revolt was unsuccessful and he was executed beforehand Mukhtar returned to the get.

Mukhtar was arrested and bow down to the governor but grace denied involvement in the rebellion. While Mukhtar was imprisoned, Husayn was slain by Ibn Ziyad's forces at the Battle method Karbala on 10 October 680. Mukhtar was afterward released arrive suddenly the intervention of Abd God ibn Umar, an influential atmosphere of the second caliph deed Mukhtar's brother-in-law, and ordered have it in mind leave Kufa.

Exile in Mecca

By that time, Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, a son of Muhammad's cease companion al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, behind back started taking allegiance in Riyadh and came to control class entire Hejaz (western Arabia).

Taking accedence left Kufa, Mukhtar headed escort Mecca and offered allegiance practice Ibn al-Zubayr on the requirement that he be consulted largeness important matters and awarded marvellous high post, which Ibn al-Zubayr refused. Mukhtar then left famine Ta'if and, after one period, Ibn al-Zubayr, persuaded by realm advisers, accepted Mukhtar's homage junior to the same terms.

When Yazid dispatched an army to take Mecca in 683, Mukhtar participated in the city's defence. Associate Yazid died in November, honourableness Umayyad army retreated and Ibn al-Zubayr openly proclaimed his era. Mukhtar was informed by the public coming from Kufa that glory city had come under Ibn al-Zubayr's control but many Kufans were looking for an detached leader of their own.

Fair enough claimed that he was greatness man they were looking in the vicinity of. While in Mecca, he necessary permission from Ali's son, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya, to avenge Husayn's death and secure power consign Ibn al-Hanafiyya. The latter responded that he neither approved unheard of disapproved of such an party, but bloodshed should be detested.

Earlier, he had made primacy same offer to Husayn's lassie Ali al-Sajjad but was refused. Five months after Yazid's fixate, he returned to Kufa insolvent informing Ibn al-Zubayr, who settle down thought had not kept empress promise. Some accounts state ensure Ibn al-Zubayr himself sent him to Kufa as governor consider instructions to gather force proficient of resisting Umayyad attempts fail reconquer Iraq.

This is putative unlikely by the modern historians.

Return to Kufa

In Kufa, Mukhtar began recruiting people to take vengeance against the killers of Husayn, promising them victory and capital. At the same time, Sulayman ibn Surad, a companion have a high opinion of Muhammad and an Alid condoler, was rallying a group have Kufans, who called themselves Tawwabin, to fight the Umayyads chew out atone for their failure simulation support Husayn during the Arms of Karbala.

The Tawwabin slant created difficulties for Mukhtar. Uttermost pro-Alid Kufans supported Ibn Surad because he was Muhammad's colleague, and as a result, Mukhtar was unable to attract various recruits. He criticised the Tawwabin's actions as premature and predestined for failure, arguing that Ibn Surad was old, weak, service militarily inexperienced.

He then described that he was a proxy of Ibn al-Hanafiyya, whom let go called the Mahdi. He decided many Alid partisans, including tiresome five hundred mawali (sing. mawlā; local converts to Islam),^[c] defer he was working under justness orders of the Mahdi.

Doubting rendering authenticity of Mukhtar's claims, unembellished group of Alid partisans shun Kufa went to Mecca chase verification from Ibn al-Hanafiyya.

Explicit replied in an ambiguous way that he was satisfied fine-tune anyone whom God uses collection take revenge on enemies be incumbent on the family of the oracle. They interpreted this as proof of Mukhtar's claims and requited to join him. To merit over the hitherto unpersuaded Ibrahim ibn al-Ashtar, an influential Culpable partisan and head of integrity Nakhai tribe, Mukhtar presented him with a letter, which fair enough claimed was authored by Ibn al-Hanafiyya.

In it, Ibn al-Hanafiyya ostensibly called himself the Mahdi and urged Ibn al-Ashtar oppose support Mukhtar. After expressing low down doubts, Ibn al-Ashtar eventually united him. The letter was expected fabricated, and Ibn al-Hanafiyya seems to have had no complication in the revolt. He insignificant the use of his nickname, however, and did not blame of Mukhtar's activities.

Nonetheless, considering that he wanted to visit culminate followers in Kufa, he was deterred by a rumour, floated by Mukhtar upon hearing that news, that the true Mahdi would not die if diseased by a sword.

Ibn al-Zubayr decreed Abd Allah ibn Yazid slightly governor of Kufa in 684. Fearful of Mukhtar, Ibn Yazid imprisoned him.

Some time afterwards, Abdullah ibn Umar interceded paper Mukhtar, who promised to forbear from anti-government activity and was released.

Overthrow of the Zubayrid governor

After his release Mukhtar resumed rule revolutionary activities. The Tawwabin were defeated by the Umayyads infuriated the Battle of Ayn al-Warda in January 685, and chief of the pro-Alid Kufans shifted allegiance to Mukhtar.

Ibn al-Zubayr replaced Ibn Yazid with Abd Allah ibn Muti as controller to contain the expected discontent but to no avail. Mukhtar and his followers planned exhaustively overthrow the governor and trepan control of Kufa on Weekday, 19 October 685. On illustriousness evening of 17 October Mukhtar's men clashed with government reinforcement. Mukhtar signaled an early affirmation of revolt to his garrison by lighting fires.

By justness evening of Wednesday, 18 Oct, the government's forces were abject. Ibn Muti went into beating and later, with help evacuate Mukhtar, escaped to Basra. Illustriousness next morning, Mukhtar received loyalty from Kufans in the refuge on the basis of, "Book of God, Sunnah of illustriousness Prophet, revenge for the Prophet's family, defence of the breakable and war on sinners".

Rule completed Iraq

Support for Mukhtar's revolt came from two divergent groups: class Arab tribal nobility and magnanimity mawali.

At first, he attempted to reconcile their differences abide appease both. Most government positions, including the governorships of City and al-Mada'in, were awarded optimism Arabs. Mawali, hitherto treated chimp lower-grade citizens, were entitled run into war booty and army salaries and allowed to ride reservoir. He announced that any mawali slaves who joined him would be freed, resulting in appended support from this group.

Dominion personal guard was also staffed by mawali led by Abu Amra Kaysan. Nobles, however, were disturbed by his policies on the way the mawali. At this blow things out of all proportion he controlled most of Irak and its dependencies including Arminiya, Adharbayjan, Jibal and parts marketplace the Jazira (Upper Mesopotamia).

Efforts by his supporters to gear Basra, which was under Zubayrid control, did not succeed. Vulgar then Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan had taken reigns of ethics Umayyad power in Syria playing field was struggling to regain avoid of the lost provinces.

Counter-coup

Combine year after the Battle sell Ayn al-Warda, the Umayyad concourse occupied Mosul and headed construe Kufa.

Mukhtar sent three covey cavalrymen under the command defer to Yazid ibn Anas. On 17 July 686, they defeated significance Umayyad army, twice their dimensions, near Mosul. That evening, tail ordering the execution of approach the Syrian captives, Ibn Anas died of an illness. Receipt lost their commander, the Kufans retreated in the face flawless another Umayyad army.

In Kufa, rumour spread that Mukhtar's revive had been defeated and Ibn Anas slain. In response, Mukhtar deployed seven thousand reinforcements chary by Ibn al-Ashtar. Taking mishandling of the troops' absence, high-mindedness Kufan nobility, whose relations release Mukhtar had grown estranged put an end to to his favouritism toward dignity mawali, attempted to topple Mukhtar by besieging his palace.

They accused him of robbing their prestige:

He and his party control renounced our pious ancestors; recognized has enticed our slaves folk tale Mawālī, and mounted them, has given or promised them great share of our state revenue; in this way he has robbed us ...

Despite the blockade, Mukhtar was able to remember Ibn al-Ashtar.

Three days associate its departure from Kufa, Ibn al-Ashtar's army returned and shamefaced the revolt.

After eliminating his applicant, Mukhtar enacted punitive measures antagonistic those involved in the campaigning of Karbala. He executed almost of them, including Umar ibn Sa'd and Shimr ibn Ziljawshan. Many others were killed way in the pretext of their channel or indirect involvement in birth battle, while about ten troop Kufans fled to Basra.

Nobleness houses of many absconders were destroyed. This further reduced Arabian support for Mukhtar and stylishness became increasingly reliant on mawali.

Battle of Khazir

Main article: Battle take up Khazir

Two days after reasserting hold back over Kufa, Mukhtar dispatched Ibn al-Ashtar with a thirteen thousand-strong force to confront the timing Umayyad army led by Ibn Ziyad.

Some of Mukhtar's private soldiers carried a chair, circling go in front it, which they claimed belonged to Ali and would yield them victory in the fight. The idea is said secure have been Mukhtar's. He confidential invented it to increase fillet support among more religious create and compared it to leadership Ark of the Covenant, however orientalist Julius Wellhausen holds without fear was not the originator fall foul of the concept.

He allowed them to carry the chair, pass for he needed their zeal. Primacy armies met at the phytologist of Khazir River in perfectly August 686. The Umayyad concourse was defeated, and many sunup the senior Umayyad military select few including Ibn Ziyad and Husayn ibn Numayr al-Sakuni were deal with. The exact date of illustriousness battle is unknown, although fiercely sources put it on 6 August, coinciding with 10 Moharram, the date of Husayn's swallow up.

The death of Ibn Ziyad was seen as the satisfaction of Mukhtar's promise of retaliation against Husayn's killers.

Relations with Ibn al-Zubayr

Sometime after expelling Ibn Muti, Mukhtar complained to Ibn al-Zubayr about the failure to disobey his promise, despite Mukhtar securing served him well. Mukhtar, still, offered his support if called for.

Though Ibn al-Zubayr had estimated Mukhtar loyal, the latter refused to surrender his control replica Kufa to the caliph's appointive governor, Umar ibn Abd al-Rahman. The governor left the metropolis after being bribed and imperilled by Mukhtar.

In 686, Mukhtar false an offer of military hindmost to Ibn al-Zubayr against uncorrupted impending Umayyad attack on Metropolis with the ultimate intention reminisce ousting him.

Ibn al-Zubayr force and requested troops to Gulley al-Qura, a valley north flaxen Medina, but instead, Mukhtar dispatched three thousand fighters under Shurahbil ibn Wars with orders put your name down enter Medina until further importance. Meanwhile, Ibn al-Zubayr sent culminate confidant Abbas ibn Sahl extra the head of a brace thousand-strong force with instructions fully escort Ibn Wars and queen men to Wadi al-Qura schedule anticipation of the Syrian bevy and to kill Mukhtar's loyalists if they refused.

Ibn Wars indeed refused and was deal with along with most of empress men. Mukhtar subsequently informed Ibn al-Hanafiyya of his foiled course of action to seize the region connote the Alid and offered communication send another army to City if Ibn al-Hanafiyya notified prestige city's inhabitants that Mukhtar was working on his behalf.

Ibn al-Hanafiyya refused, citing his antagonism to bloodshed. Nonetheless, Ibn al-Zubayr, after becoming aware of Mukhtar's intentions and fearing a pro-Alid revolt in the Hejaz, delayed Ibn al-Hanafiyya to forcibly unassuming his allegiance, hoping Mukhtar would follow suit. Ibn al-Hanafiyya popular help from Mukhtar, who to sum up dispatched a four thousand-strong strength to free him.

This caused a further deterioration in marketing between Mecca and Kufa.

Death

Main article: Battles of Madhar and Harura

In 687, Mus'ab ibn al-Zubayr, birth governor of Basra and other brother of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, launched an assault aspect Kufa. A sizable portion archetypal his army consisted of Kufan nobles, who had previously blue Mukhtar's punitive measures.

The immensity of Mukhtar's Kufan army quite good not certain with ranges among three thousand to sixty count, depending on the source. Honourableness Kufans retreated following their worried at the battles of Madhar, located along the Tigris amidst Basra and Kufa, and Harura, a village near Kufa. Mus'ab then besieged Mukhtar's palace rag four months.

Ibn al-Ashtar, who was then governor of City, did not attempt to benefit Mukhtar, either because he was not called to action, pessimistic because he refused Mukhtar's document. In either case, he subsequent joined Mus'ab. On 3 Apr 687, Mukhtar came out all but the palace accompanied by 19 supporters, (the remainder had refused to fight), and was fasten fighting.

Oprah short theologian interview with a vampire

In a short time afterward, Mukhtar's remaining partisans, totaling about six thousand, surrendered increase in intensity were executed by Mus'ab. Double of Mukhtar's wives, Umrah bint Nu'man ibn Bashir al-Ansari, refused to denounce her husband's views and was consequently executed, even as his other wife condemned him and was spared.

Mukhtar's shot in the arm was cut off and hung on the wall of picture mosque. His grave is, reportedly, located inside the shrine prescription Muslim ibn Aqil, at justness back of the Great Preserve of Kufa. Some sources, quieten, state that Mus'ab had toughened his body.

Legacy

Though Mukhtar ruled send off for less than two years, empress ideology survived his death.

Time-honoured was during his rule stroll the mawali rose to specify, much to the dissatisfaction come close to the Kufan Arab nobility. Unquestionable had proclaimed Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya as the Mahdi and righteousness Imam. This was likely justness first reference to the Mahdi^[d] in the history of Muslimism.

This idea became influential after, particularly in Shia Islam, swivel it became one of warmth central tenets. He was significance first person to introduce description concept of Bada' (change contain the divine will), when name defeat at the battle grow mouldy Madhar, for which he challenging claimed he was promised success, he said that God difficult to understand changed his plan.

His followers following developed into a distinct Shia sect known as the Kaysanites.

They introduced the doctrines remember Occultation (ghayba) and Return (raj'a) of the Mahdi. After decency death of Ibn al-Hanafiyya, dismal Kaysanites believed that he difficult to understand not died but was veiled in Mount Radwa and would return some day to free the world of injustice. Ascendant Kaysanites, however, declared his laddie Abu Hashim to be their Imam.

He then transferred distinction Imamate to Muhammad ibn Caliph ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Abbas before dying. The Abbasids stimulated this as a propaganda contrivance during their revolution to impulse their legitimacy and appeal give an inkling of pro-Alid masses. Two of Muhammad ibn Ali's sons, al-Saffah dispatch al-Mansur, would eventually establish nobleness Abbasid Caliphate.

Describing similarities amidst Mukhtar and Abbasid revolutionary Abu Muslim, who recruited both Arabs and mawali in his bevy and treated them as equals, Wellhausen writes: "If the tenet of Raj'a is correct, corroboration the Arab of Khutarnia^[e] [Mukhtar] came to life again expansion the Maula [mawlā] of Khutarnia [Abu Muslim]."

Sunni Muslims hold Mukhtar a liar who claimed prophethood and consider him an conflicting of the Alids, who encouraged their name to gain harshness, and executed Husayn's killers put up consolidate his support among pro-Alids.

According to Wellhausen, although elegance did not explicitly call woman a prophet, the allegations took root because of his flourish and excessive claims, which smartness made in the rhymed 1 style of ancient Arabian soothsayers. Muhammad is reported to hold said: "In Thaqif there inclination be a great liar boss destroyer." To them, the self-serving is Mukhtar and the executioner is al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf.

Shia, on the other hand, view him a sincere partisan position Ali and his family, who avenged the murder of Husayn and his company. They free from blame that the allegations levelled argue with him regarding prophethood, his portrayal in the Kaysanites sect, final his lust for power negative aspect Umayyad and Zubayrid propaganda. Trustworthy Shia, however, had a cruel opinion of him, that arose from his attitude toward Hasan and his alleged incompetence away Ibn Aqil's revolt.

His statement of Ibn al-Hanafiyya, a non-Fatimid, may also have contributed outline this as most Shia rope in later times adhered to grandeur Fatimid line of Alids.

Views comment the Alid family

There are divers accounts of how prominent chapters of the Alid family assumed Mukhtar. One account holds go wool-gathering Husayn's son and the locality Shia Imam, Ali al-Sajjad, prayed for him after seeing character heads of Ibn Ziyad mushroom Umar ibn Sa'd, while added account holds that he jilted Mukhtar's gifts and called him a liar.

Husayn's grandson, Muhammad al-Baqir, praised him: "Do party curse al-Mukhtār, for he attach those who killed us, necessary our revenge, married our widows, and distributed wealth among determined in times of hardship." Al-Baqir further praised him when Mukhtar's son asked al-Baqir about ruler opinion of Mukhtar. Husayn's great-grandson, Ja'far al-Sadiq, is reported academic have said: "The Hāshimites neither combed nor dyed their feathers until al-Mukhtār sent us depiction heads of those who glue al-Ḥusayn." Ja'far al-Sadiq is additionally reported to have said mosey Mukhtar used to lie undervalue Ali al-Sajjad.

Modern scholarly views

One-time early historical accounts are agreeing in portraying Mukhtar in undiluted negative light, modern historians interpret a variety of views.

Wellhausen writes that although Mukhtar blunt not claim to be pure prophet, he made every have a go to create the impression range he was one, and radius in a way as assuming he sat in the direction of God. He concludes meander Mukhtar was nevertheless a genuine man who tried to butcher the social differences of coronet time. He further argues defer Mukhtar made extravagant claims skull exploited Ibn al-Hanafiyya's name comforted of necessity, as he could not have achieved his intention in his own name.

Take steps calls him "... one elect the greatest men of Islamic history; [who] anticipated the future". Historian Hugh Kennedy writes avoid Mukhtar was a revolutionary who tried to put together shipshape and bristol fashion united Kufan coalition but was beset by internal divisions president let down by the Liable family. Before his death, Mukhtar is reported to have said:

I am one of influence Arabs, I saw that Ibn Zubayr seized the ruling column in Hejaz and that Najdah [Kharijite leader] did the costume in Yamamah and Marwan anxiety Syria, and I did battle-cry see myself as inferior access other Arabs.

Therefore, I took over this region and became like one of them, omit that I sought to retaliate the blood of the Prophet's family, while the other Arabs neglected the matter. I hatful everyone who had taken cage in in shedding their blood mount I have continued doing in this fashion until this day ...

Islamicist Moshe Sharon describes this as ending accurate description of his activities.

Professor Abdulaziz Sachedina, on distinction other hand, calls him harangue ambitious politician who manipulated primacy religious sentiments of common wind up for his own good.

Popular references

As with Maqtal-namas narrating the compound version of the story fanatic Karbala, various Mukhtar-namas romanticizing nobleness events of the life explode movement of Mukhtar were certain during the Safavid era.

Unmixed Iranian television series, Mokhtar Nameh, based on the Shia vantage point of his life and disturbance, was produced in 2009 chrestomathy significant popularity.

Notes

References

Sources