Zaydi and Alid Revolts

 

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

والصلاة والسلام على رسوله الامين

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

ِThere is no doubt that the Umayyads—generally speaking—were the worst major dynasty to rule the Muslims. Safinah, radi Allahu anhu, a Companion of the Holy Prophet, sall Allahu alaihi wasallam, said,

‌هُمْ ‌مُلُوكٌ ‌مِنْ ‌شَرِّ ‌المُلُوكِ

They [Umayyads] were kings from the worst of the kings (Jami al-Tirmidhi)

With few exceptions like Mu’awiyah and Umar bin Abd-al-Aziz, radi Allahu anhuma, the Umayyads were tyrannical and acted contrarily to the Sunnah of the Prophet, sall Allahu alaihi wasallam. They committed oppression upon those of the Ajam (non-Arabs) who converted to Islam, still requiring them to pay Jizyah in plain violation of the Shari’ah. Due to their tyranny, there were countless revolts against the Umayyads, especially by the Kharijites, Zaydis, Copts and Berbers. But there were instances where brutality was required, especially against rebellious non-Muslim subjects. The Umayyad governor of Egypt, Abd-al-Aziz bin Marwan, father of the first Mujaddid Umar bin Abd-al-Aziz, rahimahumullah, had zeal for Islam and the Prophet, sall Allahu alaihi wasallam. In response to mischief from the Coptic Pope Isaac, “he commanded to destroy all the crosses which were in the land of Egypt, even the crosses of gold and silver. So the Christians in the land of Egypt were troubled. Moreover he wrote certain inscriptions, and placed them on the doors of the churches at Misr and in the Delta, saying in them Muhammad is the great Apostle of God, and Jesus also is the Apostle of God. But verily God is not begotten and does not beget” (History of the Patriarchs of the Coptic Church of Alexandria, part III, p.25)

So we Sunni Muslims appreciate those acts of the Umayyads that manifest the glory of Islam. The construction of the Dome of the Rock to cover and honor the Rock or Foundation Stone on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem which was the first Qiblah is one such act. The brutal but effective suppression of Coptic revolts—Copts being native Egyptians who were mostly Christian at the time—were also justified from an Islamic perspective. As per orthodox Sunni doctrine, revolt against any Muslim government, even one as tyrannical as the Umayyads, is religiously prohibited. The Umayyads should be appreciated for having killed or executed many heretics, like the false prophet Harith bin Sa’id, the heresiarchs Ja’d bin Dirham, Ma’bad al-Juhani, Ghaylan al-Dimashqi, Bayan bin Sam’an, Mughirah bin Sa’id al-Ijli, Jahm bin Safwan and others. With regard to the various Zaydi and Alid uprisings against the Umayyads, these are more complicated and require deep understanding to properly assess and pass a judgment upon. I do not believe that the Prophet’s beloved grandson Imam al-Husayn, radi Allahu anhu, intended to rebel against an established Muslim government. When he initially refused to pledge allegiance to the wicked Yazid the latter’s authority was not unambiguously established over the entire realm at that point. Yet when Imam al-Husayn was intercepted at Karbala by the treacherous army of Kufans sent by Ibn Ziyad and it became clear to him that Yazid has established his authority, he offered to go to Damascus to reconcile with him or that he be given the option to withdraw quietly to a frontier of the empire. But the cruel and savage Kufan army, composed mainly of those Shi’ites that had written many letters to him inviting him to lead them and had pledged allegiance to him via his cousin Muslim bin Aqil, acted treacherously and faithlessly by killing him and his companions. So it was not an armed insurrection, which is why his martyrdom and the massacre of his relatives and close associates at Karbala is an unparalleled tragedy. Other senior Companions of the Prophet like Ibn Umar and other senior Tabi’in like Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyyah, a half-brother of Imam al-Husayn, radi Allahu anhum, being aware of the Islamic imperative of hearing and obeying the ruler, did pledge their allegiance to Yazid, or at least remained silent and withdrawn. Of all the various sects of the Shi’ah, the Zaydis, who attribute themselves to the noble Imam Zayd bin Ali al-Sajjad, rahimahumullah, are relatively the closest to us mainstream, orthodox Sunni Muslims. And among the various factions of the Zaydis it is the Batriyyah who are the most moderate and closest to orthodox Sunni Islam, as they do not disassociate from or curse the Prophet’s first two Successors—Abu Bakr and Umar, radi Allahu anhuma. Nevertheless, the Zaydis believe it is necessary for a pious descendant of the Prophet, sall Allahu alaihi wasallam, to rise up with the sword against a tyrannical and immoral Muslim ruler and that the Muslims are obligated to support him. This is apparently the interpretation of the actions of Imam Zayd bin Ali, who rose up against the Umayyads. While we Sunnis respect the Imam, we do not necessarily agree with his armed uprising against the government. The great theologian Imam al-Ash’ari has listed and briefly described his uprising along with numerous others upon the Zaydi model:

زيد بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب

ثم خرج زيد بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب رضوان الله عليهم بالكوفة على هشام بن عبد الملك ووالي العراق يومئذ يوسف بن عمر الثقفي فقتل في المعركة ودفن فعلم به يوسف بن عمر فنبشه وصلبه ثم كتب هشام يأمر بأن يحرق فأحرق ونسف رماده في الفرات

1. Zayd bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib
Then Zayd bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with them, revolted in Kufa against Hisham bin Abd al-Malik, and the governor of Iraq at that time, Yusuf bin Umar al-Thaqafi. He was killed in the battle and buried. Yusuf bin Umar learned of it, so he exhumed him and crucified him. Then Hisham wrote ordering that he be burned, so he was burned and his ashes were scattered in the Euphrates (Maqalat al-Islamiyyin, v.1, p.153)

يحيى بن زيد

ثم خرج يحيى بن زيد بأرض الجوزجان على الوليد بن يزيد بن عبد الملك فوجه نصر بن سيار الليثي صاحب خراسان إلى يحيى بن زيد سلم بن أحوز المازني فحارب يحيى بن زيد فقتل في المعركة ودفن في بعض الجبانات

2. Yahya bin Zayd
Then Yahya bin Zayd went out to the land of Jawzjan against Al-Walid bin Yazid bin Abd al-Malik, so Nasr bin Sayyar al-Laythi, the ruler of Khurasan, sent Salim bin Ahwaz al-Mazini to Yahya bin Zayd, so he fought Yahya bin Zayd and was killed in the battle and is buried in some of the cemeteries (ibid, pp.153-154)

محمد بن عبد الله بن الحسن بن الحسن

ثم خرج محمد بن عبد الله بن الحسن بن الحسن بن علي بن أبي طالب بالمدينة وبويع له في الآفاق فبعث إليه أبو جعفر المنصور بعيسى بن موسى وحميد بن قحطبة فحارب محمد حتى قتل ومات تحت الهدم أبوه عبد الله بن الحسن بن الحسن وعلي بن الحسن بن الحسن وقتل بسببه رجال من أهل بيته ووجه محمد بن عبد الله أخاه إدريس بن عبد الله إلى المغرب ولولده هناك مملكة

3. Muhammad bin Abdullah bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan *[Muhammad Nafs al-Zakiyah]
Then Muhammad bin Abdullah bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib went out to Medina and was pledged allegiance in the horizons. Abu Ja’far al-Mansur sent Isa bin Musa and Hamid bin Qahtabah to him, and they fought Muhammad until he was killed. His father, Abdullah bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan, and Ali bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan died under the rubble, and men from his family were killed because of him. Muhammad bin Abdullah sent his brother, Idris bin Abdullah, to Morocco, and his son had a kingdom there (ibid, p.154)

*Idris bin Abdullah actually fled and established himself in Morocco after the failed uprising of al-Husayn bin Ali bin Hasan bin Hasan bin Hasan at Fakhkh, which will be mentioned shortly.

إبراهيم بن عبد الله بن الحسن بن الحسن

ثم خرج بعد محمد بن عبد الله أخوه إبراهيم بن عبد الله بن الحسن بن الحسن بن علي بن أبي طالب بالبصرة فغلب عليها وعلى الأهواز وعلى فارس وأكثر السواد وشخص عن البصرة في المعتزلة وغيرهم من الزيدية يريد محاربة المنصور ومعه عيسى بن زيد بن علي فبعث إليه أبو جعفر بعيسى بن موسى وسعيد بن سلم فحاربهما إبراهيم حتى قتل وقتلت المعتزلة بين يديه

4. Ibrahim bin Abdullah bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan
Then after Muhammad bin Abdullah, his brother Ibrahim bin Abdullah bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib went out to Basra and conquered it, Ahwaz, Fars, and most of the Sawad. He left Basra with the Mu'tazilah and others from the Zaydis, intending to fight al-Mansur, accompanied by Isa bin Zayd bin Ali. Abu Ja’far sent Isa bin Musa and Sa’id bin Salm to him, and Ibrahim fought them until he was killed, and the Mu'tazilah were killed before him (ibid)

الحسين بن علي بن الحسن بن الحسن بن الحسن بن علي

ثم خرج الحسين بن علي بن الحسن بن الحسن بن الحسن بن علي بن أبي طالب والتقوا بفخ وبايعه الناس وعسكر بفخ على ستة أميال من مكة فخرج إليه عيسى بن موسى في أربعة آلاف فقتل الحسين وأكثر من معه ولا يجسر أحد أن يدفنهم حتى أكلت السباع بعضهم وقتل مع الحسين صاحب فخ وبسببه رجال من أهل بيته

5. Al-Husayn bin Ali bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan bin Ali *[Sahib Fakhkh]
Then al-Husayn bin Ali bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib went out to Fakhkh and the people pledged allegiance to him and he camped at Fakhkh six miles from Mecca. Then Isa bin Musa went out to him with four thousand men and killed al-Husayn and most of those with him. No one dared to bury them until some of them were eaten by wild beasts. And because of him men from his household were killed with him, al-Husayn, Sahib of Fakhkh (ibid, pp.154-155)

يحيى بن عبد الله

ثم خرج يحيى بن عبد الله بن الحسن بن الحسن بن علي على أبي جعفر وصار إلى الديلم ثم قتل

6. Yahya bin Abdullah
Then Yahya bin Abdullah bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan bin Ali rebelled against Abu Ja’far and went to Daylam, whereupon he was killed.

*Yahya bin Abdullah was in fact not killed at Daylam but in fact surrendered and was granted amnesty. Nor was his uprising against Abu Ja’far al-Mansur but rather Harun al-Rashid.

محمد بن جعفر بن يحيى

ثم خرج بتاهرت السفلى محمد بن جعفر بن يحيى بن عبد الله بن الحسن فغلب عليها وصارت في أيديهم

7. Muhammad bin Ja’far bin Yahya
Then Muhammad bin Ja’far bin Yahya bin Abdullah bin al-Hasan went out to Lower Tahert and conquered it, and it fell into their hands (ibid, pp.155-156)

محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسماعيل

ثم خرج بالكوفة في أيام المأمون محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسماعيل بن إبراهيم بن الحسن بن الحسن بن علي ودعا إليه أبو السرايا والمأمون بخراسان وأنفذ زيد بن موسى بن جعفر بن محمد داعية له إلى البصرة ثم مات بعد أربعة أشهر من خروجه ودفن بالكوفة

8. Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Isma’il *[Ibn Tabataba]
Then Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Isma’il bin Ibrahim bin al-Hasan bin al-Hasan bin Ali left Kufa during the days of al-Ma’mun. Abu al-Saraya and al-Ma’mun called for him in Khurasan and sent Zayd bin Musa bin Ja’far bin Muhammad as a preacher for him to Basra. Then he died four months after his departure and was buried in Kufa (ibid, pp.156-157)

محمد بن محمد بن زيد بن علي

فخرج بعده مع أبي السرايا محمد بن محمد بن زيد بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب فهزم زهير بن المسيب وهزم عبدوس بن محمد بن أبي خالد وقتله ثم توجه إليه هرثمة بن أعين فهزمه وهرب مع أبي السرايا فأخذا في طريق خراسان فوجه بهما إلى الحسن بن سهل فقتل أبا السرايا وأظهر بعد ذلك موت محمد ويقال أنه حمل إلى المأمون وهم بمرو فمات هناك

9. Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Zayd bin Ali
Then he went out after him with Abu al-Saraya Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Zayd bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib, so he defeated Zuhayr bin al-Musayyab and defeated Abdus bin Muhammad bin Abi Khalid and killed him. Then Harthamah bin A’yan headed towards him, so he defeated him and fled with Abu al-Saraya, so they took the road to Khurasan. So he sent them to al-Hasan bin Sahl, so he killed Abu al-Saraya, and after that he announced the death of Muhammad. It is said that he was taken to al-Ma’mun while they were in Marv, so he died there (ibid, p.157)

إبراهيم بن موسى بن جعفر

وخرج باليمن والمأمون بخراسان إبراهيم بن موسى بن جعفر بن محمد بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب داعية لمحمد بن إبراهيم بن إسماعيل صاحب أبي السرايا فوجه إليه المأمون جيشاً فهزمه وصار إلى العراق فأمنه المأمون

وخرج بعد دخول المأمون بغداد أبو جعفر إبراهيم بن موسى بن جعفر بن محمد فوجه إليه المأمون دينار بن عبد الله فصار إلى دينار في الأمان وقدم به على المأمون فمات

10. Ibrahim bin Musa bin Ja’far *[Ibrahim al-Jazzar]
Ibrahim bin Musa bin Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib went out to Yemen while al-Ma’mun was in Khorasan, calling for Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Ismail, the companion of Abu al-Saraya. So al-Ma’mun sent an army against him, defeated him, and went to Iraq, where al-Ma’mun granted him security. After al-Ma’mun entered Baghdad, Abu Ja’far Ibrahim bin Musa bin Ja’far bin Muhammad rose up. Al-Ma’mun sent Dinar bin Abdullah to him. He went to Dinar in safety and was presented to al-Ma’mun, then he died (ibid, pp.157-158)

محمد بن القاسم

وخرج محمد بن القاسم من ولد الحسين بن علي بخراسان ببلدة يقال لها طالقان في خلافة المعتصم فوجه إليه عبد الله بن طاهر وهو على خراسان جيشاً فانهزم محمد ثم قدر عليه عبد الله بن طاهر فحمله إلى المعتصم فحبسه معه في قصره فاختلف الناس في أمره فمن قائل يقول هرب ومن قائل يقول مات ومن الزيدية من يزعم أنه حي وأنه سيخرج

11. Muhammad bin al-Qasim *[Sahib Taliqan]
Muhammad bin al-Qasim, from the descendants of al-Husayn bin Ali, rose up in Khorasan in a town called Taliqan during the caliphate of al-Mu’tasim. Abdullah bin Tahir, who was in Khorasan, sent an army against him, and Muhammad was defeated. Then Abdullah bin Tahir overcame him and took him to al-Mu’tasim, who imprisoned him with him in his palace. People differed about his fate. Some say he fled, others say he died, and some Zaydis claim that he is alive and will emerge (ibid, pp.158-159)

محمد بن جعفربن محمد بن علي

وخرج محمد بن جعفر بن محمد بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بمكة وكان يلقب بديباجة لحسن وجهه داعية لمحمد بن إبراهيم بن إسماعيل بن إبراهيم فلما مات محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسماعيل بن إبراهيم دعا لنفسه فوجه إليه المأمون عيسى الجلودي فظفر به فحمله إلى المأمون ببغداد ثم أخرجه معه فمات بجرجان

12. Muhammad bin Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Ali *[Muhammad al-Dibaj]
And Muhammad bin Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali revolted in Mecca, and he was called Dibaj because of his handsome face, calling for Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Isma’il bin Ibrahim. When Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Isma’il bin Ibrahim died, he called for himself, so al-Ma’mun sent Isa al-Jaludi to him, and he captured him and carried him to al-Ma’mun in Baghdad. Then he took him out with him, and he died in Jurjan (ibid, pp.159-160)

الأفطس

وخرج الأفطس بالمدينة داعية لمحمد بن إبراهيم بن إسماعيل فلما مات محمد بن إبرايهم دعا إلى نفسه

13. Al-Aftas *[al-Husayn bin al-Hasan]
Al-Aftas went out in Medina as a caller for Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Isma’il. When Muhammad bin Ibrahim died, he called for himself (ibid, p.160)

علي بن محمد بن عيسى

وخرج علي بن محمد بن عيسى بن زيد بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب بعده في خلافة المعتصم فقتله بنو مرة بن عامر

14. Ali bin Muhammad bin *[Ahmad bin] Isa
And Ali bin Muhammad bin Isa bin Zayd bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib revolted after him during the caliphate of al-Mu’tasim, and the Banu Murrah bin Amir killed him (ibid)

الحسن بن زيد بن الحسن بن علي

ثم خرج الحسن بن زيد بن الحسن بن علي بن أبي طالب بطبرستان في سنة خمسين ومائتين والعامل بها سليمان بن عبد الله بنطاهر فغلب عليها وعلى جرجان بعد حروب كثيرة ثم خلف من بعده محمد بن زيد أخوه ثم قتل محمد بن زيد بعد محاربة كانت بينه وبين محمد بن هارون

15. Al-Hasan bin Zayd bin Al-Hasan bin Ali
Then Al-Hasan bin Zayd bin Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib revolted Tabaristan in the year 250, and the governor there was Sulayman bin Abdullah bin Tahir, so he conquered it and Gurgan after many wars. Then his brother Muhammad bin Zayd succeeded him, and then Muhammad bin Zayd was killed after a war that took place between him and Muhammad bin Harun (ibid, pp.160-161)

الكوكبي

وخرج بقزوين الكوكبي وهو من ولد الأرقط واسمه الحسن بن أحمد بن إسماعيل من ولد الحسين

بن علي بن أبي طالب فغلب عليها ثم هزمه بعض الأتراك

16. Al-Kawkabi
And Al-Kawkabi revolted in Qazvin, and he is from the descendants of Al-Arqat and his name was Al-Hasan bin Ahmad bin Isma’il from the descendants of Al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib. He conquered it [Qazvin], then some Turks defeated him (ibid, pp.161-162)

يحيى بن عمر بن يحيى

وخرج بالكوفة أيام المستعين أبو الحسين يحيى بن عمر بن يحيى بن الحسين بن زيد بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب فوجه إليه الحسين بن إسماعيل بأمر محمد بن عبد الله بن طاهر فقتل أبا الحسين

17. Yahya bin Umar bin Yahya
Abu al-Husayn Yahya bin Umar bin Yahya bin al-Husayn bin Zayd bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib revolted in Kufa during the days of al-Musta’in. He sent al-Husayn bin Ismail to him on the orders of Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Tahir, and he killed Abu al-Husayn (ibid, p.162)

الحمزي

وخرج أيام المستعين أيضاً الحمزي الحسين بن محمد بن حمزة بن عبد الله من ولد الحسين بن علي فظفر به وأخذ وحبس إلى أن أطلقه المعتمد

18. Al-Hamzi also revolted during the days of Al-Musta’in. Al-Hamzi Al-Husayn bin Muhammad bin Hamzah bin Abdullah, from the descendants of Al-Husayn bin Ali, was captured, imprisoned until Al-Mu’tamid released him (ibid, pp.162-163)

ابن الأفطس

وخرج بسواد الكوفة أيام فتنة المستعين ابن الأفطس

19. Ibn al-Aftas
Ibn al-Aftas revolted with the blacks of Kufa during the days of the Anarchy [at Samarra] of Al-Musta’in (ibid, p.163)

إسماعيل بن يوسف بن إبراهيم

وخرج بسواد المدينة مدينة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم سنة خمسين ومائتين إسماعيل بن يوسف بن إبراهيم من ولد الحسن بن علي فغلب عليها وتوفي لليلتين خلتا من ربيع الأول سنة اثنتين وخمسين ومائتين وخلف أخوه بعده محمد بن يوسف فقطع الميرة على أهل المدينة وما زال على أمره إلى أن خرج أبو الساج إلى مكة والمدينة فقتل خلقاً كثيراً من أصحابه وهرب محمد فمات في هربه

20. Isma’il bin Yusuf bin Ibrahim
Isma’il bin Yusuf bin Ibrahim, from the descendants of Al-Hasan bin Ali, revolted with the blacks of the city, the City of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the year 250, and he conquered it. He died two nights before the end of Rabi al-Awwal in the year 252. His brother, Muhammad bin Yusuf, succeeded him and cut off the food supplies to the people of Medina. He continued in this position until Abu al-Sajj went out to Mecca and Medina and killed many of his companions. Muhammad fled and died in his flight (ibid, pp.163-164)

عبد الله بن معاوية

وخرج بالكوفة في آخر أيام بني أمية عبد الله بن معاوية بن عبد الله بن جعفر بن أبي طالب فحاربه عبد الله بن عمر فهزمه ومضى عبد الله بن معاوية إلى فارس فغلب عليها وعلى أصبهان ثم مات بفارس

21. Abdullah bin Mu’awiyah
Abdullah bin Mu’awiyah bin Abdullah bin Ja’far bin Abi Talib revolted in Kufa in the last days of the Umayyad dynasty. Abdullah bin Umar fought him and defeated him. Abdullah bin Mu’awiyah then went to Persia and conquered it and Isfahan. He then died in Persia (ibid, p.164-165)

*Abdullah bin Mu’awiyah was actually killed by Abu Muslim al-Khurasani

صاحب البصرة

وخرج صاحب البصرة وكان يدعي أنه علي بن محمد بن علي بن عيسى بن زيد بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب وسمعت من يذكر أنه كان يدعي أنه علي بن محمد بن أحمد بن عيسى بن زيد بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب وأنصاره الزنج وغلب على البصرة سنة سبع وخمسين وقتل سنة سبعين ومائتين قتله أبو أحمد الموفق بالله بن المتوكل على الله

22. Sahib al-Basrah *[Leader of the Zanj rebellion]
Sahib al-Basrah revolted, claiming to be Ali ibn Muhammad bin Ali bin Isa bin Zayd bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib. I heard someone say that he claimed to be Ali bin Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Isa bin Zayd bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib, and his supporters were the Zanj. He conquered Basra in the year 257 and was killed in the year 270. He was killed by Abu Ahmad al-Muwaffaq bi-Allah bin al-Mutawakkil ala Allah (ibid, p.165)

المقتول على الدكة

وخرج بأرض الشام المقتول على الدكة فظفر به المكتفي بالله بعد حروب ووقائع كانت

23. Al-Maqtul ala al-Dukah
Al-Maqtul ala al-Dukah revolted in the land of Sham and was defeated by Al-Muktafi Billah after wars and battles that had taken place (ibid, p.166)

These two dozen or so Zaydi and Alid revolts during the Umayyad and Abbasid period all failed.