A
Glance at Abdullah Ibn Zubair's (رضي الله عنه)
Caliphate
Following Muawiya's death, his son
Yazid did not deserve to be made the caliph of the Muslims at that time there
were many people who were more capable of governing and doing the work of the
caliphate. Abdullah bin Zubair (رضي الله عنه)
was one of them. Yazid's personal life was objectionable and that was why some
dignitaries of Islam refused to perform oath for his caliphate.
Had Imam Hasan (رضي الله عنه) been living after Amir Muawiya (رضي الله عنه) the Muslims could have probably accepted
him as their caliph or emperor. Had Abdullah bin Umar (رضي الله عنهما) stood for the caliphate against Yazid,
then not only all the sects in Islam would have supported him but also a good
number of the people from amongst Banu Umayyah would have been seen in action
in his support but he never cared to do it. Husain (رضي
الله عنه) tried his best to secure the caliphate but the Kufans betrayed
him. He did not accept the advice of the people of Makkah and Madinah, and the
people of the Hijaz failed to help him. After him, there was none better than
Abdullah bin Zubair (رضي الله عنه) who deserved the
caliphate. The greatest proof of his justified and legal caliphate is the fact
that all the people of the Islamic territories recognized him as their caliph
on the basis of their free will, wherever the people were at liberty, none of
them opposed him. Yes, Banu Umayyah were his rivals in the matter of caliphate
and so they opposed him yet they would have opposed anyone who stood in their
way. They re-established their rule in Syria, Palestine and Egypt, with a heavy
hand and with the same tyrannical and coercive methods, they managed to restore
their rule over the entire Islamic world. Compared to Abdullah bin Zubair's
caliphate, Marwan bin Hakam's and Abdul Malik bin Marwan's caliphates are known
as the Caliphates of the Rebels. Abdul Malik's period of rule, following Abdullah
bin Zubair's martyrdom should be taken as a full-fledged government and a legal
caliphate.
During his regime, Abdullah bin
Zubair (رضی اللہ عنہ) did not have a time
when he was free from territorial battles and disputes. So, if we do not find
any new conquests and internal amendments and reformotion during his rule, it
is not surprising. He was a great general and horsemen he was a great thinker
and governor. It was only fate and destiny that allowed his rivals maneuverings
to prove effective and that let him die as a martyr. His personal life was
extremely praise worthy from the viewpoint of prayer and piety.
Among the caliphates of Banu
Umayyah, it was chiefly found that they knew how to use money and power in
establishing and strengthening their caliphate and government. They were very
active in getting money, and utilized it to serve their purpose very
skillfully. Had there not been created in the people the lust for money, they
would never have succeeded and Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ)
and Abdullah bin Zubair (رضی اللہ عنہ)
would have never met with failure against them. Had Abdullah bin Zubair (رضی اللہ عنہ) like Abdul Malik bin Marwan reserved the
treasury for his friends and supporters and disregarded the weak, he would have
remained surrounded by many swordsmen and Banu Umayyah would have had to remain
humble. But Abdullah bin Zubair (رضی اللہ عنہ)
disliked that impious policy and that is really to his credit and befitting of
him.
During his regime, the killing of
Mukhtar bin Abu Dbaid in Kufa was a remarkable achievement. He suppressed the
mischief of the Khawârij very effectively and to the best of his ability, he
did not allow them to revolt. If he had not been involved in battles and trials
of strength against Banu Umayyah, he would have proved to be a good caliph and
considerably promoted the Islamic Shari'ah in the world. His martyrdom marks
the end of Sahâba' rule and governance (the rule by the Prophet's Companions).
He was the last of the Prophet's Companions who ruled over an Islamic land and
whose dedicated and pious life was a beacon and a guiding star. He was the only
caliph who made Makkah his capital city. It was not made the capital by anyone
either before him or after him until now.
When we read about the brave feats
of Abdullah bin Zubair (رضی اللہ عنہ),
his brother Mus'ab bin Zubair (رضی اللہ عنہ),
his father Zubair bin Al Awam (رضی اللہ عنہ)
and also the valor and courage of his mother Asma bint Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہا), our hearts are filled with awe and the
people of the world who know and understand valor are drawn by a natural love
to them. Wallowing in dust and blood, receiving wounds from swords and arrows
in the chest for supporting the cause of right and always advancing and putting
the enemies of the right to death are some of life's most difficult tests, yet
when done for the right cause they are satisfying and rewarding as well. The
strength of heart, firmness of intention and height of valor and courage find
their most befitting expression in the dazzling lights of swords, the sharp
points of spears and the heavy rain of arrows. Our age is such an inauspicious
and unfortunate age that the stories of the bravery of the Muslims, laying down
their lives as recorded in the pages of history increase the circulation of
blood in our veins for a while but we can not see with our eyes the battleships
where heads drop when chopped off by the sword, spears piercing chests, blood
gushing forth from the necks, corpses jumping up in the mud of blood, horses
running over and mutilating them, severed heads getting kicked by horses hooves
and rolling here and there like some macabre fruit at harvest time, the sun
hidden behind clouds of dust made by battling horses and men, chants of
'Allahu-Akbar' being raised, men of Allâh excelling one another in exalting the
Name of their beloved Creator by laying down their lives and the Divine grace
encompassing this exhilarating sight. Such magnificent and awe inspiring scenes
were the portion of Talha (رضی اللہ عنہ)
and Zubair (رضی اللہ عنہ), Khalid (رضی اللہ عنہ) and Darrâr (رضی
اللہ عنہ), Shurahbil (رضی اللہ عنہ)
and Abdur Rahman (رضی اللہ عنہ), Husain bin Ali (رضی) and Abdullah bin Zubair (رضی اللہ عنہ), Tariq bin Zeyad, Mohammad bin Qasim,
Muhammad II, Sulaiman the Magnificent, Salahuddin Ayyubi and Nuruddin Zangi,
Mahmud Ghaznawi and Shahabuddin Ghauri. It is not the portion of the people of
weak 'Imân' (faith) and timorous hearts as we are. That is why Allâh has
rendered swords, spears and arrows useless and sent cannons, rifles and airplanes
into the world instead. Also, strength of heart, firmness of determination,
height of ambition and courage, as a symbol and as an expression of perfect
'Imân' (faith) can be better displayed by the edge of a sword than by gunpowder
and ammunition.
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