Important
Events of Ibn Zubair's Caliphate
Abdullah bin Zubair رضى الله عنه had been reigning in Makkah since Amir
Muawiya's death. He never allowed Yazid's rule to be established in Makkah
during Yazid's regime. He took bay'at for the caliphate after Yazid's death and
in a short time he was recognized as caliph by the whole Islamic world except
for a few places in Syria. During that period, he did not take correct stock of
the situation in Syria, which were in his favor but he failed to capitalize on
them. He committed a mistake by under estimating Banu Umayyah's power and popularity,
which had been established since Amir Muawiya's times in Syria. Had he
correctly deduced the situation concerning Banu Qais's and Banu Kalb's
dissensions and rivalries and his own popularity in Syria he would have
undertaken a journey to Syria. There is a high probability that the journey
would have proved as fruitful as Umar bin Khattab's journey to Syria for the
Islamic world. In that case, Marwan's caliphate and the restoration of Banu
Umayyah's influence and power would not have taken place. If he had made
Madinah his capital instead of Makkah and came to Madinah immediately after
Yazid's death, he would not have allowed Syria to slip through his fingers
owing to its proximity it would have been easier to control. Had he done this,
he could have prevented Dahhak bin Qais, Zafar bin Harith, Noman bin Basher and
Abdur Rahman bin Jehdan from being vanquished. If these people had received a
little support and help from him they were not the type of people who would
retreat and accept defeat at any cost. The consequence of that error of
misunderstanding was that Egypt and Syria coupled with Palestine went out of
his control and Marwan founded the caliphate for his descendants.
Mukhtar's
Mischief
Mukhtar bin Abi Ubaid bin Masood
Thaqfi has been mentioned in previous pages. When Sulaiman bin Sard appeared
with the group of Tawwabeen to take revenge for Husain's murder, the governor
of Kufa made him captive in order to maintain law and order due to his loud
cries for revenge. When the remainder of the Tawwabeen returned to Kufa,
Mukhtar sent a letter expressing his sense of sorrow to them.
"Don't be sad and rest assured
that if I remain alive, I will take revenge for all of your martyred soldiers
and Husain's death. I won't spare even a single killer and will cause such
bloodshed that the people will be reminded of Bukht Nassr's times and how he
killed Banu Israel. If there is anybody alive who wants to avenge Husain's
death he should make a pact with me for this mission."
The letter was read by Rafe bin Shaddad,
Muthanna bin Makhriba Abdi, Sad bin Hudaifa bin Yaman, Yazid bin Anas, Ahmar
bin Sumait Himsi, Abdullah bin Shaddad Bajali, and Abdullah bin Kamil who were
all from the group of Tawwabeen. They were beside themselves with joy that
there was still a soul alive who had so much enthusiasm and dedication
concerning Husain's death. Rafe bin Shaddad, therefore took four or five
persons with him and visited the prision. Having gotten permission, he saw
Mukhtar and told him that they would secure his release after breaking open the
jail. Mukhtar said, No don't bother. I shall be free whenever I want the
governor of Kufa himself will set me free. The time has not come. Wait for a
few days more.
Mukhtar had sent a letter to
Abdullah bin Umar رضى الله عنهما through a messenger
from the jail before the vanquished Tawwabeen returned. The letter stated.
"I have been imprisoned by the governor of Kufa, Abdullah bin Yazid. Would
you please write a letter of recommendation to him. I have been wronged. Allah
will reward you for it." Mukhtar was sure that Abdullah bin Umar رضى الله عنهما would certainly recommend him and that he
would be released. Concealing that reality, he spoke to Rafe about his release
in such a way as to impress on him that he had spritual powers. After a few
days.
Abdullah bin Umar letter was
received by Abdullah bin Yazid, and he, in respect to this letter, called
Mukhtar from the jail and said, "I release you on the condition that you
do not create any mischief in Kufa and keep yourself confined to your house.
Mukhtar agreed and went to his house. Husain's supporters attributed his
release to his miracle and began to visit him with great respect and faith. The
faithful persons visited him secretly. A few days later Abdullah bin Zubair رضى الله عنه dismissed Abdullah bin Yazid and sent
Abdullah bin Moti to Kufa as governor. Abdullah bin Moti arrived in Kufa on 25
Ramadan 66 A.H. Mukhtar also attributed the rise and fall of the governors to
his miraculous power and after the departure of the old governor from Kufa,
broke the restrictions imposed upon him and began to live more freely, more and
more people began to visit him and the number of his followers started
increasing greatly. Abdullah bin Moti had appointed Ayas bin Abi Mudarib as the
city Magistrate. One day Ayas said to Moti, the governor of Kufa, Mukhtar's
followers have become dangerous and powerful. I am afraid that he might rise
against you. You had better put him in prison as before.
Abdullah bin Moti sent Mukhtar's uncle
Zaid bin Masood Thaqfi along with Husain bin Rafe Azdi to Mukhtar asking him to
come to him because he wanted to have an important talk with him. Both of them
went to Mukhtar and conveyed the governor's message. He at once put on his
clothes and was getting ready to leave when Zaid read the verse of the Qur'an,
"And when the disbelieves
plotted against you to imprision you, or to kill you, or to get you out."
(8:30)
No sooner had Mukhtar heard the
verse than he at once made out what Zaid meant. He said, bring me a blanket. I
am feeling cold. He covered himself with his blanket and laid down. Then
addressing Husain bin Rafe he said "See I was ready to leave. But what can
I do? I've had a sudden attack of sickness. Now I cannot move. Please narrate
to the Amir the condition in which you found me. When I get well tomorrow
morning, I shall comply with his order. Both of them left, on the way Husain
bin Rafe said to Zaid, you read that verse so that Mukhtar would not go to the
Amir otherwise he was ready to go.
He stopped because you wanted him to
stop. He simply invented an excuse, commenting thus Husain said to Zaid, rest
assured, I won't mention it to Abdullah bin Moti because I may get some benefit
from Mukhtar. Both went to Abdullah bin Moti and said to him, Mukhtar was
seriously ill. We have seen him with our eyes and he is unable to come here.
Allah willing he will be coming tomorrow.
No sooner had Zaid and Husain gone
than Mukhtar called a select few of his influential faithful followers and told
them that they should not delay and should not wait any more they should rise
in revolt at once. They said we are obedient to you. We are ready to abide by
your decision but we should be given time for a week so that we may make our
weapons ready and in order to finish our preparations for war. Mukhtar said
that he did not expect Abdullah to grant him time for a week. Sad bin Abi Sad
said, don't worry if Abdullah calls and imprisons you, we will have you
released from the jail easily. Hearing that Mukhtar kept quite. They took him
to an unknown place and hid him there. Then Sad bin Abi Sad said to the like
minded people we should make inquires before we revolt whether Mohammad bin
Hanafia has really made Mukhtar his deputy for this work or not. If he is
really deputed for taking bay'at on behalf of Mohammad bin Hanafia, we should
rise in revolt under his command without any hesitation and if Mohammad bin
Hanafia has not entrusted him with this task and he just wants to trick us, we
should not have anything to do with him. Sad bin Abi Sad therefore took three
or four persons with him and immediately left for Madinah. Having called on
Mohammad bin Hanafia, they asked and were told in confirmation that he had
really given Mukhtar the permission to avenge Husain's death. After the
confirmation Sad bin Abi Sad came to Kufa with his supporters and briefed the
people there. When they heard that, they got ready to take bay'at with Mukhtar
and obey him.
When Mukhtar was informed that he
was proved right, he was very pleased. Their doubts were thus dispelled. He
instructed them to include in the group Ibrahim bin Malik bin Ushtur, one of
the noblemen of Kufa, to ensure success of the mission. Amir bin Shurahbil, one
of the followers of Mukhtar, went to Ibrahim bin Malik and said to him that
during Ali bin Abi Talib's regime your father achieved remarkable feats. The
people have decided to demand compensation for Husain's death and a good number
of people have agreed to it, you should be of the first of those to participate
in it.
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