The
Revolt of Sinbâd
After becoming free from the matter
of Abu Muslim, Mansoor obviously could relax to some degree but even after
that, he had to face many difficulties. Among Abu Muslim's men there was a
Zoroastrian named Firoz who was popularly known as Sinbâd. He had converted
Islam and joined Abu Muslim's army. Following Abu Muslim's murder, he rose up
and demanded compensation for his murder. The inhabitants of mountain area
supported him. He conquered Nishapur and Rayy and took possession of all the
money and provisions that Abu Muslim had left there. He looted the people's
wealth and goods and made them slaves. Then he turned apostate and announced
that he was going to pull down the Ka'bah. For the new Iranian Muslims this
much instigation was sufficient and those who knew nothing about Islam saw one
of their countrymen revolt against the Islamic authority and they joined him. When
Mansoor was informed of this new evil, he sent Jamhoor bin Murar Ajli to punish
Sinbad. They clashed at a place between Hamadan and Rayy. Jamhoor defeated
Sinbad and about 7,000 of Sinbad's men lost their lives. Sinbad fled and took
refuge in Tabristan. A servant of the governor of Tabristan killed him. Mansoor
wrote to the governor of Tabristan to send Sinbad's wealth and goods but he
refused. Mansoor then sent an army to discipline him. He fled from Tabristan
and went to Dailam. When Jamhoor had defeated Sinbad, he captured most of his
goods and all his treasure and Abu Muslim's treasure also came under his
possession. He did not send it to Mansoor. He went to Rayy, entered the fort
and announced his cancellation of his oath to Mansoor and rebelled against him.
Mansoor sent Mohammad bin Ash'th to fight against him. Jamhoor left Rayy and
went to Isfahan. Jamhoor conquered Isfahan and Mohammad bin Ash'th occupied
Rayy. Then Mohammad invaded Isfahan. Jamhoor fought but lost after a pitched
battle and fled to Azerbaijan. A friend of Jamhoor's killed him and sent his
head to Mansoor. This happened in 138 A.H.
In 139 A.H., Mansoor deposed his
uncle Sulaiman from the governorship of Basra and recalled him. He wrote to him
to bring Abdullah bin Ali (who after losing to Abu Muslim, had gone to his
brother Sulaiman in Basra) with him by giving him a pardon. When he brought
Abdullah bin Ali to court, Mansoor imprisoned him and later on killed him.
The
sect of Râvindiyeh
Ravindiyeh is considered as one of
the sects of the Shiites. It was in fact a sect consisting of the ignorant
people of Iran and Khorasan, which lived in Ravaind. It originated from
recruits of Abu Muslim's army. The sect, which he had made, had nothing to do
with religion and they were always guided by political considerations. The
Ravaindiyeh believed in transmigration and embodiment. They believed that
Mansoor was the embodiment of Allâh. So they took him to be Allâh and to obtain
a sight of him amounted to worship. It was their belief that Adam's soul
entered Uthman bin Naheek's body and the angel Gabriel's soul entered Haitham
bin Muawiya's body. They visited the capital and made public their faith and
deeds. Mansoor caught 200 of them besides those, there were 500 or 600 more.
They reacted to the arrest of their co-religionists, stormed the jail and freed
their brethren. Then they besieged Mansoor's palace. It is really surprising
that they considered Mansoor to be their god and yet they were ready to fight
with him. It is worth recording here that among Yazid bin Hubairah's friends
Ma'an bin Zaidah was still alive. And when Ibn Hubariah fought with the
Abbasids, Ma'an bin Zaidah was among his leaders. Ma'an bin Zaidah went into
hiding in the capital of Hashimites after Ibn Hubairah's defeat, Mansoor had
been searching for him and wanted to have him arrested and killed. When the
Ravandiyehs surrounded Mansoor's palace, Mansoor came out on foot. He started
attacking and removing them although he had only a small number of men with
him. In the capital there was no army or other power to match the rioters'
strength. It was a very critical moment for Mansoor. He was on the point of
losing the capital, the caliphate and his life and opening the way for
occupation by the Ravandiyahs. Ma'an bin Zaidah, taking advantage of the
situation, came to his defense unhesitatingly and fell upon the rioters.
Meanwhile others also rallied around Mansoor but it was Ma'an bin Zaidah's
attacks that proved most effective. Mansoor watched with his own eyes the
heroic deeds of the stranger. At last, Ma'an bin Zaidah himself began to
command the men that ultimately led to the defeat of the rioters. Other
civilians also rose in support of Mansoor and did away with all the rioters.
After the battle, Mansoor made inquires about the stranger who had done the
most to stamp out the evil disorder. He was informed that it was none other
than Ma'an bin Zaidah. He granted him pardon excused his past crimes and
promoted him to a higher rank.
Abu Dawood Khalid bin Ibrahim Dhahli
was the administrator of Balkh and the new governor of Khorasan. In 140 A.H. a
rebellion broke out in his army and the soldiers surrounded his house. He
climbed on the roof to have a look at the rebels. He slipped, fell and died the
same day. After that his commander Hosam put down the rebellion, took over the
reign of Khorasan and informed Mansoor who sent Abdul Jabbar bin Abdur Rahman
as the governor of Khorasan.
Abdul
Jabbar's Revolt and Death
Immediately after taking over the
reign of Khorasan, Abdul Jabbar began to depose, humiliate and kill Abu
Dawood's administrators. He created a commotion in the country by slaying his
leaders on the slightest suspicions. Mansoor found out that Abdul Jabbar was
killing the supporters of the Abbasids but he was hesitant how to make Abdul
Jabbar leave Khorasan for he feared he might revolt against him. At last,
Mansoor wrote to him, "Send the majority of the army for jihad against the
Romans." The purpose was quite obvious. When a greater portion of the army
was separated from Khorasan, it would be quite easy to depose and replace him
with another man. Abdul Jabbar wrote back in reply, "The Turks have begun
to attack. If you shift the army to any other place than Khorasan, I am afraid,
Khorasan will go out of our hands." At the receipt of the reply Mansoor
wrote to him, "I love Khorasan most. It is very essential to protect it.
If the Turks have started invading, I will send a huge army for its defense.
Don't worry about it." Seeing the letter, Abdul Jabbar immediately sent the
reply, "The revenue of Khorasan can not stand such a major expense. Please
don't send any large army." This reply convinced Mansoor that Abdul Jabbar
was bent upon revolt. So immediately he sent a large army under the command of
his son Mahdi. Mahdi arrived at Rayy and asked Khazim bin Khuzaima to go ahead
and fight with Abdul Jabbar. There was a fierce battle resulting in Abdul
Jabbar's defeat and flight. Mahshar bin Muzahtim captured and presented him to
Khazim bin Khuzaima who, in turn, made him put on a woolen gown and sit on a
camel with his face towards its tail and after making a public display of him,
sent him and all his men to Mansoor. Mansoor jailed them and in 142 A.H.
ordered Abdul Jabbar's hands and feet to be cut off. After defeating Abdul Jabbar,
Mahdi took over the reign of Khorasan and continued in the capacity of its
governor until 149 A.H.
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