Mukhtar's
claim to Prophethood and Ali's chair
When Ali رضى
الله عنه lived in Kufa, he had a specific chair that he used to sit on
and often issued orders from that seat. His sister's son named Jadah bin
Hubairah, the son of Umm Hâni bint Abu Tâlib, lived in Kufa and the chair in
question was in his possession. Having established himself as the ruler in
Kufa, Mukhtar tried to take possession of this chair. Jadah said to him,
"Please give me time so that I may find it and give it to you."
Mukhtar said, "I could never give you more than three days time. If you
fail to bring me the chair within the stipulated time, I will deal harshly with
you."
In Jadah's district there lived a
dealer of oil. He had a similar chair with him. Jadah purchased it from him and
took it home secretly. He formality and care. Mukhtar accepted the chair,
rewarded him well, convened a meeting of his followers and said to them,
"Just as Allah Israel (Editors note: This is a reference to the Ark of the
Covenant), similarly He made this chair a symbol for the followers of Ali رضى الله عنه. From this day forward we will become
victorious everywhere."
His followers rubbed their eyes on
it, kissed it, and bowed their heads before it. Then he ordered a cabinet to be
made for the chair. An attractive cabinet with a silver lock containing the
chair and with guards assigned for its protection was put in the Grand Mosque
in Kufa. Whoever went there for prayer kissed it. Much before his coming to
power in Kufa, Mukhtar had started spreading his net of deceit and enslaving
the masses with his supposed extraordinary spiritual powers. After gaining
power in Kufa, his cunningness in this way was easier to perpetrate. Slowly and
gradually, he was moving in a direction to make a claim to Prophethood.
When Mukhtar captured Kufa and wrote
to Abdullah bin Zubair رضى الله عنه,
Abdul Mâlik bin Marwân approximately during the same period gave an army to
Abdul Malik bin Harith bin Hakam bin Abul Aas and sent him to Wâdi-ul-Qara for
a few days. It was to be the first invasion on Abdullah bin Zubair رضى الله عنه by Abdul Malik bin Marwan. Having heard
the news of the invasion, Mukhtar wrote a second letter to Abdullah bin Zubair رضى الله عنه. "If you want I shall send an army
from Kufa for your support." Abdullah bin Zubair رضى
الله عنه answered: "If you send an army as an obedient person, send
it towards Wadi-ul-Qara". Mukhtar handed over a three thousand man army to
Shurahbil bin Wars Hamdani with the instructions that he should go directly to
Madinah, write to him about the state of affairs there and comply with the orders
which he would send to him later. His purpose was to please Muhammad bin
Hanafia by sending an army to Madinah, which would not be objected to by
Abdullah bin Zubair رضى الله عنه and which would also
enhance his influence among Ali's supporters.
Abdullah bin Zubair رضى الله عنه understood these clever ploys by Mukhtar.
When he answered Mukhtar's letter Abdullah bin Zubair رضى
الله عنه assigned to Abbâs bin Sahal two thousand soldiers instructing
him that if Mukhtar sent an army from Kufa, it should first be ascertained
whether it was coming as an ally or as rebel forces. If obedient, it should be
used; if not, it should be sent back. If it refused to go back, it should be
faced. Abbâs and Shurahbil met at Raqeem. Abbâs said to him, "Accompany us
to Wadi-ul-Qara to face the enemy." Shurahbil said, "We have been
ordered to go directly to Madinah. There we shall await another order and then
we will be able to move." Abbâs first entertained the Kufans with
delicacies. And then as punishment for refusal, he launched an attack on them
and compelled Mukhtar's three thousand men with his two thousand men, he killed
seventy of them and sent the remainder back to Kufa. Mukhtar took advantage of
it and wrote a letter to Muhammad bin Hanafia complaining against Abdullah bin
Zubair رضى الله عنه. "He did not let
my army reach you, which I had sent in your support. Now it is important that
you send your chief confidante to me so that I may send a strong army with him
and the people will be honored and graced with the sight of your messenger."
Muhammad bin Hanafia replied expediently, "I am aware of your love of
truth. You should leave me alone in peace and avoid shedding the blood of
Allâh's creatures. Had I been desirous of ruling and becoming a leader, I would
have rallied around me more people than you have. However, I have dismissed and
abandoned all my supporters and the final decision rests with Allâh."
Obaidullah
bin Zeyâd was killed
It has already been mentioned that
the Kufans defeated the Syrians on Eid al-Adha day in 66 A.H. but the Kufan
general had retreated as soon as he was informed of the advance of Ibn Zeyâd.
Hearing that news, Mukhtar had sent his commander in chief, Ibrahim bin Malik
bin Ushtur with seven thousand soldiers but as mentioned Ibrahim had to return
to Kufa. People were massacred in large numbers in Kufa and all those who were
opposed to Ali's supporters, were completely crushed, which averted and
prevented such dangers in the future. Having been relieved of that situation,
Mukhtar sent Ibrahim bin Malik from Kufa on an expedition to confront Ibn Zeyâd
on 22 Dhul-Hijjah 66 A.H. At this time Kufa was in no danger of any uprising,
as the people were extremely terrified, the influential and important leaders
were sent along with Ibrahim. The cabinet containing the chair was also
dispatched. The purpose was to instill confidence in the army of its victory in
advance.
Ibrahim bin Malik crossed the Iraqi
border with terrific speed and entered Mosil where Obaidullah bin Zeyâd was
governing on behalf of Abdul Malik bin Marwan. Hearing of the approaching army,
Obaidullah left Mosil and both the armies encamped at a place adjacent to the
Khazir. After passing the night and performing Salat al-Fajr (the pre-dawn
prayer), they attacked each other. It was a bloody battle. Signs of defeat were
visible on the Kufan side but Ibrahim bin Malik's courage and perseverance made
the Kufans stand firmly. The commanders of both sides displayed feats of valor
but ultimately the Syrians suffered defeat and their general, Obaidullah bin
Zeyâd was killed. Along with him the next great Syrian chief, Haseen bin Numer,
was also killed by Sharik bin Jadid Taghlibi. When the fight was over and the
Syrians were either killed or driven away, Ibrahim bin Malik said to them,
"I have killed a man near the canal under the flag whose clothes give off
the scent of musk. My sword has cut him into two parts. Go and see who he
was." They went there and found that it was Obaidullah bin Zeyad. His head
was cut off and the body was consigned to flames. Along with the celebration of
victory Obaidullah bin Zeyad's head was also sent to Mukhtar in Kufa.
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