Unrest in Hijaz and Yemen During Mamoon’s Caliphate

Unrest in Hijaz and Yemen

As mentioned above, Abu Saraya had appointed many members of the family of Abi Talib as governors and heads of provinces and states. The Alawiites were engaged in a conspiracy against the Abbasid caliphate. It was a display of wisdom on the part of Abu Saraya to appoint Alawiite rulers to provinces and states thereby turning his government into a government of the Alawiites. Although Abu Saraya was dead, most of the Alawiites who were in power in the provinces did not surrender and kept struggling to establish their caliphate. They had an opportunity to establish themselves after Ameen's death because Sahal's sons Fadal and Hasan, who had Mamoon under their control were Iranian by race and considered the family of Abi Talib superior to the family of Abbas so they favored the Alawiites.

Mamoon was educated and trained by Jafar Barmuk and had respect and love in his heart for members of the Prophet's family. His Prime Minister had the opportunity to turn the government towards the Alawiites after the death of Ameen. However, Harsimah's military acumen put an end to Abu Saraya and cleared Iraq of the Alawiites' style of governing and caused their failure in the Hijaz and Yemen. When Abu Saraya appointed Husain Aftas governor of Makkah, Haroon Rasheed's servant, Masroor with 100 men, was in Makkah. At that time the governor of Makkah appointed by Mamoon was Dawood bin Isa bin Musa Abbasi. Masroor and Dawood heard the news of the arrival of Husain Aftas in Makkah and they convened a meeting of the Abbasids and their supporters to decide what to do. Masroor and others felt that they should fight. However, Dawood said, "I do not like bloodshed at the Haram Shareef. If Husain Aftas enters Makkah by one side, I shall make an exit by the other."

Masroor remained silent and Dawood left for Iraq upon the arrival of Husain Aftas. Masroor also left Makkah. Husain Aftas halted outside Makkah and entered when he heard that the Abbasid governor left Makkah, he entered with only ten men. He made Tawaf, circling the Ka'bah, stayed there for one night and then called for his men to join him and occupied Makkah and began to rule over it.

Having reached Yemen, Ibrahim bin Musa bin Jafar Sadiq expelled Mamoon's governor Ishaq bin Musa bin Isa and began to govern it. Husain Aftas removed the cover of the Ka'bah and put the new one sent by Abu Saraya on, he looted the houses of Banu Abbas, took their valuables by force and then started taking the possessions of the general public in Makkah. He removed the gold from the pillars around the Ka'bah and emptied the treasury and distributed it among his men.

Ibrahim bin Musa arrived in Yemen and started slaughtering and plundering he was called Qassab for massacring people in large numbers. He is still referred to by this name. Other chiefs of the Alawiites who ruled on behalf of Ibrahim bin Musa and Husain Aftas were also involved in looting, killing and plundering. You have read about Zaid bin Musa who was called "Zaid the fire" for perpetrating atrocities. The Alawiites who received power from Abu Saraya for a short period, created disturbances and their tyrannical and merciless acts proved to be their doom. When the news of Abu Saraya's death reached Makkah, the Makkans began to whisper among themselves.

Husain Aftas called on Mohammad bin Jafar Sadiq bin Mohammad Baqar bin Ali bin Husain bin Ali bin Abi Talib and said, "This is the most suitable time. People's hearts are inclined towards you. Abu Saraya has been killed. You should accept the oath for your caliphate. I take the oath at your hands and none will oppose you." Mohammad bin Jafar was ready to take the oath and he began to be addressed as Amir al-Muminin. After this, Husain Aftas and Mohammad bin Jafar's son Ali started criminal activities. They began raping women and became so notorious that it was very difficult for the women of Makkah to protect their chastity. They began to humiliate men and women in public. A group of criminals joined them and they continued their crimes.

One day, Ishaq bin Mohammad, the son of the head judge of Makkah, was passing through the market and Ali bin Mohammad bin Jafar, the Amir al-Muminin's son had him arrested and imprisoned him in his house. The people held a meeting and it was unanimously resolved that Mohammad bin Jafar Sadiq should be removed and the judge's son should be released from the control of Ali bin Mohammad bin Jafar. When they went to the Amir al-Muminin's house and encircled it, they granted his son pardon and safety if he returned the judge's son. He then entered his son's house and found the boy there and handed him over to the people.

It has been mentioned above that Ibrahim bin Musa Kazim known as Ibrahim Qassab had expelled the governor of Yemen, Ishaq bin Musa bin Isa. Ishaq bin Musa went in hiding in Yemen and bided his time. Having observed the oppressive government of the Alawiites and the people's hatred against them, he easily formed an army. Ibrahim came from Makkah. Ishaq left Yemen and decided to invade Makkah. The Alawiites gathered the Bedouins of the adjoining areas, dug out trenches and prepared themselves to face Ishaq. Ishaq marshaled his troops in the battle array but changed his mind and he left for Iraq. Hasan bin Sahal became free from the troubles in Iraq and drew Harsimah's attention to the necessity of putting down the riots in the Hijaz and Yemen. Harsimah gave an army to Raja bin Jameel and Jaludi and sent them to Makkah. While Harsimah's army was on the way to Makkah, Ishaq was coming from there and they met on the way. Ishaq and his army returned to Makkah with them. They found the Alawiites there quite ready to accept the challenge. After a fierce battle, the Alawiites were defeated and the Abbasid army entered Makkah as victors.

Mohammad bin Jafar asked for pardon and security and it was granted. He went to Juhfa and from there he proceeded to Juhaina where he started gathering an army. When he formed a large army, he invaded Madinah. The governor of Madinah Haroon bin Musayyib fought several battles with them and finally Mohammad bin Jafar Sadiq suffered a crushing defeat and returned to Juhaina. During the battle, he lost an eye and many of his men were killed. The next year during the season of Hajj, he asked the rulers of Makkah Raja bin Jameel and Jaludi for pardon and security and came to Makkah. He gathered the people and delivered a sermon. He said "I thought that Mamoon Rasheed was dead and therefore I took the oath from the people. Now the correct information has come to me that he is still living. Therefore I release you from the oath". Then after performing Hajj, he went to Hasan bin Sahal in 201 A.H. who sent him to Caliph Mamoon. Mamoon treated him with honor. He decided to go to Merv from Iraq and died at Jurjan on the way.