Revolt of Zayd ibn Ali: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox military conflict |
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| image = Kufa Mosque 1.jpg |
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{{Campaignbox Civil Wars of the Early Caliphates|width=2.0em}} |
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| caption = Kufa Great Mosque, where Zayd fought his way to get his people back from the Umayyads |
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{{Islam<!--should match width of template above-->|history|width=2.0em}} |
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| conflict = Battle of Kufa |
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In 740, [[Zayd ibn Ali]] '''led an unsuccessful rebellion''' against the [[Umayyad Caliphate]], that had taken over the [[Rashidun Caliphate]] since the death of his great-grandfather, [[Ali]]. Muhammad SAW |
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| partof = |
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| date = 740 CE (122 AH) |
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| place = [[Kufa]], [[Iraq (region)|Iraq]] |
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| result = [[Umayyad Caliphate]] victory |
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* Death of [[Zayd ibn Ali]] |
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* Death of Zayd's rebellion |
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| combatant1 = [[Umayyad Caliphate]] |
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| combatant2 = Zayd ibn Ali and his partisans |
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| commander1 = [[Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik]]<br />[[Yusuf ibn Umar al-Thaqafi|Yusuf ibn al-Thaqafi]] |
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| commander2 = [[Zayd ibn Ali]]{{KIA}} |
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| strength1 = |
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| strength2 = |
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| casualties1 = |
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}} |
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The '''Battle of Kufa''' ({{Lang-ar|معركة الكوفة}}) was fought in the year 740 CE (122 AH) between the army of the tenth Umayyad caliph [[Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik]] and a small army led by [[Zayd ibn Ali]], at Kufa in Iraq. |
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== The revolt == |
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| ⚫ | Unlike his brother, [[Muhammad al-Baqir]], the fifth Imam of the [[Twelver]] and [[Isma'ilism|Isma'ili]] [[Shi'a]]s, [[Zayd ibn Ali]] believed the time was ripe for renewing the rebellion against the [[Umayyad]] Caliphs in support of the claims of his own [[Hashemite]] clan. On his trip to Iraq, he was persuaded by pro-Alids of [[Kufa]] that he had support of 10,000 warriors and could easily drive out a few hundred Umayyad soldiers stationed there.<ref name=Wellhausen/> Kufa had previously been the capital of his great-grandfather [[Ali]], and the place where his grandfather [[Husayn]] also sought support for his own rebellion in 680.{{cn|date=April 2020}} He started the revolt in Kufa, Basra and Mosul and 15,000 people were enlisted on his army register.<ref name=Wellhausen/> |
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Zayd ibn Ali originally launched a rebellion against the [[Umayyad Caliphate]], that had taken over the [[Rashidun Caliphate]]. Zayd did not give his allegiance to Hisham as the caliph and wanted to restore the rule of the [[Hashemites]], which was taken away by the [[Umayyads]]. Zayd's rebellion was launched in [[Kufa]], [[Basra]] and [[Mosul]]. Zayd's pro-Alid<ref name=Wellhausen/> (''Shi'at Ali)'' Kufi supporters became upset after Zayd praised [[Abu Bakr|Abu Bakr Siddiq]] and [[Umar ibn al-Khattab]].<ref name="Najeebabadi">Akbar Shah Najeebabadi, The history of Islam. B0006RTNB4.</ref><ref>The waning of the Umayyad caliphate by Tabarī, Carole Hillenbrand, 1989, p37, p38</ref><ref>The Encyclopedia of Religion Vol.16, Mircea Eliade, Charles J. Adams, Macmillan, 1987, p243. "They were called Rafida by the followers of Zayd"</ref> After this, the pro-Alid Kufis betrayed Zayd, and joined the Umayyads, turning the rebellion into a battle. The few of Zayd's supporters who remained loyal to him were killed by the Umayyad forces. After a few moments, Zayd was assassinated by the Umayyad soldiers, who threw arrows at his forehead. After Zayd was killed, his body was exhumed and crucified by the Umayyads.<ref name="Wellhausen" /> |
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However, in events that echoed [[Husayn]]'s own abandonment by the Kufans decades earlier, the bulk of Zayd's supporters deserted him and joined the Umayyads, leaving Zayd with only a few dozen outnumbered followers. |
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Following the Battle of Kufa, the [[Zaidiyyah]] branch of [[Shia Islam]] developed. The battle of Kufa is commemorated by some Shia Muslims. Sunnis Muslims regard the event as a tragedy and Zayd's sacrifice is honored by both Shia and Sunni Muslims. |
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== Revolt == |
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| ⚫ | Unlike his brother, [[Muhammad al-Baqir]], the fifth Imam of the [[Twelver]] and [[Isma'ilism|Isma'ili]] [[Shi'a]]s, [[Zayd ibn Ali]] believed the time was ripe for renewing the rebellion against the [[Umayyad]] Caliphs in support of the claims of his own [[Hashemite]] clan. On his trip to Iraq, he was persuaded by pro-Alids of [[Kufa]] that he had support of 10,000 warriors and could easily drive out a few hundred Umayyad soldiers stationed there.<ref name="Wellhausen" /> Kufa had previously been the capital of his great-grandfather [[Ali]], and the place where his grandfather [[Husayn]] also sought support for his own rebellion in 680.{{cn|date=April 2020}} He started the revolt in Kufa, Basra and Mosul and 15,000 people were enlisted on his army register.<ref name="Wellhausen" /> |
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== Battle == |
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The Umayyad governor of Kufa, commanded his people to gather at the great mosque, locked them inside and began a search for Zayd. Zayd with some troops fought his way to the mosque and called on people to come out.<ref name="Wellhausen">{{cite book |last = Wellhausen |first = Julius |year = 1901 |author-link = Julius Wellhausen |title = Die religiös-politischen Oppositionsparteien im alten Islam |language = de |url = https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.358135 |publisher = Weidmannsche buchhandlung |location = Berlin|oclc = 453206240 |pages=96–97}}</ref> However, in events that echoed [[Husayn]]'s own abandonment by the Kufans decades earlier, the bulk of Zayd's supporters deserted him and joined the Umayyads, leaving Zayd with only a few dozen outnumbered followers. |
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Nevertheless, Zayd fought on. His small band of followers was soundly defeated by the much larger Umayyad force, and Zayd fell in battle to an arrow that pierced his forehead. The arrow's removal led to his death. He was buried in secret outside Kufa, but the [[Umayyads]] were able to find the burial place, and, in retribution for the rebellion, exhumed Zayd's body and crucified it.<ref name="Wellhausen" /> The corpse remained on the cross for three years. After the death of Hisham, the new caliph ordered his corpse to be burned. The ashes were scattered in the [[Euphrates]]. When the [[Abbasids]], who, like Zayd, were [[Hashemites]], overthrew the [[Umayyads]] in 750, they in turn exhumed Hisham's body, crucified it, and burned it, out of revenge for [[Zayd]].<ref>{{EI2 |article=Zayd b. ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn|last=Madelung |first=Wilferd|authorlink=Wilferd Madelung |volume=11 |pages=473–474}}</ref> |
Nevertheless, Zayd fought on. His small band of followers was soundly defeated by the much larger Umayyad force, and Zayd fell in battle to an arrow that pierced his forehead. The arrow's removal led to his death. He was buried in secret outside Kufa, but the [[Umayyads]] were able to find the burial place, and, in retribution for the rebellion, exhumed Zayd's body and crucified it.<ref name="Wellhausen" /> The corpse remained on the cross for three years. After the death of Hisham, the new caliph ordered his corpse to be burned. The ashes were scattered in the [[Euphrates]]. When the [[Abbasids]], who, like Zayd, were [[Hashemites]], overthrew the [[Umayyads]] in 750, they in turn exhumed Hisham's body, crucified it, and burned it, out of revenge for [[Zayd]].<ref>{{EI2 |article=Zayd b. ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn|last=Madelung |first=Wilferd|authorlink=Wilferd Madelung |volume=11 |pages=473–474}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 09:32, 4 October 2021
| Battle of Kufa | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kufa Great Mosque, where Zayd fought his way to get his people back from the Umayyads | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Umayyad Caliphate | Zayd ibn Ali and his partisans | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik Yusuf ibn al-Thaqafi | Zayd ibn Ali † | ||||||
The Battle of Kufa (Template:Lang-ar) was fought in the year 740 CE (122 AH) between the army of the tenth Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik and a small army led by Zayd ibn Ali, at Kufa in Iraq.
Zayd ibn Ali originally launched a rebellion against the Umayyad Caliphate, that had taken over the Rashidun Caliphate. Zayd did not give his allegiance to Hisham as the caliph and wanted to restore the rule of the Hashemites, which was taken away by the Umayyads. Zayd's rebellion was launched in Kufa, Basra and Mosul. Zayd's pro-Alid[1] (Shi'at Ali) Kufi supporters became upset after Zayd praised Abu Bakr Siddiq and Umar ibn al-Khattab.[2][3][4] After this, the pro-Alid Kufis betrayed Zayd, and joined the Umayyads, turning the rebellion into a battle. The few of Zayd's supporters who remained loyal to him were killed by the Umayyad forces. After a few moments, Zayd was assassinated by the Umayyad soldiers, who threw arrows at his forehead. After Zayd was killed, his body was exhumed and crucified by the Umayyads.[1]
Following the Battle of Kufa, the Zaidiyyah branch of Shia Islam developed. The battle of Kufa is commemorated by some Shia Muslims. Sunnis Muslims regard the event as a tragedy and Zayd's sacrifice is honored by both Shia and Sunni Muslims.
Revolt
Unlike his brother, Muhammad al-Baqir, the fifth Imam of the Twelver and Isma'ili Shi'as, Zayd ibn Ali believed the time was ripe for renewing the rebellion against the Umayyad Caliphs in support of the claims of his own Hashemite clan. On his trip to Iraq, he was persuaded by pro-Alids of Kufa that he had support of 10,000 warriors and could easily drive out a few hundred Umayyad soldiers stationed there.[1] Kufa had previously been the capital of his great-grandfather Ali, and the place where his grandfather Husayn also sought support for his own rebellion in 680.[citation needed] He started the revolt in Kufa, Basra and Mosul and 15,000 people were enlisted on his army register.[1]
Battle
The Umayyad governor of Kufa, commanded his people to gather at the great mosque, locked them inside and began a search for Zayd. Zayd with some troops fought his way to the mosque and called on people to come out.[1] However, in events that echoed Husayn's own abandonment by the Kufans decades earlier, the bulk of Zayd's supporters deserted him and joined the Umayyads, leaving Zayd with only a few dozen outnumbered followers.
Nevertheless, Zayd fought on. His small band of followers was soundly defeated by the much larger Umayyad force, and Zayd fell in battle to an arrow that pierced his forehead. The arrow's removal led to his death. He was buried in secret outside Kufa, but the Umayyads were able to find the burial place, and, in retribution for the rebellion, exhumed Zayd's body and crucified it.[1] The corpse remained on the cross for three years. After the death of Hisham, the new caliph ordered his corpse to be burned. The ashes were scattered in the Euphrates. When the Abbasids, who, like Zayd, were Hashemites, overthrew the Umayyads in 750, they in turn exhumed Hisham's body, crucified it, and burned it, out of revenge for Zayd.[5]
Consequences
Zayd's desperate rebellion became the inspiration for the Zaydi sect, a school of Shi'a Islam that holds that any learned descendant of Ali can become an Imam by asserting and fighting for his claim as Zayd did (the rest of the Shi'as believe, in contrast, that the Imam must be divinely appointed). However, all schools of Islam, including the majority Sunnis, regard Zayd as a righteous martyr (shahid) against what is regarded as the corrupt leadership of the Umayyads. It is even reported that Abu Hanifa, founder of the largest school of Sunni jurisprudence, gave financial support to Zayd's revolt and called on others to join Zayd's rebellion.[citation needed]
Zayd's rebellion inspired other revolts by members of his clan, especially in the Hejaz, the most famous among these being the revolt of Muhammad al-Nafs az-Zakiyya against the Abbasids in 762. Zaydi agitation continued until 785 and re-erupted in Tabaristan under the leadership of the Zayd's son, Hasan ibn Zayd ibn Ali. His revolt attracted many supporters, among them the ruler of Rustamids, the son of Farīdūn (a descendant of Rostam Farrokhzād), Abd ar-Rahman ibn Rustam.[citation needed]
See also
- Zayd ibn Ali
- Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik
- Zaydism
- Husayn ibn Ali
- Alids
- Hashemites
- Shi'a
- Rafida
- Rustamids
- Farīdūn (the father of Abd ar-Rahman ibn Rustam, a descendant of Rostam Farrokhzād)
References
- ^ a b c d e f Wellhausen, Julius (1901). Die religiös-politischen Oppositionsparteien im alten Islam (in German). Berlin: Weidmannsche buchhandlung. pp. 96–97. OCLC 453206240.
- ^ Akbar Shah Najeebabadi, The history of Islam. B0006RTNB4.
- ^ The waning of the Umayyad caliphate by Tabarī, Carole Hillenbrand, 1989, p37, p38
- ^ The Encyclopedia of Religion Vol.16, Mircea Eliade, Charles J. Adams, Macmillan, 1987, p243. "They were called Rafida by the followers of Zayd"
- ^ Madelung, Wilferd (2002). "Zayd b. ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E. & Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume XI: W–Z. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 473–474. ISBN 978-90-04-12756-2.
