Uprising of al-Mukhtar: Difference between revisions

'''Uprising of al-Mukhtār''' (Arabic:{{ia| ثورة المُختار}}) was a movement under the leadership of [[al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi|al-Mukhtar b. Abi 'Ubayd al-Thaqafi]] meant to seek vengeance for [[Martyrs of Karbala]]. The uprising began in [[66]]/685 in the city of [[Kufa]]. It led to the execution of people who were involved in the [[martyrdom]] of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and his [[:Category:Companions of Imam al-Husayn (a)|companions]]: for example, [['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]], [['Umar b. Sa'd]], [[Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan]], and [[Sinan b. Anas]]. The Uprising of al-Mukhtar was called upon by [[Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya]]. Although Some Shiite scholars hold that al-Mukhtar launched his movement at the command of [[Imam al-Sajjad (a)]].

[['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]] released al-Mukhtar from the prison provided that he would not stay in [[Kufa]] for more than 3 days. Thus, al-Mukhtar headed towards [[Mecca]] which was then under the rule of [['Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr]]. In his meeting with 'Abd Allah b. al-Zubyar, he said in response to the suggestion of people to pledge his allegiance to 'Abd Allah that his goal and 'Abd Allah's goal diverge,<ref>Balādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', vol. 6, p. 378.</ref> and thus, it would not be advisable for him to pledge his allegiance to Ibn al-Zubayr. However, after the insistence of people, he pledged his allegiance to 'Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr on two conditions:  

After entering Kufa, al-Mukhtar received an invitation from [[Sulayman b. Surad]] and members of the Tawwabun Uprising. He refused to cooperate with them. He told people of Kufa that Sulayman was not experienced enough to launch a war and is ignorant of the secrets of a war. [['Umar b. Sa'd]] went to the ruler of Kufa and told him that Tawwabun were no threat to him; the real threat for Kufa, as he said, was al-Mukhtar.<ref>Ibn Athīr, ''al-Kāmil fī al-tārīkh'', vol. 4, p. 172.</ref> Thus, al-Mukhtar was imprisoned by agents of 'Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr when Tawwabun launched their battle.<ref>Maqrizī, ''Imṭāʿ al-asmāʾ'', vol. 12, p. 251.</ref>

When Tawwabun were defeated, al-Mukhtar wrote letters to their survivors and asked them to join him. They agreed with al-Mukhtar's request and expressed their readiness to attack the prison and release al-Mukhtar. Al-Mukhtar asked them to hold on, since he would be released a few days later. He wrote a letter to [['Abd Allah b. 'Umar]] who was the husband of his sister, [[Safiyya bt. Abi 'Ubayd]] and asked him to intercede for his release. Thus, al-Mukhtar was released with the help of 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar.

* [['Abd Allah b. Harith al-Nakha'i]], the uncle of Ibrahim b. Malik, as the ruler of Armaniya

* [[Muhammad b. 'Umayr]], the ruler of Azerbaijan

* [['Abd al-Rahman b. Sa'id b. Qays]], the ruler of [[Mosul]]

* [['Abd Allah b. Malik al-Ta'i]], the judge of Kufa

| [['Umar b. Sa'd]] || General commander of Yazid's army || Killed with a sword's strokes and decapitated

| [[Hafs b. 'Umar b. Sa'd]] || Cooperation with his father, 'Umar b. Sa'd || Decapitated

| [[Murra b. Munqidh]] || Murderer of [['Ali al-Akbar (a)]] || Amputated by arms and paralyzed until his death

| [['Amr b. Subayh al-Saydawi|'Amr b. Subayh]] || Murderer of [['Abd Allah b. Muslim]] || Killed with a spear