Uprising of al-Yamani: Difference between revisions

The uprising of al-Yamani and the revolt of al-Sufyani will occur simultaneously. According to a hadith from [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]], the revolts of al-Sufyani, al-Yamani, and al-Khurasani will take place in the same year, same month, and same day. On the other hand, [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] has reportedly said that the revolt of al-Sufyani would occur in the month of [[Rajab]]. From these two hadiths, some scholars have inferred that the uprising of al-Yamani will also take place in Rajab. Other scholars maintain that the occurrence of these revolts in the same day is to indicate that they will happen very closely to each other, even though they may occur in different days.  

Moreover, in some [[Sunni]] sources, there are some reports about the return of [[Christ (a)]] before al-Mahdi (a) and the appearance of [[Antichrist]]. However, Shiite scholars consider these reports unreliable, because they do not report the words of the [[Prophet (s)]] or [[Imams (a)]] and also because the hadith that speaks of the uprising of al-Yamani after the return of al-Mahdi (a) contradict the hadiths in which the uprising of al-Yamani is a sign of the return of al-Mahdi (a).  

The uprising of al-Yamani will occur in [[Yemen]]. In some hadiths, places such as [[Sana'a]], Aden, Kindah, and Abyan have been mentioned. Some scholars believe that the hadiths that mention Sana'a are more frequently reported and indicate that it will be the center of the uprising.  

According to a hadith from Imam al-Baqir (a), the uprising of al-Yamani is a just uprising and people must join it. Some scholars maintain that what makes al-Yamani's revolt a "just uprising" is the fact that he will call the people to Imam al-Mahdi (a). There is a mention of a person called al-Mansur in a hadith, who will help Imam al-Mahdi (a) with his seventy supporters, and is considered to be al-Yamani.  

Some hadiths indicate that there will be a battle between al-Yamani and al-Sufyani; for instance, it is mentioned that the one who will pluck out al-Sufyani's eyes comes from Sana'a or that the first person who will fight al-Sufyani is al-Qahtani.  

There is some discrepancy as to the result of the battle between al-Yamani and al-Sufyani; some hadiths speak about the victory and some about the defeat of al-Yamani. Regarding this discrepancy, some scholars have explained that the hadiths may refer to different battles between al-Yamani and al-Sufyani, and some scholars have doubted their authenticity.

According to a hadith narrated by the Sunni scholar Ibn Hammad, al-Yamani joins Imam al-Mahdi in [[Medina]]. Then, al-Sufyani sends an army to Medina, so al-Yamani and al-Mahdi (a) leave Medina for [[Mecca]], and the army of al-Sufyani follows them. When al-Sufyani's army reaches al-Bayda', it will sink in the earth.  

According to Sunni sources, al-Yamani will conquer Constantinople and Rome. His army's flags are white. This conquest is attributed, in Shiite sources, to Imam al-Mahdi (a).  

* [[Abd al-Rahman b. Muhammad b. Ash'ath]] (d. [[95]]/713-4), who revolted against [[al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf]], the governor of [[Iraq]], during the reign of [[Abd al-Malik b. Marwan]]. He called himself al-Qahtani whom the people of Yemen anticipate. After being defeated by the Umayyads, Ibn Ash'ath fled to Sistan where he died.

* Talib al-Haqq, who revolted against the [[Umayyads]] at the time of [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]]. The Shiites asked the Imam (a) whether Talib al-Haqq was al-Yamani, and the Imam (a) replied that al-Yamani loves Imam Ali (a), but Talib al-Haqq is his enemy.  

* Ibn Faras, who was one of the scholars of the 6th/12th and 7th/13th centuries in [[Andalusia]]. Once, he made an audacious remark in the presence of al-Mansur and hid for a while until al-Mansur died. Afterwards, he appeared and claimed that he was the promised al-Qahtani. Eventually, he was killed in a battle with the army of Nasir b. Mansur.  

* The contemporary Ahmad b. Isma'il al-Basri, known as Ahmad al-Hasan, who has recently claimed to be al-Yamani. He claims that his mission is to prepare the ground for the return of the Twelfth Imam (a) and that he will take power after him. The book ''Da'wat Ahmad b. al-Hasan bayn al-haqq wa-l-batil'' (The Call of Ahmad b. al-Hasan, between Truth and Falsity) is a criticism of the claims and beliefs of Ahmad b. al-Hasan.  

Yazid b. Mulhib and Abd al-Rahman b. Mansur (fl. during the reign of Hisham b. al-Hakam al-Mu'ayyad bi-Allah) are counted among al-Yamani claimants.

The Arabic book ''al-Yamani rayat al-huda'' (al-Yamani the Flag of Guidance) is written by the Iraqi Shiite scholar Muhammad Ali al-Hulw (born in 1376/1956) on al-Yamani's uprising. The author considers the Uprising of al-Yamani to be one of the definite signs of the return of the Twelfth Imam (a).  

* Laythī al-Wasīṭī, ʿAlī b. Muḥammad al-. ''ʿUyūn al-ḥikam wa l-mawāʿiz. Edited by Husayn Hasani Birjandi. Qom: Dār al-Ḥadīth, 1376 Sh.

* Ṣadūq, Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-. Kamāl al-dīn wa itmām al-niʿma. Edited by ʿAlī Akbar Ghaffārī. Tehran: Islāmiyya, 1395 AH.

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