Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya: Difference between revisions

[[the Battle of Jamal]] took place in the year 36\656. Muhammad stopped fighting in the middle of the action, so [[Imam Ali (a)|'Ali (a)]] took hold of the standard and having disordered enemy forces, took it back to Muhammad and said; 'strike them anew as compensation'. Muhammad then, accompanied by [[Khuzayma b. Thabit]] (Dhu l-Shahadatayn) and a group of [[Ansar]], many of them whom were the fighters of [[the Battle of Badr]], made successive attacks, and forced Jamal army to retreat.<ref>Reyshahri, ''Danesh Nameh amir al-mu'minin'', Vol. 1, P.183.</ref>

According to some reports, Ibn Hanafiyya was not certain about taking hold of the standard of 'Ali's (a) army, and even reproached his father<ref>Ibn Khallikan, ''Wafayat al-a'yan'', Vol. 4, P.171.</ref>, but eventually bore the standard, and thus made a reputation. Although in some sources such as; [[Tabari]], [[Ibn Kathir]], and [[Ibn al-Jawzi]], the standard-bearing of Muhammad b. Hanafiyya is reported without a hint to such a doubt, the narration of [[Ibn Khallikan]] posits his standard-bearing in [[the battle of Saffayn]] and his doubts about it<ref>Ibn al-Jawzi, ''al-Muntazam'', Vol.5, P.78; Sabiri, Tarikh firaq islami, Vol.2, P.51.</ref>

Following to [[Imam al-Husayn (a)|Husayn b. 'Ali]]'s (a) refusal to swear [[allegiance]] to [[Yazid]], Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya suggested his brother to set off for [[Mecca]] to protect his life, and to [[Yemen]] if he was also threatened in Mecca, and to take shelter in deserts or mountains in case he was even troubled in Yemen. Husayn (a) appreciated his suggestion and said; 'Dear brother, you are free to remain in [[Medina]], so that you can keep your eyes on my enemy and report me of their affairs.'<ref>Qummi, Dar karbala che gudhasht, P.98.</ref> Nevertheless, a hadith is narrated from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] in ''[[Wasa'il al-shi'a]]'' that: [[Hamza b. Hamran]] said; 'we mentioned Imam Husayn's (a) setting off and that Ibn al-Hanafiyya did not go with him'. Imam al-Sadiq (a) said; 'O Hamza, I utter you a hadith that you may not ask about this again. Having gone away from Medina, Husayn (a) asked for a piece of paper and noted; "In the name of [[God]], the most Compassionate, the most Merciful. From Husayn b. 'Ali b. Abi Talib addressed to all [[Banu Hashim]]. Whoever joins me, shall be a martyr, and whoever does not, shall not attain triumph and safety. The end". Regarding this hadith of Imam al-Husayn (a), [['Allama Majlisi]] has said; 'his holiness gave them the choice whether or not to join him, and it was not a sin to neglect to join him, since it was not an obligation, but an option.'

Having dominated [[Kufa]], [[Mukhtar]] invited people to allegiance to Muhammab b. Hanafiyya. [['Abd Allah b. Zubayr]] who reigned [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]] at the time, feared that people might grow a tendency towards Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya, and therefore asked him and his companions to swear allegiance to him, but they refused. Zubayr then imprisoned them in [[Zamzam]] and threatened them to death. Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya sent Mukhtar a letter and asked for help. Having received the letter, Mukhtar sent [[Zabyan b. 'Amara]] with four-hundred men and four-thousand dirhams to Mecca.<ref>Akhbar al-dawlat al-'abbasiyya, P.100.</ref>

With their flags in hands, they entered [[Masjid al-Haram]], and roaring their desire to retaliation for [[Imam al-Husayn (a)|Husayn b. 'Ali (a)]], arrived at [[Zamzam]]. Ibn Zubayr supplied a pile of wood to set them on fire, but having broken the door of Masjid al-Haram, they made way to Ibn Hanafiyya, and told him that he was to choose either them or 'Abd Allah b. Zubayr. Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya said; 'I do not favor there to be conflict and bloodshed in [[Ka’ba|the house of God]].' Meanwhile Ibn Zubayr arrived at them and cried; 'woe upon these stick-handed ones! (they were carrying sticks instead of swords, for they could not carry weapons in Masjid al-Haram), do you suppose I would let Muhammad go before he swears allegiance to me?' So the rest of Mukhtar forces entered Masjid al-Haram, shouting out loud that they sought revenge for Husayn (a). Ibn Zubayr feared them and did not resist anymore. Muhammad then, accompanied by four-thousand men, went to [['Ali's Valley]] and lived in there until Mukhtar was killed.<ref>Nubakhti, Tarjumeh firaq al-shi'a, P.85-86.</ref>

Narrating from sources such as; ''Nash'at al-fikr al-falsafi'', it is noted in the book ''Tarikh firaq Islami''<ref>Sabiri, Tarikh firaq islami, Vol.2, P.55.</ref> that Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya was the first figure believed by some Muslims to be [[the Promised Mahdi]].<ref>But the author mentions, in the footnotes, that, prior to Ibn al-Hanafiyya, 'Ali (a) was called Mahdi.</ref> They believe he is living in [[mount Radawa]], being fed by a stream of milk and one of honey, until the day [[God]] will raise him. [[Sayyid Abu l-Qasim Khoei|Ayatullah Khoei]] dissociates Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya from Kaysanites, and believes they did not exist in his time.<ref>Khoei, Mu'jam al-kabir, Vol.18, P.102-103.</ref>

Imam al-Sajjad (a) invited him to go to [[Black Stone|Hajar al-Aswad]] (the Black Stone), so that the [[Imam]] would be one to whom Hajar al-Aswad testifies. Doing so, Muhammad prayed and asked the Stone to testify to his Imama, but nothing happened. Imam al-Sajjad then, after saying prayer, asked so from the Stone, and the Stone uttered a testimony to the Imama of 'Ali b. al-Husayn (a) after his father, Husayn b. 'Ali (a), and thus, Muhammad al-Hanafiyya accepted his Imama.<ref>See: Saffar, Basa’ir al-darajat, P.502; Ibn Babawayh, al-Imama wa al-tabsira, P.60-62; Kulayni, al-Kafi, Vol.1, P.348.</ref> Some scholars believe that this argumentation was just made up, so that weak [[Shi'a]]s would not incline to believe in the Imama of Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya.<ref>Qutb Rawandi, ''al-Khara’ij wa al-jara’ih'', Vol.1, P.258; 'Allama Majlisi, ''Bihar al-anwar'', Vol.46, P.30.</ref>

It is narrated from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] that Muhammad Hanafiyya believed in the Imama of Imam al-Sajjad (a).<ref>Ibn Babawayh, al-Imama wa al-tabsira, P.60.</ref> Also [[Qutb al-Din Ravandi]] has narrated that [[Abu Khalid al-Kabuli]] (Muhammad's servant) asked him about his belief regarding Imama, and he answered:

"[['Ali b. al-Husayn]] is the Imam of you and I and all Muslims."<ref>Qutb Rawandi, al-Khara’ij wa al-jara’ih, Vol.1, P.261-262.</ref>

It is narrated from [Imam Ali (a)|'Ali (a)]] in the [[Ikhtiar Ma'rifat al-Rijal|Rijal]] of [[Kashshi]] that four Muhammads resist [[God]]'s disobedience; [[Muhammad b. Ja'far al-Tayyar]], [[Muhammad b. Abu Bakr]], [[Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya]], and [[Muhammad b. Abi Hudhayfa]].<ref>Kashshi, ''Rijal al-kashshi'', P.70.</ref> [['Abd Allah Mamaqani|Mamaqani]] proves his reliability according to this narration.<ref>Mamaqani, Tanqih al-maqal, Vol.3, P.111.</ref>

He also had a peaceful relationship with the following caliphs. For example he traveled to [[Damascus]] in 76\695 and made a visit to [['Abd ul-malik Marwan]]. Some believe it was as a result of Ibn Zubayr's abuse, for [['Abd Allah b. Zubayr]] had imprisoned him, until the forces of [[Mukhtar al-Thaqafi]] rescued him.<ref>Sabiri, Tarikh firaq islami, Vol.2, P.52-53.</ref>

'I was with him in his sickness, and I closed his eyes (when he died), and made his funeral ablution, and shrouded him, and performed his funeral prayer, and buried him'.<ref>Kashshi, Rijal al-kashshi, P.315.</ref> However, it is reported in non-Shi'a references that Aban b. 'Uthman (the son of the third caliph) performed his funeral prayer.

* Ibn Babawayh, ‘Ali b. Husain, al-Imama wa al-tabsira min al-hira. Qum: Madrasar Imam al-Mahdi, 1363

* Ibn al-Jawzi, ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Ali, al-Muntazam fi tarikh al-muluk wa al-umam. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, 1992

* Ibn Khallikan, Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Abu Bakr, Wafayat al-a’yan wa anba’ abna’ al-zaman. Beirut: Dar al-Thiqafa, 1968

* Ibn Sa’d, Muhammad, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya

* Amin, Sayyid Muhsin, A’yan al-Shi’a. Beirut: Dar al-Ta’aruf, 2000

* Baladhuri, Ahmad b. Yahya b. Jabir, Kitab jamal min ansab al-ashraf. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, First Edition, 1996

* Qutb Rawandi, Sa’id b. Hibat Allah, al-Khara’ij wa al-jara’ih. Qum: Madrasar Imam al-Mahdi, First Edition, 1409

* Sharif al-Radi, Sharh nahj al-balagha. Qum: Published by Ahmad Mudarris Wahid

* Sabiri, Husayn, Tarikh-i Firaq-i islami. Tehran: Samt, 1388

* Saffar, Muhammad b. Hasan, Basa’ir al-darajat fi fadayil al-I Muhammad (s). Qum: Maktabat Ayatullah al-Mar’ashi al-Najafi

* Qummi, ‘Abbas, Dar karbala che gudhasht?(Translation of Nafas al-mahmum). Qum: Jamkaran Mosque Publication, 1381

* Kulayni, Muhammad b. Ya’qub, al-Kafi. Tehran: Dar al-kutub al-islamiyya

* Mudarris, Mirza Muhammad ‘Ali, Rayhanat al-adab. Published by Khayyam bookstore,1369

* Unknown author(3\9 Century), Akhbar al-dawlat al-'abbasiyya wa fihi akhbar al-'abbas. Beirut: Dar al-Tali'a, 1391