Al-Mukhtar b. Abi 'Ubayd al-Thaqafi: Difference between revisions

Al-Mukhtar b. Abi 'Ubayd al-Thaqafi was called by his [[teknonym]], Abu Ishaq, and was nicknamed as Kaysan. Kaysan means smart and incisive. [[Asbagh b. Nubata]] narrates that one day [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] seated al-Mukhtar on his knees and addressed him by saying, "O Kayyis, O Kayyis," and since Imam 'Ali (a) called him Kayyis twice, he became famous as such. Nevertheless, some believe that the word Kaysan was taken from one of his advisers and chiefs, whose teknonym was [[Abu 'Amra Kaysan|Abu 'Amra]].

Al-Mukhtar is originally from [[Ta'if]], the [[Thaqif]] clan. His great grandfather, Mas'ud al-Thaqafi was one of the nobles of [[Hijaz]], and was nicknamed 'Azim al-Qaryatayn (The Great of the two tribes).

His father, [[Abu 'Ubayd al-Thaqafi]], was one of the noble [[companions of the prophet (s)]]. He was killed in the Battle of al-Jisr, one of the battles fought during the era of the [[second caliph]], known as the [[Qadisiyya Wars]].

His mother was [[Dawma bt. 'Amr b. Wahb]]. Ibn Tayfur has reported that she spoke eloquently and was articulate.

His uncle, [[Sa'd b. Mas'ud al-Thaqafi]], was appointed as the governor of [[Mada'in]] by [[Imam 'Ali (a)]].

His brothers, Wahb, Malik, and Jibr, were killed with their father in the Battle of al-Jisr.

Al-Mukhtar was born in [[1]]/622-623. Before birth, his mother, Dawma, had seen someone read a poem to her in a dream:

Al-Mukhtar took part in the Battle of al-Jisr when he was 13, where he lost his father and brothers. Regardless of his young age, he insisted on going to the battlefield, but was prevented by his uncle, [[Sa'd b. Mas'ud al-Thaqafi|Sa'd b. Mas'ud]].

Sa'd b. Mas'ud al-Thaqafi was appointed as the governor of [[Mada'in]] by [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. He appointed al-Mukhtar as his deputy when he left to fight the [[Kharijites]].