wikishia:Featured Article/2018/10

The uprising of al-Mukhtār was a movement under the leadership of al-Mukhtar b. Abi Ubayd al-Thaqafi for vengeance of the Martyrs of Karbala. The uprising began in 66/685 in Kufa. It led to the murder of many people who had a role to play in the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) and his 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 formed in the name of Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya. Some Shiite scholars hold that al-Mukhtar launched his movement at the command of Imam al-Sajjad (a).

Al-Mukhtar was imprisoned by the order of Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad during the Event of Karbala. After his release, al-Mukhtar headed towards Mecca which was then under the rule of Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr.

Al-Mukhtar decided to leave Mecca and start his uprising. Before moving towards Kufa, al-Mukhtar met Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya in Medina and told him about his intention, asking him for a permission. Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya gave him a permission in terms of a general remark and asked him to observe abstinence.

The uprising was publicized, and after a few days, al-Mukhtar's army ousted Abd Allah b. Muti', the ruler of Kufa, from the city. On Friday, Rabi' I 15, 66 AH (November 19, 685), al-Mukhtar entered the palace of Kufa. People said the Friday Prayer behind him. Before the prayer, he delivered two sermons in which he explained the goals of his uprising. After the prayer, the allegiance ceremony was held.

Most murderers of the Martyrs of Karbala who resided in Kufa were killed, but a few of them could escape and survive. After this, al-Mukhtar planned to combat the central government in Syria, the Umayyad dynasty, in order to punish the main contributors of Imam al-Husayn's (a) martyrdom. Two days after the eradication of the murderers of Imam al-Husayn (a), al-Mukhtar sent Ibrahim b. Malik to Syria. On the other hand, Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad moved towards Ibrahim with a large army. The two armies met near Mosul. The battle ended with the victory of Ibrahim, and people such as Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, al-Husayn b. Numayr, and Shurahbil b. Dhi l-Kila' were killed. Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad was killed on Ashura, 67/686.Read more...