Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

Hajjaj b. Yusuf
While leaving Kufah for Damascus Abdul Malik deputed able officer al-Hajjaj formerly a school master in al-Taif. who had taken up the sword in defence of the tottering Umayyad throne to curb the power of Ibn Zubayr. Hajjaj reached Taif in Shaban 72 A.H. (Jan. 692 A.H.), negotiated with Ibn Zubayr for peaceful submission, and failing in that he attacked Medina, expelled the Governor and besieged Makkah itself on obtaining permission from Abdul Malik on March 25, 692. In the month of Dhul Hijjah the city was bombarded from Mt. Abu Oubays and through the intercession of Umar’s son Abdullah in honour of the pilgrimage the siege was over the city was blockaded.
The siege dragged on for six and a half months during which period many Makkans went over to the enemy’s camp. Ibn Zubayr, instead of submitting, with the blessings of his one hundred years’ old mother, Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr (Rad.A) rushed out to fight. He was advised by her to preserve his martial courage and meet death sword in hand. He fought bravely but hopelessly until he was killed in October 692. Thus ended the nine years’ Caliphate of Ibn Zubayr and his thirteen years’ opposition to the house of Umayyah. His governor in Khurasan, Ibn Khazim, a Qaysite Chief, resisted Abdul Malik until he was killed in internal war. With the death of Ibn Zubayr the last champion of the old faith the struggle for supremacy of the Makkans and Medinites ended the centre of interest of Arabia.
After the death of Ibn Zubayr and Ibn Khazim, ’Abdul Malik’s rule was recognized throughout the Muslim lands from the east to the farthest west. Al-Hajjaj v\as appointed governor of Arabia. He rebuilt the Ka’bah and branded some of the Medinites, who were opposed to the L’mayyad rule. He pacified Hija?, Yaman and Yamamah within two vears.’
1 kanm. Islamic ILston. P 49
Abdul Malik
385
In the year 74/693. a branch of the Kharijis named the Azariqa threatened the security of the Persian frontier. Muhallb was deputed to curb their power but his contingents consisted of the Basrites and Kufans on reaching their homes from Khurasan deserted Muhallab and Bashar, the Caliph’s young brother and governor of the turbulent. Iraq died shortly. Al-Hajjaj was therefore appointed Governor of Iraq in Jainadi I, 75/Dec. 694 to teach a lesson to the unsubmissive Iraqis. On reaching Kufah in disguise at the head of only twelve cameleers, he gave three days time to the Kufans to join the army of Muhallab or be killed. The removal of his heavy turban, which covered his head and face, and the fiery oration, that he made from the pulpit of Kufah, are dramatic episodes in history. The same with more severity he did at Basrah. About 120.000 men are said to have been killed by him which is an exaggerated account given b} the Shiite and Sunni writers of the Abbasid court. fcVen Malik ibn Anas one of the four Sunni Imams and a companion of the Holly Prophet could not escape from wearing a collar of dishonour bearing Hajjaj’s seal round his neck. Thus in a short time Muhallab’s army swelled and the Governor Hajjaj b. Yusuf pitched his own tent in the vicinity of Muhallab’s camp. Many were tortured and killed. Amongst the dead was the son of Malik ibn Anas whose father had served the Prophet Muhammad (PBL’H) for ten years. Anas was also insulted and his property was confiscated for which Hajjaj was severely reprimanded. His drastic measures restored peace throughout his vice-royalty in ’Iraq and Persia.
The Kharijite insurrection again disturbed the peace established by Hajjaj. The) agitated against his Government, which according to the theoci’ats, had given funeral to the sanctions of Islam. The Bani Shay ban of Bakr who had migrated from their settlements on the right bank of the Euphrates to northern Mesopotamia rose against the Umay>ads and fought under their leader Shabib b. Yazid against the troops sent against them continuously for two years. These Kharijis even attacked Kufah. Receiving reinforcements from-Syria, Hajjaj dispersed the Kharijis and their leader Shabib was drowned in the river at al-Ahwaz in the spring of 697 A.D.