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

Mukhtar’s Rebellion
Towards the end of the veai 64 A.H.(684 A.D.) there appealed at Kufah a member of the barn fhaqif, named al-Mukhtar. whose lather. Abu Ubayd. had been killed in the battle of Jasr (Bridge) and who had been brought up bv his uncle, was appointed as governor in al-Madam by Ha/rat Ali (Rad.A). He had accompanied Muslim ibn ’Aqil deputed bv Hussain and was seized bv Vbavd Allah whose blow cost him one of his eyes. He escaped to Makkah and joined Ibn al-Zubavr against the Syrians. At Kufah he was suspected of treason and put into prison by Ibn Zubavr’s Governor He was released and sent later to the defeated Kharijis who called themselves as Tavvwabin (the Penitents) to reconcile and win them over to the side of Ibn al-Zubavi. On receiving an approval from All’s (Rad.A) younger son Muhammad who was called after his mothefs name as Ibn al-Hanafiyah, then at Medina, and forging some Ictteis he declared himself as his delegate and set up himself at Kufah He proclaimed himself the Mahdi and converted main people of \iamaic and Iranian origin to Islam. He gave the command of his followers to Ibrahim ibn al Ashlar, the son of a famous general of Ali (Rad A), and expelled Ibn al-Zubayr’s governor from Kufah. in Rabi’ I 66/Oct 685. He then thought of extending his sway over Mesopotamia, Persia and Arabia.
In 66 A H/685-6 A.D., Mukhtar sent Ibn al-Ashtar with an arnn to Mesopotamia to curb the power of Ubayd Allah who had marched on Mosul But as soon as Ibn al-Ashtar left Kufah, the Kulans. main of whom were responsible for the Karbalah tragedy, rebelled against Mukhtar Ibn al-Ashtar was recalled and furious battle ensued in the streets of Kufah. The Qaysites fought against the Yamanites and supporters of Hussain against those of Usman (Rad.A) and 800 persons were thus killed in cold blood. Ultimately Mukhtar gained victory, granted arnnest) to all except the murderer of al-Hussain and his opponents about 284 in number including Shimr, I mar (Rad.A) and other persons entangled in the tragedy of Karbalah and thus he succeeded in avenging the blood of Hussain by
Ihi.i

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committing atrocities and cruelties.4 After establishing peace at home Ibn al -Ashtar inarched on Mosul, v\hich had been occupied meanwhile b\ Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad the Umayvad general. The latter was defeated and killed at the Kha/ir on the bank of Zab m Muharram 67 A.H. (August 686). His severed head \\as sent to Kufah. Thus Mukhtar became undisputed master of Mesopotamia.
Now he came into clash with Ibn Zubayr and sent two forces one to Makkah to the help of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafi>ah whom he wished to proclaim Caliph and who latter eventuall\ submitted to ’Abdul Malik, and the other contingent to Medina for its defence against the Syrian attack but e\en before his force could reach Medina it was cut to pieces b> Ibn Zuba>r’s troops. Mus’ab. who was still governor of Basrah, was ordered to take care of Mukhtar. The troops of Mus’ab swelled with the refugees coming from Kufah. He recalled Muhallab ibn abi Sufrah from Pars and marched on Kufah. The advance party sent by Mukhtar to check the advancing Basrites was massacred. Mukhtar himself marched out of the cit> to give battle to Muhallab but was forced to retreat to the city fort with 8,000 soldiers mostly Persians.
The fort was besieged and the siege lingered for four months. Supply was cut off and Mukhtar thus forced b> hunger came out to give battle but only with nineteen followers to be killed in Shawwal 67 A.H. (April 687). The rest surrendered but only to be killed mercilessly. Thus the cause of the champion of Mawali namely al-Mukhtar was lost but the butcher} committed bv Mus’ab’s lieutenant was not approved by Ibn Zubayr. The recall of Muhallab from Pars and his subsequent appointment as the Governor of Mosul gave opportunity to the Kharijis to rise in the East. They occupied alRayy, Kirman and al-Ahwaz and besieged Isfahan for months together and inarched towards al-Kufah. Muhallab was deputed again to teach them a lesson and he succeeded in dispersing them within a year. Hajj Headed by Four Group Leaders
The year 68 A.H./688 A.D. had its own peculiarit). Traditionally, either the Caliph or his representative used to lead the pilgrimage at Makkah. This year that was headed by four different group leaders namely Ibn al-Zubayr, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyah, Najda, the Kharijite Chief of South Arabia and a representative of
4Ha\vting. P51.
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the Umayyads. Though the atmosphere was peaceful at Makkah during Hajj time yet this speaks disunity and division of power. Now the break up of the power of the Kharijites b\ Mukhtar and that of his power b> Ibn al-Zubayr greatly facilitated the work of ’Abdul Malik, who meanwhile got relief from the disaster caused by famine in Syria, he was now free in the summer of 689 to inarch against Ibn al-Zubayr. Hardly had he reached Aleppo that his cousin ’Amr ibn Said the ex-Governor of Damascus escaped from ’Abdul Malik’s camp and declared himself Caliph at Damascus. He was, however, soon over-powered and killed mercilessly in 70 A.H.7689 A.D.” Pacification of Iraq and Arabia
While these were passing on quietl} in the East and South, Abdul Malik was engaged in consolidating his position in Syria and protecting the northern frontier from the Byzantine incursions. In 71 A.H./690 A.D. Abdul Malik marched on Mesopotamia against Musab after concluding a peace treaty with the Byzantines on payment of the monthly tribute of about 4,000 gold pieces.
He offered the governorship of Iraq to Musab who, however, proved loyal to his brother and declined the offer. Abdul Malik engaged agents (provocakers) to create dissensions in the camp of Musab whose main force was engaged with the Kharijites. Musab inarched to check the advance of’Abdul Malik and encamped in a plain three farsangs of Dayr al-Jathaliq. But his officers proved disloyal, his first friend al-Ashtar staying back and his troops deserting him in the battle-field. Musab was slain by his own men, the Kufans, at the age of 36 in Jamadi al-Awwal 72/Oct. 691. His lieutenants including Muhallab swore allegiance to Abdul Malik. Thus Mesopotamia and Iraq came under the sway of Abdul Malik.
Abdul Malik had now to deal only with Abdllah ibn Zubayr who was still powerful in the Hijaz. He deputed al-Hajjaj to deal with Ibn Zubayr and ordered Muhallab to continue his campaign against the Kharijis. Appointing administrators of Kufah and Basrah, ’Abdul Malik returned to Damascus. Ibn Zubayr held claim to the Caliphate and was master of the two holy cities of Makkah and Medina. While he himself was busy in rebuilding the Ka’bah destroyed in 64 A.H./685 A.D., his two generals Musab and Muhallab carried the arms far and wide and established his authoritv
Havvting, P.67.

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over the eastern lands. But Musab had been killed and Muhallab had joined
Abdul Malik consequent!) the whole of Persia and Iraq had fallen out of his hands and his possession had been reduced to the two holy cities in Hija?. He took no action to regain his lost territories.