ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books History of Shi'ism: From the Advent of Islam up to the End of Minor Occultation Lesson 17: Sporadic Uprisings Most of these uprisings were staged without prior organization and based on individual decisions against the tyranny of caliphs and rulers toward the Shi‘ah and ‘Alawis. Mostly reactionary and intransigent in nature, the most important of these uprisings were the following: a.

The Uprising of Shahid Fakh It was Husayn ibn ‘Ali al-Hasani (known as Shahid Fakh) who revolted during the caliphate of the ‘Abbasid caliph Hadi. His uprising was against the extreme cruelties of the caliph of the time vis-à-vis the Shi‘ah and ‘Alawis. Narrates Ya‘qubi, “The ‘Abbasid caliph Musa al-Hadi was pursuing the Talibis.

He seriously threatened them, curtailing their stipends and grants, and wrote to {the rulers of} the different regions and districts to be harsh toward the Talibis.”[^1] ‘Abbasid caliph Hadi had also appointed as ruler of Medina a person from among the descendants of ‘Umar who was very harsh against the Talibis, interrogating them daily.

It was in protest of these cruelties that Husayn ibn ‘Ali al-Hasani rose up and ordered the recital of “ hayya ‘ala khayri’l-‘amal ” {“Come to the best of deeds”} in the adhan {call to prayer} in Medina, asking the people to give their allegiance on the basis of the Book of God and the Sunnah of the Prophet (S), and called on them to the leadership of the chosen one from the progeny of (S).

His policy was agreed upon by Imam al-Kazim ( ‘a ) though the Imam said that he will be killed.[^2] For this reason, the Zaydis kept aloof from him and he along with less than 500 men stood against the ‘Abbasid army under the command of Sulayman ibn Abi Ja‘far, and in the end, he and a number of his companions attained martyrdom in a place between Mecca and Medina called “Fakh”.[^3] Imam ar-Ridha ( ‘a ) said, “besides Karbala’ there was no tragedy more severe and tragic than {the tragedy in} Fakh.”[^4] In general, ‘Alawis leaders, with the exception of Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah Nafs az-Zakiyyah, did not possess popularity.

The Imami Shi‘ah and companions of the pure Imams ( ‘a ), with the exception of only a few, did not participate in those uprisings. b. The Uprising of Muhammad ibn al-Qasim Muhammad ibn al-Qasim’s revolt had taken place in 219 AH.