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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books About Imam Reza (a.s) Imam and Alawide Revolts We have already indicated that one of the reasons which prompted al-Ma’mun to bring Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) to Khurasan and nominate him as his successor was to avoid a direct collision with the Alawides who were of the view that the Abbasides had monopolized authority and robbed them of their right to rule the Muslims.

Al-Ma’mun tried to deal with this problem which always used to push the Alawides to assault the government from time to time. Rebels were always inviting all fellow Alawides to join them in their rebellions, as was the case regarding the Abbasides when they moved against the Umayyad rule. Al-Ma’mun suffered the agonies of the most serious Alawide rebellion against his government, namely the rebellion of Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Hasani.

He was well known as Ibn Tabataba the Alawide; his chief executive was Abul-Saraya al-Sari ibn Mansour, and his call was in the name of ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) from the Progeny of Muhammad (S). Several Alawide uprisings branched out of that revolution. After the rebellion of Abul-Saraya, his Alawide governors declared autonomy in the areas under their control. Alawide Uprisings In Yemen, Ibrahim ibn Musa ibn Ja’far rose and took control of the government after banishing al-Ma’mun's governor.

In Mecca, al-Husayn ibn al-Hasan al-Aftas rose, and Muhammad ibn Ja’far was named caliph. In Basrah, Zayd ibn Musa ibn Ja’far rose in rebellion. He was nicknamed "Zayd of the fire" due to the number of the homes of the Abbasides and their followers which he had burnt. Whenever he came across a man draped in black, he would burn him, and he confiscated a great deal of money from the merchants except Abbaside money. Ali ibn Sa'id marched towards him.

Zayd requested him to give him an assurance to safeguard his life should he give up, and Ali did so. But he nevertheless arrested him1 and sent him to al-Hasan ibn Sahl who ordered to have him executed while al- Hajj aj ibn Khaythama was present, so he said, "Prince! Do not rush, for I have a piece of advice for you." He stopped the executioner and came close to him. He said, "Prince!