ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Mukhtar a Biograghy Chapter 22 - Control for Mosul Ibrahim advises Mukhtar that before embarking on the mission in earnest for tracking down the Kerbala perpetrators, they should first bring under their influence the surrounding areas to consolidate their government.

Mosul was of a strategic importance, and they decide on a tactic to bring it under their control; at the time, Mosul was under the rule of Mohamed Ashath who was a staunch anti­-Shia; his father Ashath Qays caused a lot of problems for Imam Ali (as), and his sister Joda Ashath, who was a wife of Imam Hassan (as), poisoned Imam Hassan (as).

So Mukhtar and Ibrahim are aware of the opposition they would face against Mohamed Ashath; the plan is first to call in prominent Kufians and the commanders of the army units who were in Kerbala, the majority of whom were living in Kufa. These people are called in and Mukhtar tells them that his earlier statements of wanting to avenge the killers of Imam Husein (as) were just a front to gain him power; and now he has got power, he is only interested in keeping it and amassing wealth.

He gives them a lot of money and gifts to convince them of his greed for wealth, and a promise to share out any more war booty. After a few days, Mukhtar calls in Mohamed Ashath's son Abdu Rahman, who was residing in Kufa; Mukhtar treats him like royalty and gives him lots of money and gifts, telling him the same story as he told the other Kufians.

After a few more days, Mukhtar calls for Abdu Rahman again, asking him to take a personal message to his father Mohamed Ashath in Mosul; the message says: let Mohamed Ashath swear his political allegiance to Mukhtar and in return Mohamed Ashath will get the governorship of Madayn, which is a larger and a more powerful province than Mosul.

Z Abdu Rahman travels to Mosul and meets with his father and conveys Mukhtar's message; Mohamed Ashath is very surprised that his son should bring such a message, but Abdu Rahman explains the apparent change of heart by Mukhtar; he assures this to his father by the evidence of gifts and money to him and to the perpetrators of Kerbala living in Kufa.