When al‑Mukhtar did return to Mecca, he ignored Ibn al‑Zubayr.

When al‑Mukhtar did return to Mecca, he ignored Ibn al‑Zubayr. He was approached by Ibn al‑Zubayr through 'Abbas b. Sahl. When he heard that many people were pledging support to Ibn al‑Zubayr, he agreed to go and see him at night. When they met, al‑Mukhtar offered to pledge allegiance on condition that he should be his closest adviser. At first Ibn al‑Zubayr refused but when prompted by 'Abbas b. Sahl he accepted29 .

While he was with Ibn al‑Zubayr he fought bravely for him against the Syrians in the defence of Mecca, on one occasion with a contingent of the Khawarij of ahl al ‑ Yaman . But, so 'Abbas b. Sahl tells us, five months after the death of Yazid, when the Kufans had sent their allegiance to Ibn al­Zubayr, he left of his own accord for Kufa30 . There follows a brief report from Sa'id b. 'Amr b. Sa'id al‑'As which re­cords that Ibn al‑Zubayr described al‑Mukhtar as more dangerous than a wolf.

It adds that when al‑Mukhtar saw that he was not being given any position he started enquiring about conditions in Kufa from anyone who came there31 . The next report comes from a Hamdani, Abu Warq, who alleges that when Hani b. Abi Hiya al‑Wadi'i of Harridan came on a pilgrimage to Mecca, al-Mukhtar asked him about conditions in Kufa. Hani'b. Abi Hiya told him that there was a large group of people there who were ripe for revolution, if they had a leader. Al‑Mukhtar said he was that leader.

When it was pointed out that this would be sowing discord, al‑Mukhtar replied that his call would be to guidance and unity. Soon after he left for Kufa32 . The above reports are all from Abu Mikhnaf as recorded by al‑Tabari. However Ibn Sad in his life of Muhammad b. Hanafiyya gives us something a little bit different.

Ibn Sa'd reports that al‑Mukhtar was a supporter of Ibn al‑Zubayr and Ibn al‑Zubayr refused to listen to anything against him; but at the same time he used to pay visits to Ibn al‑Hanafiyya. However, Ibn al‑Hanafiyya doubted his loyalty. When al‑Mukhtar asked permission to go to 'Iraq, he granted it but at the same time sent to 'Abd Allah b. Kamil al‑Hamdani telling him to be cautious because al‑Mukhtar was not trust­worthy.

Al‑Mukhtar also asked permission from Ibn al‑Zubayr to go to 'Iraq and Ibn al‑Zubayr trusted him although al‑Mukhtar cheated him33 . These reports all succeed in building up al‑Mukhtar as an ambitious deceitful character whose only thought was personal power. The attacks on al‑Mukhtar come from three main sources.