The first and perhaps most reasonable is that of 'Abbas b.

The first and perhaps most reasonable is that of 'Abbas b. Sahl. In this at least al‑Mukhtar's bravery was recognized. However, much emphasis was laid on al‑Mukhtar wanting personal power. His pledge of allegiance to Ibn al‑Zubayr was only made on condition that he was his closest adviser. This Ibn al‑Zubayr accepted but later went back on his word. However, this is absolutely impossible.

Al‑Mukhtar had neither the power or influence to exert such pressure, nor would such a pledge have been accepted. What comes out clearly is that al‑Mukhtar's pledge to Ibn al‑Zubayr was conditional and at some time that condition was broken. What the condition was, is impossible to say. But with the background of events that had taken place, certain facts emerge: al‑Mukhtar was violently anti‑Umayyad; he had suffered considerably at the hands of 'Ubayd Allah, the Umayyad governor of Kufa.

Secondly, al‑Mukhtar was pro‑Shi'a. The condition could well have been the demand for a vigorous anti‑Umayyad policy and al‑Mukhtar felt that Ibn al‑Zubayr's policy after the siege of Mecca had not been strong enough. It could be that al‑Mukhtar had pledged allegiance on condition that there was no 'Alid claimant. The second fact that emerges from all the accounts is that al‑Mukhtar was very interested in the situation in Kufa and eagerly sought information about it.

This is hardly surprising as al‑Mukhtar owned property there and had considerable interests in the town. However, the information given by Hani'b. Abi Hiya is thoroughly unreliable. It is hardly likely that al‑Mukhtar would give away his plans to a Kufan noble with a thoroughly anti‑Shi'a record. He had signed the testimony against Hujr b. 'Adi and had helped in the arrest of al‑Mukhtar34 . The account from Ibn Sa'd describes al‑Mukhtar as a man cheating both Ibn al‑Hanafiyya and Ibn al‑Zubayr.

Muhammad b. al‑Hanafiyya was the eldest surviving son of 'Ali. His mother was a woman of the tribe Hanifa, who had been taken prisoner in the ridda wars35 . Although not descended from 'Ali through Fatima, he was regarded by some as having strong claims to lead the family of 'Ali at that time as Husayn's surviving son, 'Ali, was still young. The informant seems more aware of al‑Mukhtar's relationship with Ibn ak Hanafiyya than his relationship with Ibn al‑Zubayr.

That al‑Mukhtar was given "permission" seems to imply that he was given authority to undertake a task.