al- Hanafiya had always been reluctant to claim the role of...

al- Hanafiya had always been reluctant to claim the role of the Mahdi for himself.[^16] Mukhtar understood the situation only too well and made full use of it. He gathered the Kufan Shi'is in his house and declared: “Al-Mahdi Muhammad b. 'Ali, the son of the Wasi; sent me to you as his trusted man, minister, and chosen supporter, and as his commander. He ordered me to fight against the blasphemers and…