Al-Mahdi Ahmad
Encyclopedia
Al-Mahdi Ahmad was an Imam
of Yemen
, who ruled in 1676-1681. He belonged to the Qasimid family that was descended from the Prophet Muhammad.
. In the reign of his uncle, in 1658, he led forces that loosely incorporated Hadramaut in the Yemeni kingdom. When al-Mutawakkil Isma'il died, the imamate
was claimed by Ahmad. He had, however, to fight his cousin and rival al-Qasim who controlled Shaharah
, an almost impregnable fortress north of San'a. Ahmad collected forces which besieged Shaharah and forced al-Qasim to accept his claim.
. The Jews were later allowed to move to Qa'at al-Yahud, a suburb situated two kilometers from San'a. At the death of the imam in 1681, his son Muhammad was prevented to take the imamate due to counter-claims by relatives in Rada, Shaharah
, Sa'dah
and Mansura. Through mediation of the ulema
, one of these, al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad II
, took power.
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
of Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, who ruled in 1676-1681. He belonged to the Qasimid family that was descended from the Prophet Muhammad.
Struggle for the imamate
Ahmad was a son of al-Hasan bin al-Qasim (d. 1639), a brother of the former imam al-Mutawakkil Isma'ilAl-Mutawakkil Isma'il
Al-Mutawakkil Isma'il was an Imam of Yemen who ruled the country in the years 1644-1676. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. His rule saw the greatest territorial extension of the Yemeni state....
. In the reign of his uncle, in 1658, he led forces that loosely incorporated Hadramaut in the Yemeni kingdom. When al-Mutawakkil Isma'il died, the imamate
Imamate
The word Imamate is an Arabic word with an English language suffix meaning leadership. Its use in theology is confined to Islam.-Theological usage:...
was claimed by Ahmad. He had, however, to fight his cousin and rival al-Qasim who controlled Shaharah
Shaharah District
Shaharah District is a district of the 'Amran Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 43,738 inhabitants....
, an almost impregnable fortress north of San'a. Ahmad collected forces which besieged Shaharah and forced al-Qasim to accept his claim.
Reign
At his accession, the imam was already a mature man in his upper forties. He upheld the Yemeni suzerainty in Hadramaut, and was reported to be a pious figure. His residence was al-Ghiras north-east of San'a. In 1679 the imam expelled the Jewish population from San'a. Instead, they temporarily settled in Mawza close to MochaMocha, Yemen
Mocha or Mokha is a port city on the Red Sea coast of Yemen. Until it was eclipsed in the 19th century by Aden and Hodeida, Mocha was the principal port for Yemen's capital Sana'a.-Overview:...
. The Jews were later allowed to move to Qa'at al-Yahud, a suburb situated two kilometers from San'a. At the death of the imam in 1681, his son Muhammad was prevented to take the imamate due to counter-claims by relatives in Rada, Shaharah
Shaharah District
Shaharah District is a district of the 'Amran Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 43,738 inhabitants....
, Sa'dah
Sa'dah
Sa`dah is the capital city of Saada Governorate in north-western Yemen. It is located at , at an elevation of about 1,800 meters. Known in antiquity as Karna, its population in 2004 was estimated at 51,870.- External links :*...
and Mansura. Through mediation of the ulema
Ulema
Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
, one of these, al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad II
Al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad II
Al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad II was an Imam of Yemen who ruled in 1681–1686. He belonged to the Qasimid family which descended from the Prophet Muhammad and dominated the Zaidi imamate in 1597–1962.Muhammad was a son of the imam al-Mutawakkil Isma'il. When his cousin and predecessor al-Mahdi Ahmad died in...
, took power.