Al-Mutahhar
Encyclopedia
Al-Mutahhar was an imam
of the Zaidi
state of Yemen
who ruled from 1547 to 1572. His era marked the temporary end of an autonomous Yemeni polity in the highlands.
, who ruled large parts of Yemen in the 1530s and 1540s. Since early years he showed good warrior skills, and assisted his father in gathering authority over the most of Yemen. The Ottoman
Turks were placed in part of lower Yemen since 1539, but the extent of their power was still circumcised. As it turned out, al-Mutawakkil preferred another son as presumptive heir to his powers. Al-Mutahhar, frustrated, encouraged the Turks to expand from their base in the Tihamah
. The Zaidis lost Ta'izz
to the Ottoman forces in 1547, and their elite resolved to make al-Mutahhar their leader in stead of the elderly al-Mutawakkil Yahya Sharaf ad-Din. Nevertheless, the Turks expanded steadily. San'a, which had been the Zaidi capital since 1517, fell on 23 August 1547.
. He was not a man of doctrinal learning (mujtadid), and was furthermore lame; he therefore lacked some of the formal qualifications for a bona fide imam, as laid down by Zaydiyyah tradition, and was only imam in the sense of military leader. In 1552 he made peace with the Turks, who officially made him sancakbey, with authority over the districts north-west of San'a. In 1566, Turkish misbehaviour gave rise to dissatisfaction among parts of the Yemeni population that had hitherto been positive to the Ottoman presence. Al-Mutahhar headed the rebellion with considerable success. By 1568, the Turks were reduced to a minor coastal enclave. Then, however, the Ottoman sultan Selim II
sent the redoubtable commander Sinan Pasha
to Yemen with reinforcements. Al-Mutahhar was pushed back in 1569-70, but could not be entirely overcome. Sinan Pasha eventually made a truce with al-Mutahhar at Kawkaban. The imam died in relative obscurity in 1572, of blood in the urine. There was no unity among his sons, who controlled various districts. The defeat and death of al-Mutahhar marked the beginning of a long period of Ottoman domination which was only broken by the Qasimid imams in the early 17th century.
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 the Zaidi
Zaidiyyah
Zaidiyya, or Zaidism is a Shi'a Muslim school of thought named after Zayd ibn ʻAlī, the grandson of Husayn ibn ʻAlī. Followers of the Zaydi Islamic jurisprudence are called Zaydi Shi'a...
state 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 from 1547 to 1572. His era marked the temporary end of an autonomous Yemeni polity in the highlands.
The coming of the Ottomans
Al-Mutahhar was a son of the imam al-Mutawakkil Yahya Sharaf ad-DinAl-Mutawakkil Yahya Sharaf ad-Din
Al-Mutawakkil Yahya Sharaf ad-Din was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen. His period as imam covered the period 1506-1555, though his political activity ended in about 1547.-Construction of a new Zaidi realm:...
, who ruled large parts of Yemen in the 1530s and 1540s. Since early years he showed good warrior skills, and assisted his father in gathering authority over the most of Yemen. The Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Turks were placed in part of lower Yemen since 1539, but the extent of their power was still circumcised. As it turned out, al-Mutawakkil preferred another son as presumptive heir to his powers. Al-Mutahhar, frustrated, encouraged the Turks to expand from their base in the Tihamah
Tihamah
Tihamah or Tihama is a narrow coastal region of Arabia on the Red Sea. It is currently divided between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. In a broad sense, Tihamah refers to the entire coastline from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Bab el Mandeb Strait but it more often refers only to its southern half, starting...
. The Zaidis lost Ta'izz
Ta'izz
Ta'izz , or Taiz, is a city in the Yemeni Highlands, near the famous Mocha port on the Red Sea, lying at an elevation of about 1,400 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Ta'izz Governorate...
to the Ottoman forces in 1547, and their elite resolved to make al-Mutahhar their leader in stead of the elderly al-Mutawakkil Yahya Sharaf ad-Din. Nevertheless, the Turks expanded steadily. San'a, which had been the Zaidi capital since 1517, fell on 23 August 1547.
Submission and further resistance
Al-Mutahhar took up a stance in the strong mountain stronghold ThulaThula
Thula is one of five towns in Yemen on the tentative UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Dating to the Himyarite period, the town is very well-preserved and includes traditional houses and mosques.-World Heritage Status:...
. He was not a man of doctrinal learning (mujtadid), and was furthermore lame; he therefore lacked some of the formal qualifications for a bona fide imam, as laid down by Zaydiyyah tradition, and was only imam in the sense of military leader. In 1552 he made peace with the Turks, who officially made him sancakbey, with authority over the districts north-west of San'a. In 1566, Turkish misbehaviour gave rise to dissatisfaction among parts of the Yemeni population that had hitherto been positive to the Ottoman presence. Al-Mutahhar headed the rebellion with considerable success. By 1568, the Turks were reduced to a minor coastal enclave. Then, however, the Ottoman sultan Selim II
Selim II
Selim II Sarkhosh Hashoink , also known as "Selim the Sot " or "Selim the Drunkard"; and as "Sarı Selim" or "Selim the Blond", was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1566 until his death in 1574.-Early years:He was born in Constantinople a son of Suleiman the...
sent the redoubtable commander Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha or Sinan Pashë Kahremanliu was an Albanian Grand Vizier, Ottoman military commander and statesman.-Life:...
to Yemen with reinforcements. Al-Mutahhar was pushed back in 1569-70, but could not be entirely overcome. Sinan Pasha eventually made a truce with al-Mutahhar at Kawkaban. The imam died in relative obscurity in 1572, of blood in the urine. There was no unity among his sons, who controlled various districts. The defeat and death of al-Mutahhar marked the beginning of a long period of Ottoman domination which was only broken by the Qasimid imams in the early 17th century.