Al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin
Encyclopedia
Al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin was an Imam
who claimed the Zaidi
state of Yemen
in 1855-1878, in rivalry with several other contenders and with the invading Turks
. His highly contested reign saw the temporary end of the independent Yemeni state.
from Shaharah
, a stronghold north of the capital San'a, and he was therefore also known as ash-Shahari. He was a 15th-generation descendant of the imam al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar bin Yahya
(d. 1298). Al-Muhsin lived in a time of great political turbulence in Yemen. Ottoman
troops intervened in highland Yemen in 1849 but then withdrew, leaving the remains of the Zaidi state to its own devices up to 1872. Several contenders for the Zaidi imamate
arose in the wake of this event: al-Mansur Ahmad
(1849–1853), al-Hadi Ghalib
(1851–1852), al-Mansur Muhammad
(1853–1890), and al-Mansur al-Husayn III
(1859–1863). The various imams were locally based and only held power for brief terms in San'a itself. Al-Muhsin claimed the imamate in 1855, and again in 1857, under the name al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin. It was only in 1860, however, that the tribes close to San'a heeded his claim; the tribesmen feared the growing power of the Isma'ili Makramah polity, which was heretic
from the Zaidi point of view.
In the same year 1860, the inhabitants of San'a, tired of the infighting, issued a proclamation that they would look after their own affairs. A shaykh called Muhsin Mu'id (d. 1881) was made governor of the city. He established contacts with Imam al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin, who established his residence in the fort Dhu Marmar and struck coins. In 1867 the imam fell out with Governor Muhsin Mu'id and entered San'a by force, but was unable to remain there. In the next year, an agreement was made whereby al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin was mentioned in the Friday prayer, leaving administration largely in the hands of the governor. In 1868, the imam also tried to curb the authority of the Makramah (Isma'ili) sect, which had used the times of trouble to take over the al-Haymah district. Although being supported by the Arhab
tribe, he was unsuccessful in this enterprise. As a consequence, his prestige dwindled, and San'a once again became the scene of plunderings by tribesmen.
was opened in 1869, the Porte feared increased British
influence in the southern part of Arabia. With this in mind, the Ottoman authorities resolved to bring entire Yemen under their thumb, in 1872. In the meantime, al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin had estranged a good part of the population of San'a. Governor Muhsin Mu'id therefore acknowledged a rival of al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin, called al-Hadi Ghalib
, as the right imam. The governor and al-Hadi Ghalib welcomed the Turkish
troops who marched into San'a in April 1872. With this intervention the Zaidi state was effectively brought to an end, since a new administration was introduced.
Al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin withdrew to Haddah
south of San'a where he rallied support to fight the Turkish occupiers. He was able to rouse the Hashid
and Arhab
tribes for his cause. His tribal followers were defeated in a series of battles in the same year, however. Al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin refused to give up resistance and continued to create trouble for the Ottoman governance until his death in 1878. The imam's alliance with the tribal groups remained firm henceforth. He was however unable to seriously threaten the position of the occupiers. After 1888 his sons agreed to receive a pension from the Turkish governor in exchange for loyalty. The torch of resistance was taken over by a pretender-imam of another family, al-Hadi Sharaf ad-Din
.
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...
who claimed 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....
in 1855-1878, in rivalry with several other contenders and with the invading Turks
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...
. His highly contested reign saw the temporary end of the independent Yemeni state.
Contest for San'a
Al-Muhsin bin Ahmad was a SayyidSayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
from 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....
, a stronghold north of the capital San'a, and he was therefore also known as ash-Shahari. He was a 15th-generation descendant of the imam al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar bin Yahya
Al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar bin Yahya
Al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar bin Yahya was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen whose imamate lasted from 1276 to 1298.-Internal Zaidi rivalries:...
(d. 1298). Al-Muhsin lived in a time of great political turbulence in Yemen. 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...
troops intervened in highland Yemen in 1849 but then withdrew, leaving the remains of the Zaidi state to its own devices up to 1872. Several contenders for the Zaidi 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:...
arose in the wake of this event: al-Mansur Ahmad
Al-Mansur Ahmad
Al-Mansur Ahmad was a Zaydiyya imam who claimed the rulership over Yemen in the years 1849-1853. His strife-ridden career spelt the end of the Zaydi Imamate of Yemen as a coherent force.- Background of the rebellion :...
(1849–1853), al-Hadi Ghalib
Al-Hadi Ghalib
Al-Hadi Ghalib was an Imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in 1851-1852, and made subsequent periodical claims to the imamate up to the Ottoman intervention in 1872.-Rivalry for the imamate:...
(1851–1852), al-Mansur Muhammad
Al-Mansur Muhammad bin Abdallah
Al-Mansur Muhammad bin Abdallah was an imam of the Zaydiyya sect in Yemen who claimed the imam title in the period 1853-1890, and ruled briefly in the capital San'a in 1853....
(1853–1890), and al-Mansur al-Husayn III
Al-Mansur al-Husayn III
Al-Mansur al-Husayn III was a claimant to the dignity of imam of Yemen in 1859-1863, wielding power in intense rivalry with other self-proclaimed imams....
(1859–1863). The various imams were locally based and only held power for brief terms in San'a itself. Al-Muhsin claimed the imamate in 1855, and again in 1857, under the name al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin. It was only in 1860, however, that the tribes close to San'a heeded his claim; the tribesmen feared the growing power of the Isma'ili Makramah polity, which was heretic
Heretic
A heretic is a person who commits heresy.In literature:* Heretic, an autobiography of Peter Cameron* Heretic , the third volume in The Grail Quest series by Bernard CornwellIn music:...
from the Zaidi point of view.
In the same year 1860, the inhabitants of San'a, tired of the infighting, issued a proclamation that they would look after their own affairs. A shaykh called Muhsin Mu'id (d. 1881) was made governor of the city. He established contacts with Imam al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin, who established his residence in the fort Dhu Marmar and struck coins. In 1867 the imam fell out with Governor Muhsin Mu'id and entered San'a by force, but was unable to remain there. In the next year, an agreement was made whereby al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin was mentioned in the Friday prayer, leaving administration largely in the hands of the governor. In 1868, the imam also tried to curb the authority of the Makramah (Isma'ili) sect, which had used the times of trouble to take over the al-Haymah district. Although being supported by the Arhab
Arhab District
Arhab District is a district of the Sana'a Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 90,038 inhabitants....
tribe, he was unsuccessful in this enterprise. As a consequence, his prestige dwindled, and San'a once again became the scene of plunderings by tribesmen.
Ottoman takeover
Lowland Yemen had been under Ottoman rule since 1849. After the Suez CanalSuez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
was opened in 1869, the Porte feared increased British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
influence in the southern part of Arabia. With this in mind, the Ottoman authorities resolved to bring entire Yemen under their thumb, in 1872. In the meantime, al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin had estranged a good part of the population of San'a. Governor Muhsin Mu'id therefore acknowledged a rival of al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin, called al-Hadi Ghalib
Al-Hadi Ghalib
Al-Hadi Ghalib was an Imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in 1851-1852, and made subsequent periodical claims to the imamate up to the Ottoman intervention in 1872.-Rivalry for the imamate:...
, as the right imam. The governor and al-Hadi Ghalib welcomed the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
troops who marched into San'a in April 1872. With this intervention the Zaidi state was effectively brought to an end, since a new administration was introduced.
Al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin withdrew to Haddah
Haddah
Haddah is a village in west-central Yemen. It is located in the San‘a’ Governorate.-External links:*...
south of San'a where he rallied support to fight the Turkish occupiers. He was able to rouse the Hashid
Hashid
The Hashid tribal federation is the second largest tribal federation in Yemen. Member tribes of the Hashid Confederation are found primarily in the mountains in the North and Northwest of the country. It was headed by Sheikh Abdullah ibn Husayn al-Ahmar until his death on December 29, 2007 and is...
and Arhab
Arhab District
Arhab District is a district of the Sana'a Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 90,038 inhabitants....
tribes for his cause. His tribal followers were defeated in a series of battles in the same year, however. Al-Mutawakkil al-Muhsin refused to give up resistance and continued to create trouble for the Ottoman governance until his death in 1878. The imam's alliance with the tribal groups remained firm henceforth. He was however unable to seriously threaten the position of the occupiers. After 1888 his sons agreed to receive a pension from the Turkish governor in exchange for loyalty. The torch of resistance was taken over by a pretender-imam of another family, al-Hadi Sharaf ad-Din
Al-Hadi Sharaf ad-Din
Al-Hadi Sharaf ad-Din was a claimant for the Zaidi imamate of Yemen in the years 1878-1890, acting in opposition to the Ottoman occupiers of the country...
.