Al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar bin Yahya
Encyclopedia
Al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar bin Yahya (June 1217 - June 23, 1298) was an imam
of the Zaidi
state in Yemen
whose imamate lasted from 1276 to 1298.
was defeated and captured by the Rasulid
sultan, the Zaidi elite of the northern Yemeni highland asked the ex-imam al-Hasan bin Wahhas
to succeed. When al-Hasan refused, the offer went to al-Mutahhar bin Yahya bin al-Murtada, a descendant of the imam an-Nasir Ahmad
(d. 934). He accepted and took the honorific name al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar. The strongest political figure in the Zaidi lands was, however, the emir
Sarim ad-Din Da'ud, son of a former imam, who was the leader of the Hamzite Sharifs. In 1284, Sarim ad-Din tried to induce al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar and al-Hasan bin Wahhas to enter hostilities with the Rasulid Dynasty, but they mistrusted him and refused. Sarim ad-Din then made an abortive attempt to set up a close relative, Ahmad bin Ibrahim, as imam.
. The powerful Sultan al-Muzaffar Yusuf died in 1296, which evoked a respectful remark from the imam: "The greatest king of Yemen, the Mu'awiyah of the time, has died. His pens used to break our lances and swords to pieces." And actually, the Zaidis took the opportunity to seize Lijam, Na'man and Sa'dah
. The imam was able to conclude peace and keep the acquisitions. Shortly after, in 1298, he died. Unlike the five previous imams, he could maintain a strong position for decades in spite of periodic setbacks. The imam was celebrated under the honorific al-Muzallal bi'l-Ghamama, since he was once miracuously saved by a cloud when he was pursued by Sultan al-Mu'ayyad Da'ud in Khawlan. He was succeeded by his son al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar
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 in 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....
whose imamate lasted from 1276 to 1298.
Internal Zaidi rivalries
When the old imam al-Mahdi IbrahimAl-Mahdi Ibrahim
Al-Mahdi Ibrahim was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen whose imamate lasted from 1272 to 1276.-Proclamation of the imamate:...
was defeated and captured by the Rasulid
Rasulid
The Rasulid was a Muslim dynasty that ruled Yemen and Hadhramaut from 1229 to 1454. The Rasulids assumed power after the Egyptian Ayyubid left the southern provinces of the Arabian Peninsula....
sultan, the Zaidi elite of the northern Yemeni highland asked the ex-imam al-Hasan bin Wahhas
Al-Hasan bin Wahhas
Al-Hasan bin Wahhas was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in 1258-1260.The previous imam al-Mahdi Ahmad bin al-Husayn made a number of enemies among the Zaidi elite during his lifetime, which eventually resulted in his violent death in the Battle of Shuwaba in 1258...
to succeed. When al-Hasan refused, the offer went to al-Mutahhar bin Yahya bin al-Murtada, a descendant of the imam an-Nasir Ahmad
An-Nasir Ahmad
An-Nasir Ahmad was the third imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen. Through his active leadership he confirmed and expanded the polity founded by his two predecessors.-Early years and succession:...
(d. 934). He accepted and took the honorific name al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar. The strongest political figure in the Zaidi lands was, however, the emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
Sarim ad-Din Da'ud, son of a former imam, who was the leader of the Hamzite Sharifs. In 1284, Sarim ad-Din tried to induce al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar and al-Hasan bin Wahhas to enter hostilities with the Rasulid Dynasty, but they mistrusted him and refused. Sarim ad-Din then made an abortive attempt to set up a close relative, Ahmad bin Ibrahim, as imam.
Warfare with the Rasulids
Nevertheless, warfare broke out between al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar and the Rasulid Sultan al-Muzaffar Yusuf in 1288. Peace was concluded in July in that year, and the tribes Banu Hayy, Banu Siham, U'rush and Banu Mutim were acknowledged as subjects of the imam. Fresh Zaidi-Rasulid fighting erupted in 1291. This time the mountainous trench of the imam was overrun, and he had to roam around from place to place, eventually establishing himself in HajjahHajjah
Hajjah is the capital city of Hajjah Governorate in northwestern Yemen. It is located 127 kilometres northwest of Sana'a, at an elevation of about 1800 metres. As of 2003, the Hajjah City District had a population of 53,887 inhabitants....
. The powerful Sultan al-Muzaffar Yusuf died in 1296, which evoked a respectful remark from the imam: "The greatest king of Yemen, the Mu'awiyah of the time, has died. His pens used to break our lances and swords to pieces." And actually, the Zaidis took the opportunity to seize Lijam, Na'man and 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 :*...
. The imam was able to conclude peace and keep the acquisitions. Shortly after, in 1298, he died. Unlike the five previous imams, he could maintain a strong position for decades in spite of periodic setbacks. The imam was celebrated under the honorific al-Muzallal bi'l-Ghamama, since he was once miracuously saved by a cloud when he was pursued by Sultan al-Mu'ayyad Da'ud in Khawlan. He was succeeded by his son al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar
Al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar
Al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled from 1301 to 1328.-Zaidi victory over the Rasulids:...