An-Nasir Abdallah
Encyclopedia
An-Nasir Abdallah was an Imam
of Yemen
who ruled in 1837-1840. He was a member of the Qasimid family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi
imamate
of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.
(d. 1775). He was originally an imam of the prayer at the Qubbat Mahdi Abbas in San'a. In February 1837, the unqualified incumbent al-Mansur Ali II
was deposed by the soldiery of San'a, since their salary was in arrears. Abdallah successfully made his da'wa (call for the immate) with the help of his partisans among religious students. The deposed imam and his uncle Sidi Muhammad were kept prisoners by the new ruler, who took the name an-Nasir Abdallah. He took over at a time when the Yemeni lowlands or Tihamah
were occupied by Egypt
ian troops. The viceroy of Egypt, Muhammad Ali Pasha, sent an envoy to an-Nasir Abdallah and summoned him to surrender San'a to the Porte. This was politely refused.
. After his accession he strove to deconstruct the legacy of ash-Shawkani. He introduced a strict legislation where the movements of women were restricted, as well as the use of musical instruments. The Ismailis living west of San'a were oppressed through his policies. Enraged Ismailis eventually drove the imam's men out of the town Haraz
. In 1840, an-Nasir Abdallah was murdered by his own servants in his country house. According to another version, the assassins were Ismailis from the Hamdan
tribe. In his stead, Sidi Muhammad was released from prison and raised to the imamate, under the name al-Hadi Muhammad
.
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 1837-1840. He was a member of the Qasimid family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated 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...
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:...
of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.
Seizure of power
Abdallah bin Muhammad bin al-Qasim bin Abbas was a great-grandson of Imam al-Mahdi AbbasAl-Mahdi Abbas
Al-Mahdi Abbas was an Imam of Yemen who ruled in 1748–1775. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen in 1597–1962.-Ascension and character:...
(d. 1775). He was originally an imam of the prayer at the Qubbat Mahdi Abbas in San'a. In February 1837, the unqualified incumbent al-Mansur Ali II
Al-Mansur Ali II
Al-Mansur Ali II was an Imam of Yemen who reigned in the capital San'a during four brief terms . He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.-First reign:Ali bin Abdallah was the son of Imam al-Mahdi Abdallah...
was deposed by the soldiery of San'a, since their salary was in arrears. Abdallah successfully made his da'wa (call for the immate) with the help of his partisans among religious students. The deposed imam and his uncle Sidi Muhammad were kept prisoners by the new ruler, who took the name an-Nasir Abdallah. He took over at a time when the Yemeni lowlands or 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...
were occupied by Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian troops. The viceroy of Egypt, Muhammad Ali Pasha, sent an envoy to an-Nasir Abdallah and summoned him to surrender San'a to the Porte. This was politely refused.
Religious and legislative policy
An-Nasir Abdallah represented the traditional Zaydiyya interests, as opposed to the Sunni-influenced judiciary previously built up by the scholar Muhammad ash-ShawkaniMuhammad ash-Shawkani
Muhammad ash-Shawkani was a Yemeni scholar of Islam, jurisprudent, and reformer.-Name:His full name was Muhammad Ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Shawkani...
. After his accession he strove to deconstruct the legacy of ash-Shawkani. He introduced a strict legislation where the movements of women were restricted, as well as the use of musical instruments. The Ismailis living west of San'a were oppressed through his policies. Enraged Ismailis eventually drove the imam's men out of the town Haraz
Jabal Haraz
Jabal Haraz is a picturesque mountain region of Yemen, between Sana'a and al-Hudayda. In the 11th century it was the stronghold of the Sulaihid dynasty, many of whose buildings survive..-History and location:...
. In 1840, an-Nasir Abdallah was murdered by his own servants in his country house. According to another version, the assassins were Ismailis from the Hamdan
Hamdan
Hamdan is a name of Arab origin. Among people named Hamdan include:*Al-Hamdan, famous Druze family*Salim Ahmed Hamdan, Yemeni Guantanamo detainee, driver and bodyguard of Osama bin Laden*Gibran Hamdan, quarterback for the Buffalo Bills...
tribe. In his stead, Sidi Muhammad was released from prison and raised to the imamate, under the name al-Hadi Muhammad
Al-Hadi Muhammad
Al-Hadi Muhammad was an Imam of Yemen who ruled in 1840-1844. He was a member of the Qasimid family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen from 1597 to 1962....
.