Ad-Da'i Yusuf
Encyclopedia
Ad-Da'i Yusuf was an imam
of the Zaidi
state in Yemen
who ruled for two highly turbulent terms (977–999, 1002–1012).
who died in 976. In the following year, Yusuf was proclaimed with the regnal name ad-Da'i Yusuf. His early years were filled with struggles against the Yu'firid Dynasty that ruled much of the Yemeni highland. The important city San'a at this time was subjected to the overlordship of the Sunni Ziyadid Dynasty which ruled the Tihamah
from its base in Zabid
. Ad-Da'i Yusuf managed to gain recognition as prince in San'a and the surrounding province in 978, reciting the khutbah in his own name. Nevertheless, the Ziyadid governor Ibn ad-Dahhak soon fought back. The last effective Yu'firid ruler Abdallah managed to win back the city and increase his power still by invading the Ziyadid domains and seize Zabid
. After Abdallah's death in 997, Yu'firid rule collapsed.
, al-Mansur al-Qasim al-Iyyani
appeared in 999. With the assistance of the Hamdan
tribesmen, ad-Da'i Yusuf was expelled from Sa'dah
, the traditional seat of the imams. A Zaidi Sharif
, al-Qasim bin al-Husayn, was dispatched to San'a by the new imam, and the Zaydiyyah communities submitted to him. After some years, al-Qasim bin al-Husayn changed his allegiance to ad-Da'i Yusuf again. Al-Mansur al-Qasim al-Iyyani retired from power in 1002, and ad-Da'i Yusuf ruled for a second term. However, his time was filled with petty fighting over San'a, where the tribesmen of Hamdan and Khawlan
played a major role. He also had to fight al-Mansur's son who posed as imam under the name al-Mahdi al-Husayn
. This uneasy situation persisted until the death of ad-Da'i Yusuf in 1012, after an extremely turbulent reign.
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....
who ruled for two highly turbulent terms (977–999, 1002–1012).
Struggles against Yu'firids and Ziyadids
Yusuf bin Yahya was a son of the imam al-Mansur YahyaAl-Mansur Yahya
Al-Mansur Yahya was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen, whose tenure as imam is counted from 934 to 976.Yahya bin Ahmad was the fifth son of the imam an-Nasir Ahmad. Even before the death of an-Nasir in 934, three of his sons quarreled bitterly among themselves...
who died in 976. In the following year, Yusuf was proclaimed with the regnal name ad-Da'i Yusuf. His early years were filled with struggles against the Yu'firid Dynasty that ruled much of the Yemeni highland. The important city San'a at this time was subjected to the overlordship of the Sunni Ziyadid Dynasty which ruled 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...
from its base in Zabid
Zabid
Zabid is a town with an urban population of around 23,000 persons on Yemen's western coastal plain. The town, named after Wadi Zabid, the wadi to its south, is one of the oldest towns in Yemen...
. Ad-Da'i Yusuf managed to gain recognition as prince in San'a and the surrounding province in 978, reciting the khutbah in his own name. Nevertheless, the Ziyadid governor Ibn ad-Dahhak soon fought back. The last effective Yu'firid ruler Abdallah managed to win back the city and increase his power still by invading the Ziyadid domains and seize Zabid
Zabid
Zabid is a town with an urban population of around 23,000 persons on Yemen's western coastal plain. The town, named after Wadi Zabid, the wadi to its south, is one of the oldest towns in Yemen...
. After Abdallah's death in 997, Yu'firid rule collapsed.
Contested leadership
For ad-Da'i Yusuf, this was but a brief respite. A rival for the imamateImamate
The word Imamate is an Arabic word with an English language suffix meaning leadership. Its use in theology is confined to Islam.-Theological usage:...
, al-Mansur al-Qasim al-Iyyani
Al-Mansur al-Qasim al-Iyyani
Al-Mansur al-Qasim al-Iyyani was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who briefly reestablished a comprehensive Zaidi realm in the years 999-1002.-Early activities:...
appeared in 999. With the assistance of 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...
tribesmen, ad-Da'i Yusuf was expelled from 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 traditional seat of the imams. A Zaidi Sharif
Sharif
Sharīf or Chérif is a traditional Arab tribal title given to those who serve as the protector of the tribe and all tribal assets, such as property, wells, and land. In origin, the word is an adjective meaning "noble", "highborn". The feminine singular is sharifa...
, al-Qasim bin al-Husayn, was dispatched to San'a by the new imam, and the Zaydiyyah communities submitted to him. After some years, al-Qasim bin al-Husayn changed his allegiance to ad-Da'i Yusuf again. Al-Mansur al-Qasim al-Iyyani retired from power in 1002, and ad-Da'i Yusuf ruled for a second term. However, his time was filled with petty fighting over San'a, where the tribesmen of Hamdan and Khawlan
Khwlan District
Khwlan District is a district of the Sana'a Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 28,925 inhabitants....
played a major role. He also had to fight al-Mansur's son who posed as imam under the name al-Mahdi al-Husayn
Al-Mahdi al-Husayn
al-Mahdi al-Husayn was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who claimed power in the years 1003-1013, in rivalry with another imam....
. This uneasy situation persisted until the death of ad-Da'i Yusuf in 1012, after an extremely turbulent reign.