Al-Hadi Muhammad
Encyclopedia
Al-Hadi Muhammad(died January 10, 1844) 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.
Sidi Muhammad bin Ahmad was a son of Imam al-Mutawakkil Ahmad
(d. 1816). He held a prominent position at the court of his nephew al-Mansur Ali II
. When the latter was deposed by an-Nasir Abdallah
, Sidi Muhammad was put in confinement together with him. After the murder of an-Nasir Muhammad in 1840, he was released and raised to the imamate, taking the name al-Hadi Muhammad. In the same year, the Egypt
ian troops, who had been present in the lowlands (Tihamah
) since 1833, withdrew from Yemen. Instead the chief of Abu Arish, Sharif Husayn bin Ali bin Haidar (d. 1851), took power in the Tihamah and allied with Aidh, chief of Asir. Unruly conditions in the lowlands eroded the economy of coastal cities such as Mocha
, and many city-dwellers migrated to British
Aden
. Al-Hadi Muhammad managed to recover Mocha and Ta'izz
in 1841. He repeatedly asked the British authorities in Aden for assistance to take back lands rightfully belonging to the Zaidi state. The British declined this, and in 1843 the Porte formally appointed Husayn pasha
over the areas under his sway. In reality, Husayn ruled according to his own will. Al-Hadi Muhammad lacked resources to act against this, and died in 1844. He was succeeded by his nephew al-Mansur Ali II.
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 who ruled in 1840-1844. 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.
Sidi Muhammad bin Ahmad was a son of Imam al-Mutawakkil Ahmad
Al-Mutawakkil Ahmad
Al-Mutawakkil Ahmad was an Imam of Yemen who ruled in 1809-1816. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.-Taking power:...
(d. 1816). He held a prominent position at the court of his nephew 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...
. When the latter was deposed by an-Nasir Abdallah
An-Nasir Abdallah
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.-Seizure of power:...
, Sidi Muhammad was put in confinement together with him. After the murder of an-Nasir Muhammad in 1840, he was released and raised to the imamate, taking the name al-Hadi Muhammad. In the same year, the 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, who had been present in the lowlands (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...
) since 1833, withdrew from Yemen. Instead the chief of Abu Arish, Sharif Husayn bin Ali bin Haidar (d. 1851), took power in the Tihamah and allied with Aidh, chief of Asir. Unruly conditions in the lowlands eroded the economy of coastal cities such as Mocha
Mocha, Yemen
Mocha or Mokha is a port city on the Red Sea coast of Yemen. Until it was eclipsed in the 19th century by Aden and Hodeida, Mocha was the principal port for Yemen's capital Sana'a.-Overview:...
, and many city-dwellers migrated to 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...
Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
. Al-Hadi Muhammad managed to recover Mocha and 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...
in 1841. He repeatedly asked the British authorities in Aden for assistance to take back lands rightfully belonging to the Zaidi state. The British declined this, and in 1843 the Porte formally appointed Husayn pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
over the areas under his sway. In reality, Husayn ruled according to his own will. Al-Hadi Muhammad lacked resources to act against this, and died in 1844. He was succeeded by his nephew al-Mansur Ali II.