Al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar
Encyclopedia
Al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar (1275 - October 28, 1328) was an imam
of the Zaidi
state in Yemen
who ruled from 1301 to 1328.
who held the imamate in the late 13th century with varying success. After al-Mutawakkil's death in Hajjah
in 1298, al-Mahdi Muhammad claimed the succession, although the imamate was not strictly speaking hereditary. His term as imam is counted from either 1298 or 1301. When he acceded, the Sunni Muslim
Rasulid Dynasty was still in a strong position, and dominated most of Yemen including San'a. By and by, however, the imam was able to expand his territory in the highland. The population in the Sheref district suffered from Rasulid maladministration. In 1311, they heeded the summons of the imam, who started a military campaign against the oppressors. A major battle was fought on 26 December 1311 where the sultan's troops were crushed. The Rasulid defeat resulted in a ceasefire agreement, which was transformed into a ten years peace in October 1312. Upper Sheref and a number of other places were acknowledged as belonging to al-Mahdi Muhammad, who furthermore received 3,000 ducats per year from the sultan's treasury.
coastland. The imam held sway over San'a and the highland until his death in Dhamarmar in 1328. He was brought to San'a where he was buried in the Great Mosque. His death was followed by new dissention in the Zaidi community.
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 from 1301 to 1328.
Zaidi victory over the Rasulids
His father was the imam al-Mutawakkil al-Mutahhar bin YahyaAl-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:...
who held the imamate in the late 13th century with varying success. After al-Mutawakkil's death in Hajjah
Hajjah
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....
in 1298, al-Mahdi Muhammad claimed the succession, although the imamate was not strictly speaking hereditary. His term as imam is counted from either 1298 or 1301. When he acceded, the Sunni Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Rasulid Dynasty was still in a strong position, and dominated most of Yemen including San'a. By and by, however, the imam was able to expand his territory in the highland. The population in the Sheref district suffered from Rasulid maladministration. In 1311, they heeded the summons of the imam, who started a military campaign against the oppressors. A major battle was fought on 26 December 1311 where the sultan's troops were crushed. The Rasulid defeat resulted in a ceasefire agreement, which was transformed into a ten years peace in October 1312. Upper Sheref and a number of other places were acknowledged as belonging to al-Mahdi Muhammad, who furthermore received 3,000 ducats per year from the sultan's treasury.
Conquest of San'a
After five years, Sultan al-Mu'ayyad Da'ud broke the peace. The ensuing fighting was grim; houses and productive trees were destroyed and the heads of the fallen were taken. In 1322, the year after al-Mu'ayyad Da'ud's death, the imam attacked San'a in full force. The Rasulid officials in the city had to sue for peace. When the governor of the city died in 1323, the local administration fell into confusion. Al-Mahdi Muhammad seized the opportunity and took over the city. The year was a turning-point. From this time, the Rasulids lost their grip on the north of Yemen, and mainly wielded power in the TihamahTihamah
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...
coastland. The imam held sway over San'a and the highland until his death in Dhamarmar in 1328. He was brought to San'a where he was buried in the Great Mosque. His death was followed by new dissention in the Zaidi community.