Al-Mansur al-Hasan
Encyclopedia
Al-Mansur al-Hasan was an imam
of the Zaidi
state of Yemen
who ruled in 1262-1271.
Al-Hasan bin Badr ad-Din came from the same family as imam al-Hadi Yahya
(d. 1239). When the former imam Yahya bin Muhammad as-Siraji
was blinded by the Rasulid governor in San'a in 1262, al-Hasan emerged as imam under the honorific al-Mansur al-Hasan. Politically, these years were the low ebb of Zaidi fortunes, since the Rasulids were in strong ascendancy. Al-Mansur al-Hasan had to stay for much of his time in Sa'dah
, the traditional stronghold of the imams in the far north. Even Sa'dah was seized in 1264 by the troops of the Rasulid Sultan al-Muzaffar Yusuf. However, the hostile stance of the local tribesmen, which were still loyal to the Zaidis, forced the sultan's forces to withdraw. Like many Zaidi imams, al-Mansur al-Hasan was a prominent writer. He wrote a long urjuzah poem about the imams of the Prophet's family, up to his own days, adding a comprehensive commentary called Anwar al-yaqin. After the imam's death in Rughafa in 1271, al-Muzaffar Yusuf renewed the Rasulid push towards the north of Yemen.
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 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 1262-1271.
Al-Hasan bin Badr ad-Din came from the same family as imam al-Hadi Yahya
Al-Hadi Yahya
Al-Hadi Yahya was an imam of part of the Zaidi state in Yemen. He ruled from 1217 to 1239, partly in rivalry with a contender.Najm ad-Din Yahya bin Muhsin was a seventh-generation descendant of imam al-Mukhtar al-Qasim...
(d. 1239). When the former imam Yahya bin Muhammad as-Siraji
Yahya bin Muhammad as-Siraji
Yahya bin Muhammad as-Siraji was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who held the imamate in 1261-1262.At this time, most of Yemen was under the control of the Rasulid Dynasty which was Sunni Muslim and based in the lowland. In the northern parts of the highland, members of the Zaidi elite tried...
was blinded by the Rasulid governor in San'a in 1262, al-Hasan emerged as imam under the honorific al-Mansur al-Hasan. Politically, these years were the low ebb of Zaidi fortunes, since the Rasulids were in strong ascendancy. Al-Mansur al-Hasan had to stay for much of his time in 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 stronghold of the imams in the far north. Even Sa'dah was seized in 1264 by the troops of the Rasulid Sultan al-Muzaffar Yusuf. However, the hostile stance of the local tribesmen, which were still loyal to the Zaidis, forced the sultan's forces to withdraw. Like many Zaidi imams, al-Mansur al-Hasan was a prominent writer. He wrote a long urjuzah poem about the imams of the Prophet's family, up to his own days, adding a comprehensive commentary called Anwar al-yaqin. After the imam's death in Rughafa in 1271, al-Muzaffar Yusuf renewed the Rasulid push towards the north of Yemen.