Al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad II
Encyclopedia
Al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad II was an Imam
of Yemen
who ruled in 1681–1686. He belonged to the Qasimid family which descended from the Prophet Muhammad and dominated the Zaidi
imamate
in 1597–1962.
Muhammad was a son of the imam al-Mutawakkil Isma'il
. When his cousin and predecessor al-Mahdi Ahmad
died in 1681, a number of Qasimids laid claim to the imamate. Through the diplomatic efforts of the ulema
the dispute was settled without bloodshed, and al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad II gained power. He first resided in San'a, but later moved to Dawran. During his short reign the territory of the Zaidi state founded by his grandfather began to shrink. The Yafa
tribesmen in the east expelled their governor and were henceforth lost for the Yemeni kingdom.
Al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad II was not a warlike leader, but rather an ascetic and deeply religious personality who was devoted to learning. The well-known scholar and writer Muhammad ash-Shawkani
considered him one of the most righteous imams. He died in 1686 in Hamman Ali in the Anis region, possibly from poisoning. The deceased imam was buried in Jabal Dawran, at the side of his father. Seven contenders claimed the succession after him; of these, al-Mahdi Muhammad
gained power after a violent struggle.
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 1681–1686. He belonged to the Qasimid family which descended from the Prophet Muhammad and 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:...
in 1597–1962.
Muhammad was a son of the imam al-Mutawakkil Isma'il
Al-Mutawakkil Isma'il
Al-Mutawakkil Isma'il was an Imam of Yemen who ruled the country in the years 1644-1676. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. His rule saw the greatest territorial extension of the Yemeni state....
. When his cousin and predecessor al-Mahdi Ahmad
Al-Mahdi Ahmad
Al-Mahdi Ahmad was an Imam of Yemen, who ruled in 1676-1681. He belonged to the Qasimid family that was descended from the Prophet Muhammad.-Struggle for the imamate:...
died in 1681, a number of Qasimids laid claim to the imamate. Through the diplomatic efforts of the ulema
Ulema
Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
the dispute was settled without bloodshed, and al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad II gained power. He first resided in San'a, but later moved to Dawran. During his short reign the territory of the Zaidi state founded by his grandfather began to shrink. The Yafa
Yafa
Yafa is a state in southern Yemen. Situated northeast of the city of Aden, it is composed of Upper Yafa and Lower Yafa....
tribesmen in the east expelled their governor and were henceforth lost for the Yemeni kingdom.
Al-Mu'ayyad Muhammad II was not a warlike leader, but rather an ascetic and deeply religious personality who was devoted to learning. The well-known scholar and writer Muhammad ash-Shawkani
Muhammad 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...
considered him one of the most righteous imams. He died in 1686 in Hamman Ali in the Anis region, possibly from poisoning. The deceased imam was buried in Jabal Dawran, at the side of his father. Seven contenders claimed the succession after him; of these, al-Mahdi Muhammad
Al-Mahdi Muhammad
Al-Mahdi Muhammad was an Imam of Yemen who ruled in 1686-1718. He belonged to the Qasimid family that was descended from the Prophet Muhammad and dominated the Zaidi imamate in 1597-1962.-Way to power:...
gained power after a violent struggle.