Abdallah ibn Mu'awiya

Quick Facts: Who was Abdallah ibn Mu'awiya?

Subject:

Abdallah ibn Mu'awiya

Known for:

Hashimi leader who led a major anti-Umayyad rebellion during the Third Fitna.

Died:

747

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Abd Allah ibn Mu'awiya ibn Abd Allah al-Hashimi (Arabic: عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ الْهَاشِمِي, romanized: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muʿāwiya ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Hāshimī; died 747 or 748) was an Hashimi leader who started a rebellion against the Umayyad Caliphate at Kufa and later Persia during the Third Fitna. Abd Allah ibn Mu'awiya was a great-grandson of Ali's brother, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib. Following the death of Ali's grandson Abu Hashim in 703, the leadership of the Alid cause was vacant, and several candidates vied for it: one party claimed that Abu Hashim had transferred his rights to the Abbasid Muhammad ibn Ali, while another faction wanted to proclaim Abd Allah ibn Amr al-Kindi as the next imam. The latter, however, proved unsatisfactory, and Abd Allah ibn Mu'awiya was chosen instead. Ibn Mu'awiya claimed not only the imamate, but also, according to Swedish orientalist Karl Vilhelm Zetterstéen, a divine status.

Career & Major Achievements

Consequently, his followers embraced the concept of reincarnation and rejected the resurrection of the dead. In October 744, Ibn Mu'awiya and his followers rebelled in Kufa, and joined by other Alid sympathizers (especially Zaydis), took control of the city and expelled its governor. The reaction of the governor of Iraq, Abd Allah ibn Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, however, was swift, and he marched on Kufa. Most of the citizens deserted the Alid cause, but the Zaydi contingent fought with enough determination to allow Ibn Mu'awiya to withdraw from Kufa, first to al-Mada'in and thence to Jibal. Despite his defeat at Kufa, volunteers opposed to the Umayyad regime continued to flock to his banner, including remnants of the Kharijites defeated by Caliph Marwan II and some Abbasid followers.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Taking advantage of the turmoils of the Third Fitna and the burgeoning Abbasid Revolution in Khurasan, which debilitated the Umayyad government, he managed to extend his control over large parts of Persia, including most of Jibal, Ahvaz, Fars and Kerman. He established his residence first at Isfahan and then at Istakhr. Capitalizing on this territorial expansion, he placed his family members in charge of core districts, appointing his brother Hasan as governor of Istakhr, Yazid over Shiraz, Ali over Kerman, and Salih over Qom and its surrounding districts. Finally, Marwan II dispatched an army under Amir ibn Dubara against Ibn Mu'awiya. The Alid's forces were utterly defeated at Marw al-Shadhan in 747, and his rule over Persia collapsed.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 747: Passing & Historical Legacy — Abdallah ibn Mu'awiya passed away on 747, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Abdallah ibn Mu'awiya

True or False: “Did Abdallah ibn Mu'awiya claim only the imamate, or did he also assert a divine status?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The text explicitly states that Ibn Mu'awiya claimed not only the imamate but also, according to Karl Vilhelm Zetterstéen, a divine status.

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