Al-Mahdi Ahmad bin al-Husayn (1216-1258) was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in the period 1248–1258. He was considered by some a sacred figure on account of his violent end in battle.
Ahmad bin al-Husayn was a Yemeni Sayyid who belonged to the house of Rassids. His exact relationship to previous imams of Yemen is disputed, but according to one pedigree he was a descendant of al-Qasim ar-Rassi (d. 860) in the eleventh degree.[1] He was a trained jurist who was well acquainted with the doctrines of the Zaydiyyah. His religious credentials were acceptable, since he was consistent in prayers and fasting.[2] He was proclaimed in the mountain stronghold Thula in June 1248, becoming imam with the approval of the family of the former imam al-Mansur Abdallah. The new imam took the traditional capital of the Zaidi imams, Sa'dah, from the Sulaimanids, and extended his sway over 20 fortresses. The Zaidi positions were helped through the murder of the powerful Rasulid sultan Nur ad-Din Umar in 1250. In the same year, al-Mahdi Ahmad managed to seize San'a, where the Rasulid kinsman Asad ad-Din governed. Asad ad-Din withdrew to the nearby fortress Birash, from where he tried to disturb the imam's moves. Nevertheless, al-Mahdi Ahmad's sphere of power soon stretched as far south as Dhamar. He received a setback when he had to abandon San'a after less than a year. Instead, he bought the Birash stronghold from Asad ad-Din, whose loyalty to his kinsman the Rasulid sultan was doubtful.[3] Al-Mahdi Ahmad entered into negotiations with al-Muzaffar Yusuf, the new sultan of the Rasulid Dynasty which ruled much of Yemen from the lowland. However, the differences between the Sunni Rasulids and the Zaidi imam were too obvious, and a falling-out ensued. Al-Muzaffar Yusuf sent assassins to kill al-Mahdi Ahmad. The imam was injured by a dagger, but his life was saved by his attendants.[4]
The battle of ShuwabahEdit
The family of al-Mansur Abdallah soon became dissatisfied with al-Mahdi Ahmad. The imam was accused of lacking the prescribed qualifications for the imamate as laid down by Zaydiyyah tradition. Al-Mahdi Ahmad's popularity also decreased due to some cases of extortion. Dissatisfied Zaidis rallied behind Shams ad-Din Ahmad, a son of al-Mansur Abdallah, whom they proclaimed imam in 1254. With the help of the ever-vacillating Asad ad-Din, Shams ad-Din marched into Sa'dah and al-Mahdi fled. In the same year, Shams ad-Din and his brother Sarim ad-Din Da'ud visited the Rasulid sultan in Zabid and were received as royals.[5] Another claimant to the imamate was the Sharif al-Hasan bin Wahhas. The people was enjoined to support his candidature in 1256, and certain ulemas accepted him. In 1257, a Zaidi convent declared al-Mahdi Ahmad deposed.[6] Shams ad-Din took command over the insurgents and received support from the Rasulid sultan al-Muzaffar Yusuf. Al-Mahdi Ahmad tried to maintain his position with his remaining followers. The opposing forces eventually met in Shuwabah in 1258. The troops of al-Mahdi Ahmad were defeated and fled the field. The imam was left almost alone on the battlefield. He was surrounded by enemies and killed. His head was severed and carried to Shams ad-Din Ahmad.[7] Miraculous occurrences were reported at his grave in Shuwaba. The battle supposedly took place on the same day as al-Musta'sim, the last caliph of Baghdad, was killed by the Mongols.[8] The killing of the imam was followed by further internal strife among the Zaidis. Shams ad-Din Ahmad attempted to secure his claim and acknowledged the overlordship of the Rasulids. However, he was immediately challenged by Sharif al-Hasan bin Wahhas who was also proclaimed as the new imam.
^The filiation was al-Qasim ar-Rassi - Abu Abdallah Muhammad - al-Qasim - Ahmad - Abu'l-Barakat - Ahmad - al-Qasim - Abdallah - al-Qasim - Ahmad - al-Husayn - al-Mahdi Ahmad.
^H.C. Kay, Yaman; Its Early Medieval History. London 1892, p. 189
^Encyclopaedia of Islam, Vol. V, Leiden 1986, p. 1241.
^El-Khazreji, The Pearl-Strings; A History of the Resuli dynasty, Vol. I. Leiden 1906, p. 150. Alternatively, the date of the battle is given as 7 March 1258.
mahdi, ahmad, husayn, 1216, 1258, imam, zaidi, state, yemen, ruled, period, 1248, 1258, considered, some, sacred, figure, account, violent, battle, contents, assumption, imamate, battle, shuwabah, also, referencesassumption, imamate, editahmad, husayn, yemeni,. Al Mahdi Ahmad bin al Husayn 1216 1258 was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in the period 1248 1258 He was considered by some a sacred figure on account of his violent end in battle Contents 1 Assumption of the imamate 2 The battle of Shuwabah 3 See also 4 ReferencesAssumption of the imamate EditAhmad bin al Husayn was a Yemeni Sayyid who belonged to the house of Rassids His exact relationship to previous imams of Yemen is disputed but according to one pedigree he was a descendant of al Qasim ar Rassi d 860 in the eleventh degree 1 He was a trained jurist who was well acquainted with the doctrines of the Zaydiyyah His religious credentials were acceptable since he was consistent in prayers and fasting 2 He was proclaimed in the mountain stronghold Thula in June 1248 becoming imam with the approval of the family of the former imam al Mansur Abdallah The new imam took the traditional capital of the Zaidi imams Sa dah from the Sulaimanids and extended his sway over 20 fortresses The Zaidi positions were helped through the murder of the powerful Rasulid sultan Nur ad Din Umar in 1250 In the same year al Mahdi Ahmad managed to seize San a where the Rasulid kinsman Asad ad Din governed Asad ad Din withdrew to the nearby fortress Birash from where he tried to disturb the imam s moves Nevertheless al Mahdi Ahmad s sphere of power soon stretched as far south as Dhamar He received a setback when he had to abandon San a after less than a year Instead he bought the Birash stronghold from Asad ad Din whose loyalty to his kinsman the Rasulid sultan was doubtful 3 Al Mahdi Ahmad entered into negotiations with al Muzaffar Yusuf the new sultan of the Rasulid Dynasty which ruled much of Yemen from the lowland However the differences between the Sunni Rasulids and the Zaidi imam were too obvious and a falling out ensued Al Muzaffar Yusuf sent assassins to kill al Mahdi Ahmad The imam was injured by a dagger but his life was saved by his attendants 4 The battle of Shuwabah EditThe family of al Mansur Abdallah soon became dissatisfied with al Mahdi Ahmad The imam was accused of lacking the prescribed qualifications for the imamate as laid down by Zaydiyyah tradition Al Mahdi Ahmad s popularity also decreased due to some cases of extortion Dissatisfied Zaidis rallied behind Shams ad Din Ahmad a son of al Mansur Abdallah whom they proclaimed imam in 1254 With the help of the ever vacillating Asad ad Din Shams ad Din marched into Sa dah and al Mahdi fled In the same year Shams ad Din and his brother Sarim ad Din Da ud visited the Rasulid sultan in Zabid and were received as royals 5 Another claimant to the imamate was the Sharif al Hasan bin Wahhas The people was enjoined to support his candidature in 1256 and certain ulemas accepted him In 1257 a Zaidi convent declared al Mahdi Ahmad deposed 6 Shams ad Din took command over the insurgents and received support from the Rasulid sultan al Muzaffar Yusuf Al Mahdi Ahmad tried to maintain his position with his remaining followers The opposing forces eventually met in Shuwabah in 1258 The troops of al Mahdi Ahmad were defeated and fled the field The imam was left almost alone on the battlefield He was surrounded by enemies and killed His head was severed and carried to Shams ad Din Ahmad 7 Miraculous occurrences were reported at his grave in Shuwaba The battle supposedly took place on the same day as al Musta sim the last caliph of Baghdad was killed by the Mongols 8 The killing of the imam was followed by further internal strife among the Zaidis Shams ad Din Ahmad attempted to secure his claim and acknowledged the overlordship of the Rasulids However he was immediately challenged by Sharif al Hasan bin Wahhas who was also proclaimed as the new imam See also EditImams of Yemen History of YemenReferences Edit The filiation was al Qasim ar Rassi Abu Abdallah Muhammad al Qasim Ahmad Abu l Barakat Ahmad al Qasim Abdallah al Qasim Ahmad al Husayn al Mahdi Ahmad H C Kay Yaman Its Early Medieval History London 1892 p 189 Encyclopaedia of Islam Vol V Leiden 1986 p 1241 H C Kay 1892 p 321 Madeleine Schneider Les inscriptions arabes de l ensemble architectural de Zafar Dhi Bin Yemen du Nord Journal asiatique 273 1985 p 94 5 Encyclopaedia of Islam Vol V Leiden 1986 p 1241 H C Kay 1892 p 321 El Khazreji The Pearl Strings A History of the Resuli dynasty Vol I Leiden 1906 p 150 Alternatively the date of the battle is given as 7 March 1258 Preceded byinterregnum preceded by al Hadi Yahya Imam of Yemen1248 1258 Succeeded byal Hasan bin Wahhas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Al Mahdi Ahmad bin al Husayn amp oldid 1171604967, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
