The Yemeni imamate in the highlands was often contested by rival claimants in this era. Ali bin Muhammad al-Hosni was born in the village al-Ahani in the Sa'dah area in northern Yemen.[1] He was not closely related to the recent imams, but an 11th-generation descendant of the imam ad-Da'i Yusuf.[2] As a young man, Ali received a good deal of instruction in the religious sciences. In 1346, the learned and powerful Imam al-Mu'ayyad Yahya died, and no politically strong figure emerged in his stead. Under these circumstances, Ali rose to power from his base in the mountain fortress Thula in 1349. In the presence of a numerous congregation of Zaidi scholars, he adopted the title al-Mahdi Ali and took possession of Sa'dah and Dhamar. At this time, San'a was dominated by two Zaidi emirs and brothers called Ibrahim bin Abdallah and Da'ud bin Abdallah. Al-Mahdi Ali laid siege to the city. However, the brothers held firm and after six months he had to lift the siege and return to Thula.[3]
Support for Nur ad-Dinedit
During his 23 years long reign, al-Mahdi Ali was nevertheless able to amass considerable political influence in Yemen. The powerful Rasulid Dynasty ruled the lowlands, but its grip on the northern inland had been shattered since some time. The Rasulid emir of Hadar, Nur ad-Din Muhammad bin Mika'il, turned rebellious against Sultan al-Mujahid Ali in 1359. In the next year, he sought support from the Zaidi elite of Sa'dah. Nur ad-Din entertained plans to take over the sultanate. Over the following years, he organized several raids into Rasulid territory with Zaidi assistance, with mixed success. Al-Mahdi Ali bestowed the fortress Miftah as an appanage, and the rebel resided there until his demise in 1377.[4] Al-Mahdi Ali himself died in Dhamar in 1372, after his authority had begun to recede. His body was carried to Sa'dah to be buried there. He was succeeded by his son an-Nasir Muhammad Salah ad-Din.[5]
^Imam Zaid bin Ali Cultural Foundation, . Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2011-02-12. (in Arabic). The line of descent is ad-Da'i Yusuf - al-Qasim - Yahya - Ali - al-Hajjaj - al-Mufaddal - al-Mansur - Yahya - al-Mansur - Ali - Muhammad - al-Mahdi Ali.
^R.B. Sergeant & R. Lewcock, San'a'; An Arabian Islamic City. London 1983, p. 66.
^El-Khazreji, The Pearl-Strings; A History of the Resuli Dynasty, Vol. II. Leiden 1907, pp. 92, 96, 144-5.
^Encyclopaedia of Islam, Vol. VII, Leiden 1993, p. 996; H.C. Kay, Yaman; Its Early Medieval History. London 1892, p. 190.
mahdi, mohammed, september, 1305, 1372, imam, zaidi, state, yemen, ruled, 1349, 1372, contents, acquiring, zaidi, imamate, support, also, referencesacquiring, zaidi, imamate, editthe, yemeni, imamate, highlands, often, contested, rival, claimants, this, muhamm. Al Mahdi Ali bin Mohammed September 25 1305 1372 was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in 1349 1372 Contents 1 Acquiring the Zaidi imamate 2 Support for Nur ad Din 3 See also 4 ReferencesAcquiring the Zaidi imamate editThe Yemeni imamate in the highlands was often contested by rival claimants in this era Ali bin Muhammad al Hosni was born in the village al Ahani in the Sa dah area in northern Yemen 1 He was not closely related to the recent imams but an 11th generation descendant of the imam ad Da i Yusuf 2 As a young man Ali received a good deal of instruction in the religious sciences In 1346 the learned and powerful Imam al Mu ayyad Yahya died and no politically strong figure emerged in his stead Under these circumstances Ali rose to power from his base in the mountain fortress Thula in 1349 In the presence of a numerous congregation of Zaidi scholars he adopted the title al Mahdi Ali and took possession of Sa dah and Dhamar At this time San a was dominated by two Zaidi emirs and brothers called Ibrahim bin Abdallah and Da ud bin Abdallah Al Mahdi Ali laid siege to the city However the brothers held firm and after six months he had to lift the siege and return to Thula 3 Support for Nur ad Din editDuring his 23 years long reign al Mahdi Ali was nevertheless able to amass considerable political influence in Yemen The powerful Rasulid Dynasty ruled the lowlands but its grip on the northern inland had been shattered since some time The Rasulid emir of Hadar Nur ad Din Muhammad bin Mika il turned rebellious against Sultan al Mujahid Ali in 1359 In the next year he sought support from the Zaidi elite of Sa dah Nur ad Din entertained plans to take over the sultanate Over the following years he organized several raids into Rasulid territory with Zaidi assistance with mixed success Al Mahdi Ali bestowed the fortress Miftah as an appanage and the rebel resided there until his demise in 1377 4 Al Mahdi Ali himself died in Dhamar in 1372 after his authority had begun to recede His body was carried to Sa dah to be buried there He was succeeded by his son an Nasir Muhammad Salah ad Din 5 See also editImams of Yemen RassidsReferences edit Zaidi biographies in http www al aalam com personinfo asp pid 636 Archived 2012 03 20 at the Wayback Machine in Arabic Imam Zaid bin Ali Cultural Foundation مؤسسة الإمام زيد بن علي الثقافية استعراض الكتاب Archived from the original on 2011 07 26 Retrieved 2011 02 12 in Arabic The line of descent is ad Da i Yusuf al Qasim Yahya Ali al Hajjaj al Mufaddal al Mansur Yahya al Mansur Ali Muhammad al Mahdi Ali R B Sergeant amp R Lewcock San a An Arabian Islamic City London 1983 p 66 El Khazreji The Pearl Strings A History of the Resuli Dynasty Vol II Leiden 1907 pp 92 96 144 5 Encyclopaedia of Islam Vol VII Leiden 1993 p 996 H C Kay Yaman Its Early Medieval History London 1892 p 190 Preceded byal Wathiq al Mutahhar Zaydi Imam of Yemen1349 1372 Succeeded byan Nasir Muhammad Salah ad Din Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Al Mahdi Ali amp oldid 1171605218, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
