Mukhtar al Thaqafi

Early life

Al-Mukhtar's full name was Mukhtar Abu Ubaid Masood Thaqafi of Banu Hawazin tribe, he was born in Ta’if in 622 CE, 1 AH, the year the Islamic prophet Muhammad began the Migration to Medina. Al-Mukhtar was a son of Abu Ubaid al-Thaqafi who was killed at the Battle of al-Jisr in November 634 CE, 13 AH. His mother's name was Husna, He had two sisters:

1. Safiya who was married to Abdullah ibn Umar
2. Jariah another sister of Mukhtar was married to Umar ibn Sa'ad

After death of his father Mukhtar was brought up by his mother and uncle Saeed bin Masood Thaqafi his uncle was made governor of Al-Mada'in by Umar; during the time of Muawiyah, when there was a cease-fire between Imam Hasan and Muawiyah, Mukhtar's uncle, till then the governor of Al-Mada'in, was transferred to the governorship of Mosul.

Under Ibn Ziyad in Kufa

In 60 AH, Ubaidullah bin Ziyad arrested al-Mukhtar and sent him to al-Tamura, a fearful prison underground. Maytham al-Tammar was in the same prison with Mukhtar. Al-Mukhtar was released by Ubaidullah bin Ziyad on order of Yazeed bin Mu'awiyah who was persuaded by Abdullah bin Umar husband of Safyyah Mukhtar's sister. Ibn Ziyad gave him three days to leave Kufa, so al-Mukhtar left for Makkah.

In Makkah

In Makkah, al-Mukhtar paid homage to Abdullah bin al-Zubair, where Mukhtar defended Ka'ba against the Syrian invaders sent by Yazid bin Mu'awiyah under command of al-Husayn bin Numair. After four years' stay, Mukhtar decided to go back to Kufa.

Under bin Yazid in Kufa

In Kufa he was imprisoned again by bin yazeed appointed by Abdullah bin Zubair as ruler over Kufa when after Yazeed's death, Ubaidullah bin Ziyad was in Basra. The people of Kufa took advantage of the situation and supported Abdullah bin Zubair. From his prison, Mukhtar sent a message to Ryfaah bin Shaddad and his companions, Ryfaah headed the Tawabeen (penitents) army after Sulaiman bin Surad, a companion of Muhammad, who died during the fight against Ubaidullah bin Ziyad at Ain al-Warda on the borders between Iraq and Sham during his revolution against the Umayyads; after death of Sulaiman, Ryfaah decided to withdraw the army to Kufa. Ryfaah answered Mukhtar's message and said that they are ready to break into the prison to release Mukhtar but Mukhtar ordered them not to do that. Abdullah bin Umar bin al Khattab interceded for Mukhtar again and he was released.

Mukhtar announces the Revolution

In 66 AH after leaving prison, Mukhtar announced the revolution and began calling the people to punish the persons who committed the Karbala massacre. He received a letter from Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyah, Ali's son, in which Muhammad announced his support to Mukhtar. Muhammad's attitude encouraged people to stand by Mukhtar. Ibrahim ibn al-Ashtar son of Malik al-Ashtar and a brave senior army leader also joined Mukhtar. The revolutionaries fixed time to announce the revolution. The time was Thursday night, 14 Rabi al-Awwal, 66 AH. But on Tuesday night, 12 Rabi al-Awwal, two days before the fixed time, the revolution broke out when on the way to Mukhtar's house, Ibrahim al-Ashtar and some of his friends came across a patrol and Ibrahim al-Ashtar was forced to attack the Commander and kill him. Mukhtar ordered his followers to make fires, a sign of the revolution. The revolutionaries gathered at Mukhtar's house. Street clashes took place in Kufa. The ruler's soldiers and the police surrendered and the ruler himself escaped to al-Hejaz. Mukhtar went up the pulpit in Kufa Mosque and announced that he wanted to follow Ali's just policy.

The revenge

After the Battle of Ain al-Warda, the advancing Umayyad Army occupied Mosul and headed for Kufa. Mukhtar formed an army of three thousand fighters under the command of Yazeed bin Anas, a brave, good, old man. Reaching Mosul's outskirts, the army met the Umayyads' at two battles. They won both battles but then Yazeed bin Anas died which affected his soldiers spirits. They were afraid of the Umayyads' big army and they decided to come back to Kufa. The Umayyads rumoured that Mukhtar's army was defeated that Yazeed bin Anas was killed in the battle. Mukhtar formed an army of seven thousand fighters and ordered Ibrahim al-Ashtar to head the army. The army left Kufa. Mukhtar's enemies took advantage of the situation and plotted against Mukhtar's government and besieged the palace. In spite of the intense siege, Mukhtar sent a messenger to Ibrahim al-Ashtar and told him to come back. After three days' siege, the rebels were astonished to see the army coming back. The army ended the mutiny quickly and arrested some plotters while other escaped.

The army executed Harmala bin Kahil, who killed Husayn's baby - Ali Asghar. Sanan bin Anas, who took part in Husayn's killing and Amr bin Saad (Umar ibn Sa'ad), who led the Umayyad army during the Karbala massacre. Shimr bin Thil Jawshan who beheaded Husayn also escaped but the army chased him and found him at a village in Wasit and executed him. Shibth bin Riby escaped to Basrah.

Battle of al-Khazir

In August 686 CE, after controlling the situation in Kufa, Ibrahim al-Ashtar's army reached al-Khazir River where he met Ubaidullah bin Ziyad's Army. Violent fights took place between the two sides. The Kufian Army attacked the Umayyad's headquarters and killed senior leaders such as Ubaidullah bin Ziyad and al-Husayn bin Numair. Ibrahim al-Ashtar's army of 13,000 defeated Ubaidullah bin Ziyad's 40,000, with the loss of only 1,000 soldiers.

Saving Madina & Alawids against Umayyad & Zubairid Caliphs

When Abid al-Malik bin Marwan Umayyad Caliph sent a big army to occupy al-Madina. Mukhtar formed an army of three thousand fighters to save the Prophet's City. Apparently, Bin al-Zubair the Zubairid Caliph sent an army of two thousand fighters to defend Madina against Abid al-Malik's army but his real aim was to attack Mukhtar's army. When Mukhtar's soldiers were busy fighting Umayyads, Bin al-Zubair's army took advantage of the situation and attacked Mukhtar's soldiers. They killed some soldiers and the rest escaped to the desert where they died of hunger and thirst. Bin Zubair disliked the Alawids. He brought them together near a mountain outside Makkah and prevented them from leaving that place. Besides he demolished their houses. Mukhtar sent five thousand fighters to raise the siege. He released the Alawids and rebuilt their houses.

The last stand

Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr appointed his brother Mus'ab bin al-Zubair as the ruler of Basrah. Mus'ab formed a large army and headed for Kufa. He took Mukhtar by surprise. Ibrahim al-Ashtar was in Mousal. Mukhtar faced Bin al-Zubair with his small army. Bin al-Zubair's army launched a strong attack and forced Mukhtar's army to come back to Kufa. Mus'ab's army followed Mukhtar to Kufa. They then proceeded to besiege his palace. The siege went on for four months. Mukhtar tried to raise the siege. He ordered the Kufians to make street clashes, but they disobeyed him. On 14 Ramadan, 67 AH Mukhtar decided to leave his palace. Only seventeen people obeyed Mukhtar. They went out to fight the huge army that surrounded his palace. Mukhtar was sixty-seven years old during this battle, where he fought bravely and died.

Mus'ab cheated the people who remained in the palace. He promised not to harm them if they came out. When they opened the gates of the palace, he ordered his soldiers to kill them all. He executed seven thousand people on that day. The Kufians had never seen such a horrible massacre before. Mus'ab ordered his soldiers to arrest Mukhtar's wife Umra. She was a daughter of al-Numan bin Bashher al-Ansary who was the ruler of Kufa bofore Ibn Ziyad. Mus'ab decided to kill her. In the dark she was taken to a place in the desert between Hira and Kufa where she was beheaded.

The grave of al-Mukhtar can be found at the back of Masjid al-Kūfa, Kufa, Iraq.