Tag Archives: Kufa

Abbasid Caliph al-Saffah, 750-4

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Ruth

The Abbasid Caliphs needed to work a little harder to remind people that their right to rule was legitimate. Perhaps for this reason, they began a tradition of ruling not in their own given names, but by their laqab name. … Continue reading →

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Abbasid Revolution: End of the Umayyads, 750

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Ruth

A coalition of pious Muslims who wanted reform of the sinful Umayyads, Arabs who had been left out of the Umayyad aristocracy, and converts who had been left out of even the perks Arabs got finally came together in a … Continue reading →

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The Abbasid Family

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Ruth

If you recall, Muhammad had a number of uncles. Abu Talib raised him, then when Muhammad was married, he and another uncle, Abbas, each took one of Abu Talib’s younger sons to foster. Abbas’s wife became a believer very early, … Continue reading →

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Siege of Mecca, 692

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Ruth

In 689, Caliph Abd al-Malik was ready to take on the Meccan Caliph Abdallah ibn Zubayr. He started with Iraq, which was shaky but technically loyal to Mecca, through Abdallah’s brother Musab. As you know, everything happened slowly then; it … Continue reading →

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The Road to Karbala, 680

Posted on September 25, 2021 by Ruth

Mu’awiya had promised Ali’s son Hassan that he would set up a council to choose a ruler after his death, but he didn’t keep his word. His son Yazid, whose mother was a Syrian Arab princess, just took over in … Continue reading →

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The Rule and Death of Ali, 661

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Ruth

All of these events had taken just over a year to play out (though the arbitration process may have gone on longer). Ali remained Caliph of the eastern portion of the Islamic Empire, with nominal control of Arabia. Mu’awiya ruled … Continue reading →

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The Battle of Siffin, 657

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Ruth

At last, after refusing to resign and circulating insulting satire against Caliph/Imam Ali, Mu’awiya made a formal allegation that Ali had engineered the death of Caliph Uthman. Further, he challenged Ali’s position as Caliph at all. In his allegation, he … Continue reading →

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The Umayyad Challenge to Ali

Posted on June 4, 2021 by Ruth

After the Battle of the Camel, Ali settled matters in Basra, paying those who had fought for him out of the official treasury. With Basra secured, he rode north to Kufa and stayed there. To some extent, the future of … Continue reading →

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The Battle of the Camel, 656

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Ruth

Ali’s army from Medina, joined by several thousand men from Kufa, camped on a wide plain outside Basra in Iraq. Facing them on the plain was an equally large army from Mecca, joined by several thousand men from Basra. But … Continue reading →

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A’isha in Opposition, 656

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Ruth

The first challenge to Ali as Caliph or Imam came quickly. A’isha had gone to Mecca during the revolt against Uthman, and she was returning to Medina when she heard that Ali had been acclaimed as the next Caliph. A’isha … Continue reading →

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