317

YEZID'S early death was a misfortune to the Umeiyad rule. He was succeeded by his son Mu'awiya II., a weak and sickly youth, who survived but three months. He had the support of all the Syrians except those of Keis, whose objection to him was that his mother and grandmother were of Kelb. His maternal granduncle, Ibn Bahdal, was ruler de facto, and the brother of the latter was governor of Kinnasrin, a province settled by Keis. Keis was, therefore, jealous of the large share of Kelb in the government. Anticipating his decease, Mu'awiya told the people from the pulpit that, like Abu Bekr, he would have appointed a successor, but there was none he saw of 'Omar's stamp; that like 'Omar he would have nominated electors, but neither so did he see any men fit for such a task; and accordingly that he left them to choose a successor for themselves. The short and feeble reign served but to relax the sinews of the Empire.

On his death, the Umeiyad counsels were divided, and various aspirants to the throne appeared. Ibn az-Zubeir, now the acknowledged Caliph at Mecca and Medina, succeeded during the next few months in being recognized ruler also over Egypt and the greater part of Syria. He was proclaimed in Al-Basra by a Temimite, and 'Obeidallah, who relied on the Azd and Bekr, was forced to flee. Al-Kufa also went over to Ibn az-Zubeir. Persia was in the hands of the Khawarij. Syria, and only part even of that, remained under the government of Damascus.

Had Ibn az-Zubeir left his sanctuary for Syria, there is

little doubt but that he would have succeeded, and the Caliphate might then have been established in his family.

Even at Damascus, there was a numerous party in his favour, and most of the strongholds in Syria and Meso­potamia sided with him. Ibn Bahdal alone and the Syrian army, now returning from Arabia, were staunch to the Umeiyad interest, and they were reinforced by Umeiyads driven out of Medina. Ad-Dahhak, governor of Damascus, temporised. The young Caliph had left no child, but there was a brother, a younger son of Yezid, named Khalid. The family favoured him; but the chief men of the Court felt that a stronger hand was needed, and they put forward Merwan. An Umeiyad, he came from another branch, but had rendered devoted service to 'Othman and to the dynasty at large.¹

After much dissension, he was saluted Caliph, on condition that Khalid should succeed on reaching man's estate. Ad-Dahhak now showed his colours in the interest of Ibn az-Zubeir, and retired with his adherents to Merj Rahit, a meadow in the vicinity. Merwan, with a following of the Kelb of the Jordan province and the Ghassin, pitched at Al-Jabiya. A strong antagonism was growing up between the two Bedawi branches of the Arabs, the Yemeni or "southern," against the Beni Bekr and the "northern." The former, especially the Beni Kelb, from which the Caliphs had taken wives, were devoted to the Umeiyad house; the Beni

¹ The subjoined tree will show the relationship of the Umeiyad family:—

Keis and northern tribes were equally prejudiced against it, and joined Ad-Dahhak on the side of Ibn az-Zubeir.

Several months passed thus; at last, towards the close of the year, Merwan attacked his enemy at Merj Rahit, and after some weeks of fighting, completely discomfited him, Ad-Dahhak being left dead upon the field. Thereupon all Syria returned to its allegiance. Egypt also was regained; and an army under Mus'ab, brother of Ibn az-Zubeir, seeking to recover Syria, was put to flight. Merwan owed his success to two persons, 'Obeidallah the son of Ziyad, who persuaded him to contest the Caliphate when he and all the Umeiyads believed their case was hopeless, and Ibn Bahdal, who held sway over the Yemeni tribes. On his side fought besides Kelb and Ghassan, Sakun, Sahsak, Tanubh, Taj', and Kain. Ad-­Dahhak was supported by Suleim, 'Amir (Hawazin), and Dhubyan—all Keis. The battle gave rise to a blood-feud between the Kelbi and Keisi tribes, traces of which exist down to the present day.

Allegiance had been sworn to Merwan on 3 xi. 64 A.H. (June 22, 684 A.D.) at Al-Jabiya, and after the battle the oath was renewed at Damascus, two months later; but in the midst of his success, he came to an ignoble and untimely end. Fearing the stability of his throne, he set aside the recognised arrangement by which Khalid, brother of the late Caliph, should succeed, in favour of his own son 'Abd al-Melik, whom he proclaimed heir-apparent. Then either with the view of reconciling Khalid's mother, that is, the widow of Yezid, or of weakening her son's claim, he took her himself to wife. Further, he made light of her son, and treated him with indignity. The proud Bedawi dame was offended and took a signal revenge. As the Caliph slept by her side, she smothered him with a pillow, so that he was found dead in his bed. Born at the beginning of the Muslim era, and now over threescore years of age, he had gained an unenviable notoriety as an unscrupulous agent of the faction of 'Othman, though his demerits have no doubt been magnified by the opposite party. His reign lasted barely a year.

He was succeeded his son 'Abd al-Melik, whose authority was at once recognised throughout Syria and Egypt.

It may be useful for a moment to notice events transp­iring in the East which illustrate the intense jealousy

that reigned between the Southern and Northern divisions of the Arab race, often with serious injury to the State.

About this time, the rivalry broke out in Persia into fierce internecine warfare. For a whole year, Ibn Khazim of Suleim, ibn az-Zubeir's governor in Khorasan, fought on the part of the Modar (or "northern") branch against Bekr (allied to "southern"), and in a victory gained at Herat slew 8000 of his foes. His son having been killed by a party of the Temim tribe commanded by Al-Horeish, fighting was kept up for two years.

In the following year, Ibn Khazim, still seeking to avenge his son's blood, stormed a fortress in which some eighty of the Beni Bekr had taken refuge. Marvellous tales are related of the feats and prowess of the little band; but their end was to be starved to death. Their chivalry has been handed down in verses by Al-Horeish, which are still pre­served.

Such are the scenes over which, both in prose and verse, the Arab loves to dwell; and too much prominence may perchance have been given to them by our annalists. But the tribal jealousies and bloody engagements long prevailing amongst the Arab bands in Khorasan and Eastern Persia, serve no doubt to explain why for many years there was so little progress made in the settlement of that territory, and in the extension of the frontier to the North and East.

Meantime Keis still held its ground on the Euphrates, and on the restoration of peace in Syria, Merwan had despatched an army under 'Obeidallab to reoccupy Mesopotamia from Mosul downwards, and thereafter advance on Al-Kufa. A second, intended to recover Medina, was routed on its way by the troops of Ibn az-Zubeir, whose supremacy continued to be recognised throughout Arabia, Al-'Irak, and the East His brave brother Mus'ab continued governor of al-Basra, though exposed there to serious jeopardy from the Khawarij. These at the first rallied round Ibn az-Zubeir in defence of Mecca against the army of Yezid. But on his laying claim to the Caliphate, they demanded that he should join with them not only in condemning the "murderers" of al-Hosein, but also in denouncing 'Othman as a tyrant justly put to death. This he could not do without compromising his whole career; for, in company with his father Az-Zubeir, he had waged war with 'Ali for the avowed purpose of avenging

the blood of that unfortunate Caliph. The theocrats, incensed at his refusal, now turned against Ibn az-Zubeir, whose brother Mus'ab had hard work in opposing them.

Over and over again they got possession of Al-Basra, and when at last, driven out they retired to Al-Ahwaz and spread them­selves over Persia. There committing continual ravages under one name or another (for they split up into many sects), they were with difficulty held in check by Al-Muhallab, a brave general who had already distinguished himself in Khorasan, and was now summoned for this task by Mus'ab.

Meanwhile an adventurer of a very different type, Al-Mukhtar, came on the scene at Al-Kufa. He was son of the Abu 'Obeid slain in the battle of the Bridge, and belonged to the notorious tribe of Thakif. Designing and unprincipled, Al-Mukhtar was ever ready to take the side most for his own advantage. He was one of those who pursued Al-Hasan when, as Caliph, he fled from Al-Kufa to Al-­Medain and, on the other hand, he took part with Muslim, when deputed by Al-Hosein to Al-Kufa. On the last occasion, he was seized by 'Obeidallah, then governor of the city, who struck him a blow that cost him an eye. Escaping to Arabia, he swore that he would revenge the injury by cutting the tyrant's body into a thousand pieces. At Mecca he aided Ibn az-Zubeir in opposing the Syrian attack on the Holy City; but distrusted by him, he departed and set up on his own account.

Towards the close of 64 A.H. he returned to Al-Kufa, now under one of Ibn az-Zubeir's lieutenants, and gained a name by joining in the cry of vengeance, raised by the 'Alid party, against all who had been concerned in the attack upon Al-Hosein. But, suspected by the governor of sinister designs, he was seized and cast into prison.

The civil war which now broke out was in reality a rising of the Persian Mawali against their Arab masters, but it was given a religious colouring. For, about this time, a wild fanaticism had seized the Khawarij of Al-Kufa, to revenge the death of Al-Hosein. Ever since the tragedy at Kerbala, a party there had more or less conspired to slay all those who had joined the enemies of their Prophet's grandson. The feeling now became intense.

Early in 65 A.H., numbers of "the Penitents" (Tauwabin), as they called themselves, visited the tomb of Al-Hosein at Kerbala,

and gathering there "in a throng thicker than the throng that gathers around the Ka'ba," raised a bitter cry, and spent the night in a loud wail of self-reproach for having deserted in his extremity the son of Fatima and 'Ali. Then they set out to attack the godless Syrians.

Met near Kirkisiya by the Caliph's troops, they fought with desperate bravery, but were utterly defeated, their leaders slain, and the remnant driven back to Al-Kufa.¹

Al-Mukhtar from his prison sent to the defeated "Penitents" a fulsome panegyric with hopes of future victory. Having obtained his liberty, he set up as the professed delegate of Mohammad, Ibn al-Hanefiya, to execute vengeance on the enemies of his father's house. By dint of specious assertions, forged letters, and a certain countenance from Mohammad himself, then at Medina, he gained over Ibrahim ibn al-Ashtar² and other influential men of Al-Kufa. By their aid he expelled the governor of Ibn az-Zubier, gained possession of the city, and succeeded in extending his sway over Al-'Irak and even parts of Persia and Arabia.

His first great effort was directed against his old enemy 'Obeidallah, who during the past year had been endeavoring to reduce the power of Ibn az-Zubeir in Mesopotamia, and now threatened Mosul. For this end Al-Mukhtar despatched Ibn al-Ashtar with an army; but no sooner had it left Al-­Kufa, than the citizens, many of whom had no sympathy with the 'Alid movement, and were indeed themselves

amongst the "murderers" of Al-Hosein, rose in rebellion against Al-Mukhtar. He hastily recalled Ibn al-Ashtar for his defence. A terrible conflict ensued in the streets of Al-Ku­fa, tribe against tribe, the Yemen against Keis, faction against faction, till the cry on one side "Down with the murderers of Al-Hosein!" on the other "Down with the murderers of 'Othman!" resounded throughout the city. At last, after some 800 had been slain, Al-Mukhtar's party

¹ The wild fanaticism of these people is illustrated by the war-cry of one who thus exhorted his fellows: "Whoso desireth the life after which there is no death, the journey after which there is no weariness, the joy after which there is no grief, let him draw nigh unto his Lord in this battle, and breathe out his soul in Paradise."

² Son of the Al-Ashtar who bore so prominent a part on 'Ali's side in the battle of Siffin.

gained the victory. An amnesty was called; but from it all who had taken part against Al-Hosein were shut out.

These including,—besides Shamir, 'Omar, and other leading actors in the tragedy,—no fewer than 284 citizens of lesser note, were ruthlessly put to death. And so Al-Mukhtar at once achieved the ostensible object of his mission, and avenged himself by horrid cruelties upon his enemies.¹ The heads of 'Omar and his son, slain after he had given them quarter, were sent to Mohammad Ibn al-Hanefiya, with this message,—"I have destroyed every man within my reach concerned in the attack upon Al-Hosein, thy martyred brother; and I will yet slay the remainder, if the Lord will." Only a few escaped to Al-Basra.