Abu Hashim
Abu Hashim | |
|---|---|
 Abu Hashim's name in Arabic calligraphy | |
| 5th Imam of the Kaysanites | |
| In office 700–713 | |
| Preceded by | Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya |
| Succeeded by | Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abd Allah |
| Personal | |
| Died | c. 713 |
| Religion | Islam |
| Parents |
|
| Lineage | Hashemite |
| Relations | Ali ibn Abi Talib (grandfather) Khawla al-Hanafiyya (grandmother) |
Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya (Arabic: عبد الله بن محمد بن الحنفية, romanized: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Hanafīyya; died c. 713), better known as Abu Hashim (Arabic: أَبُو هَاشِم, romanized: Abū Hashim), was an Alid religious leader, and the fifth Imam of the Kaysanites. He was a son of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya, and a grandson of the fourth Rashidun caliph Ali (r. 656–661).
Life[edit]
Abu Hashim was the eldest son of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya, the third Imam of the Kaysanites and a son of caliph Ali (r. 656–661).[1] Ibn al-Hanafiyya became the leader of the Alids after his half-brother Husayn was slain by the Umayyads in the Battle of Karbala in 680. He belonged to the Hashim clan of the Quraysh.
Following Ibn al-Hanafiyya's death in 700, the Kaysanites pledged allegiance to Abu Hashim.[2] The sect likely acquired another name, the 'Hashimiyya', in honor of Abu Hashim.[1] According to the historians Ibn Sa'd (d. 845) and Ibn Qutaybah (d. 889), several Shi'a sects considered Abu Hashim their leader.[3] In accounts preserved by Ibn Khallikan (d. 1282), the Shi'a used to meet Abu Hashim and took him as their 'Master' (walī).[4]
Historical sources report that the latter sometime resided in Syria.[3] In Damascus, Abu Hashim was controversially arrested by Umayyad authorities. Alid caravans from Mecca intercepted in Damascus reportedly rescued Abu Hashim. The latter is reported to have lived in Damascus until caliph al-Walid I's (r. 705–715) death when Abu Hashim announced his return to Medina.[5] The al-Nuwayri (d. 1333), Abu Hashim had a friendly meeting with caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik (r. 715–717), in which the latter fulfilled the needs of Abu Hashim.[4]
Abu Hashim died shortly after a visit to an Umayyad court in Damascus.[3] Some sources claim that he died in Abbasid estate of Humayma, to which he purportedly transferred the residence of the Hanafids.[1] His date of his death is reported by al-Masudi (d. 956) to be during the reign of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (r. 685–705) whereas others claim that he died in the course of Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik's caliphate (r. 715–717).[3][6] Nevertheless, Abu Hashim's funeral was attended by Abd Allah ibn al-Harith (d. 703), the nephew of Mu'awiya I (r. 661–680).[2]
On his deathbed, Abu Hashim nominated his close associate Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abd Allah as his successor.[2][7] The prominent historian al-Tabari (d. 923) asserts that Abu Hashim also gave his books to Muhammad and said "This matter (of caliphate) will remain among your descendants only".[8] The Abbasids used this as a propaganda tool during their revolution to boost their legitimacy and appeal to pro-Alid masses. Two of Muhammad ibn Ali's sons Saffah (r. 750–754) and al-Mansur (r. 754–775) would eventually become the first and second Abbasid caliphs respectively.[9][10][11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Cook et al. 2011, p. 49.
- ^ a b c Hawting 2000, p. 52.
- ^ a b c d Nagel 1983.
- ^ a b Cook et al. 2011, p. 78.
- ^ Glasse 2008, p. 622.
- ^ Cook et al. 2011, p. 54.
- ^ Shaban 1970, p. 139.
- ^ Landau-Tasseron 1998, p. 236.
- ^ Momen 1985, p. 47.
- ^ Sharon 1983, p. 107.
- ^ Daftary 1990, p. 62.
Bibliography[edit]
- Cook, Michael A.; Ahmed, Asad; Sadeghi, Behnam; Bonner, Michael (2011). The Islamic Scholarly Tradition: Studies in History, Law, and Thought in Honor of Professor Michael Allan Cook. Brill. ISBN 9789004194359.
- Daftary, Farhad (2007). The Ismāʿı̄lı̄s: Their History and Doctrines (Second ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-61636-2.
- Glasse, Cyril (2008). The Concise Encyclopædia of Islam. Stacey International. ISBN 9781905299683.
- Hawting, Gerald R. (2000). The First Dynasty of Islam: The Umayyad Caliphate AD 661–750 (Second ed.). London and New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-24072-7.
- Landau-Tasseron, Ella, ed. (1998). The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXIX: Biographies of the Prophet's Companions and their Successors: al-Ṭabarī's Supplement to his History. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-2819-1.
- Momen, Moojan (1985). An Introduction to Shi'i Islam. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780853982005.
- Nagel, T. (1983). "ABŪ HĀŠEM ʿABDALLĀH B. MOḤAMMAD B. ḤANAFĪYA". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition.
- Shaban, M.A. (1970). The Abbasid Revolution. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521295345.
- Sharon, Moshe (1983). Black banners from the East. Jerusalem: Magnes Press-The Hebrew University. ISBN 978-965-223-501-5.