Al-Hadi Ali
Encyclopedia
Al-Hadi Ali was a claimant to the Zaidi
state in Yemen
, who posed as imam
from 1393 to 1432 in rivalry with another prince.
Ali bin al-Mu'ayyad was a fifth-generation descendant of the imam al-Hadi Yahya
(d. 1239). After the demise of imam an-Nasir Muhammad Salah ad-Din
in 1391, a struggle broke out between his son al-Mansur Ali
and another contender, al-Mahdi Ahmad bin Yahya
. Al-Mansur imprisoned his opponent in 1392, but was then challenged by Ali bin al-Mu'ayyad, who took the honorific (laqab) name al-Hadi Ali. During his almost 40 years long imamate
he was generally overshadowed by al-Mansur Ali, who was celebrated as a mujaddid bi-sayfihi, a warlike restorer, and who died only in 1436. Nevertheless, al-Hadi Ali had a following and was counted by some as a mujaddidun
. These are figures who, according to a hadith
, will appear every century to restore Islam
. He died in 1432, leaving ten sons, of whom al-Hasan (1401-1486) became a prominent scholar. Al-Hasan's son in turn, al-Hadi Izz ad-din
, held the Zaidi imamate in 1474-1495.
Zaidiyyah
Zaidiyya, or Zaidism is a Shi'a Muslim school of thought named after Zayd ibn ʻAlī, the grandson of Husayn ibn ʻAlī. Followers of the Zaydi Islamic jurisprudence are called Zaydi Shi'a...
state in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, who posed as imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
from 1393 to 1432 in rivalry with another prince.
Ali bin al-Mu'ayyad was a fifth-generation descendant of the imam al-Hadi Yahya
Al-Hadi Yahya
Al-Hadi Yahya was an imam of part of the Zaidi state in Yemen. He ruled from 1217 to 1239, partly in rivalry with a contender.Najm ad-Din Yahya bin Muhsin was a seventh-generation descendant of imam al-Mukhtar al-Qasim...
(d. 1239). After the demise of imam an-Nasir Muhammad Salah ad-Din
Al-Nasir Muhammad Salah al-Din
Al-Nasir Muhammad Salah al-Din or al-Nasir li Din Allah Muhammad Salah al-Din ibn Ali al-Mahdi was an imam of Yemen who ruled during the period 1372-1391...
in 1391, a struggle broke out between his son al-Mansur Ali
Al-Mansur Ali bin Salah ad-Din
Al-Mansur Ali bin Salah ad-Din was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in 1391-1436, partly in rivalry with other claimants to the imamate.-Contest over the imamate:...
and another contender, al-Mahdi Ahmad bin Yahya
Al-Mahdi Ahmad bin Yahya
Al-Mahdi Ahmad bin Yahya was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who briefly held the imamate in 1391-1392.Ahmad bin Yahya was a 12th-generation descendant of the Zaidi imam ad-Da'i Yusuf , and was born in either 1363 or 1373. He was very well educated and a prolific writer in various subjects...
. Al-Mansur imprisoned his opponent in 1392, but was then challenged by Ali bin al-Mu'ayyad, who took the honorific (laqab) name al-Hadi Ali. During his almost 40 years long imamate
Imamate
The word Imamate is an Arabic word with an English language suffix meaning leadership. Its use in theology is confined to Islam.-Theological usage:...
he was generally overshadowed by al-Mansur Ali, who was celebrated as a mujaddid bi-sayfihi, a warlike restorer, and who died only in 1436. Nevertheless, al-Hadi Ali had a following and was counted by some as a mujaddidun
Mujaddid
A Mujaddid , according to the popular Muslim tradition, refers to a person who appears at the turn of every century of the Islamic calendar to revive Islam, remove from it any extraneous elements and restore it to its pristine purity...
. These are figures who, according to a hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
, will appear every century to restore Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. He died in 1432, leaving ten sons, of whom al-Hasan (1401-1486) became a prominent scholar. Al-Hasan's son in turn, al-Hadi Izz ad-din
Al-Hadi Izz ad-din
Al-Hadi Izz ad-Din was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen, who held the imamate in 1474-1495 in rivalry with other claimants....
, held the Zaidi imamate in 1474-1495.