Al-Hasan bin Wahhas
Encyclopedia
Al-Hasan bin Wahhas was an imam
of the Zaidi
state in Yemen
who ruled in 1258-1260.
The previous imam al-Mahdi Ahmad bin al-Husayn
made a number of enemies among the Zaidi elite during his lifetime, which eventually resulted in his violent death in the Battle of Shuwaba in 1258. One of the claimants for the imamate
was Abu Muhammad al-Hasan bin Wahhas, who belonged to the Hamzite Sharifs, descendants of imam al-Muhtasib al-Mujahid Hamzah
(d. 1066). He was acknowledged as imam by part of the Zaidis. Personally, he was described as dashing in warfare and an excellent horseman. Another claimant was Shams ad-Din Ahmad who formally submitted to the suzerainty
of the Rasulid
sultan, the main power in Yemen at this time. The two would-be imams shared the properties and fortresses of the Zaidi lands between them. In the same year, Shams ad-Din and two of his brothers succumbed to an epidemic
, leaving al-Hasan bin Wahhas as the holder of the imamate. However, he soon fell out with Shams ad-Din's brother Sarim ad-Din Da'ud (d. 1290). Sarim ad-Din colluded with the Rasulid prince Asad ad-Din and met al-Hasan bin Wahhas in battle at Asafir in 1260. While the imam's forces fled, al-Hasan remained fighting on the battlefield until taken prisoner. Sarim ad-Din kept the imam imprisoned until 1269. Much later, in 1284, Sarim ad-Din tried unsuccessfully to enlist the support of al-Hasan to fight the Rasulids. The ex-imam died shortly afterwards, in February 1285.
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...
of the Zaidi
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 ruled in 1258-1260.
The previous imam al-Mahdi Ahmad bin al-Husayn
Al-Mahdi Ahmad bin al-Husayn
Al-Mahdi Ahmad bin al-Husayn was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in the period 1248-1258 and was considered by some a sacred figure on account of his violent end in battle.-Assumption of the imamate:...
made a number of enemies among the Zaidi elite during his lifetime, which eventually resulted in his violent death in the Battle of Shuwaba in 1258. One of the claimants for the 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:...
was Abu Muhammad al-Hasan bin Wahhas, who belonged to the Hamzite Sharifs, descendants of imam al-Muhtasib al-Mujahid Hamzah
Al-Muhtasib al-Mujahid Hamzah
Al-Muhtasib al-Mujahid Hamzah was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in 1060-1066.Hamzah was the son of the imam Abu Hashim al-Hasan, and assisted his father when he proclaimed his da'wa in 1031. After the death of imam Abu'l-Fath an-Nasir ad-Dailami in 1053 at the battle of...
(d. 1066). He was acknowledged as imam by part of the Zaidis. Personally, he was described as dashing in warfare and an excellent horseman. Another claimant was Shams ad-Din Ahmad who formally submitted to the suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
of the Rasulid
Rasulid
The Rasulid was a Muslim dynasty that ruled Yemen and Hadhramaut from 1229 to 1454. The Rasulids assumed power after the Egyptian Ayyubid left the southern provinces of the Arabian Peninsula....
sultan, the main power in Yemen at this time. The two would-be imams shared the properties and fortresses of the Zaidi lands between them. In the same year, Shams ad-Din and two of his brothers succumbed to an epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
, leaving al-Hasan bin Wahhas as the holder of the imamate. However, he soon fell out with Shams ad-Din's brother Sarim ad-Din Da'ud (d. 1290). Sarim ad-Din colluded with the Rasulid prince Asad ad-Din and met al-Hasan bin Wahhas in battle at Asafir in 1260. While the imam's forces fled, al-Hasan remained fighting on the battlefield until taken prisoner. Sarim ad-Din kept the imam imprisoned until 1269. Much later, in 1284, Sarim ad-Din tried unsuccessfully to enlist the support of al-Hasan to fight the Rasulids. The ex-imam died shortly afterwards, in February 1285.