Al-Mansur Ahmad
Encyclopedia
Al-Mansur Ahmad was a Zaydiyya imam
who claimed the rulership over Yemen
in the years 1849-1853. His strife-ridden career spelt the end of the Zaydi Imamate of Yemen as a coherent force.
was murdered in 1840, and Sunni elements regained power. However, an-Nasir Abdullah's partisan Sayyid Husayn withdrew to Sa'dah
, north of the capital Sana'a
, bringing a number of Hadawi ulema
. One of his retainers was a younger scholar called Ahmad bin Hashim. He was a Sayyid
, but not of the Qasimi line; rather, he was a 23rd-generation descendant of the imam al-Mansur Yahya
(d. 976). Some time after the death of his patron, in 1847/48, Ahmad bin Hashim undertook a hijra
, an emigration from tyrannical rule, of his own. Together with some ulema he left Sana'a for Sa'dah. There he claimed the imamate in 1849.
invasion had just been repelled, but the new imam al-Mansur Ali II
lacked proper qualifications for the dignity. This became the opportunity for Ahmad bin Hashim, who took the regnal title al-Mansur Ahmad. He gained a great following from the Hashid
tribe and the tribal groups to the north-east. Elements which were dissatisfied with the Sunni-oriented style of the imam's court in Sa'na, backed the new claimant. The ulema of Sana'a, realizing the poor merits of al-Mansur Ali II, deposed him in favour of the scholarly al-Mu'ayyad Abbas
(1850). The population of Sana'a
, Dhamar
and Yarim
split into factions backing either Ali or Abbas. Under these circumstances, the followers of al-Mansur Ahmad were able to gain control over Sana'a in 1850. Al-Mu'ayyad Abbas took refuge in the citadel of the city, but was forced to capitulate.
(1851). Al-Mansur Ahmad's rule over Sana'a had only lasted for three months. His imamate thus lapsed into obscurity, and he had to flee to the Arhat tribe.
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...
who claimed the rulership over 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....
in the years 1849-1853. His strife-ridden career spelt the end of the Zaydi Imamate of Yemen as a coherent force.
Background of the rebellion
In the 19th century, the shrinking resources of the Yemeni state, which had existed since the early 17th century, combined with religio-political strife to erode the authority of the ruling imams. In general terms, a Sunni-influenced element, which backed the imams of the Qasimi line, stood against traditional Hadawi (Zaydiyya) interests. The Hadawi imam an-Nasir AbdallahAn-Nasir Abdallah
An-Nasir Abdallah was an Imam of Yemen who ruled in 1837-1840. He was a member of the Qasimid family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.-Seizure of power:...
was murdered in 1840, and Sunni elements regained power. However, an-Nasir Abdullah's partisan Sayyid Husayn withdrew to Sa'dah
Sa'dah
Sa`dah is the capital city of Saada Governorate in north-western Yemen. It is located at , at an elevation of about 1,800 meters. Known in antiquity as Karna, its population in 2004 was estimated at 51,870.- External links :*...
, north of the capital Sana'a
Sana'a
-Districts:*Al Wahdah District*As Sabain District*Assafi'yah District*At Tahrir District*Ath'thaorah District*Az'zal District*Bani Al Harith District*Ma'ain District*Old City District*Shu'aub District-Old City:...
, bringing a number of Hadawi ulema
Ulema
Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
. One of his retainers was a younger scholar called Ahmad bin Hashim. He was a Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
, but not of the Qasimi line; rather, he was a 23rd-generation descendant of the imam al-Mansur Yahya
Al-Mansur Yahya
Al-Mansur Yahya was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen, whose tenure as imam is counted from 934 to 976.Yahya bin Ahmad was the fifth son of the imam an-Nasir Ahmad. Even before the death of an-Nasir in 934, three of his sons quarreled bitterly among themselves...
(d. 976). Some time after the death of his patron, in 1847/48, Ahmad bin Hashim undertook a hijra
Hijra
Hijra as an Arabic word meaning migration or flight may refer to:* The Hijra is the emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina in 622 CE, marking the first year of the Islamic calendar, 1 AH * Hijri year, marks the start of the Hijri year of the Islamic calendar*...
, an emigration from tyrannical rule, of his own. Together with some ulema he left Sana'a for Sa'dah. There he claimed the imamate in 1849.
Capture of Sana'a
In Sa'na itself, an OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
invasion had just been repelled, but the new imam al-Mansur Ali II
Al-Mansur Ali II
Al-Mansur Ali II was an Imam of Yemen who reigned in the capital San'a during four brief terms . He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.-First reign:Ali bin Abdallah was the son of Imam al-Mahdi Abdallah...
lacked proper qualifications for the dignity. This became the opportunity for Ahmad bin Hashim, who took the regnal title al-Mansur Ahmad. He gained a great following from the Hashid
Hashid
The Hashid tribal federation is the second largest tribal federation in Yemen. Member tribes of the Hashid Confederation are found primarily in the mountains in the North and Northwest of the country. It was headed by Sheikh Abdullah ibn Husayn al-Ahmar until his death on December 29, 2007 and is...
tribe and the tribal groups to the north-east. Elements which were dissatisfied with the Sunni-oriented style of the imam's court in Sa'na, backed the new claimant. The ulema of Sana'a, realizing the poor merits of al-Mansur Ali II, deposed him in favour of the scholarly al-Mu'ayyad Abbas
Al-Mu'ayyad Abbas
Al-Mu'ayyad Abbas was an Imam of Yemen who ruled briefly in 1850. He belonged to the Qasimi family, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, who dominated the Zaidi imamate of Yemen between 1597 and 1962.Abbas bin Abd ar-Rahman was a scholar who descended from Imam al-Mutawakkil Isma'il in the sixth...
(1850). The population of Sana'a
Sana'a
-Districts:*Al Wahdah District*As Sabain District*Assafi'yah District*At Tahrir District*Ath'thaorah District*Az'zal District*Bani Al Harith District*Ma'ain District*Old City District*Shu'aub District-Old City:...
, Dhamar
Dhamar, Yemen
Dhamar is a city in southwestern Yemen. It is located at , at an elevation of around 2400 metres.-Overview:Dhamar is situated 100 km to the south of Sana'a, north of Ibb, and west of Al-Beidha, 2700 m above sea level. Its name “Dhamar” goes back to the king of Sheba and Dou-Reddan at 15-35 AD...
and Yarim
Yarim
-Geography:It lies in the heart of the Yemen Highlands, on an upland plateau dominated by the massif of nearby Mount Sumarah, which rises to about 10,000 feet above sea level.-History:...
split into factions backing either Ali or Abbas. Under these circumstances, the followers of al-Mansur Ahmad were able to gain control over Sana'a in 1850. Al-Mu'ayyad Abbas took refuge in the citadel of the city, but was forced to capitulate.
Failure to rule
The "rebellion" of al-Mansur Ahmad was made possible through the widespread discontent with the authoritarianism and extravagance of the ruling elite in Sana'a. Nevertheless, the enterprise soon proved unsuccessful. The action virtually destroyed the Qasimi state of Yemen, which was fragmented along tribal and regional lines. The tribal groups which had supported Al-Mansur Ahmad abandoned him soon after his accession. He was unable to pay them to ensure their loyalty, or to raise an army to gain control over the country. The previous incumbent, al-Mansur Ali II, made a new bid for Sana'a. The city was taken by his followers, although it quickly changed hands again to al-Hadi GhalibAl-Hadi Ghalib
Al-Hadi Ghalib was an Imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in 1851-1852, and made subsequent periodical claims to the imamate up to the Ottoman intervention in 1872.-Rivalry for the imamate:...
(1851). Al-Mansur Ahmad's rule over Sana'a had only lasted for three months. His imamate thus lapsed into obscurity, and he had to flee to the Arhat tribe.