Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad
Encyclopedia
Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad was an Imam
of Yemen
who reigned in 1845-1849. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi
imamate
of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.
. In 1845 he claimed the imamate from the weak incumbent al-Mansur Ali II
. In this he was supported by Sharif Husayn of Abu Arish, who acted as autonomous lord in the Yemeni lowlands (Tihamah
) under formal Ottoman
suzerainty. With a strong force he appeared outside the capital San'a. The inhabitants endorsed his claim, opened the gates of the city and deposed al-Mansur Ali II. The usurper took the name al-Mutawakkil Muhammad.
The friendship between the new imam and Sharif Husayn was short-lived. Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad was probably enjoined by the Sharif of Mecca
, Muhammad bin Awn, to attack Abu Arish. The imam, on the other side, aimed to win back Zaidi power in the Yemeni lowland. In 1847-1848, the imam's forces defeated Sharif Husayn and took him prisoner. Important cities like Zabid
, Bayt al-Faqih
and Mocha
were captured by al-Mutawakkil Muhammad's forces. Sharif Husayn was kept in the mountain fort al-Qutay. However, the valuable prisoner was liberated through a coup, and took up arms against the imam again. Yam tribesmen from Najran
and Haraz
chose to support Sharif Husayn and defeated the Zaidi forces. Mocha was recaptured by the Sharif through treachery of the garrison. Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad's position was now precarious, but he resumed the offensive in late 1848 and early 1849, capturing Ta'izz
and Yarim
.
commander Tevfik Pasha arrived with a strong detachment to Hudaydah at the coast and forced Sharif Husayn to surrender. The Sharif later died on his way to Constantinople
where he would plead his cause (1851). As for al-Mutawakkil Muhammad, he was summoned to appear in Hudaydah and hesitantly came to meet the pasha. A convention was signed, to the effect that the imam would continue to govern the country under his sway, but only as a vassal of the Porte. Parts of the revenues were to go to the Ottoman treasury, and a garrison was to be placed in San'a.
Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad arrived to San'a with Tevfik Pasha and the Turkish troops on 15 July 1849. On the next day, however, a general rising in the city broke out and a hundred Turks were killed. Tevfik Pasha, who had been critically wounded, immediately deposed al-Mutawakkil Muhammad and raised his kinsman and predecessor al-Mansur Ali II to the imamate again. After 25 days the Turkish troops found it best to retreat to Hudaydah, leaving the Zaidi state to its own devices for the next 23 years. Al-Mansur Ali imprisoned the deposed imam on grounds of treachery, and beheaded him on 11 December 1849. According to one writer, "he was one of the most accomplished of men, but fate was not on his side".
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 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 reigned in 1845-1849. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated 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...
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:...
of Yemen from 1597 to 1962.
Struggle against Abu Arish
Muhammad bin Yahya was a grandson of Imam al-Mansur Ali IAl-Mansur Ali I
Al-Mansur Ali I was an Imam of Yemen who ruled in 1775–1809. He belonged to the Qasimid family, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, which dominated the Zaidi imamate in 1597–1962.-Early reign:...
. In 1845 he claimed the imamate from the weak incumbent 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...
. In this he was supported by Sharif Husayn of Abu Arish, who acted as autonomous lord in the Yemeni lowlands (Tihamah
Tihamah
Tihamah or Tihama is a narrow coastal region of Arabia on the Red Sea. It is currently divided between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. In a broad sense, Tihamah refers to the entire coastline from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Bab el Mandeb Strait but it more often refers only to its southern half, starting...
) under formal Ottoman
Ottoman 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...
suzerainty. With a strong force he appeared outside the capital San'a. The inhabitants endorsed his claim, opened the gates of the city and deposed al-Mansur Ali II. The usurper took the name al-Mutawakkil Muhammad.
The friendship between the new imam and Sharif Husayn was short-lived. Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad was probably enjoined by the Sharif of Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
, Muhammad bin Awn, to attack Abu Arish. The imam, on the other side, aimed to win back Zaidi power in the Yemeni lowland. In 1847-1848, the imam's forces defeated Sharif Husayn and took him prisoner. Important cities like Zabid
Zabid
Zabid is a town with an urban population of around 23,000 persons on Yemen's western coastal plain. The town, named after Wadi Zabid, the wadi to its south, is one of the oldest towns in Yemen...
, Bayt al-Faqih
Bayt al-Faqih
Bayt al-Faqīh or Beit al-Faqih ; ) is a city in Al Hudaydah Governorate in Yemen. It is located on the pilgrimage and trade route across the Tihamah plain between Al Hudaydah and Ta'izz. It is 50km south of Al Hudaydah and 150km southwest of the Yemeni capital of San‘a’ and lies at an altitude of...
and Mocha
Mocha, Yemen
Mocha or Mokha is a port city on the Red Sea coast of Yemen. Until it was eclipsed in the 19th century by Aden and Hodeida, Mocha was the principal port for Yemen's capital Sana'a.-Overview:...
were captured by al-Mutawakkil Muhammad's forces. Sharif Husayn was kept in the mountain fort al-Qutay. However, the valuable prisoner was liberated through a coup, and took up arms against the imam again. Yam tribesmen from Najran
Najran
Najran , formerly known as Aba as Sa'ud, is a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the border with Yemen. It is the capital of Najran Province. Designated a New town, Najran is one of the fastest-growing cities in the kingdom; its population has risen from 47,500 in 1974 and 90,983 in 1992 to...
and Haraz
Jabal Haraz
Jabal Haraz is a picturesque mountain region of Yemen, between Sana'a and al-Hudayda. In the 11th century it was the stronghold of the Sulaihid dynasty, many of whose buildings survive..-History and location:...
chose to support Sharif Husayn and defeated the Zaidi forces. Mocha was recaptured by the Sharif through treachery of the garrison. Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad's position was now precarious, but he resumed the offensive in late 1848 and early 1849, capturing Ta'izz
Ta'izz
Ta'izz , or Taiz, is a city in the Yemeni Highlands, near the famous Mocha port on the Red Sea, lying at an elevation of about 1,400 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Ta'izz Governorate...
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:...
.
Ottoman intervention
By now, however, the Ottoman government resolved to settle the unruly conditions of Yemen by imposing direct control. In April 1849 the TurkishOttoman 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...
commander Tevfik Pasha arrived with a strong detachment to Hudaydah at the coast and forced Sharif Husayn to surrender. The Sharif later died on his way to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
where he would plead his cause (1851). As for al-Mutawakkil Muhammad, he was summoned to appear in Hudaydah and hesitantly came to meet the pasha. A convention was signed, to the effect that the imam would continue to govern the country under his sway, but only as a vassal of the Porte. Parts of the revenues were to go to the Ottoman treasury, and a garrison was to be placed in San'a.
Al-Mutawakkil Muhammad arrived to San'a with Tevfik Pasha and the Turkish troops on 15 July 1849. On the next day, however, a general rising in the city broke out and a hundred Turks were killed. Tevfik Pasha, who had been critically wounded, immediately deposed al-Mutawakkil Muhammad and raised his kinsman and predecessor al-Mansur Ali II to the imamate again. After 25 days the Turkish troops found it best to retreat to Hudaydah, leaving the Zaidi state to its own devices for the next 23 years. Al-Mansur Ali imprisoned the deposed imam on grounds of treachery, and beheaded him on 11 December 1849. According to one writer, "he was one of the most accomplished of men, but fate was not on his side".
Further reading
- Robert W. Stookey, Yemen; The Politics of the Yemen Arab Republic. Boulder 1978.