Al-Wathiq al-Mutahhar
Encyclopedia
Al-Wathiq al-Mutahhar was an imam
of the Zaidi
state of Yemen
, who was also a poet. A native of As Sudah
, he was the son of the powerful imam al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar
who died in 1328. After the death of al-Mahdi, no less than four would-be imams tried to assert their authority over the Zaidi community. One of them was al-Wathiq al-Mutahhar, who made his proclamation in 1330 from Haidah, south of San'a. However, he quickly had to yield to the strongest claimant, al-Mu'ayyad Yahya
. Al-Mu'ayyad held the imamate to his death in 1346 or 1349. Although he was not really a mujtahid (a person sufficiently educated to make independent legal-religious interpretations), al-Wathiq briefly succeeded al-Mu'ayyad Yahya in 1349, and seized San'a. Again, however, he was rapidly forced to step down by a stronger candidate, al-Mahdi Ali
. After this, he withdrew to teaching and literary activities, and eventually died in San'a. His gravestone, in the Great Mosque (al-Jami' al-Kabir) of San'a, is dated in 781 AH (1379/80). Other texts mention the year 802 AH (1399) for his demise. The biography of al-Wathiq al-Mutahhar was written by his cousin an-Nasir bin Ali bin al-Mutahhar. The imam himself is credited with a number of writings. These include a diwan
with many poems in younger literary form, and praise poems about Sultan al-Malik al-Afdal
. In fact, he is one of the earliest known authors of the vernacular humayni poetry.
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 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 was also a poet. A native of As Sudah
As Sudah
As Sudah is a village in western central Yemen. It is located in the San‘a’ Governorate.-External links:*...
, he was the son of the powerful imam al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar
Al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar
Al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled from 1301 to 1328.-Zaidi victory over the Rasulids:...
who died in 1328. After the death of al-Mahdi, no less than four would-be imams tried to assert their authority over the Zaidi community. One of them was al-Wathiq al-Mutahhar, who made his proclamation in 1330 from Haidah, south of San'a. However, he quickly had to yield to the strongest claimant, al-Mu'ayyad Yahya
Al-Mu'ayyad Yahya
Al-Mu'ayyad Yahya was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen whose tenure of the imamate lasted from 1328 to 1346.Yahya bin Hamza was a member of the Zaidi elite, but not of the dynasty of the Rassids that usually provided imams. He was a 13th-generation descendant of the Twelver imam Ali ar-Ridha...
. Al-Mu'ayyad held the imamate to his death in 1346 or 1349. Although he was not really a mujtahid (a person sufficiently educated to make independent legal-religious interpretations), al-Wathiq briefly succeeded al-Mu'ayyad Yahya in 1349, and seized San'a. Again, however, he was rapidly forced to step down by a stronger candidate, al-Mahdi Ali
Al-Mahdi Ali
Al-Mahdi Ali was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled in 1349-1372.-Acquiring the Zaidi imamate:The Yemeni imamate in the highlands was often contested by rival claimants in this era. Ali bin Muhammad al-Hosni was born in the village al-Ahani in the Sa'dah area in northern Yemen...
. After this, he withdrew to teaching and literary activities, and eventually died in San'a. His gravestone, in the Great Mosque (al-Jami' al-Kabir) of San'a, is dated in 781 AH (1379/80). Other texts mention the year 802 AH (1399) for his demise. The biography of al-Wathiq al-Mutahhar was written by his cousin an-Nasir bin Ali bin al-Mutahhar. The imam himself is credited with a number of writings. These include a diwan
Diwan (poetry)
-Etymology:The English usage of the phrase Diwan Poetry comes from the Arabic word diwan , which is loaned from Persian means designated a list or register. The Persian word derived from the Persian dibir meaning writer or scribe...
with many poems in younger literary form, and praise poems about Sultan al-Malik al-Afdal
Al-Afdal al-Abbas
Al-Afdal al-Abbas was a ruler of Yemen and a member of the Turkic Rasulid dynasty. He produced a multilingual "dictionary" defining terms in Arabic, Persian language, Turkic, Greek, Armenian, and Mongolian language....
. In fact, he is one of the earliest known authors of the vernacular humayni poetry.