Abu'l-Saraya facts for kids

Abu'l-Saraya al-Sari ibn Mansur al-Shaybani (died 18 October 815) was a leader who started a big rebellion in 815. This revolt was against the Abbasid Caliphate, a powerful empire at the time. It began in the city of Kufa in Iraq.

Abu'l-Saraya's rebellion quickly grew. His followers took control of many areas, including important cities like Mecca and Medina. At one point, they even came close to the capital city, Baghdad. However, a skilled Abbasid general named Harthama ibn A'yan pushed them back.

Eventually, Abu'l-Saraya and his followers had to leave Kufa. They tried to escape but were caught. Abu'l-Saraya was executed in Baghdad on 18 October 815. Even after his death, the rebellion continued for a short time in the Hejaz region, led by Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq in Mecca. But the Abbasid army soon stopped that part of the uprising too.

Who Was Abu'l-Saraya?

We don't know much about Abu'l-Saraya's early life. He came from a place called Ras al-Ayn. He said he was a descendant of a famous leader from before Islam, Hani ibn Qabisah. Some stories say he used to be a donkey driver and even a bandit.

Later, he joined the army of Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani. Yazid was the Abbasid governor of Armenia. Abu'l-Saraya fought in battles against a group called the Khurramites. During a civil war within the Abbasid Caliphate, he first supported one side, al-Amin. He even fought against General Harthama ibn A'yan. But then, he switched sides to support al-Ma'mun.

Starting the Revolt in Kufa

After some time, Abu'l-Saraya got permission to go on the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca. But on his way, he decided to start a rebellion instead. He defeated the Abbasid soldiers sent to stop him.

In January 815, he teamed up with an Alid leader named Ibn Tabataba. Together, they launched a Zaydi-inspired uprising in Kufa. Ibn Tabataba was mostly a symbol for the rebellion, while Abu'l-Saraya held the real power. Some historians believe Abu'l-Saraya wasn't truly devoted to the Alid cause. They think he just used the Alids to gain power for himself.

The rebellion started very well. On 14 February 815, Abu'l-Saraya's rebels defeated the Abbasid troops. These troops were led by Zuhayr ibn al-Musayyab. They had been sent by al-Hasan ibn Sahl, who was al-Ma'mun's governor in Iraq.

The very next day, Ibn Tabataba died. Some accounts say Abu'l-Saraya poisoned him, but this is probably not true. After Ibn Tabataba's death, Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Zayd became the new leader for the rebels.

The Uprising Spreads

The Abbasid commander, Zuhayr ibn al-Musayyab, retreated after his defeat. Meanwhile, another Abbasid army of 4,000 horsemen was sent towards Kufa. This army was led by Abdus ibn Muhammad.

On 3 March, Abu'l-Saraya defeated Abdus's army. Abdus himself died in the battle. Many of his soldiers were killed or captured. When Zuhayr ibn al-Musayyab heard this news, he retreated even further north. Abu'l-Saraya then moved his own troops forward.

After his victory, Abu'l-Saraya started making his own money, called dirhams. He sent his followers to take over other important cities. These included Wasit, Basra, and Ahwaz. In Wasit, Abu'l-Saraya's men won another battle. They defeated the local governor, Abdallah ibn Sa'id al-Harashi. The governor had to retreat to Baghdad with heavy losses.

Abu'l-Saraya also sent other Alid leaders to take control of Mecca and Medina. One leader, Muhammad ibn Sulayman, successfully took Medina without a fight. Another, Husayn ibn Hasan al-Aftas, went to Mecca. He was careful because there were Abbasid soldiers there for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

However, the Abbasid governor, Dawud ibn Isa, didn't want to fight in the holy city. He left Mecca with some of his followers. The garrison commander, Masrur al-Kabir, also left soon after. Husayn ibn Hasan al-Aftas and his small group entered Mecca on 21 June. From Mecca, another Alid, Ibrahim ibn Musa al-Kadhim, went on to take control of Yemen for a while.

Defeat and Capture

The rebels were now a threat to Baghdad itself. This forced al-Hasan ibn Sahl to ask General Harthama for help. Harthama was on his way to Khurasan but agreed to return to Baghdad.

In April or May, Abu'l-Saraya moved his forces closer to Baghdad. He reached an area just south of the capital. There, Harthama arrived with his own army. They faced each other across a canal.

Harthama attacked the rebels on 15 May. His officer, Ali ibn Abi Sa'id, captured a nearby city two days later after a tough battle. When Abu'l-Saraya learned this, he ordered a retreat from the canal. He fell back to a place called Qasr Ibn Hubayra.

Harthama chased him and defeated him again at Qasr Ibn Hubayra. This forced the rebels to go back to Kufa. In Kufa, Abu'l-Saraya's men looted the homes of Abbasid supporters. They also forced Abbasid followers to leave the city. Harthama continued to defeat Abu'l-Saraya's forces outside Kufa. Meanwhile, Ali ibn Abi Sa'id recaptured Wasit and moved towards Basra.

Without much local support, Abu'l-Saraya and his followers had to leave Kufa. This happened on the night of 26/27 August 815. Abu'l-Saraya and about 800 horsemen headed for Susa. But there, he was defeated by the local governor of Khuzistan.

Abu'l-Saraya was wounded. He and a few remaining followers tried to reach Ras al-Ayn, his hometown. But they were captured at Jalula and handed over to al-Hasan ibn Sahl. Abu'l-Saraya was executed in Baghdad on 18 October 815. His body was displayed publicly at the bridge over the Tigris River.

The End of the Revolt

Basra was the last place in Iraq where the Alid rebellion held out. Ali ibn Abi Sa'id captured it, ending the harsh rule of its Alid governor, Zayd ibn Musa al-Kadhim.

In Mecca, the Alid government lasted for several more months. After news of Abu'l-Saraya's death reached the city, Husayn ibn Hasan al-Aftas and his allies chose Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq as their new leader on 13 November 815. He ruled Mecca until 16 January, when his forces were defeated by the Abbasid general Ishaq ibn Musa ibn Isa.

Muhammad and his remaining followers went to the Red Sea coast. They fought with Abbasid troops for a few months. Finally, they surrendered in July 816 after being promised forgiveness.

Sources

• Bosworth, C.E., ed. (1987). [Abu'l-Saraya at Google Books The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXII: The Reunification of the ʿAbbāsid Caliphate: The Caliphate of al-Maʾmūn, A.D. 813–33/A.H. 198–213]. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies.. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-058-8. Abu'l-Saraya at Google Books.
• Gibb, H. A. R. (1960). "Abu ’l-Sarāyā al-Sarī b. Manṣūr al-S̲h̲aybānī". The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume I: A–B. Leiden: E. J. Brill. 149–150. DOI:10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_0249.