Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq
Gold dinar of al-Hadi, minted at Sa'dah in 910/11 CE
Zaydi Imam of Yemen
Reign	897 – 18 August 911
Successor	Muhammad
Born	859 al-Rass, near Medina, Hejaz
Died	August 19, 911 Sa'dah, Yemen
Issue	Muhammad Ahmad
Full name Abu'l-Husayn Yahya ibn al-Husayn al-Hasani
House	Rassids
Father	al-Husayn ibn al-Qasim al-Rassi

Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq (born Yahya ibn al-Husayn in 859, died 911) was an important religious and political leader. His full name was Abūʾl-Ḥusayn Yaḥyā ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Ḥasanī. His special title, al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq, means "the Guide to the Truth".

He was the very first Zaydi Imam to rule parts of Yemen. He led from 897 to 911. Al-Hadi is also the ancestor of the Rassid Dynasty. This family ruled Yemen off and on for many centuries. Their rule lasted until the North Yemen Civil War in 1962.

Who Was Al-Hadi?

His Family Background

Yahya ibn al-Husayn was born in 859. Later records say he was born in Medina. But it seems he was born in a village near the wadi al-Rass. This area is about 57 kilometers (35 miles) southwest of Medina. His grandfather, al-Qasim al-Rassi, had moved his family there.

Yahya's family was very important. They were descendants of al-Hasan ibn Ali. Al-Hasan was a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Yahya's father, al-Husayn, was a learned man. He was known for sharing important Islamic teachings.

Yahya's grandfather, al-Qasim al-Rassi, was a top expert in Zaydi Islam. He was called "Star of the Family of the Prophet of God." He was also known as "Interpreter of the Faith."

Yahya's Childhood and Learning

From a young age, Yahya showed great character and intelligence. He was strong, brave, and very good at Islamic law. By age seventeen, he could write books and make legal decisions. Because of this, his family saw him as a good choice for the imamate.

In Zaydi belief, an Imam must be a descendant of Prophet Muhammad's daughter, Fatimah. This position is not passed down automatically. Instead, any qualified descendant can claim it. They must meet many strict conditions. These include religious knowledge, strong faith, and bravery. They claim the title by "rising up" and "calling" for people's support. This act shows God's choice.

Early Challenges and Travels

Facing the Abbasid Caliphate

Like other Shi'a leaders, Yahya was against the Abbasid Caliphate. This was the main Islamic empire at the time. He knew that many past attempts to fight the Abbasids had failed. These uprisings usually happened in the main Islamic lands.

However, anti-Abbasid movements on the edges of the empire were more successful. For example, Idris ibn Abdallah started a Zaydi state in Morocco. Also, Hasan ibn Zayd, a relative of Yahya, founded a Zaydi state in Tabaristan. This was a mountainous area near the Caspian Sea.

Journey to Tabaristan

Between 884 and 889, Yahya and his family visited Tabaristan. This Zaydi state was ruled by Muhammad ibn Zayd. Yahya's family settled in Amol, the capital city. Yahya quickly gained attention there. His uncles and cousins started saying he should be the next Imam.

These stories made Muhammad ibn Zayd suspicious. If Yahya declared himself Imam, it would challenge Muhammad's rule. Yahya told Muhammad he had no such plans. But he soon learned of a plot to arrest his family. This forced them to leave Tabaristan quickly. The family went back to the Hejaz region. Yahya also briefly visited Baghdad, the Abbasid capital.

Al-Hadi's Rule in Yemen

Yemen's Political Situation

In 893, tribal leaders from northern Yemen invited Yahya. They wanted him to help settle their disagreements. Yemen was a difficult province for the Abbasid empire. The central government's power was weak. Tribal conflicts were common.

When Yahya arrived, Yemen was divided. Different groups controlled different areas. The Yu'firid dynasty ruled much of the interior. They were Sunni Muslims and loyal to the Abbasids. The Ziyadids controlled the western coast. Other families ruled highlands. The northern parts were controlled by warring tribes. This lack of unity and the remote location made Yemen a good place for a strong leader. Also, there was no other Zaydi Imam nearby.

Establishing His Imamate

Yahya's first trip to Yemen was short. He had to turn back because his own men were not disciplined. But three years later, the same tribal leaders invited him again. They wanted him to end the fighting in northern Yemen.

He arrived in Sa'dah on March 15, 897. Soon after, he announced his claim to the imamate. He took the title of "commander of the faithful." His regnal name became al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq, or simply al-Hadi.

Al-Hadi quickly took control of the area around Sa'dah. This city became his capital. In July 897, he brought the Najran region under his control. He even made a special agreement with the local non-Muslim people.

Struggles for Sana'a

Al-Hadi then aimed for Sana'a, a major city. Its governor switched his support to al-Hadi in 899. The fight for Sana'a was long and difficult. It showed the limits of al-Hadi's power. On January 19, 901, al-Hadi entered Sana'a. He minted coins and had prayers read in his name.

But the Yu'firids opposed him. Sana'a changed hands many times between al-Hadi and the Yu'firid ruler. Al-Hadi also faced poor health. His tribal supporters were not always reliable. He left Sana'a in May 902. He was carried back to Sa'dah because he was ill. Another attempt to take Sana'a failed the next year. His son Muhammad was even captured.

Rival Shi'a Leaders

Al-Hadi was not the only Shi'a leader in Yemen. In 881, two missionaries from the Isma'ili sect arrived. They were Ibn Hawshab and Ali ibn al-Fadl. They also used the political chaos to set up their bases. Ibn Hawshab was in the mountains northwest of Sana'a. Ibn al-Fadl was in the highlands north of Aden.

In November 905, Ibn al-Fadl captured Sana'a. This allowed Ibn Hawshab to take the Yu'firid capital of Shibam. Soon, most of Yemen was under Isma'ili control. Only al-Hadi's area around Sa'dah, Ziyadid-ruled Zabid, and Aden remained outside their control.

Later Campaigns and Challenges

Al-Hadi's own campaign to the western coast in 905 failed. But local leaders who opposed Ibn al-Fadl asked al-Hadi for help. In April 906, al-Hadi captured Sana'a again. This occupation also did not last. He argued with a local leader and left the city in November. This allowed the Isma'ilis to take Sana'a back.

Al-Hadi's rule in northern Yemen was also challenged by tribal rebellions. The Banu'l-Harith tribe in Najran rebelled in 908. They killed their Zaydi governor. Al-Hadi was sick and could not regain control. In 910, al-Hadi took Sana'a one more time. But he was forced to leave it again in June.

Al-Hadi's Death

The Mosque of al-Hadi in Sa'dah, in 1986

Al-Hadi died in Sa'dah on August 18, 911. His tomb is next to the al-Hadi mosque in Sa'dah. This mosque is named after him. It is one of the oldest Islamic buildings in Yemen. It has been a place of pilgrimage for Zaydi followers ever since. His son Muhammad became the next Imam.

Al-Hadi's Legacy

Impact on Yemen

Al-Hadi's rule was often unstable. He mostly relied on his relatives and a few followers from Tabaristan. Even though he wasn't always successful, he left a lasting mark. He successfully spread the Zaydi way of Islam among the tribes in the Yemeni highlands. Some even say the Zaydis truly brought Islam to Yemen.

Al-Hadi had the strength, courage, and religious knowledge needed for an Imam. It is believed he fought 70 battles. He was said to be so strong he could erase the stamp on a coin with his fingers!

Religious Teachings

Al-Hadi saw himself as someone who brought back true Muslim beliefs. He wrote: "I revived the Book of God after it had perished." He also said: "I revive the Book and the Sunna which have been rejected." His ideas were based on his grandfather's teachings.

His ideas on Islamic law were written in two books. One was his own unfinished book, Kitāb al-Aḥkām. The other was Kitāb al-Muntakhab, put together by his follower. Al-Hadi's work was adopted by the Yemeni Zaydis. His two sons and later Imams further developed his teachings.

Governance and Justice

Al-Hadi was very careful to collect taxes fairly. He wanted to avoid unfair tax collection. However, there was no formal government system yet. The Zaydi rule was not a fully formed state. The Imam had to rely on tribal support.

He worked hard to "Command the Right and Forbid the Wrong." This means he tried to make sure people followed Islamic rules. He also worked to provide Islamic justice and law. In 898, al-Hadi captured the towns of Khaywan and Athafit. These were south of Sa'dah.

Al-Hadi's religious rules were strict. For example, he expected women to be veiled. He also wanted soldiers to share war spoils according to the Qur’an. He tried to make non-Muslims in Najran sell back land they had bought. But he had to change this rule later.

His subjects in the northern highlands were not always happy with his strict rules. They had invited him to settle tribal fights. They did not expect someone who would enforce strict Islamic laws. So, al-Hadi's time as Imam was often challenging. He tried to discipline rebellious people who he felt were not following the rules.

See Also

• Imams of Yemen
• History of Yemen
• Islamic history of Yemen