Ali al-Sulayhi facts for kids

Ali bin Muhammad bin Ali al-Sulayhi (Arabic: علي بن محمد الصليحي) was a powerful leader who started the Sulayhid dynasty in Yemen. A dynasty is like a family of rulers. He became the first sultan of this new kingdom in 1047.

By 1063, Ali al-Sulayhi had brought all of Yemen together under his rule. He also took control of the important Muslim city of Mecca. Sadly, Ali al-Sulayhi was killed in 1066. This happened during a long-standing conflict with another group, the Najahids from Zabid. His son, Ahmad al-Mukarram, became the next ruler.

Early Life and Faith

Ali al-Sulayhi was born around 966 in a village near Manakhah, Yemen. His father, Muhammad al-Sulayhi, was a respected qadi (a judge) in the area. His father followed Sunni Islam and taught Ali about this branch of Islam.

However, Ali al-Sulayhi later learned about Isma'ilism, which is a different branch of Shia Islam. He was taught by a secret Ismaili da'i (a missionary or teacher) named Amir al-Zawahi. This teacher was trusted by Ali's father. Al-Zawahi secretly taught Ali about Ismaili beliefs and interpretations of the Quran.

Becoming a Leader

After al-Zawahi passed away, Ali al-Sulayhi took over his role as the main Ismaili da'i in Yemen. He kept his Ismaili faith and his new role mostly private. In the 1030s, he married his cousin, Asma bint Shihab. She would later become a very important helper during his rule.

Starting in 1032, Ali al-Sulayhi took on a respected job. He became the amir al-hajj, which meant he led and protected the yearly hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca. This journey went through the difficult lands of Yemen and Asir. He did this for 15 years, meeting many important Muslim leaders. This job also gave him a good income.

Starting the Sulayhid Kingdom

After marrying Asma, Ali al-Sulayhi moved to Jabal Masur. He was joined by 60 loyal members of his clan, the al-Yam, who were part of the Hamdani tribe. He built a strong fort on top of a mountain there. He also gathered a large army from his tribe and their allies.

In 1047, Ali al-Sulayhi officially started his new Sulayhid dynasty. He began a revolt against the Zaydi rulers of Jabal Haraz. A Zaydi army of 30,000 soldiers tried to attack his fort, but they could not break through. While they were still outside, Ali al-Sulayhi led a surprise attack. He defeated their generals and scattered their army. This victory secured his control over Masur and Haraz.

Expanding Control

Ali al-Sulayhi made Sana'a his capital city, while keeping his fort in Masur. He then began a long conflict with the Najahids, who were a powerful group based in Zabid. In 1060, the Najahid leader, Abu Said Najah, died suddenly. Ali al-Sulayhi's forces then attacked and captured Zabid and the Tihamah region in 1062.

In 1062, Ali al-Sulayhi sent a representative, Lamak ibn Malik, to Cairo. This was to get official support from the Fatimid Caliphate. The Fatimids were a powerful Ismaili caliphate based in Cairo. Ali al-Sulayhi wanted their approval for his actions.

After getting this support, Ali al-Sulayhi shifted Yemen's loyalty from the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad to the Fatimid Caliphate. From then on, the Sulayhids served the Fatimids. The names of the Fatimid caliph and Ali al-Sulayhi were mentioned in mosques during Friday prayers.

With strong support from the Hamdani and Himyar tribes, Ali al-Sulayhi slowly took over the rest of Yemen. By 1063, he had conquered areas like Aden. Because of his Ismaili faith and his family's ties to the ancient Queen of Sheba, many people in Yemen accepted his rule easily. The only group that continued to challenge him was the Najahids in Zabid.

In late 1063, Ali al-Sulayhi led his army into the Hejaz region. He challenged the Abbasids by conquering Mecca in 1064. He put a friendly ruler in charge there. Ali al-Sulayhi made sure that the Fatimid caliphs were honored in Mecca.

Death and Aftermath

In 1066, Ali al-Sulayhi went on the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca again. He traveled with a very large group. This included his wife Asma, many leaders from Yemen, and 5,000 Ethiopian soldiers. He invited all his leaders to come along to prevent any revolts while he was away. He left his son, Ahmad al-Mukarram, in charge of the kingdom.

Sa'id al-Ahwal, the son of the former Najahid leader, knew about Ali al-Sulayhi's travel plans. He wanted to get revenge for his father's death. On the way to Mecca, al-Ahwal's forces attacked Ali al-Sulayhi's group. Ali al-Sulayhi was killed in this attack.

Many of his Ethiopian soldiers did not help him and some even joined the attackers. Ali al-Sulayhi, his brother Abdullah, and 170 other men from his family were killed. His wife Asma and 35 other leaders were captured.

The people of Yemen were very upset by Ali al-Sulayhi's death. After the attack, al-Ahwal took control of Zabid. Ali al-Sulayhi's son, Ahmad al-Mukarram, was very sad and unsure what to do. But his mother, Asma, secretly sent him a letter. She encouraged him to be strong and rescue her.

In 1082, Ahmad al-Mukarram led a Sulayhid army against Zabid. He quickly captured the city and freed his mother, Asma. Al-Ahwal was forced to flee. Ali al-Sulayhi's head, which had been taken by the Najahids, was recovered and buried.