Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya

Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah was the son of the first Shi’a Imam (Ali ibn Abu Talib) but he was called Ibn Hanafiyyah after his mother, Khawlah bint Ja'far.

Name

His mother's name was .

Most historians have written his surname as Abu'l-Qasim. Thus, the author of al-Isti`ab (vol. 3, pp. 1366, 1367-1368, 1370, 1371-1372) has narrated the opinion of Abu Rashid ibn Hafs az-Zuhri that from among the sons of the companions (of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed) he came across four individuals everyone of whom was named Muhammad and surnamed Abu'l-Qasim, namely:

• Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah
• Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr
• Muhammad ibn Talhah
• Muhammad ibn Sa'd

After this he writes that Muhammad ibn Talhah's name and surname was given by the Islamic Prophet Muhammed. Al-Waqidi writes that the name and surname of Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr was suggested by A'ishah. Apparently the Muhammed's giving the name of Muhammad ibn Talhah seems incorrect since from some traditions it appears that the Muhammed had reserved it for a son of Ali and he was Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah.

As regards his surname it is said that the Muhammed had particularized it and that he had told `Ali that a son would be born to you after me and I have given him my name and surname and after that it is not permissible for anyone in my people to have this name and surname together.

With this opinion before us how can it be correct that the Prophet had given this very name and surname to anyone else since particularization means that no one else would share it. Moreover, some people have recorded the surname of Ibn Talhah as Abu Sulayman instead of Abu'l-Qasim and this further confirms our view point. Similarly, if the surname of Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr was on the ground that his son's name was Qasim, who was among the theologians of Medina, then what is the sense in `A’ishah having suggested it? If she had suggested it along with the name how could Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr tolerate it later on since having been brought up under the care of Ali ibn Abu Talib the Prophet's saying could not remain concealed from him. Moreover, most people have recorded his surname as Abu `Abd ar-Rahman, which weakens the view of Abu Rashid.

Let alone these people's surname being Abu'l-Qasim, even for Ibn al-Hanafiyyah this surname is not proved. Although Ibn Khallikan (in Wafayat al-a`yan, vol. 4, p.170) has taken that son of Ali ibn Abu Talib for whom the Muhammed had particularized this surname to be Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, yet al-`Allamah al-Mamaqani (in Tanqih al-maqal, vol. 3, Part 1, p. 112) writes:

Biography

Umar's era

He was born during Umar's era

Ali's era

Battles

Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah was prominent in righteousness and piety, sublime in renunciation and worship, lofty in knowledge and achievements and heir of his father in bravery. His performance in the battles of Jamal and Siffin had created such impression among the Arabs that even warriors of consequence trembled at his name. Ali ibn Abu Talib too was proud of his courage and valor, and always placed him forward in encounters.

Ash-Shaykh al-Baha'i has written in al-Kashkul that `Ali ibn Abu Talib kept him abreast in the battles and did not allow the second Shi’a Imam (Hassan ibn Ali) and the third Shi’a Imam (Hussain ibn Ali) to go ahead, and used to say, "He is my son while these two are sons of the Prophet of Allah."

When a Kharijite said to Ibn al-Hanafiyyah that `Ali thrust him into the flames of war but saved away Hassan ibn Ali and Hussain ibn Ali he replied that he himself was like the right hand and Hassan ibn Ali and Hussain ibn Ali like `Ali's two eyes and that `Ali protected his eyes with his right hand. But al-`Allamah al-Mamaqani has written in Tanqih al-Maqal that this was not the reply of Ibn al-Hanafiyyah but of Ali ibn Abu Talib himself. When during the battle of Siffin Muhammad mentioned this matter to Ali ibn Abu Talib in complaining tone he replied, "You are my right hand whereas they are my eyes, and the hand should protect the eyes."

Apparently it seems that first Ali ibn Abu Talib must have given this reply and thereafter someone might have mentioned it to Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah and he must have repeated the same reply as there could be no more eloquent reply than this one and its eloquence confirms the view that it was originally the outcome of the eloquent tongue of Ali ibn Abu Talib and was later appropriated by Muhammad al-Hanafiyyah. Consequently, both these views can be held to be correct and there is no incongruity between them.

When in the Battle of Jamal Ali ibn Abu Talib sent Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah to the battle-field, he told him that he should fix himself before the enemy like the mountain of determination and resoluteness so that the onslaught of the army should not be able to displace him, and should charge the enemy with closed teeth because by pressing teeth over the teeth tension occurs in the nerves of the skull as a result of which the stroke of the sword goes amiss, as he said at another place also viz. "Press together the teeth. It sends amiss the edge of the sword." Then he says, "My child, lend your head to Allah in order that you may be able to achieve eternal life in place of this one, because for a lent article there is the right to get it back. Therefore, you should fight being heedless of your life, otherwise also if your mind clings to life you will hesitate to advance towards deathly encounters and that would tell upon your reputation of bravery. Look, don't let your steps falter because the enemy is emboldened at the faltering of steps, and faltering steps fastens the feet of the enemy. Keep the last lines of the enemy as your aim so that the enemy may be overawed with loftiness of your intentions and you may feel ease in tearing through their lives, and their movement should also not remain concealed from you. Look, do not pay heed to their superiority in numbers, otherwise your valor and courage would suffer." This sentence can also mean that one should not wide open the eyes to be dazzled by the shining of weapons, and the enemy may make an attack by taking advantage of the situation. Also, always bear it in mind that victory is from Allah. "If Allah helps you no one can overpower you." Therefore, instead of relying on material means seek His support and succor.

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He was the largely passive titular head of a Shi'ite rebellion against the Umayyid caliphs. This rebellion, which was led by Al-Mukhtar, broke out in Kufa (now in Iraq), in 686 CE. Al-Mukhtar proclaimed al-Hanifiya to be the Mahdi who would restore justice to the Islamic world. Al-Hanifiya seems to have played little or no active role in al-Mukhtar's campaign. When the rebellion was successfully suppressed, the Umayyids left al-Hanifiya in peace.

The significance of Mukhtar's rebellion lies mainly in the fact that it began the early Shi'ite tradition of looking to Ali's family for leadership against what was seen as the autocratic, unjust rule of the Umayyid caliphs. The unsuccessful rebellion set the stage for his half-brother Husayn's abortive attempt to overthrow the Umayyids, which led to his own martyrdom at Karbala.

Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan's era

He died in the reign of `Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan at the age of sixty-five years. Some writers have recorded the year of his death as 80 A.H. and others as 81 A.H. There is a difference about the place of his death as well. Some have put it as Medina, some Aylah and some Ta'if. He died in 700 CE

Legacy

He had two sons.

Al-Hanifiya is also the first known person to be proclaimed Mahdi, though he did not apparently claim the title himself.

Shi'a view

Ibn al-Hanifiya is not considered an Imam by Shi'ites, but he is nevertheless important in early Shi'ite history

See also

• Islam

External Links and Sources

imamreza.net