A.H. 73–86.
equally with their Commander, resented the action of the "Enemy" (as they called him) "of God and man"; and, declaring war against both him and his Master, swore allegiance to Ibn al-Ashʿath, who, making favourable terms with Zunbīl, forthwith marched on Al-ʿIrāḳ. The Caliph, in alarm, sent reinforcements, which Al-Ḥajjāj pushed on to the frontier. But Ibn al-Ashʿath beat them back at Tostar, and crossing the Tigris, advanced on Al-Baṣra.Takes Baṣra
81 A.H.
Jan., 701 A.D. The rebel, entering the city, was received with open arms.[1] Al-Ḥajjāj, determined not to be beaten, retired with a few people of Thaḳīf and Ḳoreish, until reinforcements of his Syrians under their Kelbite leader defeated their assailants, who thereupon fell back on Al-Kūfa,Defeat of Ibn al-Ashʿath,
82 A.H.
March, 701 A.D., which had already thrown off its allegiance under a Temīmite captain. Al-Baṣra being now at his mercy, Al-Ḥajjāj took a signal revenge by treacherously slaying (so we are told) 11,000 of the inhabitants after promising them quarter. Meanwhile crowds of the discontented citizens streamed forth to Ibn al-Ashʿath, who was able once more to meet Al-Ḥajjāj, half-way between the two cities, with 100,000 men. The Caliph was now so alarmed that he offered terms to the rebels by the hand of his son and brother. Al-Ḥajjāj was to be superseded, the pensions of the ʿIrāḳites were to be made equal to those of the Syrians, and suitable provision made for Ibn al-Ashʿath. Al-Ḥajjāj remonstrated with the Caliph, reminding him of ʿOthmān's fate, but he was firm. Ibn al-Ashʿath was inclined to accept the offer; but his army rejected it with scorn, and prepared for battle.who is beaten,
vi. 82 A.H. Several months were spent in skirmishing and single combats; and it was not till the middle of 82 A.H. that a
- ↑ The reason assigned for this sudden acceptance of the pretender is singular, and is illustrative of the progress of Islām in Al-ʿIrāḳ. Al-Ḥajjāj, finding that the Jewish and Christian cultivators, to escape the Jizya or capitation-tax, embraced Islām and flocked in crowds to the cities, so that the revenues were from this cause seriously depressed, ordered his governors to send all such back to their villages and farms, and to take the tax from them as before. There was in consequence, great lamentation among these village refugees, who went about crying, O Moḥammad! O Moḥammad! and knew not whither to go. The population were deeply touched at their lamentations, especially the "Ḳorʾān-Readers"; and this was one of the reasons, we are told, which led to the sudden acquiescence of Al-Baṣra in the revolt against Al-Ḥajjāj and the Caliph.
