The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

A.D. 658-60] RISING IN PERSIA 281
brought to light the alarming spread of disaffection, and A.H. 38-40.
showed how precarious was 'All's grasp upon the Bedawi
races of factious Al-Basra.
The spirit of disturbance and unrest was not confined Khariji
to Egypt and to Al-Basra. In a single year, we read of '''^'"Sssome
half-dozen occasions on which considerable bands of
the Khawarij were impelled by their theocratic creed to raise
the standard of rebellion. One after another they met the
common fate of slaughter and dispersion. But though
crushed, the frequent repetition of such desperate enterprises,
fruit of a wild and reckless fanaticism, had a disturbing effect.
The most serious of these risings was that led by Al-Khirnt Rebellion of
ibn Rashid of the Beni Najiya ;
and it is the more remark- l^^pg^lb"
able, because this chief had fought bravely with his tribe by 38 a.h.
'All's side in the battles both of the Camel and of Siffm.
He was driven, like many others, by strong conviction to
rebel. The position of this fanatic was that 'Ah ought to
have accepted the decision of the arbiters to refer the
question of the Caliphate to a Council. 'All, with his usual
patience, said that he would argue out the matter with him,
and arranged a meeting for the purpose. But the night
before, Al-Khirrit stole away from the city with his
following. " Gone," said '.\lT, " to the devil ;
lost, like
doomed Thamud
"
! They were pursued, but effected their
escape to Al-Ahwaz. There they raised the Persians, Kurds,
and Christian mountaineers, by the specious and inflammatory
cry that payment of taxes to an ungodly Caliph was
but to support his cause, and as such intolerable. With a
band of rebel Arabs, they kindled revolt throughout Fars
and put the governor to flight. A force from Al-Basra drove
them to the shores of the Indian Ocean, But they broke
out again in Al-Bahrein, where the tribes had been withholding
the taxes, and some had returned to the Christian
^^^ ^•^'•
faith. Luring the people by delusive promises, they still
gained head ;
and it was not till after a bloody battle in
which Al-Khirrit lost his life, that the supremacy of the Khirrit
Caliphate was re-established in southern Persia. The ^j^^" "
Muslim prisoners in this campaign were set at liberty on
swearing fresh allegiance ; but 500 Christians wore marched
away to be sold into captivit}'. The women and children, as
they were torn from their protectors, wailed with loud and