The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

CHAPTER XLVIII
REMAINDER OF YEZID'S REIGN. REBELLION OF
IBN AZ-ZUREIR
61-64 A.H. 6S0-683 A.n.
YezTD soon felt the evil which the tragedy of Kerbala had Danger from
inflicted on the Umei\-ad throne, and the rebound caused reaction,
thereby in favour of the house of 'All. Al-Kufa, with
proverbial inconsistency, was now eager to espouse the cause
of a Dynasty which, over and again, it had cast aside. The
Khariji heresy, in ever-varying form, gained new impetus,
especially at Al-Basra. Its adherents, repenting of their
desertion of 'All after the battle of .Siffin, and grieving at
the fate of his family, entered into a covenant of revenge
and of never-ceasing hostility against the Government.
But it was from a different quarter that peril first assailed
the Caliphate. It arose, as Mu'awiya had foreshadowed,
from 'Abdallah Ibn az-Zubeir.
He it was, who, to be rid of Al-IJosein, had encouraged Ihn Zubeir
the unfortunate prince in his desperate venture. No sooner Caliphaie
did the sad story reach Arabia than Ibn az-Zubeir arose and 61 a. 11.
harangued the citizens of Mecca with fierce invective against
the ruling Power. Veiling his ambitious design, he described
himself as a dove of the doves of the Holy House. But he
soon showed his true colours, and before the end of the
year commenced to canvass, though at first secretly, as
claimant to the throne. On this reaching the cars of Yezid,
he swore that the rebel should \-et be brought to Damascus,
bound b\' the neck. Repenting of the oath, though wishing
formall}' to fulfil it and }-et leave Ibn az-Zubeir a wa)- of
escape, he sent a deputation to Mecca with a silver chain,
and a silken dress of honour to conceal it, and invited him
313
680 A.l'