The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

A.i). 680-3] SIEGE OF MECCA 315
even the most sacrilegious tyrant would have the hardihood A.H. 61-64.
to attack the sacred places. "Good heavens!" they cried,
looking upwards, " will ye fall down upon us !
" ^
.\nd in like
security Ibn az-Zubeir had probably been the less careful
to prepare for his enemy's advance. Early in the year
64 A.H., going forth to oppose the Syrian army, he was
driven back with loss. For two months the city was City bombesieged
and shot cast into it by the Syrians from the
^l^'^^^n
heights around. The Ka'ba caught fire and was burned to destroyed,
the ground.- .\nd so the siege went on till the third month, oa.sf,''
when tidings came of the death of Yczld, and thereupon 683 a.v.
hostilities ceased. So poor at the moment were the prospects
of the Umeiyads under the weak son who succeeded Yezid,
that the Syrian general offered to swear allegiance to Ibn
az-Zubeir as Caliph if he would but accompany him to Syria,
where alone he had any chance of successful candidature.
But he refused, preferring to remain and rebuild the sacred
shrine. Though himself a warrior, and the son of one of
the most renowned heroes in the Prophet's train, he went
out no more into battle, but from his quiet retreat maintained,
as rival Caliph, an acknowledged rule, as we shall
see, in the troubled years that follow, over a large portion
of the Muslim Empire.
Yezld died in his hunting castle at forty years of age, Death of
after a reign of three and a half years. The news took 5^^^ /,.
"*' '"'
twent\'-seven days to reach Mecca. In natural disposition he Nov. ir,
''
much resembles Charles II. of England. He is described as ^
a dissipated Monarch, but though the patron of learning, and
himself no mean poet, he is only remembered for his
sacrilegious attack upon the Holy Cities and the family
of Mohammad.
" He reigned," says Ibn at-Tiktaka, "three years and six
months and
;
in his first year he killed Al-Hosein son of 'All
(on botli of whom be peace !).
In his second year he plundered
1
The exclamation is attributed to 'Abd al-AIelik, who with his father
Merwan was sent as a deputation by Yezld to Ibn az-Zubeir, and by him
detained in durance ; "'and yd," adds the annalist, "this same 'Abd al-
Melik, when Caliph, himself sent Al-I.lajjfij to besiege the Holy City,
cast shot at the Ka'ba, and slay Ibn az-Zubeir.''
- The fire appears to have been kindled by the besieged, and even
by Ibn az-Zubeir liimself.