The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

.
after
386 HI SHAM [chap lv.
A.M. 105- Ibn llubeira met the too common fate in those claN's of fallen
"^ rulers, being cast into prison and tortured for arrears of
revenue. He escaped, but was pursued and murdered.
The Caliph caused the murderer to be put to death ; but
contented himself with an expression of displeasure towards
Khalid, who had apparently instigated the deed. Khalid
gave his brother Asad the command in Khorasan, and
himself continued for fifteen years in the government of
Khariji Al-'Irak. Towards the end of that period there were
outbreaks in
several Khariji outbreaks. One of these, led by a sorcerer,
'
Irak,
•
1 r
118-119A.H. though followed by only a few disciples, is remarkable for
certain strange doctrines, such as the divinity of 'All, held
by them, as well as for their barbarous end. The}^ were
burnt to death at the stake with faggots steeped in naphtha.
Another of a more serious character was raised by a man
from Wasit, who declaimed against the use of wine, and
denounced Khalid as " the son of a Christian (his mother
being of that faith), who let mosques go to ruin, while he
built churches and synagogues, gave office to Zoroastrians,
and allowed Christians and Jews to take Muslim wives."
The cause was popular. Great numbers i^allied under his
black standard, and fought with determined bravery. Twice
they routed considerable columns sent against them, and it
was only by an army drawn at once from Syria, Al-Kufa,
and Mosul, that they were at last dispersed and their leader
slain. Several other equally fanatical insurrections had to
be put down by military force. The leader of one of these,
committing many outrages, was brought in wounded,
with a body of followers. Khalid, astonished by his doctrine
and knowledge of the Kor'an, sought to spare him : but the
Caliph resented his repeated intercession ;
and so with his
whole company the rebel was committed to the flames, all
the while reciting passages from the Kor'an. He died with
this verse on his lips : " Say, the fire of Gehenna is fiercer
in its heat, if they but knew it."^ Such was the wild fervour
of these fanatics.
Fall of Apart from insurrections, which in themselves caused
some anxiety, Khalid, after many years of faithful service,
facTA*!!
737 A.D. at last lost the favour of his Master, who either suspected
embezzlement, or was jealous, perhaps not without cause,
^
Sura ix. 82.