The Battle of Marj Rāhiṭ and the Death of al-Ḍaḥḥāk ibn Qays al-Fihrī
(1)
We have already mentioned that al-Ḍaḥḥāk served as Muʿāwiya ibn Abī Sufyān’s deputy in Damascus. Whenever Muʿāwiya was occupied or absent, al-Ḍaḥḥāk would lead the prayer on his behalf, enforce the legal penalties, and oversee public affairs. When Muʿāwiya died, he took on the burden of securing the people’s oath of allegiance to Muʿāwiya’s son Yazīd. When Yazīd died, he obtained their pledge for Muʿāwiya ibn Yazīd; and when Muʿāwiya ibn Yazīd in turn died, the people of Damascus pledged to al-Ḍaḥḥāk himself until the community could unite behind an imam. Once the oath to Ibn al-Zubayr spread widely, al-Ḍaḥḥāk resolved to pledge to him. One day he addressed the people, spoke against Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiya, and denounced him. A riot then broke out in the congregational mosque, and people fought there with swords. When order returned, al-Ḍaḥḥāk entered the Green Palace—the seat of government—and locked its gate. He then agreed with the Umayyads that they would ride to Ḥassān ibn Mālik ibn Baḥdal in the Jordan district and, once gathered before him, choose whomever he deemed fit for authority. Ḥassān intended to pledge for his nephew Khālid ibn Yazīd, for Yazīd’s mother Maysūn bint Baḥdal was Ḥassān’s sister. When al-Ḍaḥḥāk rode out with them, (2) the greater part of the army slipped away from him. He therefore returned to Damascus, fortified himself there, and dispatched messengers to the provincial commanders, securing their oath to Ibn al-Zubayr.

The Umayyads, accompanied by Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam, ʿAmr ibn Saʿīd, and Khālid and ʿAbd Allāh, the two sons of Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiya, continued until they met Ḥassān ibn Mālik at al-Jābiya. In comparison with al-Ḍaḥḥāk ibn Qays, they possessed only slight strength. Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam therefore resolved to journey to Ibn al-Zubayr, give him allegiance, and secure a guarantee of safety for the Umayyads, for Ibn al-Zubayr had ordered their expulsion from Medina. Marwān set out and, upon reaching Adhriʿāt, encountered ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Ziyād returning from Iraq. He met with him, and Ḥuṣayn ibn Numayr and ʿAmr ibn Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ were also present. They urged him to seek the caliphate for himself, claiming he had a stronger right than Ibn al-Zubayr, who had broken with the community and deposed three caliphs. They kept at Marwān until he agreed.

ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Ziyād then said, “I shall go to al-Ḍaḥḥāk in Damascus, deceive him on your behalf, and undermine his cause.” He therefore traveled to al-Ḍaḥḥāk, visiting him daily and displaying friendship, counsel, and affection. He encouraged al-Ḍaḥḥāk to summon allegiance for himself and depose Ibn al-Zubayr, saying, “You are more entitled to authority than he, for your record of obedience has always been renowned …”