Section on the Slaying of Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥasan (1)

Shortly thereafter (2) Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥasan sent a messenger to the people of Syria, inviting them to pledge allegiance to him and to acknowledge his caliphate. They refused, saying, “We are weary of wars and tired of fighting.” They paid no heed to his supporters, who returned to him only after fearing for their own lives. He then tried to win over the leading figures of Madinah: some responded, while others held back. One of them said, “How can I pledge allegiance to you when you have risen in a land that possesses no wealth with which to hire men?” Others stayed in their homes and did not emerge until Muḥammad was killed.

Muḥammad next dispatched al-Ḥasan ibn Muʿāwiyah (3) with seventy men, including about ten horsemen, to Mecca as his deputy should he enter it. They set out, and when the people of Mecca heard of their approach they came out against them in thousands. Al-Ḥasan ibn Muʿāwiyah asked, “Why are you fighting when Abū Jaʿfar is dead?” The Meccan leader, as-Sarī ibn ʿAbd Allāh, replied, “A dispatch from him reached us four nights ago, and I have written back to him; I shall wait four more days for his reply. If what you say is true, I will surrender the town to you and assume the upkeep of your men and horses.” Al-Ḥasan refused to wait and insisted on immediate combat, swearing that he would not spend the night anywhere but Mecca—unless he died. He sent word to as-Sarī: “Come out from the sanctuary into the open land, so that no blood is shed within the sacred precinct.” When as-Sarī did not come out, they advanced, drew up their lines, and al-Ḥasan and his companions charged in a single assault, routed them, and killed about seven. They then entered Mecca, and at daybreak al-Ḥasan ibn Muʿāwiyah addressed the people, offered them condolences (4) on Abū Jaʿfar, and summoned them to pledge allegiance to Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥasan, the Mahdī.

The Rising of His Brother Ibrāhīm ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥasan

Ibrāhīm ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥasan also rose in Basra. A courier came to his brother Muḥammad and was admitted to him while he was staying in the House of Marwān. The courier knocked at the door and said, “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil visitors of night and day, except a visitor who comes with good, O Most Merciful.” He then went out and informed Muḥammad’s companions of his brother’s uprising, whereupon they were exceedingly glad and overjoyed.

After the dawn and sunset prayers Muḥammad would say to the people, “Pray to Allah for your brothers in Basra, for al-Ḥasan ibn Muʿāwiyah in Mecca, and ask Him to grant them victory over your enemies.”