Author: Zia Bari
During the Umayyad Caliphate, particularly at the onset of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan’s reign, the threat posed by the Kharijites was substantial. This threat had the potential to disintegrate the entire Muslim Ummah. These Kharijites were remnants of the group that emerged during the era of Ali (RA). They had gone underground in various regions and reappeared gradually over time when circumstances permitted.
The Sufris was a faction of the Kharijites that revolted against Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. They were named “Sufriyya” because their intense worship had caused their faces to turn pale yellow. The Sufriyya Kharijites embraced a path of extremism and strictness. Based on their aberrant ideology, they resorted to violence and deemed the shedding of Muslim blood permissible. They followed in the footsteps of earlier Kharijites and labeled anyone who opposed their ideology as an unbeliever, thereby justifying their actions.
This faction was spearheaded by Salih ibn Musarrih al-Tamimi, who rose up with considerable force against Abdul Malik ibn Marwan. One of Salih’s military commanders was Shabib ibn Yazid, renowned for his exceptional prowess in warfare, courage, and agility.
The Sufriyya Kharijites gained notoriety when they attempted to assassinate Abdul Malik ibn Marwan during the Hajj season. Under the leadership of Shabib ibn Yazid, they repeatedly inflicted heavy defeats on the forces of Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, despite their numerical inferiority. In Kufa, they killed Al-Hajjaj’s military commander, Atab ibn Warqa, along with six hundred of his soldiers.
When Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf became frustrated with the inability of the people of Kufa to defeat the Kharijites—despite their superior numbers—he personally took command of the army on Abdul Malik ibn Marwan’s orders. For the first time, he managed to defeat Shabib’s forces. Shabib escaped and sought refuge in Ahwaz.
Al-Hajjaj dispatched troops to pursue Shabib, leading to another intense confrontation. The outcome of the battle remained uncertain until Shabib attempted to flee once more. In the course of crossing a broad river, he toppled from his steed and drowned. Consequently, the Umayyad Caliphate was relieved of Shabib’s turmoil, and the Muslim community was safeguarded from his fitna.
