Many Makkans were going out of the city, and the shortage and cost of foodstuff had shaken the hopes of those remaining. In Dhul-Qa’dah 72 A.H., Tariq expelled Talhatun Nida, Abdullah bin Zubair’s Governor, from Madinah and made a Syrian the Administrator of Madinah. He himself left for Makkah along with five thousand soldiers. That added to Hajjaj’s strength considerably, and the little hope the Makkans had vanished. It was in that state that the month of Dhul Hijjah began, and pilgrims from afar started pouring into the city.
Abdullah bin Zubair had allowed Hajjaj to perform his Hajj, but he did not do Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka’bah), nor did he do Sai (running and walking) between the mounts of Safa and Marwah. When Abdullah bin Zubair wanted to go to the plain of Arafat, Hajjaj prevented him. For this reason, he made the sacrifice in Makkah itself. There was no Imam on the plain of Arafat to lead the prayers, and the pilgrims could not perform all the rites of Hajj. Hajjaj did not stop the siege or the rain of stones even during the Hajj, and so going around the Ka’bah was fraught with danger. With the arrival of the pilgrims in Makkah, the severity of the famine also increased. Abdullah bin Omar also came to perform Hajj that year. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he sent a message to Hajjaj, “O slave of Allah! Think about the people from far off lands that have come for Hajj. They should have the opportunity to make Tawaf and Sai.” The message had its effect. Hajjaj stopped the catapult but did not make Tawaf himself, nor did he allow Abdullah bin Zubair to go to the plain of Arafat. With the conclusion of the Hajj, the announcement was made on behalf of Hajjaj that those coming from abroad should leave for their homes at once because Ibn Zubair was soon going to be showered with stones. As soon as they heard the ominous proclamation, they set out for their respective destinations. Along with them, most of those who had remained in Makkah escaped.
Kaaba Destroyed Again by al-Hijjaj (Con’t from page 138)
Hajjaj resumed his attack with the catapult. A large boulder fell on the roof of the Ka’bah, and it collapsed. With the fall of that stone, a peal of thunder came from the heavens. Lightning flashed, and then darkness engulfed the earth and the sky. Hajjaj’s soldiers became terrified and gave up using the catapult. Hajjaj consoled and encouraged them and said, “This lightning and this peal of thunder have come to help me. They symbolize my victory. Don’t give way to fear at all.”
The darkness continued for a couple of days, and a loud crackling bolt of lightning killed a few of Hajjaj’s soldiers. The soldiers were extremely concerned. The lightning was flashing again the next day, and a thunderbolt this time hit two soldiers of Abdullah bin Zubair who died on impact. This gladdened Hajjaj’s heart, and his soldiers also heaved a sigh of relief. Hajjaj himself loaded stones and began shooting them. After that, the fear that was gripping the whole army vanished, and the launching of stones resumed more vigorously.
Abdullah bin Zubair used to offer his prayer at the Ka’bah, and big stones would fall around him, but it did not disturb his concentration on Allah and his devotion during his prayer in the least.
The siege continued with the same intensity and force. No supplies from outside Makkah could come in. Things came to such a pass that Abdullah bin Zubair slaughtered his horse and distributed it among the people. He had a stock of grain and dates. He distributed as much as was necessary for them to survive. The purpose was to stand the siege as long as possible. When Hajjaj saw that his plan was not going to succeed, he began to write to Abdullah bin Zubair’s men and promise them security and amnesty to those who would join him. This worked, and many of them parted with Abdullah bin Zubair and went over to Hajjaj’s side. Finally, only a few persons were left with him. His two sons, Hamza and Habib, also left their father and went over to Hajjaj. The third son remained with his father and displayed valor on the battlefield until the last breath of his life. When thousands of men left Abdullah bin Zubair and joined the opposing side, Hajjaj gathered them together and addressed them as follows:
You can estimate the remaining power of Abdullah bin Zubair; his men are in such short number that if each of you threw a handful of pebbles on them, they would all die. Besides that, all of them are hungry and thirsty. O my dear Syrians and Kufans! Advance now. Abdullah bin Zubair will live only for a few seconds.
Martyrdom of Ibn Zubayr (Continuing from page 142)
The enemies rained down stones and arrows on him from all sides, threw spears and swords, and had already left him wounded. At long last, on Tuesday in Jamad al-Awwal 73 A.H., this grand hero and pious man of the world met his martyrdom. With the exception of valor and dauntlessness, piety and prayer, courage and nobility, there was none there to mourn over his dead body. The Syrian army cut off his head. When it was taken to Hajjaj, he prostrated out of thankfulness to Allah. The army raised the cry Allahu Akbar. The dead body was hung on a scaffold at the same place Hajun, and the head was sent to Abdul Malik. Another tradition says that it was not sent to him, but it was hung on the wall or the rain channel of the Ka’bah.
Asma bint Abi Bakr [the mother of ibn Zubayr] sought permission to bury the dead body, but Hajjaj refused. When Abdul Malik came to know of it, he condemned and cursed Hajjaj and allowed it to be buried. Asma also died after a few days.
After ibn Zubair’s martyrdom, Hajjaj entered the Ka’bah. The entire floor was littered with stones thrown from the catapult. It was stained with patches of blood. He had the stones removed and the blood washed. He took from the Makkans the oath for Abdul Malik’s caliphate and then returned to Madinah. He lived there for two months and considered the entire population of Madinah as the killers of Uthman bin Affan; he perpetrated atrocities on them. He tortured some of the Prophet’s Companions. Then he left for Makkah, and after pulling down the construction done by Abdullah bin Zubair on the Ka’bah, he reconstructed it. Abdul Malik made him the Governor of the Hijaz, and Hajjaj bin Yusuf began to live in Madinah in place of Tariq.
Abd al-Malik’s Victory Speech to the people of Hejaz
After Ibn Zubayr’s martyrdom, Abd al-Malik gave the following speech, according to History of Islam, Vol 2, page 144.
“ I am neither a weak caliph like Uthman nor a lazy caliph like Muawiya nor a caliph with weak opinions like Yazid. All the caliphs before me had been eating from treasure (under their possession); I will remedy it with my sword only. You should raise your spears in my support. You hold me responsible to act as the ‘Muhajirun’ acted, yet you yourselves do not act as they did. Remember, I shall torture you to death, and the sword will be the judge between you and me. Keep watching what my sword makes of you. I shall tolerate all that you say, but I cannot stand your opposition to the ruler. I shall tie their acts around their necks without hearing those who threaten with Allah’s fear. “
Abd al-Malik’s Parting Words of Advice to His Son Walid
It continues on page 145 with the advice Abd al-Malik gave to his son Walid, who was to succeed him after his death.
Madani says, “When Abdul Malik was sure of his death, he said, “I have been longing to be an ascetic since my birth.” Then he called his son Waleed and exhorted him to fear Allah and avoid internal dissensions and said:
“Be active in war, be an example in good deeds, for war does not call death before its time. Good deeds ensure a good reward, and Allah helps in distress. Be soft in hard situations and shun inviting resentment, for a single arrow can easily be broken by anyone, but none can break arrows when they are tied together. O Waleed! I make you the caliph, and in this matter, you must have fear of Allah. Take care of Hajjaj, who has delivered you the caliphate, consider him to be your right hand and sword; he will safeguard you against your foes. Don’t listen to anyone’s complaint against him; and remember, you need Hajjaj more than he needs you, and when I die, take ‘bay’at’ from all and cut off the head of he who refuses.”
“When he was in the agonies of death, Waleed came to him and began to weep. Abdul Malik said, “What is the use of weeping like a girl? Get ready after my death and put your sword on your shoulder with courage and chop off the head of the man who raises his head even a little, and spare him who keeps silent, for he would die of his own disease.”
Abdul Malik died in Shawwal 86 A.H. at the age of 63.
Al-Hajjaj Continues His Tyranny
Page 151 of History of Islam Vol. 2 summarizes the following regarding Abd al-Malik and al-Hijjaj.
Following Abdullah bin Zubair’s martyrdom, Abdul Malik made Hajjaj bin Yusuf the Governor of the Hijaz. Hajjaj pulled down the Ka’bah and removed the part constructed during Abdullah bin Zubair’s regime, then he reconstructed it. Hajjaj perpetrated untold atrocities on the venerated Sahabah. Anas and other distinguished Sahabah were tied and whipped. He had great hostility for the illustrious Sahabah like Abdullah bin Umar because he was always frank and loved the truth. Hajjaj’s government did not overawe him nor did anything deter him from introducing people to good deeds and preventing them from sin. Hajjaj deputed a man to attack and kill him. As a consequence of this order, during the next Hajj when Abdullah bin Umar was making Tawaf (circumambulation) of the Ka’bah, Hajjaj’s agent pierced his foot with a spear. He succumbed to the injury and died after a few days. Just as the tyrannies that he perpetrated on the Sahabah prove him to be a tyrant, similarly they also make Abdul Malik guilty because it was he who made such an oppressor the Governor of Makkah and Madinah. Hajjaj and Abdul Malik both had some virtues and they had vices in proportion to them.
The Sunni Dilemma
The last line of the above quote is very telling. After describing all the heinous acts and atrocities carried out by Hajjaj and Abd al-Malik, the author states, “ Hajjaj and Abdul Malik both had some virtues and they had vices in proportion to them.” Rather than condemn these people, like Suyuti has done, for their horrendous actions, many Sunnis continue making excuses for such people. A clear example of this can be seen in the following lecture by Yasir Qhadi regarding al-Hajjaj.
The Quran informs us that there is no compulsion in religion (2:256), that God hates aggression (2:190), that oppression is worse than murder (2:191), and that killing a believer on purpose is an unforgivable sin (4:92-93). Yet despite clearly violating all these laws, many Sunnis continue to make excuses for the main culprits of the Umayyad dynasty. These same people who have no grace and will takfir individuals today who commit the most minor offenses appear to have unlimited tolerance for the individuals who destroyed the Kaaba and deliberately killed believers. Based on what we know from Sunni’s own history, such people will be condemned to the bottom pit of Hell.