Qarmatians and the issue of Removing of the Black Stone in Historical Sources

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor of History of Islamic Civilization, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran.

Abstract

 
The Qarmatian movement was considered as a passionate movement against the Abbasid caliphate which was organized in the third century AH.This movement leads to the establishment of a government which lasted for two hundred years in the east of the Arabian Peninsula.TheQarmatians, who first emerged as a big challenge to the Islamic caliphate, continued to take steps to provoke the negative propaganda of the Abbasids and Sunni fanatics against them. Abu Tahir al-Jannabi was the most powerful emir of Qaramatans. He strengthened the Qaramatian government and took military actions against the Abbasids, but some of his measurements such as; attacking the Hajj caravans, attacking Mecca, removing of the Black Stone ruined the foundations of the legitimacy of Qaramatians and caused their permanent disgrace.
This article is descriptive and analytical which is based on historical sources and library research. It seeks to answer these questions: why and how the Qaramatians invaded Mecca and removed the Black Stone and took it with them to Hajar and Al-Ahsa Oasis? What has been the reflection of this incident in historical sources?
The study of the original historical sources and texts as well as other research findings reveal numerous evidences and reasons that confirm this hypothesis that the Fatimid caliphs planned the operation and ordered the theft of the Black Stone. These evidences are as follows:
Abdallah al-Mahdi Billahapologized to those people whose property was destroyed during the attack on Mecca and was divided among Abu Tahir's troops.
Qaramatians did not return the Black Stone in exchange for the exorbitant sums of money.
The told: ‘we took it because our Imam ordered us to take it and we will return it when our Imam orders.
Meanwhile the title of Amir al-Mu'minin was worthy of a caliph who had the ability to dominate and protect the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, so the invasion of Qarmatians to Hajj caravans and their attack to Mecca and the robbery of the Black Stone could reveal the weakness of Abbasids and the recapture of the Black Stone could reveal the authority of Fatimids.
Fatimids sought their domination over these two holy cities, the recitation of sermons in their name, the attainment of the title of Amir al-Mu'minin, the supremacy of the Islamic world and they were able to exercise their religious and worldly dominion over those holy cities for a long time.
So we can conclude that Fatimids used Qaramatians as a tool to carry out dangerous plans and actions that could tarnish their image.
Michael Jan de Goeje writes: I sincerely believe that the Qarmatians, especially the Qarmatians of Bahrain, acted with the intention of serving a good cause.
In conclusion, it should be said that despite all the historical evidences which confirm that the Fatimid caliphs of Egypt, who were the Imams of Qaramatians, intervened and directly ordered the removal of the Black Stone, anyway this un-Islamic act by the Qarmatians not only weakened their legitimacy and ruined their religious principles, but also Muslims condemned this un-Islamic act of Qaramatians. Certainly they are responsible for this action and the blame lies with them.
Keywords: Qarmatians, Black Stone, Abu Sa'id al-Jannabi ,Abu Tahir al-Jannabi
 
 

Keywords

References

 
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International Journal of Iranian-Islamic Studies
Volume 10, Issue 2 - Serial Number 19
summer 2020
July 2020
Pages 67-85

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 May 2020
  • Revise Date: 07 June 2020
  • Accept Date: 12 July 2020

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