The Revolt of Abu Rakwa al-Umawi against al-Hakim

In 397 AH a man of the Umayyad line, a descendant of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, known as Abu Rakwa, rose up calling people to an awaited leader (al-Qa'im) from Hisham's descendants. He seized Barqa, struck coins in his own name, and cursed al-Hakim from the pulpit. He was defeated, handed over from the land of Nubia, and killed in Egypt. ¹

His name was al-Walid. He was called Abu Rakwa because of a water flask he carried on his travels, which he kept in the manner of the Sufis. He met shaykhs and wrote down hadith in Egypt, moved on to Mecca, then to Yemen, and then returned to Syria. On his travels he called people to the Qa'im from the descendants of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, and took the oath from those he found receptive and willing. Then he settled in al-Hilla and became a teacher, and Arab boys gathered around him. He displayed devotion and called a group of them, who agreed with him. Then he told them that he was the imam he had been calling to, that he had been ordered to show himself, and that victory was promised. They addressed him as amir, and he gave himself the title "the one who rises by God's command and is granted victory over God's enemies." ²

He entered Barqa, and its people gathered two hundred thousand dinars for him. From a Jewish man whom he accused of holding deposits in his keeping, he took one hundred thousand dinars. He struck coins with his name and titles, rode out on Friday, gave the sermon, and cursed al-Hakim. ²

Al-Hakim gathered sixteen thousand men for him and placed them under al-Fadl ibn Abd Allah. He sent with him three hundred thousand dinars for his expenses and the army's, and sent him five hundred thousand dinars and five thousand pieces of cloth. When al-Fadl set out, Abu Rakwa came out to meet him, intending to engage him, but al-Fadl stalled and evaded. Abu Rakwa's companions said, "We have given our lives for you; while you are among us we are hunted on your account, so save yourself." He said, "Hand me over to those who will take me to the land of Nubia, for I have a covenant and a pledge with them." They brought him to the land of Nubia. Al-Fadl sent after him, and they handed him over. He was brought to al-Hakim, who had him mounted on a camel and paraded, and then killed him. Al-Fadl was greatly honoured with land grants, and al-Hakim visited him twice while he was ill; when he recovered and was well again, he had him killed. ¹