Abu Muslim al-Khurasani

Abu Muslim al-Khurasani, the leader of the Abbasid call in Khurasan. He entered Merv in Jumada al-Akhira 130 AH and was given the allegiance there, and he was killed in 137 AH. ^{1 2}

In Taqqush's account, Ibrahim ibn Muhammad chose him after Sulayman ibn Kathir al-Khuza'i and Ibrahim ibn Salama apologised for taking on the leadership of the call. He made him his representative in Khurasan. ⁵

The book describes his policy as a mix of politics and military force. He kept the enmity between Nasr ibn Sayyar and his opponents, cooperated with Jadi al-Kirmani and Shayban al-Harruri, then rid himself of them and ruled Khurasan alone. He took the title "Commander of the Family of Muhammad". ⁵

Al-Mas'udi relates that he killed Salm ibn Ahwaz, the killer of Yahya ibn Zayd, and that he took Yahya's body down from the cross and prayed over it. The people of Khurasan showed mourning for him for seven days. ³

He also relates that when he refused Yaqtin access to the treasuries, he said that he could be trusted with blood but not with money. ⁴

The unsigned Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.) entry describes Abu Muslim as the leader of the revolutionary 'Abbasid movement in Khurasan. He had obscure antecedents, probably a slave of Persian origin in the service of the Banu 'Ijl in Kufa, where he came into contact with the Shi'a. He was in the following of the extremist al-Mughira b. Sa'id in 119/737. Sent by the Imam Ibrahim b. Muhammad to Khurasan in 128/745-6, he took charge of the insurrection there. On 1 Shawwal 129/15 June 747 the black banners were raised, and Abu Muslim gained the Yamanites, took Marw in 130/747-8, and his generals carried the revolt westward. ⁶

After al-Saffah was proclaimed caliph, Abu Muslim stayed as governor in Khurasan. He suppressed the Shi'ite revolt in Bukhara in 133/750-1 and extended the conquest eastwards. His relations with the new dynasty, which owed much of its success to him, became strained. The article does not think he planned revolt, and it doubts that he preached extreme religious doctrine, though his prestige alarmed the 'Abbasids. The accession of al-Mansur in 136/753-4 marked the crisis. After using Abu Muslim against his uncle 'Abd Allah b. 'Ali, al-Mansur invited him to court; Abu Muslim, after long hesitation, went and was treacherously killed. ⁶

His memory stayed alive in the eastern provinces, and it gave rise for many years to political and religious agitation, as in the movement of al-Muqanna'. The article's bibliography includes al-Dinawari, al-Ya'qubi, al-Tabari, van Vloten, Wellhausen, R. N. Frye and S. Moscati. ⁶