Emerging Patterns of Authority in Early Shiʿism : Mukhtar’s Use of the Aesthetics of Persuasion

In this study the author examines some aspects of authority in the movement of theShiʿite leader al-Mukhtār (d. 67/687). The notion of religious aesthetics as developedby Birgit Meyer is used as an analytical tool. It is argued that al-Mukhtār accomplishedhis political endeavour partly by introducing and controlling three “aesthetic forms”which functioned as “media” between the people and the deceased ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib:his claim to act on behalf of ʿAlī’s son Ibn al-Ḥanafiyya, whom he called al-mahdī, “therightly guided”; his call to revenge for the killing of ʿAlī’s son Ḥusayn; and his exhibitingof a chair that he claimed had belonged to ʿAlī. The accounts of these three media,the author furthermore argues, have an historical foundation. Finally he holds thatthrough these media al-Mukhtār was able to channel the needs and aspirations ofmany of the Shiites of Kufa into political action.Open Access APC beslut 7/2019Hängivenhet till Husayn i tidig shi'a-isla