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Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya

690 – 762

Descendant of Muhammad and revolutionary leader (died 762)

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About Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya

Lived 690 – 762 (aged 71–72). Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya was an Arab revolutionary, rebel and scholar.

Life

Initially, he hoped to rebel against Umayyad rule, when the children of Hashim paid their allegiance to him at Abwa. Among them were Ibrahim al-Imam, As-Saffah and Al-Mansur. But it soon became clear that Abbasid rule was established, so those who had paid allegiance to him deserted him, and another group of Shiites flocked around him.

Personality Muhammad was an inspirational figure to many throughout the caliphate who believed that he was destined for glory due to his ancestry. For years he disguised himself and travelled stealthily, since his professed relationship to the Prophet meant that he posed a threat to the established political order. He was eventually able to amass a sizable but ragtag army and seize the city of Medina. He then left Medina in the year 145 A.H and took over Mecca and Yemen. He was murdered in Medina a few months later.

Ancestry

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Important facts

Born
690, Medina
Birth century
Also known as
Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥasan al-Muthannā ibn al-Ḥasan al-Mujtaba ibn 'Ali ibn Abi Talib

People in Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya?

Descendant of Muhammad and revolutionary leader (died 762)

When was Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya born?

Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya was born in 690 in Medina.

When did Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya die?

Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya died on 6 December 762 in Medina.

What was Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya's occupation?

Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya was a revolutionary, rebel and scholar.

What nationality was Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya?

Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya was Arab.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya

· Wikidata: Q533216

· DBpedia: Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya. https://biography.guide/muhammad-al-nafs-al-zakiyya/

MLA: "Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/muhammad-al-nafs-al-zakiyya/.

Chicago: "Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/muhammad-al-nafs-al-zakiyya/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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