Muhammad ibn Ali al-Abbasi

Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿal-ʿAbbās or Muḥammad al-Imām (679/80–743) was the father of the two first 'Abbâsid caliphs, Al-Saffah and Al-Mansur, and as such was the progenitor of the Abbasid dynasty.

He was the son of Ali ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Abbas and great-grandson of al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, the uncle of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.

Abbasid Da'wa Muhammad ibn Ali was the leader of the Abbasid da'wa during the Umayyad Caliphate. He was informed by Abu Hashim that the Caliphate would belong to the Ahl al-Bayt, and he began the mission accordingly. After his death, his son Ibrahim ibn Muhammad succeeded him, but when the last Umayyad caliph Marwan ibn Muhammad learned of his status and location, he had him arrested and imprisoned, where he eventually died. He was succeeded by his brother Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah, who openly proclaimed the da'wa for the first time, established the Abbasid Caliphate, and seized the Caliphate.

Muhammad ibn Ali was a pious and scholarly man. He was likely born in the village of Humayma in Jordan and dedicated himself to religious study and devotion. In Humayma, he owned about five hundred trees, under each of which he would pray two rak'ahs. He taught his sons both knowledge and worship. He bore the title "al-Sajjad" (the one who prostrates frequently), which distinguished him from Ali Zayn al-Abidin. He was fourteen and a half years younger than his father, and people often could not distinguish between him and his father until he dyed his beard with henna while his father dyed his black.

Revolt of Mukhtar al-Thaqafi

When al-Mukhtar announced the revenge of Imam al-Husayn, he positioned himself as the representative of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, whom he proclaimed to be the Mahdi.

Imam of the Hashimiyya

After the death of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, the imamate of the Kaysanite Shia transferred to his son Abu Hashim, who transferred it to Muhammad, effectively transferring the mantle of leadership to him. This transfer allowed the Hashimiyya sect, a branch of the Kaysanites, to serve as a network of support for the Abbasid da'wa. The Hashimiyya were secretive and organized, spreading Abbasid propaganda against the Umayyad Caliphate and cultivating loyalty among key tribes and supporters. Their efforts laid the groundwork for the eventual Abbasid Revolution, which overthrew the Umayyads and established the Abbasid Caliphate in 750 CE.

Death and succession Muhammad ibn Ali died in the year 125 AH at the age of 72. After his death, his son Ibrahim ibn Muhammad succeeded him in leading the Abbasid da'wa, continuing the mission to gather support against the Umayyad Caliphate. Under Ibrahim’s leadership, the Abbasid call continued to grow, setting the stage for his brother Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah to publicly proclaim the da'wa and ultimately establish the Abbasid Caliphate.

Family tree

The genealogy of the Abbasids including their rival Zaydi imams Caliphs of the Abbasid Caliphate Caliphs of Cairo Zaydi imams