Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf al-Thaqafī: A Tyrant in Islamic History
Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf al-Thaqafī was a tyrannical and oppressive ruler whose cruelty and injustice are well-recorded in Islamic history. Numerous scholars have detailed his oppressive reign, pointing out both his immense brutality and rare instances of religious virtue. Despite his eloquence and reverence for the Qur'an, his excessive bloodshed and mistreatment of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ have made him a symbol of tyranny.❖ Character Traits and Historical Acts
Ḥajjāj was described as a Nasibī, evil in character, and a relentless shedder of blood. He governed Iraq and the Eastern regions for twenty years, during which he committed numerous atrocities, including bombarding the Ka‘bah and humiliating the people of the Ḥaramayn. Though he possessed courage, cunning, eloquence, and some regard for the Qur'an, these traits were overshadowed by his tyranny.His actions toward the early generation of Muslims were especially severe. He was responsible for the mass killing of Muslims, the desecration of sacred places, and the delay of obligatory prayers.
❖ Martyrdom of ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr and Insult to Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr
Among the most notorious crimes of Ḥajjāj was the martyrdom of ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr, a noble Companion, and the son of the virtuous Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr. After brutally killing him, Ḥajjāj desecrated his body, hung it from a palm trunk, and eventually discarded it in a Jewish cemetery. He went further to threaten the blind and elderly mother of the martyr, Asmāʾ, attempting to coerce her by threatening to drag her by her hair.Asmāʾ, in a powerful confrontation, shamed Ḥajjāj for ruining her son's worldly life while destroying his own afterlife. She cited a prophetic tradition that within the tribe of Thaqīf would arise a great liar and a ruthless tyrant — identifying the liar as Mukhtār al-Thaqafī and the tyrant as Ḥajjāj.
❖ Defamation of the Companions
Ḥajjāj's animosity extended to other revered Companions:- He insulted ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar on multiple occasions.
- He coerced and disrespected the noble Companion Salamah ibn al-Akwaʿ.
- He slandered and threatened to kill ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd, accusing him of distorting the Qur'an.
- He forced the respected Companion Suwayd ibn Ghaflah to stop leading prayers due to performing them at their prescribed times.
❖ Mass Murders and Suppression of the People
Ḥajjāj was responsible for the execution of a staggering number of Muslims — estimates reaching 120,000. His rule instilled widespread fear, and his unjust governance was universally condemned by scholars and the public alike.Among those he persecuted and executed was the pious Tābiʿī, Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, due to his resistance against Ḥajjāj’s tyranny. This murder remains one of the darkest stains on his record.
❖ Defiance of Islamic Leadership and Misuse of Power
Ḥajjāj frequently delayed the prescribed times of prayer, used violence to enforce submission, and ruled with an iron fist. The rebellion of Ibn al-Ashʿath, supported by scholars and the pious, was a direct response to Ḥajjāj's oppressive conduct.Despite Ḥajjāj’s claim to serve the Caliph, his actions often contradicted the teachings of Islam and led to massive internal strife, including wars that cost many innocent lives.
❖ Views of the Scholars
Renowned scholars across generations have held unfavorable opinions of Ḥajjāj:① He was seen as a tyrant, blood-shedder, and dishonorable governor.
② His narration of hadith is considered unacceptable due to his moral corruption.
③ Scholars across the centuries regarded him as an oppressor and a fitnah upon the ummah.
④ No reliable scholar from the early generations offered a defense of his conduct.
⑤ He was identified as the "mubīr" — the destructive one — foretold in authentic prophetic tradition.
❖ Final Thoughts
Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf remains a controversial figure, remembered predominantly for his injustice, cruelty toward the Companions, and disregard for Islamic values. While he had certain talents and achievements, his legacy is overshadowed by his tyranny and rebellion against the very principles of Islam.Today, defending Ḥajjāj and presenting him as a hero contradicts the stance of the pious predecessors. Such defense aligns more with misguided reasoning than with the truth upheld by the scholars of Islam.
May Allāh guide us all to adhere to justice and truth and protect us from following the path of oppressors.
