The Rise of Mokhtār and the Movement of Tawwābīn: Some Reflections on Their Mutual Impacts

In this piece, the author examines the movement led by Mokhtār against the Umayyads, after the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, and its connection with contemporary movements, of which the Shi‘ite movement of the Tawwābīn (the Repentants) were among the most important ones. The author takes it for granted that the rise of Mokhtār had a Shi‘ite nature, and then through a brief, though meticulous, analysis of the Tawwābīn’s psychological motives, shows that they had mutual impact on each other. Finally, the author discusses the link between the two movements and other contemporary uprisings within the Islamic world.