Al-Ash'ath ibn Qays's Rule in Azerbaijan (25-36 AH)

Azerbaijan was conquered after the Battle of Nahāvand, but the successive rebels of its people and its proximity to the Caucasus and Gilan showed the significance of Azerbaijan and the need for military presence in it for the Arabs. Al-Ash'ath ibn Qays was one of the commanders who was present in the conquests of Azerbaijan and was appointed by Uthman as the ruler of Azerbaijan and remained in the position until the beginning of Ali's caliphate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate Al-Ash'ath’s appointment as the ruler of Azerbaijan and its measures in this region using a descriptive-analytical method and library texts. The present research attempts to answer the following questions: why was Al-Ash'ath appointed to rule Azerbaijan? What were the areas of Arab migration to Azerbaijan and its consequences during the rule of Al-Ash'ath’s? And why and how Imam Ali dismissed Al-Ash’ath from the emirate of this region and what was his reaction? Findings of the research show that Al-Ash'ath was appointed as the governor of Azerbaijan due to the close connection with Uthman and created the basis for the migration of Arabs to this region and its tendency towards Islam. As Imam Ali came to the Caliphate, because did not swear allegiance to him, and had fled in Azerbaijan, he was dismissed from the Emirate