By 735 an Arab empire stretched from Arles and Avignon in southern France to the Indus River and Central Asia, and a vital young civilization fostered by a new world religion was taking root. Yet the Muslim conquerors were divided by tribal quarrels, tensions among new converts, and religious revolts. In 745 a vigorous new successor to the Prophet took control in Damascus and began to restore the waning power of the Umayyad dynasty. Marwan II's attempts were thwarted, however, by revolts on every hand, even among his own relatives. The main body of dissidents was a well-trained group of revolutionaries in Khurasan, led by the remarkable Abu Muslim. By 748 they had seized control of the province and drive the governor, När ibn Sayyar al-Laythi, to his death and were advancing westward. This volume tells of the end of the Umayyad caliphate, the ¿Abbasid Revolution, and the establishment of the new dynasty.

Foreword The Caliphate of Marwan b. Muhammad The Year 127 (745) Why the Oath of Allegiance was Given to Marwan Revolt of the People of Hims Revolt of al-Dahhak b. Qays the Kharijite Revolt of Sulayman b. Hisham The Year 128 (745/46) The Slaying of al- Harith b. Surayj in Khurasan Death of al-Dahhak b. Qays the Kharijite Slaying of al-Khaybari the Kharijite Yazid b. `Umar b. Hubayrah is Sent to Iraq Abu Hamzah the Kharijite in Arabia The Year 129 (746/47) The Death of Shayban b. `Abd al-`Aziz the Kharijite Abu Muslim Openly Preaches the `Abbasid Revolution in Khurasan Khazim b. Khuzaymah Takes Marwarrudh The Arab Tribesmen of Khurasan Ally Against Abu Muslim Death of Juday` b. `Ali al-Kirmani `Abdallah b. Mu`awiyah al-Ja`fari Gains Control of Fars Abu Hamzah the Kharijite Leads the Pilgrimage The Year 130 (747/48) Abu Muslim Enters the Walled City of Marw Death of Shayban b. Salamah the Kharijite Abu Muslim Kills `Ali and `Uthman the Sons of Juday` al-Kirmani Qahtabah b. Shabib Comes to Abu Muslim Marwan's Governor for Jurjan is Killed Battle of Qudayd by Madinah Abu Hamzah the Kharijite Enters Madinah Other Events The Year 131 (748/49) The Death of Nasr b. Sayyar Qahtabah Camps at Rayy and Abu Muslim Moves to Naysabur `Amir b. Dubarah is Slain by Qahtabah The Battle of Jabalq by Isbahan Qahtabah Enters Nihawand The Battle of Shahrazur Other Events of This Year The Year 132 (749/50) The Death of Qahtabah b. Shabib Muhammad b. Khalid al-Qasri Revolts at Kufah in the Name of the `Abbasids The Caliphate of Abu al-`Abbas al-Saffah Other Events of the Year 132 Marwan's Defeat at the Zab Death of Ibrahim the `Abbasid Imam Slaying of Marwan b. Muhammad Revolt of Abu al-Ward at Qinnasrin Defection of Habib b. Murrah Revolt of the Men of the Jazirah Abu Ja`far the `Abbasid's Journey to Khurasan The Battle of Wasit Death of Ibn Hubayrah Other Events of This Year The Year 133 (750/51) Events of This Year The Year 134 (751/52) The Rebellion of Bassam b. Ibrahim Khazim b. Khuzaymah's War Against the Kharijites of `Uman Death of Mansur b. Jumhur in Sind Other Events of This Year The Year 135 (752/53) The Rebellion of Ziyad b. Salih in Transoxania Other Events of This Year The Year 136 (753/54) The Visit of Abu Muslim to Abu al-`Abbas in Iraq Abu Ja`far the `Abbasid and Abu Muslim go on the Pilgrimage The Death of Abu al-`Abbas al-Saffah Bibliography Index