Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf

Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf (Arabic: الحجاج بن يوسف), simply known as al-Hajjaj, was an Arab governor for the Umayyad Caliphate. He helped make the Umayyad government stronger and was governor of Iraq from 694 to 714. He first became important when Caliph Abd al-Malik asked him to control soldiers during a rebellion in Iraq. In 692, he led the army that defeated Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr in Mecca. He became known for using very harsh methods.

Arab-Sasanian dirham in the name of al-Hajjaj

Al-Hajjaj also helped Abd al-Malik choose al-Walid I as the next caliph. When al-Walid I became caliph, he gave al-Hajjaj a lot of power in Iraq.

Al-Hajjaj brought order to the areas he ruled, expanded Umayyad lands to the east, such as Transaxonia, and made new political and economic reforms.

Both Sunni and Shia writings criticize al-Hajjaj. They say he was one of the most oppressive rulers of his time. Sunni scholars say he did not show respect to Muhammad's instructions to show kindness and respect to the scholars and people of virtue and righteousness among the followers of his companions. They also say he hated Ali and his family. According to a report by al-Baladhuri, author Syed Nadeem Jaffri says al-Hajjaj did not believe obeying hadith was compulsory.

See also

• Muslim conquests
• Islam
• Hadith rejectors
• Abbasid Caliphate
• Jihad