Al-Mutahhar

Al-Mutahhar bin Yahya Sharaf ad-Din (January 3, 1503 – November 9, 1572) was an imam of the Zaidi state of Yemen who ruled from 1547 to 1572.

[1] The Zaidis lost Ta'izz to the Ottoman forces in 1547, and their elite resolved to make al-Mutahhar their leader instead of the elderly al-Mutawakkil Yahya Sharaf ad-Din.

In 1566, Turkish misbehaviour gave rise to dissatisfaction among parts of the Yemeni population that had hitherto been positive to the Ottoman presence.

[5] The defeat and death of al-Mutahhar marked the beginning of a long period of Ottoman domination which was only broken by the Qasimid imams in the early 17th century.

Al-Mutahhar also persecuted the Taiyabi Ismaili Shia sect, leading to the seat of leadership to shift from Yemen to Gujarat, India.

Ruins of Thula fortress in 'Amran , where al-Mutahhar barricaded himself against Ottoman attacks.