Ibn al-Wathhab's claim in Gilan to be al-Ta'i'

In 388 AH a man who had been one of the followers of the deposed caliph fled and took the name of al-Ta'i for himself in Gilan. The people there accepted him and honoured him, and he set up a following among them; then his true identity was exposed. ¹

Abd Allah ibn Ja'far, known as Ibn al-Wathhab, had claimed affiliation with al-Ta'i. When al-Ta'i was seized and deposed, he fled and moved from country to country. He went to the Batiha marshes and stayed with Muhadhdhab al-Dawla, then left. Al-Qadir sent for him; he was brought in under arrest and imprisoned, and then he fled again. ²

He went to Gilan and claimed to be al-Ta'i himself. He cited signs that he knew from his familiarity with the caliphal court. They accepted him and honoured him, and Ibn al-Abbas, one of their commanders, gave him his daughter in marriage. He set up a following for himself in his land, and people in other districts obeyed him and paid him the tithe that they used to pay to whoever led their religious affairs. ³

Later some people from there came to Baghdad, where his true identity was exposed to them. He left them, and his claim came to nothing. ³