الحوادث التي أحدثها القرامطة بمكة

The sources record the entry of Abu Tahir al-Janabi al-Qarmati into Mecca at the time the pilgrims were gathered, what befell the people there, and then the return of the Black Stone years later. Al-Tabari dates the event to 316 AH, and Ibn al-Athir places it in the pilgrimage season of 317 AH. ^{1 2}

Al-Tabari says that al-Janabi entered Mecca in 316 AH, killed the Muslims in the Sacred Mosque, tore out the Stone, and took the jewellery and treasures in it; the Stone was returned years later. He adds that other Qarmatis in the same period ravaged the Euphrates countryside. ¹

Al-Mas'udi, in his list of the commanders of the pilgrimage, says that the pilgrimage of 317 AH was completed only by a few people, and that it was performed without an imam, and that they went on foot. ³

Ibn al-Athir relates that Mansur al-Daylami led the people on the pilgrimage in 317 AH, and Abu Tahir met them in Mecca on the day of Tarwiya. He plundered the pilgrims' property and killed them, even in the Sacred Mosque, pulled out the Black Stone and carried it to Hajar. ²

He says that the amir of Mecca, Ibn Makhlad, went out with a group of the notables asking him about their property; they were not given intercession and fought him, and were killed. He also says that Abu Tahir tore off the door of the House, the dead were thrown into the Zamzam, and the rest were buried in the Sacred Mosque without shroud, washing or prayer. ²

Ibn al-Athir relates that al-Mahdi Ubayd Allah in Ifriqiya wrote to Abu Tahir rebuking him, and demanded that he return what he had taken and the Stone and the covering. When the letter reached him he returned the Stone and recovered as much of the money as he could. ²

The accounts differ on the year of the event between 316 and 317 AH. Settling the date needs an additional source, and so does the presentation of the academic view and of the other parties.