al-Mutawakkil Ahmad ibn al-Husayn "al-Mu'ti"
المتوكل أحمد بن الحسين الموطىء
c. 1250 CE · c. 648 AH
Ahmad ibn al-Husayn al-Rassi, a Zaydi imam who rose against the Rasulids, called al-Mu'ti; proclaimed in 645 AH — a faqih, man of letters, master of the Zaydi madhhab and devoted worshipper — al-Mansur Umar campaigned against him and besieged Hisn Mala, and in Muzaffar Yusuf's days he held twenty Zaydi fortresses and took Safad from the Sulaymanids, who submitted to him; the Banu al-Rassi kept calling him imam.
At a glance
- Roles
- religious-leader · military-commander
- Counted among
- Venerated by Zaydi Shia
- Era
- The Crusades, Ayyubids and Mamluks
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
Life in time
Overview
Al-Mutawakkil Ahmad ibn al-Husayn al-Rassi, nicknamed al-Muwatti', a Zaydi imam who rose against the Banu Rasul in Yemen. He was given the oath of allegiance in 645 AH. 1
His character
Ibn Khaldun describes him as a jurist, a man of letters, a scholar of the Zaydi school, and diligent in worship. 1
The conflict with the Banu Rasul
Al-Mansur Umar ibn Ali ibn Rasul besieged him for a time in the fortress of Mala, then released him and besieged him from the neighbouring fortresses. 1
In the days of al-Muzaffar Yusuf he held twenty Zaydi fortresses, and advanced on Safad and took it from the Sulaymanis. He killed whoever opposed him, until he was killed. The sons of al-Rassi continued to call him imam. 1
The year of his death is not confirmed in the data (around 648 AH); it needs documentation, and it is a matter of disagreement.
Connections
People and things also explored
Ali ibn Rasul al-Turkmani· al-Malik al-Muzaffar Shams al-Din Yusuf ibn Umar· Rasulid dynasty· al-Malik al-Mansur Umar ibn Ali ibn Rasul
Sources
- Kitab al-Ibar of Ibn Khaldun
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “al-Mutawakkil Ahmad ibn al-Husayn "al-Mu'ti"”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/mutawakkil-ahmad-ibn-husayn/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-16.