Page:William Muir, Thomas Hunter Weir - The Caliphate; Its Rise, Decline, and Fall (1915).djvu/358

 683–92] signifying that the world passes away, and but repeats itself. The Caliph was fortunate now in obtaining the adhesion of Al-Muhallab, whom he confirmed in his commission against the Khawārij; and having arranged for the administration of Al-Kūfa, Al-Baṣra, and the various Eastern posts, returned to Damascus.

Ibn az-Zubeir in retirement still held to his claim to the Caliphate. Virtual ruler for several years of the greater part of the Empire, he had remained singularly inactive at Mecca. His chief domestic work had been the restoration of the Holy House, destroyed 64 Having removed the débris, he came upon remains of the ancient limits of the Ishmaelite structure, and enlarged the walls accordingly. Fire, we are told, flashed from the sacred rock when Ibn az-Zubeir had the temerity to strike the foundation with his pickaxe, as the same terror had overawed the people sixty years before when, in the youth of the Prophet, the Kaʿba was dismantled and rebuilt. If instead of remaining inactive at home, and contenting himself with the issue of orders from the Holy City, he had gone forth to head his armies, the Caliphate might have been established in his line. But the defeat of his brother Muṣʿab came upon him as an unlooked-for and fatal blow. He mounted the pulpit when hearing of it, and harangued the people on the treachery of the men of Al-ʿIrāḳ, and his readiness to die in defence of the Kaʿba. But trusting perhaps to the immunity of the Sanctuary, he took no further steps.

If such were his thoughts, they were in vain; for before leaving Al-Kūfa, ʿAbd al-Melik resolved on putting an end to the pretensions of his rival. He therefore sent a column of horse and foot under Al-Ḥajjāj, an able officer now