Siege of Mecca (683)

The Siege of Mecca in 683 CE was a significant event during the Second Islamic Civil War (Fitna). It involved the Umayyad Caliphate's attempt to subdue Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, who had declared himself Caliph in Mecca and challenged Umayyad rule.

Following the death of Caliph Yazid I in 683, the Umayyad Caliphate experienced a period of instability and decline in authority across the Muslim world. Ibn al-Zubayr, a prominent figure in Mecca, capitalized on this situation and garnered support, being recognized as Caliph in many provinces, including Egypt, Iraq, and parts of Syria.

Yazid's successor, Mu'awiya II, died shortly after assuming the caliphate, further weakening Umayyad legitimacy. Marwan I was then proclaimed Caliph in Syria by pro-Umayyad factions. Marwan considered Ibn al-Zubayr his main rival and dispatched an army led by al-Husayn ibn Numayr al-Sakuni to Mecca to defeat him.

The Umayyad army besieged Mecca in September 683. The siege lasted for several weeks and involved heavy bombardment of the city. Notably, the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, was damaged by fire during the siege, an event which shocked the Muslim world.

However, the siege was abruptly lifted when Caliph Marwan I died in April 684. Al-Husayn ibn Numayr al-Sakuni, the Umayyad commander, received news of Marwan's death and decided to withdraw his forces to Syria to address the succession crisis. He offered Ibn al-Zubayr passage and even suggested recognizing him as Caliph if he would come to Syria, but Ibn al-Zubayr refused.

The withdrawal of the Umayyad army allowed Ibn al-Zubayr to consolidate his control over Mecca and further solidify his position as Caliph in opposition to the Umayyads. The damaged Kaaba was later rebuilt under Ibn al-Zubayr's direction.

While the siege failed to subdue Ibn al-Zubayr immediately, the conflict between the Umayyads and Ibn al-Zubayr continued for several years, ultimately culminating in the Umayyad reconquest of Mecca in 692 and the death of Ibn al-Zubayr. The 683 siege, however, remains a significant event in Islamic history, demonstrating the intensity of the Second Fitna and its impact on the sacred city of Mecca.