Abu Muslim Khorasani Revolts Against Abbasaids

http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/history/abumuslim.htm

Abu Muslim Khorasani was pretty much the most powerful general behind the revolt against the Ummayads and installment of the Abbasids. He was unfortunately swept under the rug and killed shortly after the Abbasids had won.

I think that if he had been able to get wind of or avoid the assassination against him then he could have very easily either toppled the Abbasids to set up his own (Shia) Caliphate or at the very least set up a independent power in Persia of "Persians".

For me it would be nice if he converted back to Zoroastrianism and reversed the Islamic policies of the Arabs but, I have a feeling that he was true covert to Islam and at the very least his reign would be kind to the Zoroastrians. Eitherway we would have a much, much sooner resurgence of Persia and Persian culture.
 
I dont think there is a consensus on his religious beliefs. Afterall, he was born in a Zoroastrian family and became Muslim when his farther converted. He also had many Zoroastrian followers.
 
He could go either way. Though anyway it seems to me he could definitely topple the Abbasaids or establish an independent Persia. That way the coming of the Arabs and Maybe Islam would be seen by history as a temporary set back to a grander and sedentary civilization when attacke by a nomadic one.
 
I always assumed he was fighting for the Abbassids. The undoubtedly anti-Arab/Muslim was Babak Khorramdin. If he managed to stay alive and form a state in Azerbaijan/Gilan area I could definitely see the rise of a neo-Zoroastrian "reconquista."
 
I always assumed he was fighting for the Abbassids. The undoubtedly anti-Arab/Muslim was Babak Khorramdin. If he managed to stay alive and form a state in Azerbaijan/Gilan area I could definitely see the rise of a neo-Zoroastrian "reconquista."

His motivations on one hand are rather shaded. No one liked the Ummayads at this point and for Iranian Zoroastrians they would like the Abbasaids even less. Abu Muslim did put down a Reactionary Zoroastrian Messiah Cult but if he was a Zoroastrian this would be the tantamount of a Catholic going to war with an Evangelical.

The POD I see here is him avoiding his own assassination so I can imagine him reacting very negatively toward the Abbasaids and it is possible he could become even more jaded or disillusioned with Islam too.
 
Muslimite or Behzadan Dynasty? Was Abu Muslim Khorasani a Muslim or Zoroastrian?
by Shinbad Ctesiphoni
Iranian National Pride Magazine


Iranians everywhere know of the hero of the Iranian people during the middle of the 8th Century. Behzadan Bahram was the smiter of the Arab Omayyad Dynasty that had seized control of the Islamic Caliphate and ruled all of Iran. He would later lead both Muslim and Zoroastrian Iranians in their epic struggle against the Arab Menace to win freedom from the years of shame that we as a people of Ahura Mazda had to endure! He turned the tied of the Islamic Arab assault against our people which would lead to the eventual beating back of the Islamic armies to the Arabian Peninsula where they have remained to this day despite attempts to re-conquer their old empire.

Though, a question does arise over wheather Behzadan was really a Muslim or one of the people of Zarathustra. This issue is still claimed by Iranian and Arab Muslims to this day. Since his 'conversion' to the Islamic Faith he had been known simply as Abu, following his decision to rebel against the Omayyads he had been given the honorific Muslim by a Imam. Once the Ommayads had been defeated he exercised absolute rule in Khorasan and even the Abbasaid Caliph he had installed consulted him on important affairs such as dealing with the remnants of the previous government. Since he was not of a holy blood he could not obtain possession of absolute rule and so he became the puppet master behind the throne. Even battling heretical sects that proclaimed false views of Zarathustra.

This was not well received by the Caliph's brother who plotted to kill Behzadan so that the Arab Caliph could rule free of the Iranian people. Luckily, the plot to kill him was revealed by a slave of Mansur's who was given freedom. Instead of meeting Mansur alone, Behzadan took with him his own forced and upon revealing the plot by Mansur seized Damascus and toppled the Abbasaids. From Damascus he proclaimed a Caliphate but, in truth he surely ruled as an empire. The news was ill received by those Arabs not disposed to being ruled by a 'Ajam' or 'Mute' as the Arabs called the Iranian people! Behzadan smited them and ruled for several more decades as ruler of his empire.

Upon his death he was succeeded by his valiant son, Ghasem, who upon the guidance of Sunpadh returned secretly into the faith of Zarathustra. Before he could announce his re-conversion though he was killed by a Islamic Assassin! The brilliant light of Ghasem was smothered by them. The faithful reacted in outrage and plunged into a civil war that once more saw the return of the public worship of Ahura Mazda from the Oxus to the Tigris and Euphrates.

As I have mentioned before following his death both sides have claimed Behzadan as their true own. The Islamic Minority regard him as highly as any other Iranian in the land. What were his true faith? We can not truly know but, what we do know is that he was a Iranian Hero and we should all give salute to his sacrifices!
 
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