alHashimiyyah

alHashimiyyah refers to a political movement and ideology that emerged in the early Islamic period. It is primarily associated with the Abbasid Caliphate, which overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate in the mid-8th century CE. The name "alHashimiyyah" derives from Hashim ibn Abd Manaf, the great-grandfather of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

The supporters of alHashimiyyah claimed a hereditary right to rule based on their descent from Hashim, arguing that leadership of the Muslim community should belong to the Prophet's lineage. This ideology served as a justification for the Abbasid rebellion against the Umayyads, who were also from the Quraysh tribe but from a different branch. The Abbasid propaganda emphasized their perceived greater legitimacy due to their closer familial ties to Muhammad.

The movement gained significant traction among various groups dissatisfied with Umayyad rule, including non-Arab Muslims who felt marginalized and Shi'a Muslims who believed the caliphate rightfully belonged to Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, and his descendants, who were also from the Banu Hashim clan. The Abbasids skillfully united these disparate factions under the banner of alHashimiyyah, promising a more equitable and religiously pure leadership.

The successful Abbasid Revolution in 750 CE marked a pivotal moment in Islamic history, establishing a new caliphate and profoundly shifting political and cultural centers of power. While the specific manifestations of alHashimiyyah as a distinct movement waned after the Abbasids consolidated power, the underlying principle of religiously sanctioned hereditary rule influenced subsequent political thought and dynastic claims throughout the Islamic world.