Abū Hāshim, ʿAbd Allāh b. Muḥammad b. ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib played a major role in establishing the ʿAbbāsid political movement as well as certain Shiʿi groups and sects.
Part I
Abū Hāshim is connected in a remarkable way with the history of ideas and with various political groups and theological sects that emerged in the first half of the 2nd/8th century. However, the major factor behind his importance is the issue known as intiqāl al-waṣāya (‘transferral of executorship’, referring to the Shiʿi imamate). According to certain reports,…