Abd Allah ibn Amir al-Hadhrami
Abd Allāh ibn ʿĀmir al-Hadhrami was a 7th-century Arab administrator and Umayyad partisan active during the First Fitna. He served briefly as governor of Mecca under Caliph Uthman ibn Affan and later led a pro-Umayyad uprising in Basra against Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, during which he was killed.
Early life
Abd Allah bore the nisba al-Hadhrami, indicating origins in the Hadhramaut region of southern Arabia. His mother, Umm Talha Amal bint Kurayz, linked him maternally to the Quraysh, making him a cousin of Abd Allah ibn Amir ibn Kurayz. Medieval sources describe his family as clients or confederates of the Umayyads, a relationship that later shaped his political alignment.Governorship of Mecca
During the final months of Uthman ibn Affan’s caliphate, Abd Allah ibn Amir al-Hadhrami was appointed governor of Mecca. He was in office at the time of Uthman’s assassination in 656, when Mecca became a focal point for Umayyad loyalists and opponents of Ali’s accession.Role after the assassination of Uthman
Following Uthman’s death, Abd Allah ibn Amir al-Hadhrami emerged as one of the earliest figures in Mecca to support calls for vengeance against Uthman’s killers. According to al-Tabari, he was among the first to respond to Aisha’s appeals and took part in mobilizing opposition to Ali ibn Abi Talib’s caliphate, aligning himself with the Umayyad cause.Early activity in Basra
After Ali appointed Uthman ibn Hunayf as governor of Basra, Abd Allah ibn Amir al-Hadhrami was present in the city as a deputy left behind by Abd Allah ibn Amir. Ibn Hunayf arrested him without resistance and took control of Basra, ending his initial administrative role there.Hadhrami Rebellion (659)
In 659, Mu'awiya I dispatched Abd Allah ibn Amir al-Hadhrami to Basra to foment rebellion against Ali’s authority. His effort drew support from factions of the Banu Tamim, while Ali’s deputy governor, Ziyad ibn Abihi, sought protection from the Banu Azd.Ali initially attempted to resolve the situation by sending Aʿyan ibn Dabiʿah al-Mujashiʿ, but Aʿyan was killed shortly after his arrival. Ali then sent Jariyah ibn Qudamah, who restored Ziyad to the governor’s palace and led military action against the rebels.
Abd Allah ibn Amir al-Hadhrami and a group of his followers withdrew to the fortified house of Sabil al-Saʿdi near Basra. The structure was set on fire during the assault, killing Ibn al-Hadhrami and many of his supporters, while others were captured or dispersed. His death effectively ended the uprising.