What is muhammad al-nafs al-zakiyya?

Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya was a 9th-century revolutionary leader from the family of the Prophet Muhammad. He was the son of the 8th Imam of Shia Islam, Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, and the brother of Musa al-Kadhim, who became the 7th Imam after Imam Ja'far's death.

Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya rose up against the Abbasid Caliphate in 762 in the city of Medina. He claimed to be the Mahdi, a prophesized figure in Islam who will appear before the end of times and establish justice on earth. Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya's rebellion was supported by many people, including the people of Medina, who were unhappy with the Abbasid's policies of oppression and excessive taxation.

The Abbasid authorities responded harshly to Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya's rebellion, and he was eventually killed in battle. However, his legacy lived on, and he became a symbol of resistance against unjust rulers in Islamic history. His story has been retold in poetry and literature, and his name is still invoked by political activists in the Muslim world who fight against authoritarianism and injustice.