The Siege of Mecca When an Umayyad Army Attacked the Kaaba

In 683 CE, the Umayyad Caliphate laid siege to Mecca itself—a shocking escalation in early Islamic history. This episode of Religion and Empire focuses on the dramatic confrontation between Caliph Yazid I and the rebellious Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, who had declared himself caliph in the holy city. We explore how the siege unfolded, including the use of catapults that set the Kaaba's curtains on fire, and the resulting damage to the sacred structure. We also examine the political and religious implications: the Zubayrid counter-caliphate's control of Mecca and Medina, the Kharijite and Shi'a reactions, and how the siege deepened Sunni-Shi'a tensions. The episode covers key figures like Yazid I, Ibn al-Zubayr, and the general al-Husayn ibn Numayr al-Sakuni, as well as the aftermath when the second Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan rebuilt the Kaaba. This is a story of civil war within Islam, centered on the holiest site in the world. #SiegeOfMecca #SecondFitna #AbdullahIbnAlZubayr #YazidI #UmayyadCaliphate #Kaaba #Mecca #IslamicHistory #Zubayrids #AbdAlMalik #HusaynIbnNumayr #Kharijites #Shia #Sunni #683CE #EarlyIslam #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo