Khurramites

Did You Know?

• According to Turkish scholar Abdülbaki Gölpınarlı, the Qizilbash of the 16th century were spiritual descendants of the Khurramites.
• The name Khurramites is most frequently derived from the Persian word khurram, meaning 'happy, cheerful'.
• The Khurramites were also called Surkh-Jâmagân, meaning 'Red-Wearing Ones'.

History

The Khurramites began as a religious movement in the 700s, founded by the Iranian cleric Sunpadh. He aimed to revive Zoroastrianism, drawing ideas from the earlier figure Mazdak. The movement grew after the Abbasids executed Abu Muslim, with followers believing he would return as a messiah. This idea was strengthened by al-Muqanna, a prophet who wore a veil and taught that the spirit of God had inhabited Muhammad, Ali, and Abu Muslim. The historian al-Tabari noted the name "Din al-Khorramiya" first appeared in 736, used by a Hashemite missionary named Kedas. After the Hashemite Revolution, Khurramites fought as rebels under leaders like Sunpadh, Muqanna, and Babak in various places.

In Azerbaijan, two Khurramite factions emerged. One was led by Javidhan, a landlord who controlled Badd Fort near the Aras River from around 807 to 817. The other was led by Abu Imran, who frequently clashed with Javidhan. In a battle likely in 816, Abu Imran was killed, and Javidhan was wounded, dying three days later. Javidhan’s heir, Babak Khorramdin, took over and married Javidhan’s widow. Under Babak, the Khurramites called for breaking up large estates and ending oppressive foreign rule. They exploited the Abbasid civil war, launching attacks on Muslim forces in Iran and Iraq starting in 816.

Al-Tabari recorded Babak’s revolt began in 816–817. Caliph al-Ma’mun initially ignored it because he was far away in Khorasan, busy naming a successor, and dealing with al-Fadl ibn Sahl. This gave Babak room to grow. The caliph sent General Yahya ibn Mu’adh in 819–820, but Babak defeated him multiple times. Two years later, Babak overcame forces led by Isa ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Khalid. In 824–825, generals Ahmad ibn al-Junayd and Zurayq ibn Ali ibn Sadaqa were sent, but Babak beat them and captured Junayd. In 827–828, Muhammad ibn Humayd won some battles, but his army was crushed at Hashtadsar in 829.

Beliefs

The basis of Khurramite doctrine was belief in light and darkness, with the principle that the universe is Light, part of which has turned into Darkness. They avoided shedding blood except when raising the banner of revolt, and were extremely concerned with cleanliness and purification, approaching people with kindness and beneficence. Some believed in free sex with the woman's agreement and in the freedom to enjoy all pleasures as long as no harm came to others. They believed that prophets, despite different laws and religions, constitute a single spirit. They also believed in reincarnation as the only afterlife and retribution, and in the cancellation of all religious obligations. They highly revered Abu Muslim and their imams, and sought the greatest sacramental effect from wine and drinks. Al-Maqdisi estimated them as Mazdaeans who cover themselves under the guise of Islam.