ABSTRACT
Hewasmotivatedtothiskindoftyrannybytheclearlackof anyauthorityintheMuslimcountries,andadesiretolessenthe prestigeoftheAbbasidrulers.
HisactivitiesgrewmoreseriouswhenheremovedtheBlack Stonefromitsplace,sayingthatitrepresentedakindofpaganism.He tooknoheedoftheemotionsthatweretiedupinit,nortothe urgententreatiestoleaveitwhereitwas.Wedonotknowwhether theKarmathiansdidthisoutofpersonalreasons,orwereprompted fromoutside. 122ItisknownthatthisAbuTahirwentbacktohis placeinBahrainladenwithbootyandprisoners.123Sotheholy pilgrimagetookplacefarfromitstrueplaceforaperiodthatlasted formorethantwentyyears.Itwasreturnedtoitsrestingplaceinthe year339A.H.followinganagreementwiththeBuwaihidswhohad someinfluenceinBaghdad124withtheKarmathiansonmattersthat causedstrifebetweenthem,125oraftertheFatimidshadordered themtodoso.TheFatimidshadhadsomeunannouncedaimin hidingthestoneinthebeginning,andalsotoreturnitatthistime. Thiswas,sotheysay,toshakethepeoples'confidenceinthe Abbasids,andsomakeitclearthattheFatimidsweretheonlyones capableofsafeguardingtheseholyobjects. 126
ThereisnodoubtthattherivalsoftheAbbasidswerenotslow tojumponthebackofanydifficultyanddowhattheycouldto furthertheiraims.Themostimportantthingtothemwastheirdesire forwealth,127andtheywereprovokedbydestructiveenmities.
