Ustadh Sis

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (June 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (June 2021)

Ustadh Sis (also spelled: Ustad Sis, or Ostad Sis, Persian: استاد سیس) was a Persian heresiarch and anti-Arab rebel leader. They^[who?] write that he was once a governor of Khorasan and father to Ma'mūn’s Iranian mother, Marjil, which makes him Ma'mūn's grandfather.

He claimed he was a prophet of God in the eastern fringe of Khorasan in the mid 8th century and managed to gain followers among the villagers in that area. Many were previously followers of Bihafarid, whom the Abbasid commander, Abu Muslim, crushed militarily.

Reinvigoration of Bihafarid's movement[]

Ustadh Sis launched a rebellion in 767, purportedly with 300,000 fighting men.^[1] His initial base was the mountainous region of Badghis, and he soon occupied Herat and Sistan before marching towards Merv. He initially defeated an Abbasid army under the command of al-Ajtham of Merv, but was himself defeated in a bloody battle against an army led by Muhammad ibn Abdallah, the son of the Caliph al-Mansur (and a future Caliph himself).

According to al-Tabari, 70,000 of Ustadh Sis's followers were killed in the battle, and 14,000 were taken captive.^[1] Ustadh Sis managed to flee to the mountains, but the general Khazim ibn Khuzayma al-Tamimi followed him and was able to capture him. Ustadh Sis was sent in chains to Al-Mansur, who ordered his execution. Later, Al-Mahdi gave amnesty to 30,000 captives.

See also[]

• Ishaq al-Turk
• Sunpadh
• al-Muqanna
• Mazdak
• Khurramites

References[]