Talk:Siege of Mecca (692)

Suggestions/queries
I would have done a GA review myself, but I’d rather we avoid any notion of collusion considering we’ve teamed up on improving these Second Fitna articles. I’m listing some points below that should be addressed:
 * Thanks for ce and comments Al Ameer.


 * Since we mention Ibn Numayr seeking Ibn al-Zubayr’s relocation to Syria, it should be introduced at that point or prior in the Background section that Syria was the headquarters of the Umayyad Caliphate.
 * Done.


 * The Hejaz should be introduced earlier or at least clarified as the home of Mecca and Medina since most readers wouldn’t know.
 * Done. Do you have any say about this file? If it is accurate, it can be used in the article.


 * ”lay siege if Ibn al-Zubayr was to refuse peace”. What is meant by “peace”? Surrender? Anything less than that would seem odd.
 * Done.


 * Some more background/prelude details should be added. Tariq ibn Amr’s expedition to Medina should be elaborated on, i.e. when it happened, how it happened (did Ibn al-Zubayr’s governor put up a fight or flee?), the name of his defeated governor, the stationing of Tariq’s troops in Wadi al-Qura, how many troops do the sources say Tariq ibn Amr brought to Mecca? All of this could be squeezed into two sentences.
 * Tariq's details are highly confused. Tabari says he arrived in Medina in 690/691. Dixon says Zubayrid governor of Basra al-Quba sent 2000 men against Tariq. Quba was not the governor of Basra in 691, he had held the office before Mus'ab, i.e. before 686.
 * They certainly appear to be. I would omit Quba. I’ll take a stab at it later today. —Al Ameer (talk) 16:29, 12 July 2019 (UTC)


 * It should be noted that Najda or his representative was in control of Ta’if when al-Hajjaj entered it. It’s a good indicator of the scale of Ibn al-Zubayr’s isolation by this point, that even nearby Ta’if was outside of his control.
 * I only know that Najda had seized Taif in 689. Are you sure he was still in control 692?
 * I believe so but will look into it later today. —Al Ameer (talk) 16:18, 12 July 2019 (UTC)
 * Never mind about this; just checked Dixon and found nothing to indicate the Kharijites were in control when al-Hajjaj entered. He doesn’t mention if Najda’s deputy over the city was ousted at some point prior to al-Hajjaj’s arrival. —Al Ameer (talk) 19:39, 12 July 2019 (UTC)


 * What’s the name of the “nearby mountain”? Abu Qubays?
 * Yes, I intentionally omitted the name. It doesn't add anything to the article.
 * On the contrary, this is the type of precision a battle article should contain, especially if the information is readily available. —Al Ameer (talk) 14:53, 11 July 2019 (UTC)
 * Done.


 * Brief description of Abd Allah ibn Umar should be added.
 * Done.


 * ”Hajjaj resumed the bombardment himself”. Hajjaj personally operated the catapult?
 * Yes, he loaded and fired it.


 * Who refers to it as the “Year of Unity”? The traditional Muslim sources?
 * Dixon and EI2 cite two Arab sources, but seems it was called as such by the people. Both (Dixon & EI2) write "was called the year of unity", instead of saying "XYZ has called it the year of unity".


 * ”Abd al-Malik is reported to have regretted” Reported by whom? Or according to whom?
 * Baladhuri, but I avoid mentioning primary sources every now and then, because almost everything comes from these 3,4 sources anyway.
 * Understood, but in this case we should attribute to the source the emotional expression of the caliph. —Al Ameer (talk) 14:53, 11 July 2019 (UTC)
 * Done.


 * Note A should just be a sentence in the “Siege” section, not a note.
 * Done. AhmadLX-)¯\_(ツ)_/¯) 14:23, 11 July 2019 (UTC)

—Al Ameer (talk) 05:01, 11 July 2019 (UTC)