The reign of the founder of Cairo, the fourth Fatimid Imam-caliph al-Mu平izz li-D朝n Allh (953975 CE) marks a watershed in the transformation of the Fatimid state from a regional North African dynasty to an expansive Mediterranean empire. It was also under al-Mu平izz that articulations of the supreme authority of the Fatimid Ismaili imamate were written and disseminated across various regions of Fatimid influence.
The writings of Idr朝s 平Imd al-D朝n (d.1468 CE) provide a distinctive presentation of the Fatimid imamate from the perspective of the Ismaili 糸温平敬温Lit. ‘summons’, ‘mission’ or invitation to Islam. Amongst Shi’i Muslims, it was the invitation to adopt the cause of the Imamat. It also refers more specifically to the hierarchy of… itself. As the chief 糸偵平朝Lit. ‘summoner,’ a term for missionary amongst various Muslim communities, especially used among the Ismailis before and during the Fatimid period as well as in the Alamut period of Ismaili… of the Yemeni Tayyibi IsmailisAdherents of a branch of Shi’i Islam that considers Ismail, the eldest son of the Shi’i Imam Ja平far al-畊diq (d. 765), as his successor., Idr朝s composed his monumental 平雨霞笛稼 al-akhbr wa funn al-thr as a record of the Ismaili imamate from its inception to his own time. In doing so, Idris drew upon the rich repertoire of Ismaili and non-Ismaili sources that had been part of the corpus of the Fatimid literary tradition, many of which have subsequently been lost due to the vagaries of time and circumstance. As the only surviving medieval Ismaili work documenting the history of the Fatimid dynasty, the 平雨霞笛稼 al-akhbr is among its principal primary sources.
The Founder of Cairo provides the first annotated English translation of the extensive chapter on al-Mu平izz in the 平雨霞笛稼, which remains a vital yet relatively unknown Ismaili source. The introduction to this work not only outlines the salient features of al-Mu平izzs reign but also examines Idris purpose and approach to historical writing.
In providing an insiders account of the reign of one of the most influential rulers of the medieval Muslim world, this work will be of particular interest to students of Ismaili history and thought, medieval Mediterranean history and Muslim historiography.
Acknowledgements
Introduction
The Fatimid framework
The reign of al-Mu平izz li-D朝n Allh
Representations of al-Mu平izz: al-Maqr朝z朝 and Idr朝s
Al-Mu平izz through the lens of the 平雨霞笛稼
Comparative approaches to Fatimid historiography
Note on the translation
Translation from Idr朝s Imd al-D朝ns 平雨霞笛稼 al-akhbr
1. Preamble
2. Al-Mu平izz and the cycles of the imamate
3. The virtues of al-Mu平izz according to his predecessors
4. The merits of al-Mu平izz li-D朝n Allh for the imamate
5. Reports concerning al-Mu平izzs inherited knowledge
6. The inherited knowledge of the Ahl al-Bayt
7. Additional reports on al-Mu平izzs inherited knowledge
8. The transmission of the imamate
9. Al-Mu平izzs sermon announcing al-Man畊Ｅrs demise
10. Al-Mu平izzs campaign in the Awrs mountains
11. Al-Q畍朝 al-Nu平mns bond with the imams
12. Sessions of wisdom at the caliphal palace
13. The virtues of al-Q畍朝 al-Nu平mn
14. Al-Nu平mns works on jurisprudence
15. The composition of the Da平幣im al-Islm
16. Motivation for al-Nu平mns other compositions
17. Additional works on jurisprudence
18. Historical works of al-Nu平mn and their purpose
19. Other works of al-Nu平mn
20. The virtues of Ja平far b. Man畊Ｅr al-Yaman
21. Reports on the clemency and patience of al-Mu平izz
22. Reports on al-Mu平izzs quest for knowledge
23. Reasons for enmity towards the imams
24. Naval encounters with the UmayyadsFirst major ruling Muslim dynasty that was based in Damascus (661-750).
25. Naval encounters with the Byzantines
26. Umayyad attempts to seek truce with al-Mu平izz
27. Al-Mu平izz dispatches Jawhar westwards
28. The revolts of Ibn Ws笛l and A畍mad b. Bakr
29. The enlisting of the Kutma
30. Victory over the Maghrib朝 contenders Ibn Ws笛l and Ibn Bakr
31. Al-Mu平izzs favourable treatment of the 畍asanids and praise for the Kutma
32. Ibn Hni幣s praise of Jawhars capture of Ibn Ws笛l and Ibn Bakr
33. Circumcision of the Fatimid princes
34. Account of the 糸温平敬温 in Sind
35. The Abbasid malaise
36. ByzantineThe late medieval Roman Empire which ruled large parts of Southern Europe and the Middle East from its capital Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), conquered by the Turks in 1453 CE. incursions into Crete
37. Al-Mu平izzs invitation to the ruler of Egypt for the defence of Crete
38. Byzantine subjugation of Sayf al-Dawla
39. Al-Mu平izzs letter to the 糸偵平朝 of Sind
40. The death of Kf笛r al-Ikhsh朝d朝
41. Preparations for Jawhars march to Egypt
42. Jawdhars monetary contribution for the Egyptian expedition
43. Jawhars departure for Egypt
44. Ibn Hni幣s poem on Jawhars departure for Egypt
45. Jawhars march westwards
46. Jawhars issuance of the guarantee of safety
47. Skirmishes with the Ikhsh朝dids and Kf笛rids
48. The re-issuance of the guarantee
49. Jawhars rule in Egypt and the founding of Cairo
50. The first Fatimid sermon in Egypt
51. Ibn Hni幣s poem about the conquest of Egypt
52. Celebration of 平畤d al-Fi畊r and 平畤d al-Na畍r
53. Introduction of Ismaili law and rituals in Fatimid Egypt
54. Fatimid armies battle the Qarmi畊a in Egypt
55. Jawhars gift to al-Mu平izz li-D朝n Allh
56. Revolt of Zunbur al-Ikhsh朝d朝
57. Ja平far b. Fal畍モs expeditions in Syria
58. Appointment of 平Abd Allh as the heir apparent
59. Al-Mu平izz sets out westwards at the head of an army
60. Al-Mu平izzs defeat of Ibn Khazars rebellion
61. Ibn Hni幣s poem on the defeat of Ibn Khazar
62. Incursions of the Qarmi畊a into Syria and Egypt and the death of Ja平far b. Fal畍
63. Fatimid and Qarma畊朝 armies battle outside Cairo
64. Al-Mu平izz li-D朝n Allhs migration to Egypt
65. The demise of al-Ustdh Jawdhar
66. Al-Mu平izzs arrival in Egypt
67. Al-Mu平izz establishes his authority in Egypt
68. Bulugg朝n b. Z朝r朝s defeat of Mu畍ammad b. al-Khayr
69. Resumption of the FatimidQarma畊朝 conflict
70. Demise of Prince 平Abd Allh
71. Appointment of al-平Az朝z billh as the next imamIn general usage, a leader of prayers or religious leader. The Shi’i restrict the term to their spiritual leaders descended from 平Al朝 b. Ab朝 畊lib and the Prophet’s daughter, Fatima.
72. The demise of al-Mu平izz li-D朝n Allh
Bibliography
Index
Shainool Jiwa is a specialist in Fatimid history and Head of Constituency Studies at 今叔利, London. She holds graduate degrees from McGill University and the University of Edinburgh, and has lectured at a number of academic institutions for over 25 years. Dr Jiwa has published several studies in the field of medieval Islamic history. Her previous publications include Towards a Shi平i Mediterranean Empire: Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo. The reign of the Imam-caliph al-Mu平izz from al-Maqr朝z朝s Itti平畉 al-畍unaf幣 (London, 2009).