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Religion / branch / eraPhase 4b · Caliphates, schools & sectsMajor figure

Fatimid Caliphate (Ismaili)

الخلافة الفاطمية

297-567 AH / 909-1171 CE

An Ismaili Shia caliphate claiming descent from Fatimah, founded in North Africa and later ruling from Cairo, which it founded along with al-Azhar. It ended when Salah al-Din restored Abbasid allegiance in Egypt in 1171 CE.

Biography

Founded by Abdullah al-Mahdi in Ifriqiya (909 CE), the Fatimids conquered Egypt in 969 CE, founding Cairo and al-Azhar (originally an Ismaili institution, later the leading Sunni university). Their genealogical claim to Fatimah was contested by Abbasid-sponsored scholars (the Baghdad manifesto of 1011 CE).

The succession dispute after al-Mustansir (487 AH / 1094 CE) split the Ismailis into Nizaris (later led by the Aga Khans) and Musta'lis (later the Tayyibi Bohras). Salah al-Din ended the dynasty in 567 AH / 1171 CE.

Sources & explanation

۞ Qur'an

No specific verses cited for this node.

📜 Hadith verified on sunnah.com

No verified hadith attached yet. Only references checked against sunnah.com are listed.

💬 Explanation Unverified

Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza's perspective

Methodological note (not a direct quote): Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza's widely known approach is to build narratives primarily on the Quran and Sahih Hadith, to set aside Israiliyat (Judeo-Christian lore absorbed into later tafsir) and weak or fabricated narrations, and to avoid sectarian framing. Applied to this node: Historical presentation only.

Empires in their lifetime

  • Emirate of Sicily 831 CE – 1091 CE
    Ruled by the Kalbid emirs under Fatimid authority from 948.
  • Fatimid Caliphate 909 CE – 1171 CE
    Topic node for the same caliphate.
  • Ikhshidid dynasty 935 CE – 969 CE
    The Fatimids conquered Ikhshidid Egypt in 969.
  • Zirid dynasty 972 CE – 1148 CE
    Governed Ifriqiya for the Fatimids, then broke away.
  • Sulayhid dynasty 1047 – 1138 CE
    Ruled Yemen in allegiance to the Fatimids.
  • Ayyubid Sultanate 1171 – 1260 CE
    Saladin abolished the Fatimid caliphate in 1171.

Further references

  • Ibn Khaldun, al-Muqaddimah / Kitab al-Ibar (historical)
  • al-Maqrizi, Itti'az al-Hunafa' (historical)

Connections

Comes from

Linked with