Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah

Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah a.k.a Said ibn Husayn (909-934) is considered the founder of the Fatimid dynasty, the only major Shi'ite caliphate in Islam, and established Fatimid rule throughout much of North Africa.

Related Topics:
909 - 934 - Fatimid - Shi'ite - Caliphate - Islam

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Sa'id is probably a descendant of the Persian 'Abdullah ibn Maymun, the second founder of the Ismaili sect (the first being Imam Ismail himself). After establishing himself as the first Imam of the Fatimid dynasty he made claim to genealogic origins dating as far back as Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, through Husayn, Fatimah's son, and Ismail. It was at this time as well that he changed his name to Ubaydallah Al-Mahdi. Muslim historians tend to be divided upon the veracity of Sa'id's genealogic claims. Of those who support his legitimacy, Ibn Al-Athir, Ibn Khaldun, and Al-Mirqazi are notable, while Ibn Khallikan, Ibn Idhari, Al-Suyuti and Ibn Taghri-Birdi can be considered to be among those who consider Sa'id an imposter. It should be noted, however, that the first claims disputing Sa'id's genealogic claims arose in 1011, when the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad issued a document signed by various Sunni and Shi'ite scholars, claiming that the dynasty, in fact, originated from Daysan the heretic rather than Fatimah bint Muhammad.

Related Topics:
Persian - 'Abdullah ibn Maymun - Ismaili - Imam - Fatimah - Husayn - Ibn Al-Athir - Ibn Khaldun - Al-Mirqazi - Ibn Khallikan - Ibn Idhari - Al-Suyuti - Ibn Taghri-Birdi - Abbasid - Baghdad - Sunni - Daysan the heretic

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Sa'id began his conquest by establishing his headquarters at Salamyah and began riding towards north-western Africa, which at the time was under Aghlabid rule, following the propagandist success of his chief dai, Abu 'Abdullah Al-Husayn Al-Shi'i. Al-Shi'i, along with laying claim to being the precursor to the Mahdi, was instrumental in sowing the seeds of sedition among the Berber tribes of North Africa, specifically the Kutamah tribe.

Related Topics:
Aghlabid - Abu 'Abdullah Al-Husayn Al-Shi'i - Mahdi

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It was Al-Shi'i's success which was the signal to Sa'id who set off from Salamyah disguised as a merchant. However, he was captured by the Aghlabid ruler Ziyadat-Allah and thrown into a dungeon in Sijilmasah. Al-Shi'i was then required to rescue Sa'id in 909 after which the Aghlabid dynasty, the last stronghold of Sunni Islam in North Africa, was expelled from region.

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'Ubaydallah Al-Mahdi, as Sa'id was now to be known, established himself at the former Aghlabid residence at Raqqadah, a suburb of Al-Qayrawan in Tunisia. Two years after he achieved power, 'Ubaydallah had his missionary-commander Al-Shi'i executed. Since then his power only grew. At the time of his death he had extended his reign to Morrocco of the Idrisids, as well as Egypt itself. In 920, 'Ubaydallah took up residence at the newly established capital of the empire, Al-Mahdiyyah, which he founded on the Tunisian coast sixteen miles south-east of Al-Qayrawan, and which he named after himself.

Related Topics:
Al-Qayrawan - Morrocco - Idrisids - Al-Mahdiyyah

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After his death, 'Ubaydallah was succeeded by his son, Abu Al-Qasim Muhammad Al-Qaim, who continued his expansionist policy.

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