Al-Mu示ayyad fi鈥檒-D墨n al-Sh墨r膩z墨 (d. 470/1087) was an outstanding Ismaili scholar of Persian origin. He excelled as a missionary-agent (诲腻士墨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…), statesman and poet. Towards the end of his long and active life, al-Mu示ayyad became the head of the Ismaili mission (诲补士飞补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…) 鈥 the chief 诲腻士墨 鈥 in the time of the Fatimid Caliph-Imam al-Mustansir in Cairo.
Based on his memoirs, 厂墨谤补t al-Mu示ayyad fi’l D墨n, this work provides an insight into the remarkable life and achievements of al-Mu示ayyad through important stages of his career. Written in a masterful Arabic literary style and rhetoric, the 厂墨谤补 describes in detail his daring attempt to win over the B奴yid rulers of western Iran to the Fatimid cause; his flight to Cairo where his ambitions to be near the Imam are initially frustrated by powerful court officials; and finally, his expedition to Syria and Iraq as a Fatimid plenipotentiary to forge an alliance of local rulers against the Salj奴k Turks invading the central Islamic lands from the East.
Through a close analysis of the 厂墨谤补, the author of the book demonstrates that, in addition to being a personal account of a highly dedicated Fatimid 诲腻士墨, this is a rich historical source on the organisation and function of the Ismaili mission. It is also an extensive and valuable source for Islamic history in the 5th/11th century, dealing with crucial events in the struggle between the FatimidsMajor Muslim dynasty of Ismaili caliphs in North Africa (from 909) and later in Egypt (973鈥1171) More, AbbasidsMajor Muslim dynasty of Sunni caliphs that ruled in Baghdad (750-1258)., B奴yids and Salj奴qs for political and military supremacy in the Muslim world. Thus, al-Mu示ayyad鈥檚 memoirs serve as a unique magnifying glass concentrating the international political dynamics of the age in the narrative of one life and destiny.
Preface
Introduction
Part I: Al-Mu示ayyad鈥檚 Mission in F膩rs
2. The Rise and Fall of a 诲腻士墨
3. Al-Mu示ayyad鈥檚 Memoirs as a Source for History
4. The Self-portrayal of a 诲腻士墨
Part II: Al-Mu示ayyad in Egypt and Syria
5. Al-Mu示ayyad at the Fatimid Court in Cairo
6. Al-Mu示ayyad鈥檚 Political Mission in Northern Syria
Part III: Al-Mu示ayyad at the Pinnacle of his Career
7. Al-Mu示ayyad as Chief 诲腻士墨 in Cairo
8. Epilogue
Appendix 1: The Works of al-Mu示ayyad fi鈥檒-D墨n al-Sh墨r膩z墨
Appendix 2: The Hierarchy and Pedagogy of the Fatimid 诲补士飞补
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Verena Klemm is professor at the Institute of Arabic Studies at the University of Leipzig. A specialist in Islamic history and Arabic Literature, she obtained her doctorate in Islamic studies from the University of T眉bingen in 1988. Dr Klemm is the author of Die Mission des fa峁璱midschen Agenten al-Mu示ayyad f墨鈥檇-din in S墨r膩z (Frankfurt, 1989) and other studies on Islamic subjects in German and English.