The Fatimid empire flourished from the early 10th into the second half of the 12th century. Under the enlightened rule of this dynasty, Fatimid caliphs governed, first from North Africa and later from Cairo 鈥 a city founded by them 鈥 a domain extending from Arabia in the east to present-day Morocco in the west. As living imams of the Ismaili branch of Shi士ism, they exercised dual authority over both spiritual and secular realms.
The sermon 鈥 in Arabic the 办丑耻峁璪补A sermon delivered in a mosque at Friday prayers. 鈥 was (and continues to be) a standard feature of Islamic congregational observance. Fatimid caliphs took quite seriously and seldom missed the duty to deliver it on the twice-yearly occasion of the festivals of the breaking of the fast and of sacrifice. Eventually they added Friday sermons for the month of Rama岣嵞乶. But, from all such occasions, we have precious few examples. Still those we have allow us to appreciate the event and the words uttered on it. This book provides unique access to them by presenting the Arabic originals with complete English translations. In addition, it includes a history of the Fatimid 办丑耻峁璪补 鈥 what was said, by whom and on what occasions 鈥 and an analysis of its themes and rhetorical strategies.
Preface and Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
Part One: Introductions
Chapter 1: A History of the Fatimid 碍丑耻峁璪补
A Fatimid 办丑耻峁璪补 in Abbasid Iraq. 碍丑耻峁璪补s and 办丑腻峁璱产s. Festival 办丑耻峁璪补s by the Fatimid caliphs. Fatimid 办丑耻峁璪补s in North Africa. 碍丑耻峁璪补s by al-Man峁Ｅ玶 and al-Mu士izz. The first Fatimid 办丑耻峁璪补s in Egypt. 碍丑耻峁璪补s by al-士Az墨z, al-岣つ乲im, and al-岷捘乭ir. The testimony of al-Musabbi岣ツ. The 办丑耻峁璪补 from al-Mustan峁r to al-膧mir. 碍丑耻峁璪补s from the reign of al-岣つ乫i岷 onward. The eyewitness testimony of Ibn al-Tuwayr. The last 办丑耻峁璪补.
Chapter 2: Rhetoric and Themes in the Surviving 办丑耻峁璪补s
The audience. Double meanings for different audiences. The address to God: the 办丑耻峁璪补 as a prayer. Qur鈥檃nic imagery and language. Praising God. Mu岣mmad as grandfather. 士Al墨 as father. The Companions of the Cloak (a峁ａ弗膩b al-kis膩示). F膩峁璱ma as mother. Al-岣san and al-岣sayn. The imams from al-岣sayn to al-Mahd墨. The imams from al-Mahd墨 onward. The name of the dynasty. Enemies. Death and loss: fathers and imams. Pilgrimage. Miscellaneous themes.
Part two: The 碍丑耻峁璪补s
1. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-Q膩示im:
On the 士莫d al-fi峁璻, 302 (19 April 915) at Alexandria
2. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-Q膩示im:
Rajab 333 (March 945). During the siege of al-Mahdiyya. Read by al-Marwadh墨
3. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-Man峁Ｅ玶:
As 飞补濒墨Saint, friend of God, or patron. In a political context the terms can also mean administrator or ruler (pl. awliy膩示). 濒颈鈥檒-士补丑诲 (Heir-apparent) on the 士莫d al-fi峁璻, 334 (6 May 946) at al-Mahdiyya
4. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-Man峁Ｅ玶:
On Friday 14 惭耻岣谤谤补尘First month of the Islamic lunar calendar, often referred to as the ‘month of mourning’ because of the death of Imam Husayn b. ‘Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680. 335 (16 August 946). Read by Ja士far b. 士Al墨, the Chamberlain, in the Mosque of QayrawanSee Kairouan
5. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-Man峁Ｅ玶:
On the 士莫d al-fi峁璻, 335 (25 April 947). During the siege of Ab奴 Yaz墨d at Kiyana
6. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-Man峁Ｅ玶:
On the 士莫d al-a岣嶀弗膩, 335 (2 July 947). During the siege of Ab奴 Yaz墨d at Kiyana
7. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-Man峁Ｅ玶:
On the 士莫d al-fi峁璻, 336 (14 April 948) at al-Mahdiyya
8. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-Man峁Ｅ玶:
On the 士莫d al-nahr, 336 (21 June 948) at al-Mahdiyya
9. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-Mu士izz:
On the 士莫d al-nahr, 341 (28 April 953) at al-Man峁Ｅ玶iyya
10. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-Mu士izz
11. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of Qirwash:
On 4 惭耻岣谤谤补尘 401 (18 August 1010) at Maw峁l
12. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-膧mir:
On a Friday, during Ramadan
13. 碍丑耻峁璪补 of al-膧mir:
On the 士莫d al-fi峁璻
Glossary
Bibliography
English Index
Arabic Index
Arabic Texts
Paul E. Walker is a historian of ideas with special interests in Fatimid history and Ismaili thought. He is currently a research associate in the Department of Near Eastern Languages at the University of Chicago. His previous books include: Early Philosophical Shiism (1993), Ab奴 Ya士q奴b al-Sijist膩n墨: Intellectual Missionary (1996), 岣m墨d al-D墨n al-Kirm膩n墨: Ismaili Thought in the Age of al-岣つ乲im (1999) and Exploring an Islamic Empire: Fatimid History and its Sources (2002), and with Wilferd Madelung, The Advent of the FatimidsMajor Muslim dynasty of Ismaili caliphs in North Africa (from 909) and later in Egypt (973鈥1171) More: A Contemporary Shi鈥榠 Witness (2000).