The Fatimid's Policies towards their Sunni Subjects during the Invitation Period and at the Beginnings of the Formation of the State

Subject Areas : The Journal of Islamic History and Civilisation

سید جمال موسوی ¹ ( ندارد )
نگار ذیلابی ² ( ندارد )

Received: 2010-05-26 Accepted : 2010-08-06 Published : 2010-08-23

Keywords: Fatimid Invitation, Fatimid State, cAbd Allah al- Shici, Abu al- cAbbās, Qādi Marwazi, cUbayd Allah al- Mahdi, the&#x0D, &#x0D, Sunnites,

Abstract :

Two founders of Fatimid caliphates were Abu cAbd Allah al- Shici andcUbayd allah al- Mahdi. They had different behavior with their Sunnisubjects in two different era, i.e., invitation time and then at thebeginnings of the formation of the state in Ifriqiyya. Taking intoconsideration those policies and behaviors, this article shows thatthere is a significant difference between the former caliphate and thelatter with regard to the status of Sunnites. While Abu cAbd Allahfollowed a policy of toleration towards the Sunnites, al-Mahdi wasprejudiced against them. Apart from their individual characteristics,the obvious difference was a result of the socio-political conditions.Historians told that Abu cAbd Allah's policy was according to thenecessities of the missionary or invitation period on which it wasgoing to fascinate hearts of the religious opponents to pave the wayfor the formation of the new state, but cUbayd Allah's policy wasaimed at stabilizing of the state by emphasizing on Ismacili identity.