Rise of the Fatimid Caliphate Isma'ilism

the political asceticism practiced imāms during period after muhammad ibn ismail short lived , concluded imāmate of abdullah al-mahdi billah, born in 873. after decades of ismāʿīlīs believing muhammad ibn ismail in occultation , return bring age of justice, al-mahdi taught imāms had not been literally secluded, rather had remained hidden protect , had been organizing da i, , acted da themselves.

after raising army , defeating aghlabids in north africa , number of other victories, al-mahdi billah established shi political state ruled imāmate in 910. time in history shi imamate , caliphate united after first imam, ali ibn abi talib.

in parallel dynasty s claim of descent ‘alī , fāṭimah, empire named fatimid . however, not without controversy, , recognizing extent ismāʿīlī doctrine had spread, abbasid caliphate assigned sunni , twelver scholars task disprove lineage of new dynasty. became known baghdad manifesto , traces lineage of fatimids jewish blacksmith.