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 a city founded by them a domain extending from Arabia in the east to present-day Morocco in the west. As living imams of the Ismaili branch of Shi尪ism, they exercised dual authority over both spiritual and secular realms.
The sermon in Arabic the 域堯喝廜苑硃A sermon delivered in a mosque at Friday prayers. 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廎n. 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 域堯喝廜苑硃 what was said, by whom and on what occasions 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 鬼堯喝廜苑硃
A Fatimid 域堯喝廜苑硃 in Abbasid Iraq. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃s and 域堯櫻廜虹莉s. Festival 域堯喝廜苑硃s by the Fatimid caliphs. Fatimid 域堯喝廜苑硃s in North Africa. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃s by al-Man廜贖r and al-Mu尪izz. The first Fatimid 域堯喝廜苑硃s in Egypt. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃s by al-尪Az蘋z, al-廎勾kim, and al-廕hir. The testimony of al-Musabbi廎汁. The 域堯喝廜苑硃 from al-Mustan廜ξr to al-mir. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃s from the reign of al-廎勾fi廕 onward. The eyewitness testimony of Ibn al-Tuwayr. The last 域堯喝廜苑硃.
Chapter 2: Rhetoric and Themes in the Surviving 域堯喝廜苑硃s
The audience. Double meanings for different audiences. The address to God: the 域堯喝廜苑硃 as a prayer. Quranic imagery and language. Praising God. Mu廎仟mmad as grandfather. 尪Al蘋 as father. The Companions of the Cloak (a廜廎汁b al-kis尨). F廜虹ma as mother. Al-廎兀san and al-廎工sayn. The imams from al-廎工sayn to al-Mahd蘋. The imams from al-Mahd蘋 onward. The name of the dynasty. Enemies. Death and loss: fathers and imams. Pilgrimage. Miscellaneous themes.
Part two: The 鬼堯喝廜苑硃s
1. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-Q尨im:
On the 尪蘆d al-fi廜訃, 302 (19 April 915) at Alexandria
2. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-Q尨im:
Rajab 333 (March 945). During the siege of al-Mahdiyya. Read by al-Marwadh蘋
3. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-Man廜贖r:
As 滄硃梭蘋Saint, friend of God, or patron. In a political context the terms can also mean administrator or ruler (pl. awliy尨). 梭勳l-尪硃堯餃 (Heir-apparent) on the 尪蘆d al-fi廜訃, 334 (6 May 946) at al-Mahdiyya
4. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-Man廜贖r:
On Friday 14 紼喝廎仟娶娶硃鳥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尪far b. 尪Al蘋, the Chamberlain, in the Mosque of QayrawanSee Kairouan
5. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-Man廜贖r:
On the 尪蘆d al-fi廜訃, 335 (25 April 947). During the siege of Ab贖 Yaz蘋d at Kiyana
6. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-Man廜贖r:
On the 尪蘆d al-a廎廎汁, 335 (2 July 947). During the siege of Ab贖 Yaz蘋d at Kiyana
7. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-Man廜贖r:
On the 尪蘆d al-fi廜訃, 336 (14 April 948) at al-Mahdiyya
8. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-Man廜贖r:
On the 尪蘆d al-nahr, 336 (21 June 948) at al-Mahdiyya
9. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-Mu尪izz:
On the 尪蘆d al-nahr, 341 (28 April 953) at al-Man廜贖riyya
10. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-Mu尪izz
11. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of Qirwash:
On 4 紼喝廎仟娶娶硃鳥 401 (18 August 1010) at Maw廜ξl
12. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-mir:
On a Friday, during Ramadan
13. 鬼堯喝廜苑硃 of al-mir:
On the 尪蘆d al-fi廜訃
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贖 Ya尪q贖b al-Sijistn蘋: Intellectual Missionary (1996), 廎兀m蘋d al-D蘋n al-Kirmn蘋: Ismaili Thought in the Age of al-廎勾kim (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 (9731171) More: A Contemporary Shii Witness (2000).