Founder of Cairo

Shainool Jiwa is a specialist in Fatimid history and Head of Constituency Studies at The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. She holds graduate degrees from McGill university and the University of Edinburgh, and has lectured at a number of academic institutions for over 25 years. Dr Jiwa has published several studies in the field of medieval Islamic history. Her previous publications include 'Towards a Shi'i Mediterranean Empire: Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo. The reign of the Imam-caliph al-Mu'izz from al-Maqrizi's' Itti'az al-hunafa' (London, 2009).

• IntroductionThe Fatimid frameworkThe reign of al-Mu‘izz li-Din AllahRepresentations of al-Mu‘izz: al-Maqrizi and IdrisAl-Mu‘izz through the lens of the ‘UyunComparative approaches to Fatimid historiographyNote on the translationTranslation from Idris ‘Imad al-Din’s ‘Uyun al-akhbar1. Preamble2. Al-Mu‘izz and the cycles of the imamate3. The virtues of Al-Mu‘izz according to his predecessors4. The merits of Al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah for the imamate5. Reports concerning Al-Mu‘izz’s inherited knowledge6. The inherited knowledge of the Ahl al-Bayt7. Additonal reports on al-Mu’izz’s inherited knowledge8. The transmission of the imamate9. Al-Mu‘izz’s sermon announcing al-Masur’s demise10. Al-Mu‘izz campaign in the Awras mountains11. Al-Qadi al-Nu‘man’s bond with the imams12. Sessions of wisdom at the caliphal palace13. The virtues of al-Qadi al-Nu‘man14. Al-Nu‘man’s works on jurisprudence15. The composistion of the Da‘a’im al-Islam16. Motivation for al -Nu‘man’s other compositions17. Additional works on jurisprudence18. Historical works of al-Nu‘man and their purpose19. Other works of al-Nu‘man20. The virtues of Ja‘far b. Masur al-Yaman21. Reports on the clemency and patience of al-Mu‘izz22. Reports on al-Mu‘izz quest for knowledge23. Reasons for enmity towards the imams24. Naval encounters with the Umayyads25. Naval encounters with the Byzantines26. Umayyad attempts to seek truce with al-Mu‘izz27. al-Mu‘izz dispatches Jawhar westwards28. The revolts of Ibn Wasul and Ahmad b. Bakr29. The enlisting of the Kutama30. Victory over the Maghribi contenders Ibn Wasul and Ibn Bakr31. Al-Mu‘izz’s favourable treatment of the Hasanids and praise for the Kutama32. Ibn Hani‘’s praise of Jawhar’s capture of Ibn Wasul and Ibn Bakr33. Circumcision of the Fatimid princes34. Account of the da‘wa in Sind35. The Abbasid malaise36. Byzantine incursions into Crete37. Al-Mu‘izz’s invitation to the ruler of Egypt for the defence of Crete38. Byzantine subjugation of Sayf al-Dawla39. Al-Mu‘izz’s letter to the da‘i of Sind40. The death of Kafur al-Ikhshidi41. Preparations for Jawhar’s march to Egypt42. Jawdhar’s monetary contribution for the Egyptian expedition43. Jawhar’s departure for Egypt44. Ibn Hani’s poem on Jawhar’s departure to Egypt45. Jawhar’s march westwards46. Jawhar’s issuance of the guarantee of safety47. Skirmishes with the Ikhshidids and Karfurids48. The re-issuance of the guarantee49. Jawahr’s rule in Egypt and the founding of Cairo50. The first Fatimid sermon in Egypt51. Ibn Hani’s poem about the conquest of Egypt52. Celebration of ‘Id al-Fitr and ‘Id al-Nahr53. Introduction of Ismaili law and rituals in Fatimid Egypt54. Fatimid armies battle the Qaramita in Egypt55. Jawhar’s gift to al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah56. Revolt of Zunbur al-Ikhshidi57. Ja‘far b. Falah’s expeditions in Syria58. Appointment of ‘Abd Allah as the heir apparent59. Al-Mu‘izz sets out westwards at the head of an army60. Al-Mu‘izz’s defeat of Ibn Khazar’s rebellion61. Ibn Hani’s poem on the defeat of Ibn Khazar62. Incursions of the Qaramita into Syria and Egypt and the death of Ja‘far b. Falah63. Fatimid and Warmati armies battle outside Cairo64. Al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah’s migration to Egypt65. The demise of al-Ustadh Jawdar66. Al-Mu‘izz’s arrival in Egypt67. Al-Mu‘izz establishes his authority in Egypt68. Buluggin b. Ziri’s defeat of Muhammad b. Al-Khayr69. Resumption of the Fatimid-Qarmati conflict70. Demise of Prince ‘Abd Allah71. Appointment of al-‘Aziz bi’llah as the next imam72. The demise of al-Mu‘izz li-Din AllahBibliographyIndex