چكيده لاتين
The concept of Mahdism is one of the most fundamental doctrines in Shi‘a Islam, consistently playing a pivotal role in the formation of religious and political movements. The Fatimid Caliphate, as the first transnational Shi‘i Isma‘ili state, employed this doctrine as a central pillar of its legitimacy. This study aims to analyze the role of Mahdism in the emergence, consolidation, and continuity of the Fatimid Caliphate by examining three key phases of its history: the period of clandestine missionary activity (da‘wa), the establishment of rule in the Maghreb, and the formal consolidation of power in Egypt.
Using a descriptive-analytical method and drawing on original historical and theological sources—such as Da‘āʾim al-Islām by Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān, Akhbār Mulūk Banī ʿUbayd by Ibn Ḥammād, al-Khiṭaṭ wa al-Iʿtibār by al-Maqrīzī, and Kitāb al-ʿIbar by Ibn Khaldūn—this research demonstrates how the Fatimids strategically utilized the concept of the Awaited Mahdī to attract followers, organize their da‘wa network, and legitimize their rule.
The findings reveal that in each of the three historical phases, the Fatimids adopted a somewhat distinct interpretation of Mahdism, tailoring it to their political needs. In the missionary phase, Mahdism was employed to attract Berber tribes. In the Maghreb phase, with an emphasis on ʿUbayd Allāh’s ʿAlid lineage and eschatological themes of salvation and expectation, Mahdism became a core source of legitimacy and was merged with the doctrine of Imamate. In Egypt, Mahdism evolved from an eschatological ideal into a structured concept and eventually gave way to hereditary caliphate. Ultimately, Mahdism in the Fatimid worldview was not merely a theological belief, but a strategic tool for the foundation and consolidation of political authority.
