Ahmad bin Ali al-Fathi
Encyclopedia
Ahmad bin Ali al-Fathi was a claimant to the Zaidi
state in Yemen
, who posed as imam
in 1329-1349, in rivalry with other figures.
Ahmad bin Ali al-Fathi was a seventh-generation descendant of Imam Abu'l-Fath an-Nasir ad-Dailami
(d. 1053). He originated from the village Wakash in the Bani Matar area west of San'a. After the death of Imam al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar
in 1328, several pretenders surfaced. Ahmad bin Ali al-Fathi made his da'wa (call for the imamate) in 1329, from his base in the Sufian area. He is sometimes known by the title ad-Da'i (the one who practices da'wa). However, he had to contend with three other claimants called al-Mu'ayyad Yahya
(d. 1346), an-Nasir Ali bin Salah
(d. 1329), and al-Wathiq al-Mutahhar
(d. 1379/80). The competition was fierce and many lives were lost. Al-Mu'ayyad Yahya soon triumphed, and stood out as the main political force in the Zaidi territory until his death in 1346. The career of Ahmad bin Ali al-Fathi after c. 1330 is obscure. He died in Rughafa, close to Sa'dah
, in 1349.
Zaidiyyah
Zaidiyya, or Zaidism is a Shi'a Muslim school of thought named after Zayd ibn ʻAlī, the grandson of Husayn ibn ʻAlī. Followers of the Zaydi Islamic jurisprudence are called Zaydi Shi'a...
state in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, who posed as imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
in 1329-1349, in rivalry with other figures.
Ahmad bin Ali al-Fathi was a seventh-generation descendant of Imam Abu'l-Fath an-Nasir ad-Dailami
Abu'l-Fath an-Nasir ad-Dailami
Abu'l-Fath an-Nasir ad-Dailami was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled from c. 1038 to 1053.-From Deylaman to Yemen :Abu'l-Fath was a Sayyid but not a member of the dynasty of the Rassids. He traced his descent from Zaid bin al-Hasan bin Ali, grandson of the caliph Ali...
(d. 1053). He originated from the village Wakash in the Bani Matar area west of San'a. After the death of Imam al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar
Al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar
Al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen who ruled from 1301 to 1328.-Zaidi victory over the Rasulids:...
in 1328, several pretenders surfaced. Ahmad bin Ali al-Fathi made his da'wa (call for the imamate) in 1329, from his base in the Sufian area. He is sometimes known by the title ad-Da'i (the one who practices da'wa). However, he had to contend with three other claimants called al-Mu'ayyad Yahya
Al-Mu'ayyad Yahya
Al-Mu'ayyad Yahya was an imam of the Zaidi state in Yemen whose tenure of the imamate lasted from 1328 to 1346.Yahya bin Hamza was a member of the Zaidi elite, but not of the dynasty of the Rassids that usually provided imams. He was a 13th-generation descendant of the Twelver imam Ali ar-Ridha...
(d. 1346), an-Nasir Ali bin Salah
An-Nasir Ali bin Salah
An-Nasir Ali bin Salah was a claimant to the Zaidi state in Yemen, acting in rivalry with other pretenders in 1328–1329.Ali bin Salah bin Ibrahim was a grandson of the imam al-Mahdi Ibrahim who died in Rasulid captivity in 1284. When Imam al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar died in 1328, a turbulent...
(d. 1329), and al-Wathiq al-Mutahhar
Al-Wathiq al-Mutahhar
Al-Wathiq al-Mutahhar was an imam of the Zaidi state of Yemen, who was also a poet. A native of As Sudah, he was the son of the powerful imam al-Mahdi Muhammad bin al-Mutahhar who died in 1328. After the death of al-Mahdi, no less than four would-be imams tried to assert their authority over the...
(d. 1379/80). The competition was fierce and many lives were lost. Al-Mu'ayyad Yahya soon triumphed, and stood out as the main political force in the Zaidi territory until his death in 1346. The career of Ahmad bin Ali al-Fathi after c. 1330 is obscure. He died in Rughafa, close to Sa'dah
Sa'dah
Sa`dah is the capital city of Saada Governorate in north-western Yemen. It is located at , at an elevation of about 1,800 meters. Known in antiquity as Karna, its population in 2004 was estimated at 51,870.- External links :*...
, in 1349.