Q: What can be said about the Faatimi
Islamic state?
Answer: It is a grave error to describe
the ‘Ubaydi state as being an Islamic state.
The ‘Ubaydi state – which is what they call the Fatimid state by way of
deception– was founded in Tunis in 297 AH, and moved to Egypt in 362 AH, where
it was firmly established, and its power spread to a large part of the Muslim
world, such as Syria and the Arabian Peninsula.
Its rule began with al-Mu’izz li Deen-Allaah Mu’aadh ibn al-Mansoor al-‘Ubaydi
and ended with al-‘Aadid ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Yoosuf in 567 AH.
The Sunni imams, scholars and historians spoke of the founding of this state and
explained that their claims to be descended from Faatimah (may Allaah be
pleased with her) were false, and they described how it spread kufr and
heresy, persecuted Ahl al-Sunnah, and supported the kuffaar and even cooperated
with them against the Muslims. Among these imams and historians were: Abu
Shaamah, Ibn Taghri Bardi, Ibn Taymiyah, Ibn Katheer, al-Dhahabi and many
others.
Imam al-Dhahabi said of ‘Ubayd-Allaah al-Mahdi, who was the first ruler
of that state: "There are several opinions concerning the lineage of al-Mahdi,
which may be summed up by noting that he was neither Haashimi nor Faatimi [i.e.,
he was not descended from Banu Haashim or from Faatimah]." [Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’
(15/151)]
And he said: "The genealogists and scholars denied his claims concerning his
lineage." [Tareekh al-Islam, events of 321-330 AH, p. 23]
It was narrated that Abu Shaamah – who wrote a book about this state entitled
Kashf ma kaana ‘alayhi Banu ‘Ubayd min al-Kufr wa’l-Kadhb wa’l-Makr wa’l-Kayd –
said: “They claimed to be descendents of the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him), although they are descended from a Magian or Jew, until
they became known as such, and their state was called al-dawlah al-‘alawiyyah (‘Alawi
state – i.e., descendents of ‘Ali) or al-dawlah al-faatimiyyah (Fatimid state).
But in fact it is the esoteric, heretic “Jewish state” or “Magian state”. [See:
Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’ (15/213) and al-Rawdatayn fi Akhbaar al-Dawlatayn
((1/216).]
Among the actions and beliefs of the rulers of that state: they claimed to have
knowledge of the unseen, and they made claims of Prophethood and divinity, and
they demanded that their subjects and followers prostrate to them, and they
reviled the Sahaabah. The evidences and testimonies of this is as follows:
1 –Claims of Prophethood and divinity:
al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) narrated that the fuqaha’ and devoted
worshippers supported the Khawaarij in their war against the ‘Ubaydis because of
the kufr and heresy of the latter. When Abu Yazeed Makhlad ibn Keedaad al-Khaariji
wanted to fight Banu ‘Ubayd, al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The fuqaha’ and devoted worshippers hastened
to make full preparations with drums and banners. Ahmad ibn Abi’l-Waleed
addressed them on Friday at Jumu’ah prayers, and he exhorted them and said:
Strive against the one who disbelieves in Allaah and claims that he is a lord
instead of Allaah. … And he said: O Allaah, this kaafir Qarmati who is known
as Ibn ‘Ubayd-Allaah and claims to be divine is denying Your blessings, and He
disbelieves in Your Lordship, slanders Your Messengers, disbelieves in
Muhammad Your Prophet, and sheds blood. Curse him greatly and humiliate him
deeply and send Your curse upon him morning and evening. Then he came down and
led them in Jumu’ah prayer. [Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’ (15/155).]
Among those who claimed divinity was the ‘Ubaydi ruler of whom al-Dhahabi said:
"The heretic Ismaili who claims to be divine." [Al-Siyar (15/173)]
al-Dhahabi also said concerning him: "It was said that he wanted to claim to be
divine and he started to do so, but the prominent figures of his state spoke to
him and warned that all the people would rebel against him." [Al-Siyar (15/176)]
Among those who incited the ruler to make these claims was Hamzah ibn ‘Ali
al-Zawzani who was one of those who claimed that the ruler was divine, and
who founded the Druze sect in Syria.
Al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) also said: "The heretic Durzi was
killed because of his claims that the ruler was divine, and some of the ignorant
used to say when they saw the ruler: “O One, O One, O giver of life, O giver of
death.” [Al-Siyar (15/180, 181)]
Al-Dhahabi said: "I read in a one-volume book of history which describes what
happened each year and was written by some good people around the year 630 and
was given to the ruler of Egypt, al-Malik al-Saalih, in 667:
This action (i.e., putting an end to the ‘Ubaydi state) was one of the
noblest of the deeds of Salaah al-Deen al-Ayyoobi. What a good thing he did,
for these people were baatinis and heretics who called for belief in
transmigration of souls and the belief that the divine was physically incarnated
in them.
Al-Dhahabi said: "al-Haakim said to his
propagandist: How many do you have listed (as followers)? He said: Sixteen
thousand who believe that you are god.
Their poet said: “Rule, for you are the one, the compeller; it is what you
wish and not what the divine decree wills”
May Allaah curse both the praiser and the praised, for this is no less
abhorrent than when Pharaoh said, “I am your lord, most high” [al-Naaz’iaat
79:24].
One of their poets said concerning al-Mahdi
in Raqqaadah: “Adam and Nooh are there, and anything other than Allaah is
nothing. The Messiah is there in Raqqaadah, Allaah in His glory is there.”
He said: This man is worse in his kufr than the Christians, because
the Christians believe that the divine was incarnated physically in ‘Eesa
only, but these people believe that He was incarnated in the bodies of Adam,
Nooh, the Prophets and all the imams.
This is their creed, may Allaah curse them.
Tareekh al-Islam, events of 561-570 AH, p. 274-281.
When ‘Ubayd-Allaah claimed to be a prophet, he brought two of the faqeehs of
Qayrawaan to appear before him as he was sitting on his throne, and he ordered
one of his servants to say to the two Shaykhs: “Do you bear witness that this
man is the messenger of Allah?” They said: “By Allah, if he came to us with
the sun on his right and the moon on his left, both of them saying that he was a
messenger of Allah, we would not believe that.” So he ordered that they be
slaughtered. [Al-Siyar (14/217)]
2 – Claim to have knowledge of the unseen
Ibn Khallikaan (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "They claimed to have
knowledge of the unseen, and there are well known reports concerning that." [Wafiyaat
al-A’yaan (5/373, 374)]
3 – People prostrated for them
They ordered the people to prostrate for them.
al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
In 396 AH, khutbahs were given in the two
holy sanctuaries under the authority of the ruler of Egypt al-Haakim, and the
people were ordered to stand up and prostrate when he was mentioned. Inna
Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is
our return).
[Duwal al-Islam (1/350).]
When al-Haakim was mentioned they would stand
up and prostrate for him. Al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
They stood up and prostrated in the market
place, and in their meeting places. Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon
(Verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return). These ‘Ubaydis
were an evil that befell Islam and the Muslims.
Al-Tareekh, events of 381-400 AH, p. 234.
4 – They killed the scholars who did not follow
their beliefs
Abu’l-Hasan al-Qaabisi, the author of al-Mulakhkhas, said: "The number of those
killed by ‘Ubayd-Allaah and his descendents in his torture chamber was four
thousand scholars and worshippers, to stop them saying “Radiya Allaah ‘anhum
(may Allaah be pleased with them)” about the Sahaabah." [Al-Siyar (15/145)]
5 – The Qaraamitah participated in their crimes
al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
During the reign of al-Mahdi the Qaraamitah
committed crimes in Bahrain. They attacked the pilgrims, killing and taking
prisoners, and they violated the sanctuary of Allah in Makkah and took away
the Black Stone. ‘Ubayd-Allaah corresponded with them and incited them, may
Allah destroy him.
[Al-Siyar (15/147)]
6 – Reviling the Sahaabah
During the reign of al-‘Azeez, the Sahaabah were reviled openly. [Al-Siyar
(15/170).]
He ordered that words reviling the Sahaabah be written on the doors of the
mosques and in the streets, and he ordered his state workers to revile them in
395 AH. [Tareekh al-Islam, events of 395 AH, p. 283.]
And he said: "Reviling of the Sahaabah was widespread during his reign (i.e.,
al-Mustansir) and the Sunnah was unknown and hidden." [Al-Siyar (15/196)]
In brief,
they were baatinis who changed the religion of Islam; they were outwardly
Raafidis but inwardly they were heretics.
Al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "They changed the religion of
Islam. They were outwardly Raafidis, but inwardly they were Ismailis."
[Al-Siyar (15/141)]
Al-Dhahabi said: "As for the baatini ‘Ubaydis,
they are enemies of Allah and His Messenger." [Al-Siyar (15/373)]
He also said: "How these ‘Ubaydis tampered with and changed the religion of
Islam is indescribable." [Al-Siyar (16/149)]
Al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "Abu Yoosuf al-Ra’eeni
said: The scholars in Qayrawaan are unanimously agreed that Banu ‘Ubayd are
apostates and heretics." [Tarteeb al-Madaarik (4/720); see also al-Siyar
(15/151).]
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn
Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Radd ‘ala al-Bakri: "The
‘Ubaydis, who are inwardly heretics, follow the beliefs of the
philosophers and Magians and have mixed them with Raafidi views. The
best they show of commitment to Islam is the Raafidi way, but inwardly
they are heretics, worse than the Jews and Christians.
Hence the scholars said concerning them that they are outwardly Raafidis,
but inwardly their belief is pure kufr. They are among the people who
venerate shrines the most, and believe in astrology,
and other religious practices of the mushrikeen. They are the least likely
of people to venerate the mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised (to
be cleaned, and to be honored), in them His Name is remembered (cf. al-Noor
24:36).Their legacy in Cairo proves that. End quote.
And he said (may Allaah have mercy on him) in al-Radd ‘ala al-Mantiqiyyeen:
The ‘Ubaydis were outwardly Muslim and said that they were Shi’ah, so they
appeared to be Raafidis but inwardly they were heretics as Abu Haamid al-Ghazaali
said in al-Mustazhari: Outwardly they are Raafidis but inwardly their
belief is pure kufr. What Abu Haamid said about them is that on which
there is consensus among Muslim scholars. End quote.
He said (may Allah have mercy on him) in Minhaaj al-Sunnah:
They (the rulers of the ‘Ubaydi state) are well known for their heresy,
opposition to Allah and His Messenger, apostasy and hypocrisy. End
quote.
Ibn Katheer said in al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah (11/386):
When the khateeb mentioned al-Haakim the
people would all stand up out of respect. They also did that in Egypt, and in
addition to that they would prostrate for him. They would prostrate when he
was mentioned. So those who were praying would prostrate and those who were in
the marketplace would prostrate when they prostrated. May Allah curse him. End
quote.
Such was the ‘Ubaydi state, and these are some of their evil deeds. We ask
Allaah to bring the Muslims back soundly to their religion.
See the study entitled Mawqif al-Imam al-Dhahabi min al-Dawlah al-‘Ubaydiyyah
nasaban wa mu’taqadan by Dr. Sa’d ibn Moosa al-Moosa, assistant professor at the
Faculty of Sharee’ah in Umm al-Qura University, which was published in Majallat
Jaami’at Umm al-Qura, issue no. 24, Rabee’ al-Awwal 1423 AH/May 2002 CE.
And Allah is the Source of strength.
Islam-qa [slightly adapted]
