Abu Abdallah al-Shi'i facts for kids
Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Zakariyya, known as Abu Abdallah al-Shi'i, was an important Isma'ili missionary. He worked in Yemen and North Africa, especially with the Kutama Berbers. He successfully convinced many Kutama Berbers to join his cause. He led them to conquer Ifriqiya (parts of modern-day Tunisia and Algeria) between 902 and 909. This led to the end of the Aghlabid dynasty. Because of his efforts, the Fatimid Caliphate was started in Ifriqiya. The first leader of this new caliphate was Abdullah al-Mahdi Billah. However, Abu Abdallah and al-Mahdi soon disagreed. Abu Abdallah was executed on February 28, 911.
Early Life and Missions
Abu Abdallah al-Shi'i was born in Kufa, a city in Iraq. His full name was al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Zakariyya. Around 891, he and his older brother, Abu'l-Abbas Muhammad, joined the Isma'ili missionary group. This group was called the daʿwa. They were recruited by Hamdan Qarmat, a leader of the daʿwa in Kufa. Soon after, the brothers were sent on a mission to Egypt.
From Egypt, Abu Abdallah traveled with the yearly Hajj groups to Mecca. Then, he followed the caravans returning to Yemen. The Isma'ili daʿwa was already active in Yemen since 881. Leaders like Ibn Hawshab and Ali ibn al-Fadl al-Jayshani were working there. Abu Abdallah arrived in Yemen in April 892 and joined Ibn Hawshab. After about a year, he was told to go back to Mecca. From there, he was to start a new mission among the Kutama Berbers in North Africa.
He was supposed to travel with another missionary, but Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Zabidi went instead. Ibrahim became Abu Abdallah's main helper. The Kutama called him "the lesser lord." He stayed with Abu Abdallah until the conquest of Ifriqiya in 909.
Mission Among the Kutama and Conquest of Ifriqiya
In Mecca, Abu Abdallah met some Kutama Berbers. They told him how independent they were from the Aghlabids, who ruled the area. Abu Abdallah saw this as a great chance. He accepted their invitation to go to the Maghrib (North Africa). He arrived there in 893.
He successfully taught the Isma'ili beliefs to the Kutama. He managed to create a strong army made up of Berber farmers. He began conquering cities in Ifriqiya. Finally, in 909, he captured ar-Raqqada. This was the palace city of the Aghlabids, near Kairuan.
All of Abu Abdallah's actions were to prepare for the arrival of Abdullah al-Mahdi Billah. Al-Mahdi was the spiritual leader, or imam, of the Fatimids. Al-Mahdi was rescued from a prison in Sijilmasa (in modern-day Morocco). He was then declared the new leader, or caliph. He ruled from the former home of the Aghlabids.
Abu Abdallah had hoped that al-Mahdi would be a spiritual leader. He wanted to manage the daily running of the government himself. However, his brother, al-Hasan, encouraged him to challenge al-Mahdi's power. A Kutama Berber commander named Ghazwiyya then killed Abu Abdallah in February 911. Imam al-Mahdi prayed for Abu Abdallah after his death and forgave him.
