Muhammad al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah

Muhammad al-Qaim Bi-Amrillah (893 - 17 May 946) (Arabic: محمد القائم بأمر الله‎) was the second Caliph of the Fatimids in Ifriqiya and ruled from 934 to 946. He is the 12th Imam according to Isma'ili Fatemi faith.

History

Al-Qaim was born in Salamiya in Syria in 895 with the name Abd ar-Rahman. After his father Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah (910-934) seized power in Ifriqiya he was named heir to the throne in 912, and helped put down several revolts. However campaigns into Egypt faltered against the resistance of the Abbasids (914-915 and 919-921), with heavy casualties.

In 934 Al-Qaim succeeded his father as Caliph, after which he never again left the royal residence at Mahdia. Nevertheless, the Fatimid realm became an important power in the Mediterranean. After the re-conquest of Sicily the Byzantine province of Calabria and the coast of Italy and France were plundered.

But from 944 to 947 the realm was plunged into crisis by the revolt of Abu Yazid, who had united the Kharijite Berber tribes of the Aurès Mountains of eastern Algeria and overrun Ifriqiya. Imam Al-Qaim was able to hold out in Mahdia with the help of the navy for over a year, but died (17 May 946) before the revolt could be put down.

He was succeeded by his son Ismail al-Mansur (946-953). He died on 13 th Shawwal 334 AH (Mahdiyya)/ 17 May 946 AD

External links and references

• Imam al-Qaaim, the 12th Fatimi Imam.
• J. J. Saunders. "The Turkish Irruption". A History of Medieval Islam. Routledge. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/med/saunders.html. Retrieved 2007-08-25.