Mahdism and Pro-Mahdists under the Fatimid State

Abstract

The issue of the research is regarded as one of the most important in the Islamic Maghreb, where Mahdist ideology is prevalent. The Fatimid lineage of Fatima Al-Zahra (peace be upon her) was the source of the legitimacy that the Mahdist doctrine was derived from. As a direct consequence of this, believers of Mahdism in the Islamic Maghreb regard this topic as being among the most significant ones. During this time, some people asserted that they were descended from this lineage. One of these people was Abdullah al-Mahdi, who founded the Fatimid state in response to this appeal. Taking advantage of the compelling conditions of the moment, this religious commitment grew into a political ideology. It gained acceptance by the oppressed classes as a result of the Abbasid Caliphate and its consequences.