SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Dīn al-Shīrāzī (d.470/1078) held the position of Chief missionary (dācī al-ducāh) under the Fatimid caliph-Imām al-Mustanṣir bi-Allāh (d.487/1094). He compiled books and delivered lectures related to the religious instructions of the Fatimids also working for them as a political strategist. The content of al-Mu’ayyad’s works includes his expounding on diverse meanings of the Qur’ān, as well as his examining the status of the Imāmah/Walāyah of the Imāms from the ahl al-bayt of the Prophet. According to al-Mu’ayyad, the Qur’ān is not only a synthesis of the system of religious doctrines and moral teachings of Islam, but is also the Source of Truths whose application he believes to extend beyond the theological boundary and thus related to the cosmos/creation as well. This is the reason why al-Mu’ayyad utilizes the Qur’ān and nature to substantiate his doctrine of the Imāmah/Walāyah. In the first place, al-Mu’ayyad seeks to establish a basis for the necessity of the Imām. Secondly, he interprets the distinctive characteristic of the Imāms and their functions, which they fulfil after the departure of Muhammad, the last Messenger of Allah. The current research will mainly focus on how al-Mu’ayyad uses the fundamental Islamic Sources, including the Qur’ān and the cosmos to substantiate his arguments for the necessity of the presence of the Imām. Additionally the area of research examines al-Mu’ayyad’s understanding of the criteria for the designation of he Imām and his roles such as interpreting the Qur’ān, particularly its esoteric aspect and guiding the believers in acquiring knowledge of Allah.