Inside the Immaculate Portal A History from Early Fatimid Archives: A new edition and English translation of Manṣūr al-ʿAzīzī al-Jawdharī’s biography of al-Ustādh Jawdhar, the Sīrat al-Ustādh Jawdhar
I.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies
This publication brings together a new critical edition of the Arabic text, an introduction and a fully annotated English translation of the Sīrat al-Ustādh Jawdhar. It contains oral statements, correspondence and other archival material from a period spanning over sixty years of Fatimid rule, providing a biographical account of one of the most prominent statesmen of the early Fatimid period, Ustādh Jawdhar.
Jawdhar was a confidant of the first four Fatimid Imam-caliphs who ruled in North Africa (910–973 CE). The author of the work, Abū ʿAlī Manṣūr al-ʿAzīzī al-Jawdharī, was a private secretary to Jawdhar. Manṣūr had access to archives held by Jawdhar, including letters he received from the imams, and was also a trusted associate. After Jawdhar’s death in 973 CE, the Fatimid Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz appointed Manṣūr to succeed him. The author cherished the memory of his mentor and wished to commemorate him. With this end in view, he compiled the Sīrat al-Ustādh Jawdhar during the time of Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz’s successor, Imam-caliph al-ʿAzīz billāh (r. 975–996 CE).
The publication also includes maps of North Africa and Sicily, genealogical charts of the Fatimids of Ifrīqiya and the Banū Abī al-Ḥusayn al-Kalbī of Sicily, a bibliography, indices in English and Arabic and a chronology summarising relevant events. This publication provides a unique insight into the private world and political ethos of one of the major Muslim dynasties of the medieval era, and will be of interest to academics and students alike.
Acknowledgements
Chronology
Map 1: North Africa (4th/10th century)
Map 2: Sicily (4th/10th century)
Table 1: The Fatimids of Ifrīqiya
Table 2: The Kalbids of Sicily
Introduction
Translation of the Sīrat al-Ustādh Jawdhar
Part I: Biography
1. Jawdhar begins to serve al-Mahdī
2. Jawdhar acquires al-Mahdī’s blessing
3. Jawdhar left in charge of al-Qāʾim’s palace
4. Jawdhar becomes official at the Treasury
5. Jawdhar made privy to al-Manṣūr’s designation as heir apparent
6. A letter from al-Manṣūr, heir apparent, to Jawdhar
7. The first written directive from al-Qāʾim to Jawdhar
8. al-Qāʾim shuns forbidden goods
9. al-Qāʾim’s advice to al-Manṣūr regarding Jawdhar
10. Jawdhar left to govern the entire country
11. Letter of al-Manṣūr proclaiming his victory over Abu Yazid
12. Letter of al-Manṣūr announcing the death of al-Qāʾim
13. Letter of al-Manṣūr concerning money that Jawdhar had offered to him
14. Letter of al-Manṣūr to Jawdhar
15. The defeat of Abū Yazīd Makhlad b. Kaydād
16. Jawdhar is freed from bondage and receives his honorific title
17. Jawdhar’s name is inscribed on embroidered garments and carpets
18. al-Manṣūr honours Jawdhar
19. al-Manṣūr’s treasure stores entrusted to Jawdhar
20. Sermon of al-Qāʾim delivered by al-Marwazī
21. Sermon of al-Manṣūr announcing the death of al-Qāʾim
22. al-Manṣūr gifts newly minted coins to Jawdhar
23. Letter of al-Manṣūr concerning a gift for the Byzantine emperor
24. Letter of al-Manṣūr concerning the inhabitants of the palace
25. Another letter concerning the inhabitants of the palace
26. Letter from al-Manṣūr concerning his uncles and brothers
27. Letter of al-Manṣūr concerning certain troublemakers
28. Letter of al-Manṣūr regarding the rebels of Sicily
29. Last letter of al-Manṣūr to Jawdhar
30. Letters of al-Muʿizz informing Jawdhar of the death of al-Manṣūr
31. Letter of al-Muʿizz in reply to a request that Jawdhar had made to him
32. Sermon of al-Muʿizz announcing the death of al-Manṣūr
33. A note from Jawdhar to al-Muʿizz and the latter’s reply
Part II: Documents
1. On the transportation of barley to Sicily
2. al-Muʿizz’s instructions to have a prayer mat made for a Slav
3. Jawdhar’s letter about the conduct of a Slav, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
4. Disagreement between the Treasury director and an official of the mint
5. al-Muʿizz’s reply to a personal note from Jawdhar
6. Horses gifted by Jawdhar to the Banū Abī al-Ḥusayn al-Kalbī
7. Jawdhar’s offer of money to al-Muʿizz, and the latter’s reply
8. Another personal note from Jawdhar regarding his plea, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
9. A governor’s complaint against some Berbers
10. Jawdhar seeks permission to accept a gift from the governor of Barqa, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
11. Jawdhar’s request for a pass to cover expenses for the upkeep of camels, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
12. Jawdhar’s note about a pledge by a Slav to pay for houses administered by him, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
13. On litigation about pastures
14. Another request from Jawdhar, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
15. Jawdhar’s request regarding a son of his secretary, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
16. On materials for shipbuilding
17. Interception of letters of two sons of Qāsim, son of al-Qāʾim, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
18. Jawdhar’s complaint about a governor, and al-Muʿizz’s instructions to the commander Jawhar
19. On surveillance of correspondence between some members of the Fatimid family
20. Abū ʿAbd Allāh, son of al-Qāʾim, forbidden to engage in wailing
21. Jawdhar authorised to have saman mats made for himself
22. al-Muʿizz attempts to reconcile Jaʿfar b. ʿAlī b. Ḥamdun and Yūsuf b. Zīrī
23. The director of the naval storehouses forbidden to store supplies in a mosque
24. Order to expedite the purchase of maritime provisions
25. Another request from Jawdhar, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
26. A shroud for an official’s son
27. Condolences for the death of a servant
28. Order to execute captains of ships which left for Sicily in breach of instructions
29. Jawdhar’s reminder regarding his request, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
30. Jawdhar’s complaint about a Slav sent to procure slaves for the palace, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
31. Jawdhar’s note concerning Ahmad, son of al-Mahdī, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
32. Jawdhar’s reminder concerning his request, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
33. Another note of Jawdhar concerning his request, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
34. Jawdhar’s request for an order to expedite maritime supplies, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
35. Jawdhar’s indisposition, and al-Muʿizz’s concern for Jawdhar’s health
36. Rumours that Jawdhar would be appointed to govern Ifrīqiya after al-Muʿizz’s departure for Egypt
37. Concerning permits for officials travelling to Egypt
38. al-Muʿizz sends to Jawdhar spring water and Fatimid dinars minted in Egypt
39. Jawdhar’s illness, his renewed appeal, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
40. On the building of a wall around Zawīla
41. Jawdhar’s reminder regarding his request
42. al-Muʿizz gives Jawdhar leggings worn by al-Manṣūr and himself
43. Jawdhar’s note regarding the salary of his protégé, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
44. Jawdhar’s concern for al-Muʿizz’s health, and the latter’s reply
45. Complaint about the commissioner of al-Mahdiyya, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
46. Concerning disagreements between some members of the Kalbi family
47. A shroud for an employee of the maritime administration
48. The use of revenues from the domains of Muzaffar the Slav
49. Regarding a letter from the governor of Sicily, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
50. Concerning a drunken secretary
51. Letter from the governor of Tripoli about expenditure for the fleet, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
52. Jawdhar’s offer to provide wood for shipbuilding, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
53. Jawdhar’s request concerning the son of a secretary to receive his father’s emoluments
54. Prince Tamīm’s companionship with Ṭāhir, son of Aḥmad b. al-Ḥasan
55. al-Muʿizz pays tribute to a secretary after his death
56. al-Muʿizz accepts a gift of wood from Jawdhar
57. A land dispute between Jawdhar’s agent and a man of the Kutāma
58. Jawhar’s request relating to inheritance and purchase of property
59. Jawdhar’s complaint about abuses committed by a district governor, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
60. Jawdhar’s report on the activities of an Umayyad agent in al-Masīla, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
61. Jawdhar’s wish not to importune al-Muʿizz
62. On the release of Muslim prisoners from Byzantine Custody
63. Jawdhar’s note relating to maritime supplies, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
64. Jawdhar’s request to grant a domain to a secretary’s son, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
65. The treatment of some slaves who apostatised after having embraced Islam
66. On Jaʿfar b. Manṣūr al-Yaman’s financial predicament and al-Muʿizz’s help to him
67. Jawdhar’s request for a ship to replace one that perished, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
68. Concerning the death of al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī in Sicily
69. Finances of the governor Jaʿfar b. ʿAlī b. Ḥamdun
70. al-Muʿizz allows Jaʿfar to continue to administer the province in spite of lower financial returns to the Treasury
71. Jawdhar’s note to al-Muʿizz defending the interests of the Treasury, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
72. Concerning rumours about Jawdhar’s concern for the Kalbī brothers
73. Concerning alienation between Jawdhar and Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī al-Kalbī
74. al-Muʿizz binds Jawdhar to Jawhar by a pact of brotherhood
75. About an agreement between Jawdhar and the governor of Sicily regarding his ship’s cargo
76. Jawdhar asks al-Muʿizz’s permission to gift a precious rug to Prince ‘Abd Allah
77. al-Muʿizz expresses regret at the loss of Jawdhar’s ship which perished
78. Concerning a request to turn a house adjoining Dār al-Baḥr into a storehouse for naval equipment
79. Concerning a request by al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī’s mother to buy a house near the palace
80. Concerning a promise made by al-Muʿizz to al-Ḥasan b. ʿAmmār
81. Jawdhar’s request to al-Muʿizz for an item of his clothing to serve him as a shroud, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
82. Jawdhar is received in al-Manṣūriyya by al-Muʿizz’s sons, brothers and dignitaries of the state
83. Jaʿfar b. ʿAlī b. Ḥamdun’s correspondence regarding raising revenue for the Treasury, and al-Muʿizz’s reply
84. Prince ʿAbd Allāh replies to Jawdhar’s letter requesting mules, with al-Muʿizz’s response
85. Account of Jawdhar’s final journey, his frail condition, and his last meeting with al-Muʿizz at Ajdābiya
86. Jawdhar enters Barqa gravely ill; Prince ‘Abd Allah’s letter to Jawdhar on al-Muʿizz’s behalf; Jawdhar’s death and burial
Bibliography
English Index
Arabic Index
Arabic Text
Hamid Haji is a specialist in Fatimid literature. He studied at the Sorbonne and is currently a Research Associate at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. His publications include Founding the Fatimid State: The Rise of an Early Islamic Empire (London, 2006).