This publication brings together a new critical edition of the Arabic text, an introduction and a fully annotated English translation of the S墨rat al-Ust膩dh 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, Ust膩dh Jawdhar.
Jawdhar was a confidant of the first four Fatimid Imam-caliphs who ruled in North Africa (910鈥973 CE). The author of the work, Ab奴 士Al墨 Man峁Ｅ玶 al-士Az墨z墨 al-Jawdhar墨, was a private secretary to Jawdhar. Man峁Ｅ玶 had access to archives held by Jawdhar, including letters he received from the imams, and was also a trusted associate. After Jawdhar鈥檚 death in 973 CE, the Fatimid Imam-caliph al-Mu士izz appointed Man峁Ｅ玶 to succeed him. The author cherished the memory of his mentor and wished to commemorate him. With this end in view, he compiled the S墨rat al-Ust膩dh Jawdhar during the time of Imam-caliph al-Mu士izz鈥檚 successor, Imam-caliph al-士Az墨z bill膩h (r. 975鈥996 CE).
The publication also includes maps of North Africa and Sicily, genealogical charts of the FatimidsMajor Muslim dynasty of Ismaili caliphs in North Africa (from 909) and later in Egypt (973鈥1171) More of Ifr墨qiya and the Ban奴 Ab墨 al-岣sayn al-Kalb墨 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 Ifr墨qiya
Table 2: The Kalbids of Sicily
Introduction
Translation of the S墨rat al-Ust膩dh Jawdhar
Part I: Biography
1. Jawdhar begins to serve al-Mahd墨
2. Jawdhar acquires al-Mahd墨鈥檚 blessing
3. Jawdhar left in charge of al-Q膩示im鈥檚 palace
4. Jawdhar becomes official at the Treasury
5. Jawdhar made privy to al-Man峁Ｅ玶鈥檚 designation as heir apparent
6. A letter from al-Man峁Ｅ玶, heir apparent, to Jawdhar
7. The first written directive from al-Q膩示im to Jawdhar
8. al-Q膩示im shuns forbidden goods
9. al-Q膩示im鈥檚 advice to al-Man峁Ｅ玶 regarding Jawdhar
10. Jawdhar left to govern the entire country
11. Letter of al-Man峁Ｅ玶 proclaiming his victory over Abu Yazid
12. Letter of al-Man峁Ｅ玶 announcing the death of al-Q膩示im
13. Letter of al-Man峁Ｅ玶 concerning money that Jawdhar had offered to him
14. Letter of al-Man峁Ｅ玶 to Jawdhar
15. The defeat of Ab奴 Yaz墨d Makhlad b. Kayd膩d
16. Jawdhar is freed from bondage and receives his honorific title
17. Jawdhar鈥檚 name is inscribed on embroidered garments and carpets
18. al-Man峁Ｅ玶 honours Jawdhar
19. al-Man峁Ｅ玶鈥檚 treasure stores entrusted to Jawdhar
20. Sermon of al-Q膩示im delivered by al-Marwaz墨
21. Sermon of al-Man峁Ｅ玶 announcing the death of al-Q膩示im
22. al-Man峁Ｅ玶 gifts newly minted coins to Jawdhar
23. Letter of al-Man峁Ｅ玶 concerning a gift for the ByzantineThe late medieval Roman Empire which ruled large parts of Southern Europe and the Middle East from its capital Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), conquered by the Turks in 1453 CE. emperor
24. Letter of al-Man峁Ｅ玶 concerning the inhabitants of the palace
25. Another letter concerning the inhabitants of the palace
26. Letter from al-Man峁Ｅ玶 concerning his uncles and brothers
27. Letter of al-Man峁Ｅ玶 concerning certain troublemakers
28. Letter of al-Man峁Ｅ玶 regarding the rebels of Sicily
29. Last letter of al-Man峁Ｅ玶 to Jawdhar
30. Letters of al-Mu士izz informing Jawdhar of the death of al-Man峁Ｅ玶
31. Letter of al-Mu士izz in reply to a request that Jawdhar had made to him
32. Sermon of al-Mu士izz announcing the death of al-Man峁Ｅ玶
33. A note from Jawdhar to al-Mu士izz and the latter鈥檚 reply
Part II: Documents
1. On the transportation of barley to Sicily
2. al-Mu士izz鈥檚 instructions to have a prayer mat made for a Slav
3. Jawdhar鈥檚 letter about the conduct of a Slav, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
4. Disagreement between the Treasury director and an official of the mint
5. al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply to a personal note from Jawdhar
6. Horses gifted by Jawdhar to the Ban奴 Ab墨 al-岣sayn al-Kalb墨
7. Jawdhar鈥檚 offer of money to al-Mu士izz, and the latter鈥檚 reply
8. Another personal note from Jawdhar regarding his plea, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
9. A governor鈥檚 complaint against some Berbers
10. Jawdhar seeks permission to accept a gift from the governor of Barqa, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
11. Jawdhar鈥檚 request for a pass to cover expenses for the upkeep of camels, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
12. Jawdhar鈥檚 note about a pledge by a Slav to pay for houses administered by him, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
13. On litigation about pastures
14. Another request from Jawdhar, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
15. Jawdhar鈥檚 request regarding a son of his secretary, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
16. On materials for shipbuilding
17. Interception of letters of two sons of Q膩sim, son of al-Q膩示im, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
18. Jawdhar鈥檚 complaint about a governor, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 instructions to the commander Jawhar
19. On surveillance of correspondence between some members of the Fatimid family
20. Ab奴 士Abd All膩h, son of al-Q膩示im, forbidden to engage in wailing
21. Jawdhar authorised to have saman mats made for himself
22. al-Mu士izz attempts to reconcile Ja士far b. 士Al墨 b. 岣mdun and Y奴suf b. Z墨r墨
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-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
26. A shroud for an official鈥檚 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鈥檚 reminder regarding his request, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
30. Jawdhar鈥檚 complaint about a Slav sent to procure slaves for the palace, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
31. Jawdhar鈥檚 note concerning Ahmad, son of al-Mahd墨, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
32. Jawdhar鈥檚 reminder concerning his request, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
33. Another note of Jawdhar concerning his request, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
34. Jawdhar鈥檚 request for an order to expedite maritime supplies, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
35. Jawdhar鈥檚 indisposition, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 concern for Jawdhar鈥檚 health
36. Rumours that Jawdhar would be appointed to govern Ifr墨qiya after al-Mu士izz鈥檚 departure for Egypt
37. Concerning permits for officials travelling to Egypt
38. al-Mu士izz sends to Jawdhar spring water and Fatimid dinars minted in Egypt
39. Jawdhar鈥檚 illness, his renewed appeal, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
40. On the building of a wall around Zaw墨la
41. Jawdhar鈥檚 reminder regarding his request
42. al-Mu士izz gives Jawdhar leggings worn by al-Man峁Ｅ玶 and himself
43. Jawdhar鈥檚 note regarding the salary of his prot茅g茅, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
44. Jawdhar鈥檚 concern for al-Mu士izz鈥檚 health, and the latter鈥檚 reply
45. Complaint about the commissioner of al-Mahdiyya, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 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-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
50. Concerning a drunken secretary
51. Letter from the governor of Tripoli about expenditure for the fleet, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
52. Jawdhar鈥檚 offer to provide wood for shipbuilding, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
53. Jawdhar鈥檚 request concerning the son of a secretary to receive his father鈥檚 emoluments
54. Prince Tam墨m鈥檚 companionship with 峁乭ir, son of A岣ad b. al-岣san
55. al-Mu士izz pays tribute to a secretary after his death
56. al-Mu士izz accepts a gift of wood from Jawdhar
57. A land dispute between Jawdhar鈥檚 agent and a man of the Kut膩ma
58. Jawhar鈥檚 request relating to inheritance and purchase of property
59. Jawdhar鈥檚 complaint about abuses committed by a district governor, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
60. Jawdhar鈥檚 report on the activities of an Umayyad agent in al-Mas墨la, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
61. Jawdhar鈥檚 wish not to importune al-Mu士izz
62. On the release of Muslim prisoners from Byzantine Custody
63. Jawdhar鈥檚 note relating to maritime supplies, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
64. Jawdhar鈥檚 request to grant a domain to a secretary鈥檚 son, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
65. The treatment of some slaves who apostatised after having embraced Islam
66. On Ja士far b. Man峁Ｅ玶 al-Yaman鈥檚 financial predicament and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 help to him
67. Jawdhar鈥檚 request for a ship to replace one that perished, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
68. Concerning the death of al-岣san b. 士Al墨The elder of 士Al墨鈥檚 two sons (d. c. 669) by Fatima, and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. in Sicily
69. Finances of the governor Ja士far b. 士Al墨 b. 岣mdun
70. al-Mu士izz allows Ja士far to continue to administer the province in spite of lower financial returns to the Treasury
71. Jawdhar鈥檚 note to al-Mu士izz defending the interests of the Treasury, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
72. Concerning rumours about Jawdhar鈥檚 concern for the Kalb墨 brothers
73. Concerning alienation between Jawdhar and Mu岣mmad b. al-岣san b. 士Al墨 al-Kalb墨
74. al-Mu士izz binds Jawdhar to Jawhar by a pact of brotherhood
75. About an agreement between Jawdhar and the governor of Sicily regarding his ship鈥檚 cargo
76. Jawdhar asks al-Mu士izz鈥檚 permission to gift a precious rug to Prince 鈥楢bd Allah
77. al-Mu士izz expresses regret at the loss of Jawdhar鈥檚 ship which perished
78. Concerning a request to turn a house adjoining D膩r al-Ba岣 into a storehouse for naval equipment
79. Concerning a request by al-岣san b. 士Al墨鈥檚 mother to buy a house near the palace
80. Concerning a promise made by al-Mu士izz to al-岣san b. 士Amm膩r
81. Jawdhar鈥檚 request to al-Mu士izz for an item of his clothing to serve him as a shroud, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
82. Jawdhar is received in al-Man峁Ｅ玶iyya by al-Mu士izz鈥檚 sons, brothers and dignitaries of the state
83. Ja士far b. 士Al墨 b. 岣mdun鈥檚 correspondence regarding raising revenue for the Treasury, and al-Mu士izz鈥檚 reply
84. Prince 士Abd All膩h replies to Jawdhar鈥檚 letter requesting mules, with al-Mu士izz鈥檚 response
85. Account of Jawdhar鈥檚 final journey, his frail condition, and his last meeting with al-Mu士izz at Ajd膩biya
86. Jawdhar enters Barqa gravely ill; Prince 鈥楢bd Allah鈥檚 letter to Jawdhar on al-Mu士izz鈥檚 behalf; Jawdhar鈥檚 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 鸟大大影院. His publications include Founding the Fatimid State: The Rise of an Early Islamic Empire (London, 2006).