The Religious Policies of Fatimid's Sunni Vizirs: Motivations, Aims and Ways

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Abstract

In the 2nd half of the 6th century A.H., when the Isma'ili Caliphate in Egypt was in the worst political situation, a series of political Sunni figures managed to reach the important position of Vizara some times. They, who were sympathetic towards the Sunni Caliphate of Abbasids in Baghdad and eventually made the Fatimid Caliphate to fall, during their Vizara for Fatimid dynasty, had to have the same and special religious policies in order to defense themselves in the political competition against their rivals in that field. The most important point of these religious policies was the benefits of having good and practical relationships with some outstanding Sunni clerics. Studying these relationships can help us to analyze and explain the roots of Sunni uprising to power in Egypt during the period of Fatimid's fall and Ayyubid's appearance.

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