What is Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah?
'''Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah''' a.k.a '''Said ibn Husayn''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: عبيد الله بن الحسين المهدي) is considered the founder of the [[Fatimid Caliphate|Fatimid]] dynasty, the only major [[Shi'a Islam|Shi'ite]] [[caliphate]] in [[Islam]]. He established Fatimid rule throughout much of North Africa. He ruled from 909 to 934. After establishing himself as the first [[Imam]] of the Fatimid dynasty he made claim to genealogic origins dating as far back as [[Fatimah]], the daughter of the Prophet of Islam, [[Muhammad]], through [[Husayn]], Fatimah's son, and Ismail. It was at this time as well that he changed his name to Ubaydallah Al-Mahdi. == Links and references == * {{cite book | author=Hitti, Philip K. | year=1970 | chapter =A Shi'ite Caliphate in Egypt: The Fatimids | editor= | title=History of The Arabs | pages=617–619 | publisher=Palgrave Macmillan | isbn=0-06-106583-8 }} * [http://archive.mumineen.org/awliya/aimmat/e_imammehdi_11.html Imam al-Mahdi, the 11th Fatimi Imam.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210110054/http://archive.mumineen.org/awliya/aimmat/e_imammehdi_11.html |date=2006-02-10 }} * [http://www.iis.ac.uk/home.asp?l=en Institute of Ismaili Studies London.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426030151/http://www.iis.ac.uk/home.asp?l=en |date=2007-04-26 }} {{start box}} {{succession box| before=Founder| title=[[Fatimid|Fatimid Caliph]] | years=[[909]]–[[934]]| after=[[Muhammad al-Qaim Bi-Amrillah]] }} {{end box}} {{bio-stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah}} [[Category:Year of birth unknown]] [[Category:934 deaths]] [[Category:Caliphs]]