Kutayfat ibn al-Afdal

Kutayfat ibn al-Afdal was the son of the vizier al-Afdal. He seized power in Egypt after the death of the caliph al-Amir in 1130, declared the Fatimid dynasty deposed, and was killed in 1131.

The Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.), signed S. M. Stern, says that after the death of the caliph al-Amir on 12 Dhu 'l-Qa'da 524 (17 October 1130), two favourites of the late caliph, Hazarmard and Barghash, made al-Amir's cousin 'Abd al-Majid temporary regent. Four days later the army raised Kutayfat, who took the title al-Afdal, to the vizierate. He declared the Fatimid dynasty deposed and placed the empire under the Expected Imam of the Twelver Shi'a. 'Abd al-Majid was removed and imprisoned, and Kutayfat ruled as a dictator. Coins of 525 bear the name of "al-Imam Muhammad Abu 'l-Qasim al-Muntazir", and coins of 526 give the vizier the title of representative and lieutenant. Kutayfat did not outlaw Isma'ilism, and the college of qadis he appointed included an Isma'ili, a Hanafi, a Shafi'i and an Imami. ¹

Kutayfat was killed while riding outside the city, and 'Abd al-Majid was brought out of prison on 16 Muharram 526 (8 December 1131). He was proclaimed caliph under the title al-Hafiz li-Din Allah. The event was commemorated every year until the end of the Fatimid dynasty. ¹