Fatimid Imam-Caliph al-Hakim: Debunking the "Mad Caliph" Narrative by Dr. Khalil Andani

A critical academic review of the historiographical portrayal of the Fatimid Imam-Caliph al-Hakim bi Amr Allah (r. 995-1021), the 16th Ismaili Imam and 7th Fatimid Caliph.

[@The_ZeroLine]

It’s pretty wild to think this guy inspired a new religion which persists to this day, some of whose members I know personally, and worships him as a god. I’d say the mad caliph reputation is evenly balanced with him as a caliph who made Cairo a center of learning and who generally was tolerant of other religions.

[@shabanaraheem779]

thankyou for enlightening us😇

[@The_ZeroLine]

PS - not sure I’d use Game of Thrones as historically relevant example of effective governance styles. I think it’s safe to say most people understand the concept of stability and obedience through fear from countless historical and present day examples.

[@Pierre-vn5rh]

M. Andani a fait des recherches pour apporter des informations contextuelles pour expliquer les justifications des actions du Calife Al-Hakim.
Dans un contexte plus macro, il est évident le pouvoir rival Abbaside avait toutes les raisons pour disqualifier le Calife fatimide. ❤

[@m.ishakziaee9861]

Salam. Excellent rebuttal to most of the fragmented and distorted facts leading to the unenviable conclusion of an insane Imam, by sunni polemics and other historians. One correction though - at 17:20 you mention that the slandering of the first 3 caliphs was initiated by Al-Hakim. However another historical perspective is that his introduction and advocation of Ismaili traditions/sharia/symbolism - like the change in the azan to include similar shia azan words - was taken as a sign by ithna asharai shia’s as a free-for-all of every kind of tabarra and laa’nat that they did secretly. When this reached Al-Hakim’s ears he immediately stopped it and forbade any kind of slander to be uttered publicly against sunni mainstream caliphs (which resolves the seq of him initiating and then forbidding this act). Thanks.

[@The_ZeroLine]

And, yes, simply taking less than 5 mins on each topic will show none of his actions were crazy. They all had easily identifiable and rationale motivations . And, as a Jew, my positive assessment is doubly credible.😉 Honestly, I think non-Ismali Muslim sects drove most of the negative propaganda. “Melancholy” to me sounds like generalized depression, which literally millions of functional everyday people are diagnosed with every year. It should be more understood as something like obesity, which is a condition that can easily be brought on by external factors and everyday lifestyle choices.