AlMustali

alMustali is a historical term referring to a period within the Fatimid Caliphate. Specifically, it denotes the reign of the Fatimid Caliph al-Mustali billah, who ruled from 1094 to 1101 CE. This era is significant for several reasons, primarily due to the Ismaili schism that occurred during his time. Upon the death of his father, Caliph al-Mustansir, a succession dispute arose. Al-Mustali was proclaimed caliph, but his cousin Nizār also claimed the imamate, leading to a division within the Ismaili community. This schism had long-lasting implications for the future of Ismaili movements.

The reign of alMustali also coincided with the First Crusade, which began in 1096. The Fatimid Caliphate, already weakened by internal divisions and external pressures, struggled to respond effectively to the invading Christian forces. While the Fatimids initially held control of Jerusalem, they lost it to the Crusaders in 1099, shortly before alMustali's death. His caliphate, therefore, represents a turning point where the Fatimid state began to experience a decline in its political and military power, exacerbated by the growing threat from Western European crusaders and the internal fragmentation of its own religious authority. The policies and events of the alMustali period set the stage for further challenges faced by the Fatimids in the subsequent decades.