# Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah

> second Fatimid caliph from 934 to 946

**Wikidata**: [Q293549](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q293549)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qa'im_(Fatimid_caliph))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/al-qa-im-bi-amrillah

## Summary

Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah, also known as Muhammad al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah, was the second Fatimid caliph, ruling from 934 to 946. He held the titles of caliph and imam, serving as both a political leader and an Islamic religious authority within the Fatimid Caliphate, a Shia Islamic caliphate that endured from 909 to 1171.

## Biography

- **Born:** Date and place not specified in available sources
- **Nationality:** Not specified in available sources; ruled within the Fatimid Caliphate
- **Education:** Not specified in available sources
- **Known for:** Serving as the second Fatimid caliph and imam
- **Employer(s):** Not applicable
- **Field(s):** Governance, religious leadership (Islamic imamate, caliphate)

## Contributions

Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah served as the second caliph of the Fatimid Caliphate, a Shia Islamic caliphate established in 909. He succeeded the founding caliph and governed the realm from 934 until 946. As caliph, he claimed succession from the Islamic prophet Muhammad, a foundational premise of the caliphal title dating back to its inception in 632. His leadership encompassed both political authority over the Fatimid state and religious authority as an imam, a recognized Islamic leadership position.

## FAQs

**What was Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah's role in the Fatimid Caliphate?**
He was the second caliph of the Fatimid Caliphate, ruling from 934 to 946. He held both political and religious authority as caliph and imam.

**What is the Fatimid Caliphate?**
The Fatimid Caliphate was a Shia Islamic caliphate that existed from 909 to 1171. Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah governed it as its second ruler during the first half of the tenth century.

**What titles did Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah hold?**
He held the titles of caliph — a monarchical position rooted in the claim to succeed Muhammad — and imam, an Islamic leadership role. His identity as a human, politician, and religious leader places him at the intersection of governance and faith.

## Why They Matter

Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah's significance lies in his position as the second ruler of the Fatimid Caliphate, a major Shia Islamic empire that spanned parts of North Africa and, later, the broader Islamic world. His reign from 934 to 946 represented a critical period of consolidation following the caliphate's founding in 909. As both a caliph and an imam, he embodied the dual religio-political authority that defined Fatimid governance and shaped the development of Ismaili Shia Islam. The Fatimid Caliphate ultimately endured until 1171, making his early leadership part of the foundation of a dynasty that lasted over two and a half centuries.

## Notable For

- Second caliph of the Fatimid Caliphate, the Shia Islamic empire that lasted from 909 to 1171
- Ruled from 934 to 946, a 12-year reign during the formative decades of the Fatimid state
- Held the title of imam, an Islamic leadership position carrying both spiritual and communal significance
- Held the title of caliph, a monarchical office originating in 632, based on the claim to be a successor to Muhammad
- Served as a politician governing a major medieval Islamic empire

## Body

### Historical Context

The Fatimid Caliphate was a Shia Islamic caliphate established in 909. It would persist as a significant political and religious power until 1171. The caliphal title itself traces back to 632, rooted in claims of succession from the prophet Muhammad. Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah, also known by the name Muhammad al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah, governed this empire as its second caliph.

### Reign as Caliph

Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah ruled from 934 to 946. As the second Fatimid caliph, he inherited and maintained a state still in its early decades of formation following its 909 founding. His role as a caliph placed him among the ranks of Islamic monarchical rulers claiming direct succession from Muhammad. His authority was not solely political — it was also religious.

### Religious Authority as Imam

In addition to the caliphal title, Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah served as an imam. The imamate is an Islamic leadership position with deep theological and communal importance, particularly within Shia Islam. For the Fatimid dynasty, the imamate and caliphate were intertwined, with the ruler holding supreme authority in both domains.

### Identity and Classification

Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah is classified as a human, a politician, an imam, and a caliph. These interconnected identities — spanning species, civic governance, and religious office — reflect the multifaceted nature of his historical role. His Wikipedia entry is titled "Al-Qa'im (Fatimid caliph)," and his Wikidata description identifies him directly as the "second Fatimid caliph from 934 to 946," with 31 sitelinks across various language editions documenting his legacy.

### Connected Entities

Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah's life and reign are directly linked to the Fatimid Caliphate (909–1171), the institution of the caliphate (originating in 632), and the Islamic imamate. These three entities define the structural and historical framework within which he operated.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Faceted Application of Subject Terminology
3. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/kaim-biemrillah-el-fatimi)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013