Other lordship · Arabia · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Tayyibi da'i

The Tayyibi Ismailis, heirs of the Sulayhid mission, are led by a supreme da'i who acts for the hidden imam.

Hatim ibn Ibrahim al-Hamidi, da'i from 1162, was given Kawkaban by the Banu Zuwahi in 1166 but was driven out by the Hamdanid sultan Ali ibn Hatim; he then won most of the Haraz mountains by force and made al-Hutayb his seat. He died there on 16 Muharram 596 (6-7 November 1199), so on 1 January 1200 his son Ali ibn Hatim al-Hamidi has been da'i for less than two months. The mission also has a deputy (ma'dhun) for Sana'a, under Hatim held by Muhammad ibn Tahir al-Harithi (his position in 1200 not pinned).

Haraz itself was ruled by a local family, the Ya'buri, allied to the mission; at an undated point in his tenure (1199-1209) they turned against the Tayyibis and Ali moved the headquarters to Sana'a, where the Hamdanids welcomed him and their Ayyubid overlords let him be; he later lived at Dhu Marmar (Zimarmar) and died in Sana'a on 31 May 1209.

Who he is

Name
Ali ibn Hatim al-Hamidi
Title
Da'i al-mutlaq (supreme missionary) of the Tayyibi Ismailis, fourth of the line
Since
16 Muharram 596 (6-7 November 1199), on his father's death
Born
Not pinned
Family
Son of Hatim ibn Ibrahim al-Hamidi (da'i 1162-1199) and grandson of Ibrahim al-Hamidi (da'i to 1162), of the Hamdan
Confidence
high

English Wikipedia's article on Hatim ibn Ibrahim gives the death and succession.

Overlord

None (the Tayyibis await the hidden imam al-Tayyib).

What it holds

  • Most of the Haraz mountains with the castles round al-Hutayb (shared with the local Ya'buri lords)
  • The Tayyibi communities of Sana'a and the Hamdan country

How it was acquired

Haraz won by Hatim ibn Ibrahim after he left Kawkaban (after 1166).

Allies and rivals

Enemies: the Zaydi imams; the Hamdanid sultan Ali ibn Hatim (who drove Hatim from Kawkaban). Relations with al-Mu'izz not pinned.

How things stand that morning

A new da'i holding Haraz, independent of both the Ayyubids and the imam.

Wealth

The terraces of Haraz; the religious dues of the Tayyibis of Yemen and India.

Military

Hill fortresses of Haraz and the da'i's followers.

Threats

  • Zaydi hostility
  • A new ruler's weakness in his first year

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. Not pinned (1199-1209)The Ya'buri lords of Haraz turn against the Tayyibis; the da'i moves to Sana'a under Hamdanid protection.Depends on: A quarrel with the Ya'buri. Stopped by: Keeping the Ya'buri alliance.

Where the sources disagree

  • Two men called Ali ibn Hatim stand in this area on 1 January 1200: the Hamdanid sultan al-Yami (allied to the imam) and the new Tayyibi da'i al-Hamidi. The English Wikipedia dates of Hatim's death differ by a day (6 or 7 November 1199).

Evidence: The succession is well dated in the Tayyibi tradition; the extent of Haraz in Tayyibi hands is not pinned.

On the map: Rough outline of the Haraz massif.

Sources and studies

  1. 'Hatim ibn Ibrahim', English Wikipedia (third Tayyibi da'i al-mutlaq, died 16 Muharram 596 / November 1199)
  2. 'Ali ibn Hatim', English Wikipedia (fourth Tayyibi da'i al-mutlaq, 1199-1209)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.