Al-Zafir


Abu Mansur Isma'il Az-Zafir bi-Amr Allāh ibn al-Hafiz, February 1133April 1154), was a Fatimid caliph from 1149 to 1154, in Cairo, son of Al-Hafiz, 12th Fatimid Caliph and was the 23rd Imam of the Hafizi Ismaili sect. The young Az-Zafir became caliph in 1149, and Ibn al-Sallar became his vizier/prime minister, with Usama ibn Munqidh as one of his advisors. The Imam-Caliph Az-Zafir was murdered by his vizier called Abbas ibn Abi al-Futuh and his son Nasr who succeeded Ibn al-Sallar. Az-Zafir never exercised power in his own right with his viziers exercising real power. Instead of devoting himself to the administration, Zafir exceedingly inclined to a life of pleasure. He was murdered at the age of 21 years in 549/1154 and was succeeded by his five years old son, Al-Faiz.