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History of Islam Vol 3 of 3 by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

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Ubaidullah Dynasty in Egypt and Tripoli<br />

243<br />

The Founding <strong>of</strong> Mahdlya City<br />

Since Ubaidullah Mahdi was an Isma'ili Shi'ite and one who claimed<br />

to be Imam Mahdi, he was in constant fear <strong>of</strong> uprisings against him,<br />

particularly when the whole North Africa did not accept his claim. He<br />

planned to found a new city for his capital. He visited the coastal<br />

areas and chose a narrow rocky peninsula on Cape Ifriqiya and laid<br />

the foundation <strong>of</strong> a city. He named it Mahdiya. The city was<br />

strengthened with strong fortifications and iron doors. When the work<br />

was completed, Ubaidullah Mahdi said laughingly, "I have today,<br />

won peace for Bani Fatima. They are now safe". The same year he set<br />

up a boat factory, which built nine hundred boats for his fleet in the<br />

first year. He then sent his son, Abul Qasim to invade Alexandria in<br />

307 A.H. Abul Qasim conquered Alexandria and captured the Nile<br />

Delta. After receiving this news Caliph Muqtadir - <strong>of</strong> Baghdad sent his<br />

slave. Munis, to Egypt. After a number <strong>of</strong> encounters and trials <strong>of</strong><br />

strength Munis was victorious. Ubaidullah had sent a fleet <strong>of</strong> eighty<br />

war ships to reinforced Abul Qasim but he had been defeated and<br />

forced to flee before the reinforcements arrived. The fleet was<br />

unaware <strong>of</strong> the defeat <strong>of</strong> Abul Qasim and they continued moving<br />

ahead. The fleet met its doom when Munis smashed it, set the boats on<br />

fire and killed them all.<br />

The next year 308 A.H. Ubaidullah Mahdi sent Mudala bin Habus to<br />

invade Morocco. He came into conflict with Yahya bin Idris bin Amr<br />

more than once. Finally, Yahya became subordinate to Ubaidullah<br />

Mahdi, and Ubaidullah appointed Musa bin Abi al-Afiya Maknasi as<br />

the caretaker <strong>of</strong> the Moroccan provinces. In 309 A.H., other provinces<br />

<strong>of</strong> Morocco were also annexed under the Ubaidite rule. Fez was then<br />

under the rule <strong>of</strong> Yahya. The same year Musa bin Abi al-Afiya lodged<br />

a complaint against Yahya and <strong>by</strong> the order <strong>of</strong> Ubaidullah Yahya's<br />

part <strong>of</strong> the territory was also annexed to Ubaidite rule. When the<br />

Idrisite rule was no longer in effect, some individuals <strong>of</strong> the dynasty<br />

shifted to Rif (Northeastern Morocco) and Ghumarah (Northwestern<br />

Morocco) and established their governments there. After dealing with<br />

Morocco Mudala invaded Sijilmassa and handed it over to his cousin<br />

<strong>by</strong> killing family members <strong>of</strong> the Madrar Maknasi tribes, who were<br />

antagonistic to the Ubaidites. Mudala Was a great commander who

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