Inside the Immaculate Portal

Acknowledgements
Chronology
Map 1: North Africa (4th/10th century)
Map 2: Sicily (4th/10th century)
Table 1: The Fatimids of Ifr?qiya
Table 2: The Kalbids of Sicily
Introduction
Translation of the S?rat al-Ust?dh Jawdhar
Part One: Biography
1 Jawdhar begins to serve al-Mahd?
2 Jawdhar acquires al-Mahd?'s blessing
3 Jawdhar left in charge of al-Q?'im's palace
4 Jawdhar becomes official at the Treasury
5 Jawdhar made privy to al-Mans?r's designation as heir apparent
6 A letter from al-Mans?r, heir apparent, to Jawdhar
7 The first written directive from al-Q?'im to Jawdhar
8 al-Q?'im shuns forbidden goods
9 al-Q?'im's advice to al-Mans?r regarding Jawdhar
10 Jawdhar left to govern the entire country
11 Letter of al-Mans?r proclaiming his victory over Ab? Yaz?d
12 Letter of al-Mans?r announcing the death of al-Q?'im
13 Letter of al-Mans?r concerning money that Jawdhar had offered to him
14 Letter of al-Mans?r to Jawdhar
15 The defeat of Ab? Yaz?d Makhlad b. Kayd?d
16 Jawdhar is freed from bondage and receives his honorific title
17 Jawdhar's name is inscribed on embroidered garments and carpets
18 al-Mans?r honours Jawdhar
19 al-Mans?r's treasure stores entrusted to Jawdhar
20 Sermon of al-Q?'im delivered by al-Marwaz?
21 Sermon of al-Mans?r announcing the death of al-Q?'im
22 al-Mans?r gifts newly minted coins to Jawdhar
23 Letter of al-Mans?r concerning a gift for the Byzantine emperor
24 Letter of al-Mans?r concerning the inhabitants of the palace
25 Another letter concerning the inhabitants of the palace
26 Letter from al-Mans?r concerning his uncles and brothers
27 Letter of al-Mans?r concerning certain troublemakers
28 Letter of al-Mans?r regarding the rebels of Sicily
29 Last letter of al-Mans?r to Jawdhar
30 Letters of al-Muizz informing Jawdhar of the death of al-Mans?r
31 Letter of al-Muizz in reply to a request that Jawdhar had made to him
32 Sermon of al-Muizz announcing the death of al-Mans?r
33 A note from Jawdhar to al-Muizz and the latter's reply
Part Two: Documents
1 On the transportation of barley to Sicily
2 al-Muizz's instructions to have a prayer mat made for a Slav
3 Jawdhar's letter about the conduct of a Slav, and al-Muizz's reply
4 Disagreement between the Treasury director and an official of the mint
5 al-Muizz's reply to a personal note from Jawdhar
6 Horses gifted by Jawdhar to the Ban? Ab? al-Husayn al-Kalb?
7 Jawdhar's offer of money to al-Muizz, and the latter's reply
8 Another personal note from Jawdhar regarding his plea, and al-Muizz's reply
9 A governor's complaint against some Berbers
10 Jawdhar seeks permission to accept a gift from the governor of Barqa, and al-Muizz's reply
11 Jawdhar's request for a pass to cover expenses for the upkeep of camels, and al-Muizz's reply
12 Jawdhar's note about a pledge by a Slav to pay for houses administered by him, and al-Muizz's reply
13 On litigation about pastures
14 Another request from Jawdhar, and al-Muizz's reply
15 Jawdhar's request regarding a son of his secretary, and al-Muizz's reply
16 On materials for shipbuilding
17 Interception of letters of two sons of Q?sim, son of al-Q?'im, and al-Muizz's reply
18 Jawdhar's complaint about a governor, and al-Muizz's instructions to the commander Jawhar
19 On surveillance of correspondence between some members of the Fatimid family
20 Ab? Abd All?h, son of al-Q?'im, forbidden to engage in wailing
21 Jawdhar authorised to have s?m?n mats made for himself
22 al-Muizz attempts to reconcile Jafar b. Al? b. Hamd?n and Y?suf b. Z?r?
23 The director of the naval storehouses forbidden to store supplies in a mosque
24 Order to expedite the purchase of maritime provisions
25 Another request from Jawdhar, and al-Muizz's reply
26 A shroud for an official's son
27 Condolences for the death of a servant
28 Order to execute captains of ships which left for Sicily in breach of instructions
29 Jawdhar's reminder regarding his request, and al-Muizz's rep

The author of this work, Abu Ali Mansur al-Azizi al-Jawdhari, was a private secretary of Jawdhar, a confidant of the first four Fatimid caliph-imams who ruled in North Africa (from 297/910 to 361/972). Mansur had easy access to archives held by Jawdhar, including letters he had received from the imams, and was also privy to secrets that Jawdhar confided to him. After Jawdhar's death in 362/973, the Fatimid caliph-imam al-Mu'izz appointed Mansur to succeed him. The author cherished the memory of his mentor and wished to commemorate him. With this end in view, he compiled the Sirat al-Ustadh Jawdhar, edited and translated here as Inside the Immaculate Portal. The work presents not only a biographical account of one of the most prominent statesman of the early Fatimid period, but, more importantly, it brings together oral statements, correspondence and other archival material from the period spanning over sixty years of Fatimid rule. The Sirat al-Ustadh Jawdhar was written during the time of al-Mu'izz's successor al-'Aziz bi-llah(r. 365-386/975-996). It is divided into two parts. The first part contains an account of the life and career of Jawdhar, from his entering the service of the Fatimids under al-Mahdi to his death sixty years later during the reign of al-Mu'izz. The biography is interspersed with some sermons and correspondence of the imams with Jawdhar on a variety of subjects, both personal and political. The second part is largely a documentary collection of 86 letters, directives, recorded conversations and letters of the Fatimid caliph-imams addressed to Jawdhar. Altogether, this publication provides a unique insight into the private world and political ethos of one of the major Muslim dynasties of the medieval era.