Ali az-Zahir

Abu 'l- Hasan Ali az- Zahir li - Izaz Din Allah (Arabic أبو الحسن علي الظاهر لإعزاز دين الله, DMG Abū ' l- Ḥasan ʿ Alī az- Zahir li - ʾ I ʿ ZAZ Dīn Allāh, " which appears to the religion of God to increase "; * June 20, 1005, † June 13, 1036 ) was from 1021 the seventh Caliph of the Fatimids.

After the assassination of his father, al - Haakim bi- ʾ amri llāh Ali az- Zahir 1021 took over the rule in Egypt. The government was initially run by his stepmother Sitt al -Mulk. After her death in 1023 took over a group of four minions in power. Az- Zahir, who indulged his pleasures, was kept away from the power of his life.

Under this Günstlingsherrschaft the kingdom of the Fatimids found itself in a crisis, when a severe famine in Egypt and epidemics among the population led to anarchy (1023-1025) as well as in Palestine and Syria, a riot broke out in the united Bedouin ( 1024-1029 ). The revolt was quelled by General Anuschtegin ad Duzbiri only when the diplomacy of the Fatimids could break the coalition of rebels.

Within the minions succeeded Ali ibn Ahmad al - Dschardscharai 1028 off his other competitors and to assume the office of vizier, which he was able to exert up to 1045. This succeeded in the aftermath establish a good relationship with Byzantium, even if it occasionally in Syria came to fighting and in control of Aleppo has always remained controversial. In order to improve relations with Byzantium and the Christians in the Empire, the rebuilding of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem destroyed in 1009 was approved ( 1027) under az- Zahir.

During his reign the sect of the Druze in Egypt was followed bloody. This was forced to adjust the mission among the people and was able to maintain in the long run only in the highlands of Syria and Lebanon.

After his death on June 13, 1036 his son Abu Tamim Maadd became the new Caliph of the Fatimids (reigned 1036-1094 ) under the throne name of al - Mustansir.