Published Date: 03.09.2026
The Structure and Specifics of the Judicial System of the Fatimid Caliphate
Annotation
The article is devoted to the analysis of the judicial system of the Fatimid Caliphate and the role of the caliph-imam in the organization of justice. The article examines the Mazalim institute as the highest judicial body, its functions in reviewing complaints, monitoring the activities of officials and settling interfaith disputes. The article examines the status of Qadi al-Qudat as the supreme judge, as well as the activities of the shurt and Muhtasib and the courts of zimmi responsible for law enforcement and law and order. The author draws a conclusion about the relative hierarchy of the judicial structure of the caliphate.
| Type | Article |
| Information | History of State and Law № 09/2026 |
| Pages | 8-12 |
| DOI | 10.18572/1812-3805-2026-9-8-12 |
Library
1. Haji, H. Institutions of Justice in Fatimid Egypt / H. Haji // Islamic Law and Historical Contexts / ed. by A. al-Azmeh. London : Routledge, 1988. P. 198–214.
2. ور زين الدين. تاريخ الدولة الفاطمية. القاهرة : دار الفكر، 1995. 426 ص
3. د المنعم ماجد. تاريخ الخلافة الفاطمية. عمان : دار الفكر ناشرون وموزعون، 2011. 360 ص.
4. لقاضي النعمان المغربي. دعائم الإسلام. تحقيق آصف بن علي أصغر فيضي. الجزء 1. القاهرة: دار المعارف، 1383 هـ / 1963. 339 ص.
5. Walker, P.E. The Role of the Imam-caliph as Depicted in Official Treatises and Documents Issued by the Fatimids / P.E. Walker // The Study of Shiʿi Islam: History, Theology and Law / eds. by Gurdofarid Miskinzoda. London : I. B. Tauris & Co Ltd, 2014. P.
6. Walker, P.E. The Responsibilities of Political Office in a Shi‘i Caliphate and the Delineation of Public Duties under the Fatimids / P.E. Walker // Islam, the State, and Political Authority. Middle East Today / ed. by A. Afsaruddin. New York : Palgrave Ma
7. Shoshan, B. Fāṭimid grain policy and the post of the muḥtasib / B. Shoshan // International Journal of Middle East Studies. 1981. Vol. 13. Iss. 2. P. 181–189.
8. Rustow, M. The legal status of Dhimmi's in the Fatimid East: A view from the palace in Cairo / M. Rustow // The Legal status of ḏimmī-s in the Islamic West (second/eighth-ninth/fifteenth centuries) / eds. by M. Fierro, J. Tolan. Turnhout : Brepols, 2013.
9. Lev, Y. The suppression of crime, the supervision of markets, and Urban society in the Egyptian capital during the tenth and eleventh centuries / Y. Lev // Mediterranean Historical Review. 1988. Vol. 3. Iss. 2. P. 71–95.
10. Lev, Y. Administration of Justice in Medieval Egypt: From the 7th to the 12th Century / Y. Lev. Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, 2020. 301 p.
11. Ladak, H.A. The Fatimid Caliphate and the Ismaili dawa: from the appointment of Mustali to the suppression of the dynasty : PhD thesis / H.A. Ladak. London : School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1971. 279 p.
12. Джива Ш. Фатимиды. В 2 томах. Т. 1. Становление мусульманской империи / Ш. Джива. Москва : Наталис, 2019. 190 с.
13. Dachraoui, F. Le Califat Fatimide au Maghreb (295–365 H./909–975 J. C.): Histoire politique et institutions / F. Dachraoui. Tunis : Société Tunisienne de Distribution, 1981. 615 p.
14. Bareket, E. The Head of the Jews (Ra’is al-Yahud) in Fatimid Egypt: A Re-Evaluation / E. Bareket // Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 2004. Vol. 67. Iss. 2. P. 185–197. DOI: 10.1017/S0041977X04000138
15. Al-Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān. The Pillars of Islam: Da'a'im al-Islam of al-Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān. In 2 vols. Vol. 1 / al-Qaḍi al-Nuʿman ; translated by A.A.A. Fyzee ; revised and annotated by I.K. Poonawala. New York : Oxford University Press, 2002. 550 p.
16. Al-Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān. The Pillars of Islam: Da'a'im al-Islam of al-Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān. In 2 vols. Vol. 2 / al-Qadi al-Nuʿman ; translated by A.A.A. Fyzee ; revised and annotated by I.K. Poonawala. New York : Oxford University Press, 2002. 558 p.
17. Allouche, A. The Establishment of Four Chief Judgeships in Fāṭimid Egypt / A. Allouche // Journal of the American Oriental Society. 1985. Vol. 105. Iss. 2. P. 317–320.
18. Семенова Л.А. Из истории Древнего Египта. Очерки и материалы : монография / Л.А. Семенова. Москва : Институт востоковедения АН СССР, 1974. 265 с.
19. Петрушевский И.П. Ислам в Иране в VII–XV веках : курс лекций / И.П. Петрушевский ; ответственный редактор В.И. Беляев. Ленинград : Издательство Ленинградского университета, 1966. 201 с.
20. Насир-и Хосроу. Сафар-наме. Книга путешествия / Насир-и Хосроу ; перевод и автор вступительной статьи Е. Бертельса ; под общей редакцией В. Гордлевского, И. Крачковского. Москва ; Ленинград : Academia, 1933. 212 с.
21. Мец А. Мусульманский Ренессанс / А. Мец ; перевод с немецкого, автор предисловия, библиографии и указателя Д.Е. Бертельс ; ответственный редактор В.И. Беляев. 2-е изд. Москва : Наука, 1973. 473 с.
Get access to the article