The End in Egypt and a new beginning in Yemen

After the death of al-Amir (the 20th Fatimid caliph/Imam), the Mustalian branch of Ismaili continued in Egypt with his cousin al-Hafiz (1130-1149 AD), his son al-Zafir (1149-1154 AD) and his descendants al-Fa’iz (1154-1160 AD) and al-Adid (1160-1171). The Fatimid dynasty ended in 1171 AD when it was taken over by Saladin/Salah al-deen al-Ayyubi.

The Queen of Yemen and the Fatimid Dawa

A new sect (previously known as the Fatimid Mustalian) named Tayyibi emerged in Yemen under the ruler-ship of the Sulayhid Queen (Arwa al-Sulayhi). Upon the death of al-Amir, the Fatimid in Egypt was significantly weaker with internal crises and dynastic disputes. It was then that the Yemenite Queen (Arwa al-Sulayhi), broke away from the Fatimid leadership in Egypt and asserted the independence of her people.

A story was circulated about the arrival of at-Tayyib, an infant son of al-Amir in Yemen (by none other than the Queen). The Queen also utilized the Ismaili doctrine of Satr to explain the disappearance/seclusion of at-Tayyib (the 21^st Imam of Bohras).  She also claimed herself as the deputy of the hidden Imam (naib al Imam). 

From the year 1132 AD, the Ismaili dawa in Yemen was severed from the Fatimid in Egypt. This marks a new beginning in the history of the Mustalian Tayyibi dawa.