The Politics of Motherhood

Abstract

In the seventeenth century, the Zaydi jurist Salih b. Mahdi al-Maqbali expressed his indignation at a verdict of the ruling Imam al-Mutawakkil Isma’il b. al-Qasim which prohibited the fatimiyyat (sing. fatimiyyah, ’Alid women) from marrying ’arab (sing. ’arabi; non-’Alids) (al-Maqbali 1981: 440–1).¹ The Imam argued that a marriage of a fatimiyyah and an ’arabi violated the sanctity of the ahl al-bayt and should not be allowed. Al-Maqbali protested that those who desired to become close to the Prophet by marrying his female offspring were prevented from doing so. Although these women were fortunate to be desired as wives, most became old without getting married and some might misbehave. Where can we find fatimiyyun (’Alid men) to marry those women he asked?