In a two previous articles we talked about Al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allah the governor of Egypt, and his fluctuation in the matters of the governance and excessive issuance of decrees. In addition to his relation with Christians and Jews which was characterized by violence and his orders to destruct the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem and its demolishing!! Then he allowed Christians and Jews who converted unwillingly to convert back to their beliefs and reconstruct the demolished churches.
Some historians mentioned that Al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allah at his last days claimed Deism!!
Al-Dhahabi mentioned: “It was mentioned that he wanted to claim divinity and began to act as such, the Notables of his state intimidated him that people might revolt against him so he retreated.”
Jalal Al-Din Al-Suyuti mentioned that Al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allah (396 AH- 1005 AD): “He ordered people in Egypt and the Two Holy Mosques… whenever the name of the governor was mentioned…they ought to stand up and prostrate in the market and all areas of gatherings.”
His life and judgments were a controversial issue to historians along with his disappearance and death which was a greater controversial issue, as Al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allah disappeared in one of his night trips. Historians’ explanations varied in that issue as some of them said that he might have been assassinated while others said that he disappeared at Dier Shahran as he used to visit it regularly, however, the third party thought that he was raised to heaven.
Ibn Taghribirdi said that Al-Dhahabi mentioned: “It was agreed that he went out at a night in Shawwal in 11 AH from his palace to Zaher “Cairo”, he went around all night then in the morning he went to the east of Holwan and he had two companions with him (two writers), one of them returned with nine Arabs (they might be affiliated to a leader named Sweed Bin Al-Hares) then Al-Hakim ordered the other to depart. It was mentioned that he left him by Al-Fokaai tomb and it was the last time he was seen (Al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allah)”
It was also mentioned that he went out at night to the mountain of Mokattamto see the stars as usual and since that moment he was never seen again and went missing!! When men went out looking for him, they didn’t find anything but the donkey he was riding, his bag covered with dust and his garment torn out while his body was never found till now.
A lot of historians thought that it was an assassination plot, each one narrated it differently. Many people pointed an accusing finger at his half sister “Sitt Al-Mulk” that she murdered him for personal reasons and other matters related to the governance. That was becauseAs Al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allah tried to change the system of governance from succession, accredited by the Fatimid rulers, to choose another person who was said to be his cousin Abdurrahim Ibn Ilyas or one of his followers.)
Ibn Taghribirdi said that Al-Sabi and others mentioned: “When Al-Hakim seemed to do those horrible matters, people had a strong aversion to him. He had a sister named Sitt Al-Mulk; she was the wisest and the firmest of all women. She used to forbid him saying: “Brother, beware the destruction of this house shall be on your hands! He used to tell her rough words and threaten to kill her…”
Ibn Al-Sabi continued that Al-Hakim accused his sister “Sitt Al-Mulk” with immoral actions which made her plot with Sayf Al-Dawla Ibn-Dawas (one of the elders of Katama); to get rid of her brother (Al-Hakim) during his going out at night as he used to; and what she planed happened. Then Sitt Al-Mulk declared the news of her brother disappearance to all people and pledged allegiance to his son, who had the title “Az-Zahir Li Azaz Din-Illah”, that happened in 411 AH (1020 AD).
While the Coptic Church at that time was during the papacy of Pope Philotheos in (979-1004 AD), who was succeeded by Pope Zacharias (Zechariah); the 64th Patriarch of the See of St. Mark…
Stories about Beautiful Egypt never end!
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
