How did the Fatimid policy towards the pilgrimage to Mecca evolve?

The Fatimid policy towards the pilgrimage to Mecca evolved from initial hostility to eventual acceptance and support.

In the early years of the Fatimid Caliphate, the pilgrimage to Mecca was a contentious issue. The Fatimids, who were a Shia Muslim dynasty, were in direct opposition to the Sunni Abbasids who controlled Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities in Islam. This led to the Fatimids initially discouraging the pilgrimage to Mecca, as it was seen as a form of legitimising the Abbasid rule. They even went as far as creating an alternative pilgrimage site in the city of Al-Mahdiyya in modern-day Tunisia.

However, as the Fatimid Caliphate expanded and gained more power, their policy towards the pilgrimage to Mecca began to change. The Fatimids realised the importance of the pilgrimage in the Islamic world and saw it as a way to gain legitimacy and support from the wider Muslim community. They began to encourage the pilgrimage and even provided protection and support for the pilgrims travelling to Mecca. This was a significant shift in policy and marked a new phase in the Fatimid approach to religious practices.

In the later years of the Fatimid Caliphate, the pilgrimage to Mecca became a central part of their policy. The Fatimids established a network of routes and rest stops to facilitate the journey to Mecca, and they provided financial support for those who could not afford the journey. They also used the pilgrimage as a way to spread their influence and doctrine, by sending scholars and missionaries along with the pilgrims.

This evolution in the Fatimid policy towards the pilgrimage to Mecca reflects the changing political and religious dynamics of the time. It shows how the Fatimids were able to adapt their policies to suit their changing circumstances and objectives. It also highlights the importance of the pilgrimage to Mecca in the Islamic world, and how it was used as a tool for political and religious influence.