The El-Emam family, sometimes spelled el-Imam (Egyptian Arabic: عائلة الإمام, آل الإمام; Coptic: Ⲉⲗⲓ̀ⲙⲏⲙ), is an Egyptian noble family which has had prominent members since the Abbasid era, through the Fatimid, Ayyubid and Mamluk era.[1][2][3][4] To this day they still have influence.[5][6][7][8][9]

El-Emam
(Egyptian Arabic: الإمام)
(Coptic: Ⲉⲗⲉⲙⲁⲙ)
Noble Family
CountryEgypt
Founded901
FounderAbu Uday el-Masry bin el-Emam
TitlesAmir al-Hajj, Sheikh al-Islam, Sheikh Sheiokh Misr, Emir, Judge of El Mahalla El Kubra, Judge of Samannud, supervisor of Endowments, supervisor of Special, supervisor of Armies, Secret Writer, Judge of the sultan's diwan, Mayor of Mit el-Sheyoukh, Mayor of Mit Tarif
Estate(s)El-Emam Palace, Kafr Tasfa, Kafr Shukr Center, Qalyubia Governorate (historical stronghold)
A prominent position in politics, arts and judiciary

Overview, history and name edit

The total known history of the family goes back 1,400 years. The founder of the family is Sheikh al-Islam Abu Uday el-Masry bin el-Emam (903 - May 31, 991). He was the first to be called the "ibn el-Emam". He was the sheikh sheiokh (sheikh of sheikhs) of Egypt and their support in the Abbasid and then Fatimid era. Sheikh el-Masry's lineage dates back 300 years, making the known family history 1,400 years old. It is an Egyptian lineage that indicates that the family's origin is Coptic.[10][11][12]

In the eras that followed the death of Abu Uday el-Masry ibn el-Emam, members of the family rose to many high positions, most of which were in the judiciary, specifically in the Mamluk era, which witnessed the golden age of the el-Emam's family, through their assuming most of the deputies and judicial positions in Egypt. Until they reached the top of the political and military pyramid during the reign of Sultan Qansuh al-Ghuri , in which two of the el-Emam's family were in power, namely Emir (prince) Alaa el-Din bin el-Emam and his brother, Judge Saad el-Din bin el-Emam. Prince Alaa el-Din bin el-Emam held 5 major positions at the same time (supervisor of Special, Amir al-Hajj, supervisor of Endowments, supervisor of the Armies, Secret Writer of the Sultanate),[1][13] This is in addition to the fact that Prince Alaa el-Din was nicknamed Abu el-ostool (father of the fleet) because he was the one who was entrusted by Sultan al-Ghuri with the task of building a new Egyptian fleet. He built a modern and strong fleet, and assumed command of the fleet for a period.[4][14] Then he went to the Hejaz and achieved impressive military achievements against the rebellious Arabs there. This in addition to his architectural establishment there, especially in the Badr region, in which he rebuilt the holy Badr well.[15][16] His brother, Saad el-Din bin el-Emam, was the judge of the Sultan's Diwan and also one of the Sultan's closest men, like his brother.

After the fall of the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt into the hands of the Ottomans, specifically in the eighteenth century, the el-Emam family took control of a number of mayor positions areas in Damietta and Dakahlia, the most famous of which are the areas of Mit el-Sheyoukh and Mit Tarif, which are governed by the el-Emam family to this day.[9]

Notable members edit

 
Hassan El-Emam
  • Abu Uday el-Masry bin el-Emam: the founder, sheikh al-Islam, sheikh al-sheiokh of Egypt and their supporter in the Abbasid and Fatimid eras.
  • Judge Abdel Latif bin el-Emam: Judge of El Mahalla El Kubra.
  • Judge Abu Bakr bin el-Emam: Judge of Samannud.
  • Judge El-Mohib bin el-Emam: Judge of El Mahalla El Kubra, the deputy of Qadi al-Qoudah (Chief Justice) and a religious scholar.
  • Judge Zain el-Din Abdel Rahim bin el-Emam.
  • Judge Abdel Qadir bin el-Emam.
  • Judge Saad el-Din bin el-Emam: Judge of the sultan's diwan.
  • Prince Alaa el-Din bin el-Emam: Amir al-Hajj, supervisor of Endowments, supervisor of the Armies, supervisor of Special, Secret Writer, founder of the updated Egyptian naval fleet.
  • El-Emam Pasha El-Emam: Industrialist and Businessman.
  • Mayor Abdel Hadi el-Emam: Mayor of Mit el-Sheyoukh village during the reign of King Farouk I.
  • Mayor Farouk el-Emam: Current mayor of Mit el-Sheyoukh.
  • Judge Mahmoud el-Emam.
  • Businessman Mostafa el-Emam: Chairman of Sinacola council.
  • Mohammed el-Imam: Writer and accountant.
  • Hassan el-Imam: Film director.
  • Hussein el-Imam: Actor.
  • Moody el-Emam: Musician.

Location edit

Their historical stronghold was the el-Emam's Palace in Kafr Tasfa, Kafr Shukr Center, Qalyubia Governorate in Egypt, and they have a presence in the following governorates:

References edit

  1. ^ a b el-Battawi, Hassan Ahmed (2019). أهل العمامة في مصر عصر سلاطين المماليك. Nour Houran for Studies, Publishing and Translation. p. 174. ISBN 9789933600204. Archived from the original on 2024-01-27. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  2. ^ Amin, Mahammad Mahammad (1970). لأوقاف والحياة الإجتماعية في مصر. Cairo: House of Books and National Archives. pp. 124–125. Archived from the original on 2024-01-27. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  3. ^ Al-Sakhawi (2003). الضوء اللامع لأهل القرن التاسع'. Vol. 5. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-ilmiyah. pp. 27–28.
  4. ^ a b el-Khadim, Samir Ali (1989). الشرق الإسلامي والغرب المسيحي. Dar Al-Rihani Foundation. p. 81. Archived from the original on 2024-01-27. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  5. ^ "رئيس شركة سيناكولا لمصراوي: الطلب زاد ٣ أضعاف.. و"تغلبنا على الطعم الوحش"". مصراوي.كوم (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  6. ^ "حسن الإمام - ﺇﺧﺮاﺝ فيلموجرافيا، صور، فيديو". elCinema.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  7. ^ "حسين الإمام - ﺗﻤﺜﻴﻞ فيلموجرافيا، صور، فيديو". elCinema.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  8. ^ "مودي اﻹمام - ﻣﻮﺳﻴﻘﻰ فيلموجرافيا، صور، فيديو". elCinema.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  9. ^ a b الخطيب, محمد (2023-12-09). "فاروق الإمام عمدة ميت الشيوخ". Facebook.
  10. ^ "غاية النهاية في طبقات القرآء - المكتبة الوقفية للكتب المصورة PDF".
  11. ^ "حسن المحاضرة في تاريخ مصر والقاهرة (ط. الحلبي) - المكتبة الوقفية للكتب المصورة PDF". waqfeya.net. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  12. ^ "تحميل كتاب غاية النهاية في طبقات القرآء - كتب PDF". مجلة الكتب العربية - كتب و روايات (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  13. ^ Ibn Iyas (1982). بدائع الزهور في وقائع الدهور. Egyptian General Book Authority. part 5. p. 239. Archived from the original on 2024-02-07.
  14. ^ Ibn Iyas (1984). بدائع الزهور في وقائع الدهور. Egyptian General Book Authority. part 4. pp. 142-143. Archived from the original on 2024-02-07.
  15. ^ Juan Goytisolo (2018). In Spanish Orientation (Islamic Annals). Insutite français d'archéologie orientale. part 40. p.96. ISBN 978-2-7247-0432-7. Archived from the original on 2024-02-07.
  16. ^ Abdul Qadir bin Muhammad Al-Jaziri Al-Hanbali (2002). الدرر الفرائد المنظمة في أخبار الحاج وطريق مكة المعظمة. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah. part 2. pp. 168. Archived from the original on 2024-02-07.