Ahmad al-Wafi

Who is Ahmad al-Wafi?

Aḥmad al-Wafī is the eighth Ismaili Imam. He was surnamed "al-Wafi". As the Imam, he was the supreme spiritual leader of the Ismaili community from his appointment until his death. The Nizari and Mustaali trace their Imamate lines from him and his descendants who founded the Fatimid Empire. He was succeeded by his son, Taqi Muhammad.

The 8th to 10th Ismaili Imams were hidden from the public, because of threats from the Abbassid caliphate, and were known by their nicknames. However, the Dawoodi Bohra in their religious text, Taqqarub, claim to have the true names of all 21 imams in sequence including those "hidden" imams: 8th Imam ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad the true name/, 9th Imam Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd Allāh, and the 10th Imam al-Ḥusayn ibn Aḥmad.