Muhammad ibn al-Mustakfi

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Muhammad ibn al-Mustakfi was once the heir to the Abbasid caliphs. He was the son of Caliph al-Mustakfi, who ruled from 944 to 946. Born in Baghdad in the 920s, he even had coins minted with his name before his father was overthrown by the Buyids in early 946. After that, Muhammad fled to the Ikhshidid court in Egypt and began secret propaganda against the Buyids and their caliph al-Muti, hiding his true identity and presenting himself as the Mahdi, the expected Islamic messiah. His message attracted listeners in Iraq, including Baghdad, among both Sunnis and Shias.

The campaign grew after Mu'izz al-Dawla, the Buyid ruler who had captured Baghdad, died in 967. The Baghdad commander, the Turk Sübüktegin al-Ajami, secretly supported him, invited him into the city, gave him protection, and planned a coup in his name. But his real identity was uncovered, and he was handed over to al-Muti. The caliph did not punish him severely, but had his nose cut off, disqualifying him from succession. Muhammad escaped afterward, but he never came close to the throne.