Faqāriyyah

The Faqāriyyah were one of two rival Mamluk houses that dominated Egypt during the Ottoman period (1517–1798). Mamluks were slave soldiers who gained political control in several Muslim states, notably ruling Egypt and Syria from 1250 to 1517. The Mamluk elite in Egypt was replenished by purchasing slaves, training them, and then freeing them to join Mamluk houses.12

The Faqāriyyah and the Qāsimiyyah houses were in constant conflict, often resorting to fighting, which weakened the Mamluks as a unified force. This internal strife allowed Ottoman governors to maintain some influence, but by the late 17th century, the Mamluks had regained virtual control over Egypt's government, army, and revenues. A faqih is a Muslim theologian knowledgeable in Islamic law.13