The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-FÄtimiyyÅ«n (Arabic Ø§Ù„ÙØ§Ø·Ù…يون) is the Shi'a dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Egypt, and the Levant from 5 January 910 to 1171. The term Fatimite is sometimes used to refer to the citizens of this caliphate. The ruling elite of the state belonged to the Ismaili branch of Shi'ism.