TheFathites, alsoAftahiyya orFathiyya (Arabic:الفطحية), are a now-extinct branch ofShia Islam, who were supporters ofAbdallah al-Aftah, believing him to be theimam after the death of his fatherJa'far al-Sadiq, the sixth imam of Shiism, in 765 CE. Abdallah's inheritance of the imamate was contested, with varying stories stating that either that he died within 70 days of his father, or that he was not sufficiently competent.[1]
One faction of Fathites believed that Abdallah al-Aftah had a son,Muhammad, who inherited the imamate. Others, however, believe Abdallah died without issue, and many Fathites later rejoined the Shia mainstream, becoming followers ofMusa al-Kadhim, Ja'far's other son who is recognized as the seventh imam by theTwelver Shia.[1]
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