The Dawat Fatemiyah had its roots in the era of Imam Jafar-us-Sadiq (AS) in North Africa. As early as the year 145H, the two Dais, called Hulwani and Abu Sufyan (RA) had been dispatched to the Maghrib by the Imam (AS). They were told that it was a barren soil and that it ought to be watered and ploughed in expectation of the person who would come to sow the real seed. They were ordered to reach the land of Berber, where they would separate. Dai Abu Sufyan settled in the town of Tala (which exits to this day in Tunisia). Here he erected a masjid, married a local lady and bought a slave. Dai Hulwani, on the other hand, settled at Naazur and did the same as Dai Abu Sufyan. Both of them summoned the local populance to the cause of Ahl-al-Bait, and converted a bulk of people to Fatemi faith. Abu Sufyan (RA) died a few years later, but Hulwani lived for a long time. It is said that some people who had met Dai Hulwani lived on to later become companions of the Dai of Imam Mehdi (AS), 135 years after the arival of both the Dais. Both of them were well known among the people for their knowledge and devotion. Majority of the tribes of Kutama, Nafza and Sumata had converted to Shi'as by their efforts. (Iftetah-ud-Dawah)
Because this part of the Islamic empire was far away from the capital of the Abbassids in Bagdad and the regional governors (Aghlabids) neglected the local tribes, gradually they had grown stronger and had a foothold in that region. This was the political atmosphere of North Africa during the last quater of the 3rd century Hijri.
Dai Abul Qasim, on the other hand, had displayed his abilities and high skill as a wonderful administrator and statesman in Yemen. During this time the Imam (AS) had sent Dai Abu Abdullah to Yemen and ordered him to stay in close association with Dai Abul Qasim and participated in missionary, administrative and military activities. Dai Abu Abdullah al-Hussain bin Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Zakariya, commonly known as Abu Abdullah al-Shi'i was from Kufa. Being a man of peity, knowledge and high morale, he was told to osberve the actions of Dai Abul Qasim and learn from him, following his footsteps, and then head for North Africa to the land of Kutama to establish the Dawat. (Iftetah-ud-Dawah)/p>
Dai Abu Abdullah (RA) stayed in Yemen for a year under the commands of Dai Abul Qasim. When the pilgrimage season arrived he was to leave for Mecca with Abdullah bin Abi Malahif, who was ordered by Dai Abul Qasim to accompany him on his venture. Later he was replaced by Ibrahim bin Ishaq and told to return to Yemen under certain circumstances. (Abdullah (LA), who had returned to Yemen became a part of the fitnat in Yemen). It is said that when Dai Abu Abdullah descended the fortress of Adan la'a, Dai Abul Qasim watching him exclaimed: "The deliverance of a great populance lies on his shoulders." (Uyun al-Akhbar)
It is said that Dai Abul Qasim (RA) had told Dai Abu Abdullah (RA): "Our Doat have thoroughly ploughed the land of Maghrib, making it arable. None is capable except you after them. You prepare yourself now for Maghrib." (Ibn Athir in "Kamil fi't Tarikh")
He arrived in Mecca for pilgrimage. At Mina he contacted the Kutama pilgrims, who had arrived for Hajj. A few of whom had been in touch with the narrations of Dai Hulwani and had adopted the Shi'a beliefs as a result. It was no longer when he had impressed them with his thorough knowledge of the attributes of the Ahle Bayt (AS). The pilgrims were gladdened to know that Abu Abdullah (RA) was heading towards Egypt, which was on their route to the Maghrib. While travelling with them, Dai Abu Abdullah inquired at great length about their country in order to judge the suitability of his mission. He, thus gained the admiration of his fellow-travellers. When he revealed that he intended to stay in Egypt in order to undertake teaching for a living, he was conveniently prevailed upon by the kutama to accompany them to their country. They were very happy to have such a person of great wisdom settle in their tribal country and took great pride for it.
After a short stay in Egypt Dai Abu Abdullah (RA) started for the promised land. He avoided Tunisia by taking a route to the south and arrived in the Kutama country on 15 Rabi-ul-Awwal 280H.
It was foretold about Imam Mehdi (AS) that he would have to migrate to a far of land leaving his family behind at times of adversities, where he would be supported by a tribe that has derived its name from kitman (confidentiality). Kutama was that tribe. (Uyun al-Akhbar)
This was the begining of Imam Mehdi's Zuhur. The Sun was to rise from the Maghrib(This was the name given to North Africa till the far west where it extended as far as the Atlantic Ocean - The Land of the setting Sun), as Rasullah (SA) had informed.
May Allah Subhanahu grant Aqa Moula (TUS) a long and prosperous life.