Abu al - Misk Kafur Abu al - Misk Kafur ( 905 – 968 ) , also called al - Laithi , al - Suri , al - Labi was a dominant personality of Ikhshidid Egypt and Syria . Originally a black slave from Ethiopia , he was promoted as vizier of Egypt , becoming its de facto ruler ( from 946 ) . After the death of his master , Muhammad bin Tughj , Kafur succeeded the latter to become the de jure ruler of the Ikshidid domains , Egypt and southern Syria ( including Damascus ) , until his death in 968 . Biography . Muhammad bin Tughj , the founder of the Ikhshidid dynasty of Egypt , bought Abu al - Misk Kafur as a slave from Ethiopia in 923 . He is recorded as having a dark complexion and being a eunuch . Recognizing the slave ' s intelligence and talent , ibn Tughj freed him . The story goes that Kafur was freed because he kept his eyes fastened upon his master , while others kept their eyes on the master ' s gifts . Thus , historian Philip Hitti notes , Kafur would be generously rewarded for such loyalty . Ibn Tughj appointed Kafur to be the supervisor of princely education for his two sons . The Egyptian ruler then promoted Kafur as a military officer . As a field commander Kafur conducted a military mission to Syria in 945 . He was put in charge of some campaigns in the Hejaz . Kafur was involved in some diplomatic exchanges between the Ikhshidids and the caliph of Baghdad . Kafur became the de facto ruler of Egypt in 946 . ( Since al - Misk was the guardian of bin Tughj ' s sons , al - Misk ruled in their stead upon the death of their father . ) He died in Cairo and was probably buried in Jerusalem . Though subsequent historians have portrayed him as a just and moderate ruler , he owes a great deal of his fame to the scathing satirical poems directed against him by Al - Mutanabbi , the most famous Iraqi poet . Status as former slave . Kafur ' s status as former slave did not hinder him from rising to power under the Ikhshidids . In fact , his status helped him , as it had become customary for former slaves to enter the military organization and even reach high positions in it . Kafur ' s rise to power , from being an African slave to the ruler of Egypt and parts of Syria , is one of the first examples in Islamic history of a sovereign with the lowliest of origins . In Muslim states in general , Africans such as Kafur did not continue to be slaves . They were employed in various occupations and maintained a cohesive culture interacting with that of their hosts . Policies . Domestic politics . While Kafur held defacto control over Egypt , he operated behind the facade of Ikhshdid rulers . On his deathbed , ibn Tughj had appointed Kafur as guardian over his two sons . In 946 , Kafur helped Anūdjūr secure the succession to ibn Tughj . And in 961 , he helped ʿAlī ibn al - Ikhshīd Anūdjūr ' s younger brother ( and his late master ibn Tughj ' s second ) secure the Egyptian throne . Only in 966 , following the death of ʿAlī , did Kāfūr publicly declare himself as the sole master of Egypt . Kafur , despite tremendous pressure on him , maintained stability inside Egypt . From 335 / 947 - 336 / 948 , he fought and put down the rebellion by Ghalbūn . In 954 successfully averted an abortive coup d ' état by Anūdjūr . He also survived the spread of subversive Ismāʿīlī propaganda against him . His ability to resolve internal political complications is considered as having signnificantly prolonged the lifespan of the Ikhshidids . Foreign politics . One of Abu al - Misk Kafur ' s greatest achievements is his successful protection of the Ikhshidid establishment from the Hamdanids ( in Syria ) , Fatimids ( in northern Africa , to the west of Egypt ) , Qarmatians ( in the Arabian peninsula ) , and the Nubians ( from south of Egypt ) . Very early on Kafur ' s master , Muhammad ibn Tughj , trusted him to handle the military campaigns of Syria and Hejaz ( in the Arabian peninsula ) . His military and diplomatic measures secured Damascus for the Ikhshidids ( from the Hamdanids ) in 947 . Sayf ad - Dawla , governor of Aleppo , had tried to run over Syria , but his efforts were frustrated by Kafur , and the former recognized the latter ' s lordship over parts of Syria . He was also able to delay the Fatimid expansion into Egypt , frustrating the efforts of the latter ' s agents . So long as Kafur was alive , the Ikhsidid establishment kept the Fatimids at bay ; upon his death , the Fatimids took over . Economy . Kafur generally maintained economic stability in Egypt , despite serious setbacks : Excepting the heavy government expenditure , Kafur ' s administration refrained from extortionate fiscal practices . His gold coinage displayed remarkable stability , though it did fluctuate . Kafur also enrolled the services of competent administrators , and merchants , ( such as the famous Yaqub ibn Killis ) , contributing to his economic accomplishments . Patronage of the arts . Abu al - Misk Kafur gained popularity by being the patron of scholars and writers . Perhaps the most celebrated patronage ( according to A . S . Ehrenkreutz ) is that of the great poet al - Mutanabbi . In return al - Mutanabbi praised the former slave . However , after Kafur ' s failure to reward him with high office that he aspired , al - Mutanabbi ridiculed Kafur . Thus Kafur was immortalized in the poetry of al - Mutanabbi - the greatest poet of Kafur ' s time , according to historian Hitti . As he was a pious man , Kafur was more comfortable with the ulema than the poets . He surrounded himself with religious men , some of whom he showered with gifts . He constructed two mosques ( in Giza and on al - Muqattam ) and a hospital . Nevertheless he still clung to superstitions , abandoning a home once , believing it to be under a " jinn " . Kafur also maintained a magnificent and luxurious court . This , however , at times of famine , accorded poorly with the general population . In addition to the mosques and the hospital , Kafur had constructed a number of sumptuous palaces , and the " Kāfūriyya " gardens in his capital . No archaeological remains of his contributions have been thus far found .