Sharaf al-Dawla

'Adud al-Dawla dies in 983 and is buried in Najaf, where, in 977, he had built the first shrine over the tomb of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib, the cousin of Muhammad, the fourth caliph (Sunni belief), the first Imam (Shia belief), in Najaf in 977.

The Imām ‘Alī Holy Shrine, also known as Masjid Ali or the Mosque of ‘Alī, is today the third holiest site for some of the estimated two hundred million followers of the Shia branch of Islam.

According to Shi'a belief, buried next to Ali within this mosque are the remains of Adam and Noah.

Adud al-Dawla had appointed his eldest son, Shirdil Abu'l-Fawaris, as viceroy to Kerman when he conquered that province in 968.

Abu'l-Fawaris resided in Baghdad for some time after 977, but was then sent back to Kerman.

As the eldest son, Shirdil regards himself as the successor to his father; 'Adud al-Dawla's apparent preference for his second son Marzuban had therefore made him hostile toward his brother.

'Adud al-Dawla never definitively named a successor by the time of his death in 983.

Marzuban (now Samsam al-Dawla) takes power in Baghdad as senior amir, but Shirdil also lays his claims to the succession, and from Kerman, …

…Shirdil invades and captures Fars Province, taking the title "Sharaf al-Dawla".

Sharaf al-Dawla's invasion of Fars provides two more of Samsam al-Dawla's brothers, Taj al-Dawla and Diya' al-Dawla, the opportunity to set up their own rule in Basra and …

…Khuzestan.

A Kurd named Badh ibn Hasanwaih takes power in Diyar Bakr, the Arabic name of the northernmost of the three provinces of the Jazira (Upper Mesopotamia), and forces Samsam al-Dawla to confirm him as its ruler.

Samsam al-Dawla's uncle Fakhr al-Dawla rules an extensive territory from Ray, north of Kerman.

The rulers of Basra and Khuzestan soon acknowledge Fakhr al-Dawla as senior amir, making the latter the most powerful of the Buyids and moving the senior amirate from Iraq to Jibal, a short-lived Arab-ruled province located in western Iran, roughly coterminous with the ancient country of the Medes.

Sharaf al-Dawla poses the largest threat to Samsam al-Dawla,  despite the power of Fakhr al-Dawla.

He recovers Buyid Oman, which had earlier seceded to Samsam al-Dawla.

Saffar ibn Quddawiyah, a Daylamite chief, revolts against the authority of Samsam in 985, joining with Shirdil.

Saffar leads a force against Samsam to Baghdad, but Samsam’s superior numbers result in Saffar’s defeat.

Samsam captures Basra and Khuzestan in early 986, forcing the two brothers to flee to Fakhr al-Dawla's territory.

After the defeat of Saffar, Sharaf himself marches against Samsam.

Sharaf occupies Ahwaz, then sends his forces against Wasit, which surrenders to him.

From here, …