Aḥmad al-Wafī (True name:
ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl (عبد اللّه بن محمد بن إسماعيل); born: 149 AH, 766 AD, died: 212 AH, 828 AD
Salamiyya,
Syria, Imam: 193-212 AH, 809-828 AD) is the eighth
Ismaili Imam. He was son and successor of 7th Imam Muhammad bin Ismail. He was surnamed
"al-Wafi"(True to one's word), also known as ar-Radi Abdullah al-Wafi or Wafi Ahmad. As the Imam, he was the supreme spiritual leader of the Ismaili community from his appointment until his death. The Nizari and Mustaali trace their Imamate lines from him and his descendants who founded the
Fatimid Empire. For protection against his real Imam position, he was known as attar (due to his profession in drug and medicine). He was succeeded by his son,
Taqi Muhammad (Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd Allāh). With the death of Jafar Sadik in 148/765, Ismail (d. 158/775) and Muhammad (d. 197/813), the Ismaili Imams were impelled to hide, therefore, the first Dawr-i Satr came into force from 197/813 to 268/882, wherein the Imams were known as al-A'immatu'l masturin (the concealed Imams).