Majd al-Dawla

Majd al-Dawla
Buyid Emir of Rayy
Coin of Majd al-Dawla
Reign	997–1029
Predecessor	Fakhr al-Dawla
Successor	Ghaznavid conquest
Born	993 Iran
Died	1029 Rayy, Iran
Issue	Fana-Khusrau Abu Dulaf
House	Buyid
Father	Fakhr al-Dawla
Mother	Sayyida Shirin
Religion	Shia Islam

Abu Taleb Rostam (Persian: 'ابو طالب رستم‎‎), known as Majd al-Dawla, was the Buyid emir of Rayy, a city in Iran (997–1029). He was the eldest son of Fakhr al-Dawla. His reign saw the removal of the Buyids as a power in central Iran.

Abu Taleb Rostam succeeded his father upon the latter's death in 997, and was given the laqab of "Majd al-Dawla". At the time he was four years old. His younger brother, Abu Taher ("Shams al-Dawla"), meanwhile, became the ruler of Hamadan. Since both brothers were in the age of minority, power was assumed by their mother Sayyida Shirin. Both sons initially declared themselves independent and assumed the title of Shâhanshâh, but by 1009 or 1010 at the latest had recognized the authority of Baha' al-Dawla, who controlled Fars and Iraq, and abandoned the title.

According to Persian traditions, he was suffering from an illusion that he is a cow, and he was cured by Avicenna.

In 1006 or 1007, with the assistance of his vizier Abu 'Ali ibn 'Ali, Majd al-Dawla attempted to throw off the regency of his mother. Sayyida, however, escaped to the Kurd Abu Najr Badr ibn Hasanuya, and together with Shams al-Dawla they put Ray under siege. After several battles, the city was taken and Majd al-Dawla was captured. He was imprisoned by his mother in the fort of Tabarak, while Shams al-Dawla took to power in Ray. After a year, Majd al-Dawla was released and reinstated in Ray; Shams al-Dawla returned to Hamadan. Power continued to be held by his mother.

Majd al-Dawla's reign saw the gradual shriking of Buyid holdings in central Iran; Gorgan and Tabaristan had been lost to the Ziyarids in 997, while several of the western towns were seized by the Sallarids of Azerbaijan. Sayyida later prevented Shams al-Dawla from seizing Ray from Majd al-Dawla. In ca. 1015, Majd al-Dawla, who was suffering melancholia, was treated by the famous Persian scholar Avicenna.