Career
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. For protection against his real Imam position, he was known as attar (due to his profession in drug and medicine).
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). The 8th to 10th Ismaili Imams were hidden from the public, because of threats from the Abbassid caliphate, and were known by their nicknames. As per Ismaili.net residence history of Salamia is as follows:
"The Ismaili dais in search of a new residence for their Imam came to Salamia and inspected the town and approached the owner, Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Saleh, who had transformed the town into a flourishing commercial centre.
They told him that there was a Hashimite merchant from Basra who was desirous of settling in the town. He readily accepted and pointed out to them a site along the main street in the market, where existed a house belonging to a certain Abu Farha. The Ismaili dais bought it for their Imam and informed him about it.
Wafi Ahmad arrived to his new residence as an ordinary merchant. He soon pulled down the old building and had new ones built in its place. And also built a new wall around it.
He also built a tunnel inside his house, leading to the desert, whose length was about 12 miles. Money and treasures were carried on camels to the door of that tunnel at night. The door opened and the camels entered with their loads inside the house."
Photo placed here shows the mousoleum of the Imam.
Near his kabra mubarak ("blessed grave"), the tunnel opening still exists.