Part of a series on Ismaili Shi'a Islam
Branches Nizari · Mustaali · Druze
Concepts
The Qur'an · The Ginans Reincarnation · Panentheism Imam · Pir · Da'i al-Mutlaq Aql · Numerology · Taqiyya Zahir · Batin
Seven Pillars Guardianship · Prayer · Charity Fasting · Pilgrimage · Struggle Purity · Profession of Faith
History Fatimid Empire Hamza ibn Ali  · ad-Darazi Hassan-i-Sabbah  · Hashashin Dawoodi  · Sulaimani  · Alavi Hafizi · Taiyabi  · Ainsarii Seveners  · Qarmatians Sadardin  · Satpanth Baghdad Manifesto
Early Imams Ali · Hasan · Husayn al-Sajjad · al-Baqir · al-Sadiq Ismail · Muhammad Ahmad · at-Taqi · az-Zaki al-Mahdi · al-Qa'im · al-Mansur al-Muizz · al-Aziz · al-Hakim az-Zahir · al-Mustansir · Nizar al-Musta'li · al-Amir · al-Qasim
Contemporary Leaders Mohammed Burhanuddin Aga Khan IV al-Fakhri Abdullah Taiyeb Ziyauddin Saheb Mowafak Tarif This box: view • talk • edit

The Ismāʿīlī (Urdu: إسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī, Arabic: الإسماعيليون al-Ismāʿīliyyūn; Persian: إسماعیلیان Esmāʿīliyān) branch of Islam is the second largest part of the Shī'a community, after the Twelvers (Ithnāʿashariyya). See also Ismaili The Nizārī s (النزاريون an-Nizāriyyūn) are the largest branch of the Ismā‘īlī (اسماعیلیه and comprise See also Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine The Musta‘lī (مستعلي Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept al-Musta‘lī The Druze ( Arabic: درزي derzī or durzī, plural دروز durūz) are a religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon An esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an is an Interpretation of the Qur’an which includes attribution of Esoteric or mystic meanings to the The Ginans are a vast corpus of devotional literature in the form of lyrics and hymns and has been the living tradition of Nizari Ismailis particularly from the The belief in Reincarnation in Nizari Ismailism is attested to in the Ginans and Ismailis perform Chantas yearly one of which is for sins committed in past With the exception of the Mustaali Ismaili most Ismaili Shi'a Muslims believe in Panentheism, meaning God is both Reality and transcendent This is a sub-article to Imamah (Shi'a doctrine. The Ismaili view on the Imamah differs from the Twelver Shi'a as well as Sunni views Pir ( Persian: (پیر literally "old " is a title for a Sufi master The term Dāˤī al-Mutlaq (الداعي المطلق literally means "the absolute or unrestricted missionary " Ismailis believe that numbers have religious meanings The number seven plays a general role in the theology of the Ismā'īliyya including mystical speculations that there are seven heavens seven Persecution of Shia MuslimsWithin Shi'ite Islamic tradition the concept of Taqiyya (تقية - 'fear guard against' refers to a dispensation allowing believers to conceal According to some Muslim groups the Zahir is the external or apparent meaning of the Quran. Batin is defined as the interior or hidden meaning of the Quran. The Shi'a Ismāˤīlī - the Nizari, Druze and Mustaali - have Pillars beyond those of the Sunni. This is about the "pillar of Islam" for the historical view see Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine Guardianship (ولاية Walayah Ṣalāt ( Arabic: صلاة‎, pl ṣalawāt, Qur'anic Arabic: صلوة ṣalawah) (also munz in Pashto and This is a sub-article of Islamic economical jurisprudence. Zakaat ( زكاة zækæːh zakaat or zakāh, has the implied Sawm ( Arabic: صوم is an Arabic word for Fasting regulated by Islamic jurisprudence. The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world Jihad (جهاد ʤɪhæːd an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. This article is about Hygiene in Islam. For the Jewish Taharah ritual preparation for burial see Bereavement in Judaism preparing the body — Taharah The Shahada ( Arabic: ar الشهادة, from the verb ar شهد "to testify" is the Islamic Creed. Hamza ibn ‘Alī ibn Aḥmad ( 985 -??? (Arabic and Persian حمزه بن علي بن أحمد was an 11th century Ismaili and founding leader of the Druze Muhammad bin Ismail Nashtakin ad-Darazi ( محمد بن اسماعيل نشتاكين الدرازي) was a 11th century Ismaili preacher and early leader Hassan-i Sabbāh (حسن صباح حسن الصباح Hassan aṣ-Ṣabbāḥ, c The Hashshashin (also Hashishin, Hashashiyyin, Hashasheen or Assassins) were an offshoot of the Ismā'īlī sect of Shia Dawoodi Bohras ( Arabic: داؤدی بوہرہ Hindi: दवूदि बोह्रा are the main branch of the Bohras, a Musta‘lī subsect Sulaymanis are a Musta‘lī Ismaili community that predominantly reside in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan and India Alavi Bohra (علوی بوہرہ are a subsect of Ismaili Mustaali. A branch of Mustaali Ismailism that believed the current ruler of the Fatimid Empire after the reign of Al-Amir Bi-Ahkamillah, Al-Hafiz was also A branch of Mustaali Ismailism that split with the Fatimid supporting Hafizi branch by believing Tayyab Abī l-Qāsim was the rightful Imam The Ainsarii were a sect of the Ismaili Assassins who survived the destruction of the stronghold of Alamut. Seveners (Arabic سبعية are a branch of Ismā'īlī Shīˤa. The Qarmatians, Arabic Qarāmita قرامطة (also spelled "Carmathians" "Qarmathians" "Karmathians" etc Pir Sadardin or Pir Sadruddin was a Fourteenth century spiritual leader and is regarded as the founder of Khoja Ismaili ' Satpanth ' is a subgroup (but not separate from Nizari Ismailism, a blend of Ismaili Sufism and Hinduism, inspired by followers of Pir The manifesto of Baghdad was a testimony ordered by The Abbasid Caliph Al-Qadir in response to the growth of the Fatimid Supporting Nizari This is a list of the Imams recognized by the Ismaili Shia and their sub-branches ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH Hasan ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib ( ar الحسن بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (Fifteenth of Ramadhān, 3 AH – Seventh or Twenty-eighth of Safar Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar حسين بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (third of Shaban 4 AH / 8th January 626 AD at Medina ‘Alī ibn Ḥusayn (Arabic علي بن حسين) (approximately 6 January 659 - 20 October 712 is a great-grandson of Muhammad as well as the fourth Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī al-Baqir (محمد ابن علي الباقر) (676-743 AD or 1 Rajab 57 AH – 7 Dhu al-Hijjah 114 AH was the Fifth Imām Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (702-765 in accurate transliteration Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq Arabic: جعفر الصادق in full Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husayn Isma'il ibn Jafar ( Arabic: إسماعيل بن جعفر c 721 CE/103 AH - 755 CE/138AH was the eldest son of the sixth Shia Imam, Jafar as-Sadiq Muhammad ibn Ismail was the son of Ismail ibn Jafar and an Ismaili Imam. Wafi Ahmad is the eighth Ismaili Imam according to the Nizari branch of Ismailism, and the ninth according to the Mustaali. Taqi Muhammad is the ninth Ismaili Imam according to the Nizari branch of Ismailism, and the tenth according to the Mustaali. Rabi Abdullah is the tenth Ismaili Imam, surnamed az-Zaki Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah aka Said ibn Husayn (عبيد الله بن الحسين المهدي is considered the founder of the Fatimid dynasty the only Muhammad al-Qaim Bi-Amrillah ( 893 - 17 May, 946) (محمد القائم بأمر الله was the second Caliph of the Fatimids in Ismāʿīl al-Manṣūr (913-953 (إسماعيل المنصور was the third Caliph of the Fatimids in Ifriqiya (r Maˤād al-Muˤizz li Dīn Allāh (932&ndash975 (معاذ المعز لدين الله also known as al'Moezz, was the fourth Fatimid Caliph and Al-Aziz (955&ndash996 (العزيز بالله was the fifth Caliph of the Fatimids (975&ndash996 Tāriqu l-Ḥākim, called bi Amr al-Lāh ( Arabic: الحاكم بأمر الله; literally "Ruler by God's Command" was the sixth Fatimid For the Abbasid Caliph see Az-Zahir. ˤAlī az-Zāhir ( 20 June 1005 &ndash 13 June 1036) For the 13th century Abbasid Caliph of Baghdad see Al-Mustansir. Abū Manṣūr an-Nizār al-Mustafa ad-Dīni l-Lāh was a Fatimid Caliph and a Nizāri Ismā‘ilī Imām. Aḥmad al-Musta‘lī (احمد المستعلى d 1101 was the ninth Fatimid Caliph. Al-Amīr bi'Aḥkāmi l-Lah (1096&ndash1130 (الآمر بأحكام الله was the tenth Fatimid Caliph (1101&ndash1130 According to Taiyabi Mustaaali Ismaili Muslims, Taiyab abi al-Qasim (or Tayyib Arabic طيب was the 21st and last Fatimid Imam (or hereditary Mohammed Burhanuddin (محمد برھان الدین (born March 6, 1915) is the 52nd Dā‘ī l-Muṭlaq "Unrestricted Missionary" Karīm al-Hussaynī Āgā Khān IV, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH ( سمو الأمیر شاہ کریم الحسیني آغا خان Al-Fakhrī ‘Abdu l-Lāh is the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq "Unrestricted Missionary" of a minority group of Ismā‘īlī] [[Shia Islam|Shī‘ah]] Shaykh Muwaffak Tarīf (موفق طريف is the current spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel. Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam The Ismaili get their name from their acceptance of Ismail bin Jafar as the divinely appointed spiritual successor (Imam) to Jafar al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Musa al-Kazim, younger brother of Ismail, as the true Imam. Isma'il ibn Jafar ( Arabic: إسماعيل بن جعفر c 721 CE/103 AH - 755 CE/138AH was the eldest son of the sixth Shia Imam, Jafar as-Sadiq Imāmah (إمامة is the Shī‘ah doctrine of religious spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah. Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (702-765 in accurate transliteration Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq Arabic: جعفر الصادق in full Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husayn See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam Mūsá ibn Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad al-Kāżim (الإمام موسى الكاظم‎ ( October 28, 746 AD - September 1, 799 / An imam (إمام plural ائمة A'immah, امام is an Islamic leader often the leader of a Mosque and/or community The Ismaili and the Twelvers both accept the same initial Imams from the descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatima Zahra and therefore share much of their early history. An imam (إمام plural ائمة A'immah, امام is an Islamic leader often the leader of a Mosque and/or community IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics Fatimah (فاطمة c 605 –632 was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadija.

As Muslims, the Ismailis affirm the fundamental Islamic testimony of truth, the Shahada, that there is no God but God (Allah in Arabic) and that Muhammad is His Messenger. They believe that Muhammad was the last and final Prophet of Allah, and that the Holy Quran, Allah's final message to mankind, was revealed through him. Muslims hold this revelation to be the culmination of the message that had been revealed through other Prophets of the Abrahamic tradition before Muhammad, including Abraham, Moses and Jesus, all of whom Muslims revere as Prophets of Allah.

In common with other Shia Muslims, the Ismailis affirm that after the Prophet's death, Hazrat Ali, the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law, became the first Imam – the spiritual leader – of the Muslim community and that this spiritual leadership (known as Imamat) continues thereafter by hereditary succession through Ali and his wife Fatima, the Prophet's daughter. Succession to Imamat, according to Shia doctrine and tradition, is by way of Nass (Designation), it being the absolute prerogative of the Imam of the Time to appoint his successor from amongst any of his male descendants.

Tracing its earliest theology to the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, Ismailism rose at one point to become the largest branch of the Shia religion, and climaxed as a political power with the Fatimid Empire in the tenth through twelfth centuries. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective In Religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has encountered the Supernatural or the divine and serves as an intermediary IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics ^[1]

After the passing away -- or occultation (according to Sevener Ismailis) - of Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail in the 8th century CE, the teachings of Ismailism further transformed into the belief system as it is known today, with an explicit concentration on the deeper, esoteric meaning (batin) of the Islamic religion. In Shia Islam The Occultation is a term used to designate the hidden state of the Imam of the Time. Seveners (Arabic سبعية are a branch of Ismā'īlī Shīˤa. Muhammad ibn Ismail was the son of Ismail ibn Jafar and an Ismaili Imam. Batin is defined as the interior or hidden meaning of the Quran. With the eventual development of Twelverism into the more literalistic (zahir) oriented Akhbari and later Usooli schools of thought, Shi'ism developed into two separate directions: the metaphorical Ismaili group focusing on the mystical path and nature of Allah, and the manifestation of himself in the personage of the "Imam of the Time" as the "Face of Allah", while the more literalistic Twelver group focusing on divine law (sharia) and the deeds and sayings (sunnah) of Muhammad and his successors (Ahl al-Bayt) who as Imams were guides and a light to Allah. See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam According to some Muslim groups the Zahir is the external or apparent meaning of the Quran. The Akhbārī s ( "Traditionalists" are Twelver Shī‘a Muslims who reject the use of Ijtihad or reasoning in the creation of new laws Usulis ( are the majority Twelver Shi'a Muslim group They differ from their now much smaller rival Akhbari group in favoring the use of Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity Allah ( Arabic: الله, ʔalˤːɑːh) is the standard Arabic word for ' Sharia ( Arabic: ar شريعة) is the body of Islamic Religious law. Sunnah ar (سنة plural سنن Sunan literally means “trodden path” and therefore the sunnah of the prophet means “the way and the manners of the prophet” See also Muhammad's wives Ahl al-Bayt ( Arabic:ar أهل البيت is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family ^[2]

Though there are several sub-groupings within the Ismailis, the term in today's vernacular generally refers to the Nizari community, who are followers of the Aga Khan and the largest group among the Ismailis. See also Ismaili The Nizārī s (النزاريون an-Nizāriyyūn) are the largest branch of the Ismā‘īlī (اسماعیلیه and comprise Aga Khan ( آقا خان) is the Hereditary title of the Imam of the Nizārī Muslims the largest branch of the Ismā'īlī While many of the branches have extremely differing exterior practices, much of the spiritual theology has remained the same since the days of the faith's early Imams. In recent centuries Ismailis have largely been an Indo-Iranian comunity,^[3] but Ismaili are found in India, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia^[4], Yemen, China^[5], Jordan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, East Africa and South Africa, but have in recent years emigrated to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Palestine is a name which has been widely used since Roman times to refer to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi Yemen ( Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman officially the Republic of Yemen ( Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhuuriyya China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (الأردنّ al-Urdunn) is an Arab country in Southwest Asia spanning the southern Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( Uzbek: O‘zbekiston Respublikasi or Ўзбекистон Республикаси is a doubly Tajikistan (təˈdʒɪkɨstæn or /təˈdʒiːkɨstæn/ Тоҷикистон tɔʤikɪsˈtɔn or, Persian تاجیکستان‎ taajikestaan officially the Republic of Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island ^[6]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Succession crisis 1.2 Karbala and afterward 1.2.1 The Battle of Karbala 1.2.2 The beginnings of Ismaili dawah 1.3 Ascension of the Dais 1.4 The Qarmatians 1.5 The Fatimid Empire 1.5.1 Rise of the Fatimid Empire 1.5.2 The Middle-East under Fatimid rule 1.5.3 Decline of the empire 1.6 Alamut 1.6.1 Hassan-i-Sabbah 1.6.2 The Hashashin 1.6.3 Threshold of the Imamate 1.6.4 Destruction by the Mongols 1.7 Aftermath 2 Beliefs 2.1 View on the Qur'an 2.2 The Ginans 2.3 Reincarnation 2.4 Panentheism 2.5 Numerology 2.6 Imamate 2.7 Pir and Dawah 2.8 Zahir 2.9 Batini 2.10 Aql 2.11 Taqiyya 2.12 Niranjan Nirakar Swaroop 2.13 Seven Pillars 2.13.1 Walayah 2.13.2 Taharah or Shahada 2.13.2.1 Taharah 2.13.2.2 Shahada 2.13.3 Salah 2.13.4 Zakah 2.13.5 Sawm 2.13.6 Hajj 2.13.7 Jihad 3 Branches 3.1 Nizari 3.2 Druze 3.3 Mustaali 3.3.1 Dawoodi Bohra 3.3.2 Sulaimani Bohra 3.3.3 Alavi Bohra 3.4 Hafizi 3.5 Seveners 4 Statistics 5 Notes 6 See also 7 External links

History

Part of a series on Shi'a Islam
Ahl al-Kisa
Ahl al-Kisa Muhammad Ali · Fatimah Hasan · Husayn
The Four Companions
The Four Companions Salman al-Farsi Miqdad ibn Aswad Abu Dharr al-Ghifari Ammar ibn Yasir
Beliefs & Practices
Succession of Ali Imamate of the Family Mourning of Muharram Light of Aql · Ismah Tawassul
Views
The Qur'an · Sahaba Mu'awiya I Abu Bakr · Umar
History
History of Shia Islam Ghadir Khumm First Fitna · Second Fitna The Battle of Karbala
Holy Days
Eid ul-Fitr · Eid al-Adha Eid al-Ghadeer Ashura · Arba'een Mawlid · Al-Mubahila
Branches
Twelver · Ismaili · Zaidi
v • d • e

Succession crisis

Main article: Succession to Muhammad

Ismailism shares its beginning with other early Shia sects that emerged during the succession crisis that spread throughout the early Muslim community. Ahl al-Kisa ( Arabic: ar اهل الكساء meaning People of the Cloak, refers to the last Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, his daughter Fatimah IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics This is a sub-article to Shi'a and Ali (This article is an encyclopedia entry on Ali ibn Abi Talib that is to be compiled with the objective This is a sub-article of Fatima Zahra and Shi'a Islam. According to Shi'a and non-Muslim scholars Fatima Zahra was Muhammad 's only daughter See also Hasan ibn Ali Hassan ibn Ali is Shi’ahs’ second Imam, and is also known as Al-Mujtaba and Sibtil Akbar (the elder and Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar حسين بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (third of Shaban 4 AH / 8th January 626 AD at Medina The Four Companions, also called the Four Pillars of the Sahaba is a Shi'a term that refers to the four Sahaba Shi'a believe stayed most loyal to Ali TemplateInfobox Salaf --> Salman the Persian or Salman al Farisi ( سلمان فارسی Salman e Farsi Miqdad ibn al-Aswad al-Kindi (Arabic مقداد بن الأسود الكندي) was a Sahaba of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. Jundub ibn Junadah ibn Sakan (Arabic جُندب بن جَنادة better known as Abu Dharr, Abu Dharr al-Ghafari or Abu Tharr Al-Ghefari (Arabic أبو ذر الغفاري ˤAmmār ibn Yāsir (Arabic عمار بن ياسر is one of the most famous Sahaba and was among the Slaves freed by Abu Bakr. For the book by Wilferd Madelung, see The Succession to Muhammad. Imāmah (إمامة is the Shī‘ah doctrine of religious spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah. See also Day of Ashura The Mourning of Muharram is an important period of mourning in the Shi'a branch of Islam, taking place in Muharram See also The Fourteen Infallibles Ismah (also esmat in Arabic: عِصْمَة) is the concept of Infallibility Tawassul (توسل is an Islamic religious practice in which a Muslim seeks nearness to Allah. This is a sub-article to Shī‘a Islam and the Qur'an The Shī‘a view of the Qur'an has some differences from the Sunni view but it must For other views of Sahaba and a short description see Sahaba. The Shi'a vilify Muāwiyya His supposed conversion to Islam before the conquest of Mecca is dismissed as a fable or mere hypocrisy See also Abu Bakr This article is about the Shi'a view of Abu Bakr, the first Sunni Caliph. This article is about the Shi'a view of Umar, the second Sunni Caliph. See also Muslim history Shī‘a Islam, also Shi‘ite Islam or Shi‘ism is the largest minority denomination based on the Islamic faith This is a sub-article to the Succession to Muhammad The Hadith of the pond of Khumm ( غدير خم) refers to the saying (i The First Islamic Civil War (656–661 also called the First Fitna (a=فتنة مقتل عثمان|t=Fitnah Maqtal Uthmān was the first major Civil The Second Fitna, or Second Islamic Civil War, was a period of general political and military disorder that afflicted the Islamic world during the early Umayyad The Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10 61 AH ( October 9 or 10 680 CE in Karbala, in present day Iraq. Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr) often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim Holiday that marks the end of Eid al-Adha ( Arabic: عيد الأضحى ‘Īd ul-’Aḍḥā, Urdu: بقرعید or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated Eid al-Ghadeer is the anniversary commemorating Muhammad 's last sermon at Ghadir Khumm, which occurred on 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah of 10 AH in the Islamic The Day of Ashura ( ar عاشوراء, Ashura Ashoura and other spellings is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax Arba'een ( اربعين, means "forty" or Chehlum, as it is known by Urdu -speaking Muslims is a Shi'a religious observation Mawlid ( Eid Milad an Nabi ( Turkish:Mevlid ( Qur'anic مَوْلِدُ آلنَبِيِّ mawlidu n-nabiyyi, “Birth of the Prophet” AL Mubahalah or Mubahila Sixty chiefs and `Ulama of Najran headed by Sayyid Aqib and Usquf (religious personalities ofthe region in the 10th year A See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam Zaidiyya, Zaidism or Zaydism (Arabic الزيدية az-zaydiyya, adjective form Zaidi or Zaydi) is a Shī'a Madhhab For the book by Wilferd Madelung, see The Succession to Muhammad.

From the beginning, the Shia asserted the right of Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin, to have both political and spiritual control over the community. ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH This also included his two sons, who were the grandsons of Muhammad through his daughter Fatima Zahra. Fatimah (فاطمة c 605 –632 was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadija.

The conflict remained relatively peaceful between the partisans of Ali and those who asserted a semi-democratic system of electing caliphs, until the third of the Rashidun caliphs, Uthman died, and Ali with popular support of the people ascended into the caliphate. The Rightly Guided Caliphs or The Righteous Caliphs ( ar الخلفاء الراشدون) is a term used in Sunni Islam to refer to the first Uthman (a=عثمان|t=Othman Osman Usman Ozman is a male Arabic given name meaning "the chosen one amongst the tribe of brave and noble people" "honest" ^[7]

Soon after his ascendancy, Aisha, the third of the Prophet's wives, claimed along with Uthman's tribe, the Ummayads, that Ali himself plotted the assassination of the third caliph. Aisha bint Abu Bakr (died 678 (Arabic ar عائشة Transliteration ʿāʾisha, ʕaːʔɪʃæh "she who lives" also transcribed as A'ishah, Ayesha Ali rejected this allegation and soon Aisha would stage a revolt that culminated into the Battle of the Camel where her forces were defeated. "Battle of Basra" redirects here For other battles of Basra see Battle of Basra (1914, Battle of Basra (2003 and Battle of Basra (2008 Afterwards she retired to a quieter life. ^[8]

Following this defeat, Muawiya, the Umayyad governor of Syria, also staged a revolt under the same pretences. Mu‘āwīyyah or Muawiyah or Muaawiya ( ar معاوية) is a Male Arabic Given name that means puppy,Wolf or Dog female. Ali led his forces against Muawiya until the side of Muawiya held copies of the Quran against their spears and demanded that the issue be decided by Islam's holy book. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran Ali accepted this, and an arbitration was done which ended in his favor. ^[9]

A group among his army believed this was tantamount to apostasy, and abandoned his forces. This group was known as the Kharijites, and Ali wished to defeat their forces before they reached the cities where they would be able to blend in with the rest of the population. Kharijites (Arabic Khawārij خوارج literally "Those who Went Out" is a general term embracing various Muslims who while initially supporting the He was unable to do this, but nonetheless defeated their forces in the battles following afterward. ^[10]

Regardless of these defeats, the Kharijites survived and became a violently problematic group in Islamic history. After plotting an assassination against Ali, Muawiya, and the arbitrator of their conflict, only Ali was successfully assassinated in 40 AH (661 AD), and the Imamate passed on to his sons Hassan and Hussein, or according to the Nizari Ismaili, only to Hussein. However, the political caliphate was soon taken over by Muawiya who was the only leader in the empire at that time with an army large enough to seize control. ^[11]

Karbala and afterward

The Battle of Karbala

Main article: Battle of Karbala

After the passing away of Hassan, Hussein and his family were increasingly worried about the religious and political persecution that was becoming commonplace under the reign of Muawiya's son, Yazid. The Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10 61 AH ( October 9 or 10 680 CE in Karbala, in present day Iraq. Yazid ibn Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (يزيد بن معاوية بن أبي سفيان ( July 23[[ 45]] - 683 was the second Caliph of the Umayyad Amidst this turmoil in 61 AH (680 AD), Hussein along with the women and children of his family wished to go to Kufa and confront Yazid as an intercessor on part of the citizens of the empire. Kufa ( Arabic, ar الكوفة) is a city in modern Iraq, about 170 km south of Baghdad, and 10 km northeast of Najaf. However, he was stopped by Yazid's army in Karbala, during the month of Muharram. Karbala ( BGN: Al-Karbalā’; also spelled Karbala al-Muqaddasah) is a city in Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad at Muharram ( Arabic: ar محرم is the first month of the Islamic calendar. His family was starved and deprived of water and supplies, until eventually the army came in on the tenth day and killed Hussein and his companions, and enslaved the rest of the women and family, taking them to Kufa. ^[12]

This battle would become extremely important to the Shia psyche. The Twelvers, as well as Mustaali Ismaili still mourn this event during a holiday known as Ashura. The Day of Ashura ( ar عاشوراء, Ashura Ashoura and other spellings is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax The Nizari Ismaili however do not mourn this event because of the belief that the light of the Imam never dies but rather passes on to the succeeding Imam, making mourning arbitrary.

The beginnings of Ismaili dawah

After being set free by the caliph Yazid, Zainab, the daughter of Fatima and Ali and the sister of Hassan and Hussein, started to spread the word of Karbala to the Muslim world, making speeches regarding the event. This was the first organized dawah of the Shia community, which would later develop into an extremely spiritual institution for the Ismailis. Da‘wah usually denotes proselytizing of Islam. The Arabic دعوة da‘wah means literally "issuing a summons"

After the poisoning of Ali al-Sajjad by Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik in 95 AH (713 AD), Shiism's first succession crisis rose with Zayd ibn Ali's companions and his Zaidi Shia that claim Zayd ibn Ali as the Imam, whilst the rest of the Shia maintained Muhammad al-Baqir as the Imam. "Hisham" redirects here For the hadith narrator see Hisham ibn Urwah. Zayd ibn ‘Alī ( زيد بن علي, also spelled Zaid) (695-740 He was given the title "Zayd the Martyr" ( Zayd ash-Shahīd) by his sympathizers Zaidiyya, Zaidism or Zaydism (Arabic الزيدية az-zaydiyya, adjective form Zaidi or Zaydi) is a Shī'a Madhhab Zayd ibn ‘Alī ( زيد بن علي, also spelled Zaid) (695-740 He was given the title "Zayd the Martyr" ( Zayd ash-Shahīd) by his sympathizers Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī al-Baqir (محمد ابن علي الباقر) (676-743 AD or 1 Rajab 57 AH – 7 Dhu al-Hijjah 114 AH was the Fifth Imām The Zaidis argued that any sayed, descendant of Muhammad through Hassan or Hussein, who rebelled against tyranny and the injustice of his age, can be the Imam. For the Lost character please see Sayid Jarrah Sayyid ( ar سيد) (plural Saadah is an Honorific title The Zaidis created the first Shia states in Iran, Iraq and Yemen.

Main article: Zaidi

In contrast to his predecessors, Muhammad al-Baqir focused on academic Islamic scholarship in Medina, where he promulgated his teachings to many Muslims, both Shia and non-Shia, in an extremely organized form of dawah. Zaidiyya, Zaidism or Zaydism (Arabic الزيدية az-zaydiyya, adjective form Zaidi or Zaydi) is a Shī'a Madhhab Medina mɛˈdiːnə (المدينة المنورة ælmæˈdiːnæl muˈnɑwːɑrɑ or المدينة ælmæˈdiːnæ also transliterated into English as ^[13]

This tradition would pass on to his son, Ja'far al-Sadiq, who inherited the Imamate on his father's death in 114 AH (743 AD). Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (702-765 in accurate transliteration Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq Arabic: جعفر الصادق in full Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husayn Ja'far al-Sadiq excelled in the scholarship of the day and had many pupils, including three of the four founders of the Sunni madhabs. Madhhab or Mazhab ( Arabic مذهب mæðhæb pl مذاهب mæðæːhıb) is an Islamic school of thought, or ^[14]

However, following Jaffir's poisoning in 148 AH (765 AD), a fundamental split would occur in the community. Ismail ibn Jaffir, who at one point seemed to be heir apparent, apparently predeceased his father in 138 AH (755 AD). While Twelvers either argue he was never heir apparent and that he truly predeceased his father, Ismailis argue that either the death was staged in order to draw harm away from al-Sadiq's successor or that his early death does not mean he was not an Imam, and rightfully the Imamate would pass to his son, Muhammad ibn Ismail.

Ascension of the Dais

Main article: Dai

For the Sevener Ismaili, the Imamate ended with Muhammad bin Ismail (for Ismaili - Nizari Hasan was only Pir (not Imam)), who was the expected Mahdi that Jaffir al-Sadiq had preached about. In Islamic eschatology the Mahdi ( ar مهدي, also Mehdi; "Guided One" is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on earth However, at this point the Ismaili Imams according to the Nizari and Mustaali found areas where they would be able to be safe from the recently founded Abbasid Empire which had defeated and seized control from the Umayyads in 750 AD. ^[15].

With the Imams safe from harm, they began to propagate their faith through Dāʿiyyūn from their bases in Syria. Da‘wah usually denotes proselytizing of Islam. The Arabic دعوة da‘wah means literally "issuing a summons" This was the start of the spiritual beginnings of the dawah that would later blossom on the Mustaali branch of the faith, as well as play important parts in the other three branches. ^[16]

The Dai was not a missionary in the typical sense, and he was responsible for both the conversion of his student as well as the mental and spiritual wellbeing. The Dai was a guide and light to the Imam, much like the present day Nizari position of the Pir. The student and teacher relationship of the Dai and his student was much like the one that would develop in Sufism. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف The student desired Allah, and the Dai could bring him to Allah by making him recognize the stature and light of the Imam descended from the Imams, which in turn descended from Allah. The Dai was the path, and the Face of Allah which was a Qur'anic term the Ismaili took to represent the Imam, was the destination. In Nizari thought, this essentially means that the Imam is a manifestation of Allah himself. ^[15]

Shams Tabrizi and Rumi is a famous example of the importance between the guide and the guided, and Rumi dedicated much of his literature to Shams Tabrizi and his discovery of the truth. Shams-e-Tabrīzī ( d 1248 was an Iranian Sufi mystic born in the city of Tabriz in Iranian Azerbaijan.

The Qarmatians

Main article: Qarmatians

While many of the Seveners and other Ismaili were content with the Dai teachings, a group that mingled Persian nationalism and Zoroastrianism with Ismaili teachings surfaced known as the Qarmatians. The Qarmatians, Arabic Qarāmita قرامطة (also spelled "Carmathians" "Qarmathians" "Karmathians" etc With their headquarters in Bahrain, they accepted a Persian prisoner,a young Persian prisoner by the name of Abu'l-Fadl al- Isfahani, from Isfahan who claimed to be the descendant of the Persian kings

^{[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]} as their Mahdi, and violently rampaged across the Middle-East in the tenth century, climaxing their bloody campaign with the stealing of the Black Stone from the Kaaba in Mecca in 930 under Abu Tahir Al-Jannabi. Esfahān or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan or Hispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān The Black Stone (called الحجر الأسود al-Hajar-ul-Aswad in Arabic) is a Muslim object of reverence which according to Islamic The Kaaba ( Arabic: ar الكعبة; 'kɑʕbɑ or 'kæʕbæ "Cube" is a Cuboidal building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is the Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored Abu Tahir Sulayman Al-Jannabi (906-944 was the ruler of the Qarmatian state in Bahrain and Eastern Arabia who in 930 led the sacking of Mecca. After the arrival of the Mahdi they changed their qiblah from the Kaaba to the Zoroastrian-influenced fire. Qiblah ( ar قبلة, also transliterated as Kiblah) is an Arabic word for the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during After their return of the Black Stone in 951 and defeat by the Abbasids in 976 they slowly faded out of history and no longer have any adherents. ^[24]

The Fatimid Empire

Main article: Fatimid Empire

Rise of the Fatimid Empire

Main article: Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah

The political asceticism practiced by the Imams during the period after Muhammad ibn Ismail was to be short lived and finally concluded with the Imamate of Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah, who was born in 260 AH (873 AD). Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah aka Said ibn Husayn (عبيد الله بن الحسين المهدي is considered the founder of the Fatimid dynasty the only After raising an army and successfully defeating the Alghabids in North Africa and a number of other victories, al-Mahdi Billah successfully established a Shi'ah political state ruled by the Imamate in 910 AD. Because of his founding of this empire he is often seen as the messianic Mahdi by Ismailis. ^[25]

In parallel with the dynasty's claim of descent from Ali and Fatima, the empire was named “Fatimid. ” However, this was not without controversy and with the extent that the Ismaili dawah had spread, the Abbasid caliphate assigned Sunni and Twelver scholars with the assignment to disprove the lineage of the new dynasty. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic This became known as the Baghdad Manifesto, and it traces the lineage of the Fatimid dynasty to a Jew. The manifesto of Baghdad was a testimony ordered by The Abbasid Caliph Al-Qadir in response to the growth of the Fatimid Supporting Nizari Its authenticity has been both questioned and supported by many Islamic scholars.

The Middle-East under Fatimid rule

The Fatimid Empire expanded quickly under the subsequent Imams. Under the Fatimids, Egypt became the center of an empire that included at its peak North Africa, Sicily, Palestine, Syria, the Red Sea coast of Africa, Yemen and the Hejaz. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. An empire (from the Latin " Imperium " denoting military Command within the ancient Roman government) is a State that North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. Palestine is a name which has been widely used since Roman times to refer to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية The Red Sea is a Salt water Inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. Yemen ( Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman officially the Republic of Yemen ( Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhuuriyya al-Hejaz (also Hijaz, Hedjaz; الحجاز al-Ḥiǧāz, literally "the barrier" is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia Under the Fatimids, Egypt flourished and developed an extensive trade network in both the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, which eventually determined the economic course of Egypt during the High Middle Ages. The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface The High Middle Ages was the period of European history in the 11th 12th and 13th centuries (AD 1000&ndash1299

During Fatimid rule, in contrast with much of the world at this time period, there were two very modern ideas. The first was promotion by merit rather than genealogy. The second was religious toleration, under which both Jews and Coptic Christians flourished. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ A Copt ( Coptic: ouRemenkīmi enEkhristianos, literally Egyptian Christian) is a native Egyptian Christian. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth

Also during this period the three contemporary branches of Ismailism formed. The first branch (Druze) occurred with the Imam Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. The Druze ( Arabic: درزي derzī or durzī, plural دروز durūz) are a religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon Tāriqu l-Ḥākim, called bi Amr al-Lāh ( Arabic: الحاكم بأمر الله; literally "Ruler by God's Command" was the sixth Fatimid Born in 386 AH (985 AD), he ascended as ruler at the age of eleven and was feared for his eccentricity and believed insanity. The typical religiously tolerant Fatimid Empire saw much persecution under his reign. When in 411 AH (1021 AD) his mule returned without him, soaked in blood, a religious group that was even forming in his lifetime broke off from mainstream Ismailism and refused to acknowledge his successor. Later to be known as the Druze, they believe Al-Hakim to be the incarnation of Allah and the prophecized Mahdi, who would one day return and bring justice to the world. ^[26] The faith further split from Ismailism as it developed very unique doctrines which often classes it separately from both Ismailism and Islam.

The second split occurred following the death of Ma'ad al-Mustansir Billah in 487 AH (1094 AD). For the 13th century Abbasid Caliph of Baghdad see Al-Mustansir. His rule was the longest of any caliph in both the Fatimid and other Islamic empires. Upon his passing away his sons, the older Nizar and the younger Al-Musta'li fought for political and spiritual control of the dynasty. Abū Manṣūr an-Nizār al-Mustafa ad-Dīni l-Lāh was a Fatimid Caliph and a Nizāri Ismā‘ilī Imām. Aḥmad al-Musta‘lī (احمد المستعلى d 1101 was the ninth Fatimid Caliph. Nizar was defeated and jailed, and his son was forced to escape to Alamut where the Iranian Ismaili had accepted his claim. The Iranian people are a collection of Ethnic groups defined along linguistic lines as speaking Iranian languages. ^[27]

The Mustaali line split again between the Taiyabi and the Hafizi, the former claiming that the 21st Imam and son of Al-Amir went into occultation and appointed a Da'i al-Mutlaq to guide the community, in a similar manner as the Ismaili had lived after the death of Muhammad ibn Ismail. Al-Amīr bi'Aḥkāmi l-Lah (1096&ndash1130 (الآمر بأحكام الله was the tenth Fatimid Caliph (1101&ndash1130 The term Dāˤī al-Mutlaq (الداعي المطلق literally means "the absolute or unrestricted missionary " The latter claimed that the ruling Fatimid caliph was the Imam.

Decline of the empire

In the 1040s, the Zirids (governors of North Africa under the Fatimids) declared their independence from the Fatimids and their conversion to "orthodox" Sunni Islam, which led to the devastating Banu Hilal invasions. The Zirids (زيريون were a Berber dynasty originating in Petite Kabylie among the Kutama tribe that ruled Ifriqiya (in modern day Eastern The Banu Hilal ( بنو هلال) were a confederation of Arab tribes that migrated from Arabia into North Africa in the 11th century, having After about 1070, the Fatimid hold on the Levant coast and parts of Syria was challenged by first Turkish invasions, then the Crusades, so that Fatimid territory shrunk until it consisted only of Egypt. See also Names of the Levant The Levant (lə'vænt is a geographical term that denotes a large area in Western Asia, roughly bounded on the north by the The Turkic peoples are Eurasian peoples residing in northern central and western Eurasia who speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II with the dual goals of conquering the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land and freeing

After the decay of the Fatimid political system in the 1160s, the Zengid ruler Nūr ad-Dīn had his general, Saladin, seize Egypt in 1169, forming the Sunni Ayyubid Dynasty. The Zengid (or Zangid) dynasty was a Muslim Dynasty of Turkish origin which ruled parts of Northern Iraq and Syria during Salahadin Ayyubi ( Arabic:صلاح الدين يوسف بن أيوب Kurdish: سه‌لاحه‌دین ئه‌یوبی Selah'edînê Eyubî; c The Ayyubid or Ayyoubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origins which ruled Egypt, Syria, Yemen (except for This signaled the end of the Hafizi Mustaali branch of Ismailism as well as the Fatimid Empire.

Alamut

Main article: Alamut

Hassan-i-Sabbah

Main article: Hassan-i-Sabbah

Very early in the empire's life, the Fatimids sought to spread the Ismaili faith which in turn would spread loyalties to the Imamate in Egypt. Alamūt ( Persian الموت "Eagle Peak" often appearing in the folk etymological form قلعه الموت Qal‘atu l-Mūt "the Castle of Death" Hassan-i Sabbāh (حسن صباح حسن الصباح Hassan aṣ-Ṣabbāḥ, c One of their earliest attempts would be taken by a Dai by the name of Hassan-i-Sabbah.

Hassan-i-Sabbah was born into a Twelver family living in the scholarly city of Qom in 1056 AD. His family later relocated to the city of Tehran which was an area with an extremely active Ismaili dawah. He immersed himself in Ismaili thought, however he did not choose to convert until he was overcome with an almost fatal illness, where he finally feared dying without knowing the Imam of his time.

Afterwards, Hassan-i-Sabbah became one of the most influential Dais in Ismaili history, and would be important to the survival of the Nizari branch of Ismailism, which today is its largest branch.

Legend holds that he met with Imam Ma'ad al-Mustansir Billah and asked him who his successor would be, to which he responded, his eldest son Nizar.

Hassan-i-Sabbah would continue his Dai activities and they would climax with his taking of Alamut. Taking two years, he first converted most of the surrounding villages to Ismailism. Afterwards, he converted most of the staff to Ismailism and then took over the fortress, and presented the current leader with payment for the fortress. With no choice, the leader abdicated and Hassan-i-Sabbah turned Alamut into an outpost of Fatimid rule within Abbasid territory.

The Hashashin

Main article: Hashashin

Surrounded by the Abbasids and other hostile powers, and low in numbers, Hassan-i-Sabbah derived a way to attack the Ismaili enemies with a small loss and number. The Hashshashin (also Hashishin, Hashashiyyin, Hashasheen or Assassins) were an offshoot of the Ismā'īlī sect of Shia Using the method of assassination, from which the English word is derived from Hashashin, he ordered the killing of Sunni scholars and politicians that threatened the Ismailis. Knives and daggers were used. Sometimes, in warning, a knife would be put into the pillow of the enemy and often they understood the message. ^[28]

However, when an assassination was actually made the Hashashin would not be allowed to run away, but rather to strike further fear in the enemy by showing no emotion, they would stand there. This further increased the reputation of the Hashashin in the Sunni world. ^[28]

Amin Maalouf, in his novel Samarkand disputes the origin of the word Assassin. Samarkand (Samarqand Самарқанд سمرقند UniPers: "Samarqand" is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of According to him it is not derived from the word Hashashin - which he believes is a story fabricated by Orientalists to explain how faithfully the Ismailis would carry out these suicide-assassinations without fearing death. Maalouf suggests that the term is derived from the word Assaas (foundation), and Assassiyoon, which means "those faithful to the foundation. " ^[29]

Threshold of the Imamate

Main article: Nizar

After the imprisonment of Nizar by his younger brother Mustaal, Nizar's son al-Hadi was forced to flee. Abū Manṣūr an-Nizār al-Mustafa ad-Dīni l-Lāh was a Fatimid Caliph and a Nizāri Ismā‘ilī Imām. He was offered a safe place in Alamut where Hassan-i-Sabbah welcomed him. However, this was not announced to the public and the lineage was hidden until a few Imams later. ^[28]

It was announced with the advent of Imam Hassan II. In a show of his Imamate and to emphasize the interior meaning (the batin) over the exterior meaning (the zahir) he prayed with his back to Mecca, as did the rest of the congregation which prayed behind him. He made a speech saying he was in communication with the Imam, which many of the Ismailis understood to mean he was the Imam himself. ^[28]

Afterwards his descendants would rule as the Imams at Alamut until its destruction by the Mongols.

Destruction by the Mongols

Main article: Mongol Empire

The stronghold at Alamut, though it had warded off the Sunni attempts to take it several times, including one by Saladin, would soon meet with destruction. The Mongol Empire ( Mongolyn Ezent Güren or mn Их Mонгол улс Ikh Mongol Uls; 1206–1368 was the largest contiguous Empire Salahadin Ayyubi ( Arabic:صلاح الدين يوسف بن أيوب Kurdish: سه‌لاحه‌دین ئه‌یوبی Selah'edînê Eyubî; c By 1206 AD, Genghis Khan had managed to unite many of the once antagonistic Mongol tribes into a unified force. Genghis Khan ( or;, Chinggis Khaan, ʧiŋgɪs χaːŋ Činggis Qaɣan; 1162–1227 born (meaning "ironworker" was the Mongol founder Using many new and unique military techniques, Genghis Khan led the Mongols across Central Asia into the Middle-East where they won series of tactical military victories.

A grandson of Genghis Khan, Hulagu Khan, led the devastating attack on Alamut in 1256 AD, only a short time before he would sack the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad in 1258 AD. This article is about the founder of the Ilkhanate For the head of the Chagatai khanate please see Qara Hülëgü Hulagu Khan, also known as As he would later do to the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, he destroyed all Ismaili religious texts. The House of Wisdom ( Arabic: بيت الحكمة; Bait al-Hikma) was a library and translation institute in Abbassid -era Baghdad, The Imamate that was located in Alamut along with its few followers were forced to flee and take refuge in the surrounding Iranian countryside.

Aftermath

After the fall of the Fatimid Empire and its bases in Iran and Syria, the three currently living branches of Ismaili generally developed geographically isolated from each other, with the exception of Syria (which has both Druze and Nizari) and the Subcontinent (which had both Mustaali and Nizari). Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. All three groups in general no longer accepted converts for different reasons. The Nizari cite the unity of religions, while the Druze believe every individual had a chance to accept the religion in a previous life before it closed itself to converts.

The Nizari kept large populations in Syria, Uzbekistan, and the Subcontinent, and had smaller populations in China and Iran. This community is the only one with a living Imam, who is titled today as the Aga Khan. Aga Khan ( آقا خان) is the Hereditary title of the Imam of the Nizārī Muslims the largest branch of the Ismā'īlī

The Druze mainly settled in Syria and Lebanon, and developed a community based upon the principles of reincarnation through their own descendants. The Druze ( Arabic: درزي derzī or durzī, plural دروز durūz) are a religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon Their leadership is based through community scholars, who are the only individuals allowed to read their holy texts. It is controversial whether this group falls under the classification of Ismailism or Islam because of their unique beliefs.

The Mustaali split three times because of disputes regarding who was the rightful Da'i al-Mutlaq, who is the leader of the community within the Occultation. The Sulaimani Bohra are mostly concentrated in Yemen and Saudi Arabia with some communities in the Subcontinent. Sulaymanis are a Musta‘lī Ismaili community that predominantly reside in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan and India The Dawoodi Bohra and Alavi Bohra are mostly exclusive to the Subcontinent. Dawoodi Bohras ( Arabic: داؤدی بوہرہ Hindi: दवूदि बोह्रा are the main branch of the Bohras, a Musta‘lī subsect Alavi Bohra (علوی بوہرہ are a subsect of Ismaili Mustaali. The true Mustaali beliefs and practices, unlike the Nizari and Druze, are completely tied with mainstream Islam.

Beliefs

View on the Qur'an

Main article: Esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an

The Ismailis understand the Qur'an to have several layers of meaning, but generally divide those types of meanings into two: the exterior (zahir) meaning and the interior (batin) meaning. An esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an is an Interpretation of the Qur’an which includes attribution of Esoteric or mystic meanings to the While a believer can understand the batin meaning to some extent, the Imam alone has the complete understanding of the Qur'an and it is to him alone to interpret it according to the times.

The Ginans

Main article: Ginans

The Ginans are Nizari Ismaili religious texts. The Ginans are a vast corpus of devotional literature in the form of lyrics and hymns and has been the living tradition of Nizari Ismailis particularly from the See also Ismaili The Nizārī s (النزاريون an-Nizāriyyūn) are the largest branch of the Ismā‘īlī (اسماعیلیه and comprise They are written in the form of poetry by Pirs to interpret the meanings of Qur’anic ayat into the languages of the Indian subcontinent, especially Gujarati and Urdu. Ayah (ar آية, plural Ayat ar آيات) is the Arabic word for sign or Miracle, cognate with Hebrew ot, Gujarati (ગુજરાતી Gujǎrātī ? Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised In comparison to Ginans, Ismailis of other origins, such as Persians and Arabs have Qasidas (قصيدة) written by Dai's داعي (جمع دعاة)ـ.

Reincarnation

Main article: Reincarnation (Ismailism)

The belief in reincarnation in the Satpanth tradition of Nizari Ismailism is attested to in the Ginans and Ismailis perform chantas monthly, which is done for the forgiveness of the sins committed in the last month but only those sins which are committed unintentionally; and strictly not for the forgiveness for sins committed in past lives. The belief in Reincarnation in Nizari Ismailism is attested to in the Ginans and Ismailis perform Chantas yearly one of which is for sins committed in past ' Satpanth ' is a subgroup (but not separate from Nizari Ismailism, a blend of Ismaili Sufism and Hinduism, inspired by followers of Pir See also Ismaili The Nizārī s (النزاريون an-Nizāriyyūn) are the largest branch of the Ismā‘īlī (اسماعیلیه and comprise The Ginans are a vast corpus of devotional literature in the form of lyrics and hymns and has been the living tradition of Nizari Ismailis particularly from the The system of the four Yugas viz. Sat, Treta, Dwapar and Kali is a Hindu belief. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Descriptions of each yuga are codified in the various Puranas, a set of holy books of Hinduism. For other meanings see Purana (disambiguation. The Puranas ( Sanskrit: sa पुराण purāṇa, "of ancient times" Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. However, it must be mentioned that the Ginans of Nizari Ismailism do not assert the doctrine of rebirth, but rather, invoke the doctrine in their attempts to teach the message of Ismailism to the people of India.

Reincarnation also exists in the Druze branch of Ismailism. The Druze ( Arabic: درزي derzī or durzī, plural دروز durūz) are a religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon The Druze believe that members of their community can only be reincarnated within the community. It is also known that Druze believe in five cosmic principles, represented by the five colored Druze star: intelligence/reason (green), soul (red), word (yellow), precedent (blue), and immanence (white). Immanence, derived from the Latin in manere "to remain within" refers to philosophical and metaphysical theories of the divine as existing and acting within the mind These virtues take the shape of five different spirits which, until recently, have been continuously reincarnated on Earth as prophets and philosophers including Adam, the ancient Greek mathematician and astronomer Pythagoras, and the ancient Pharaoh of Egypt Akhenaten, and many others. Adam (אָדָם ʼĀḏām, "dust man mankind" آدم; Ge'ez: አዳ and Eve (חַוָּה Ḥawwā, "living "Pythagoras of Samos" redirects here For the Samian statuary of the same name see Pythagoras (sculptor. Akhenaten (often alt: Akhnaten, or rarely Ikhnaton) (In English ˌɑkəˡnɑtən or approximately "AHK-en-AHT-en" his royal name Amenhotep The Druze believe that, in every time period, these five principles were personified in five different people who came down together to Earth to teach humans the true path to God and nirvana, but that with them came five other individuals who would lead people away from the right path into "darkness". In sramanic philosophy Nirvana (निर्वाण| Nirvāṇa; निब्बान Nibbāna; Prakrit: णिव्वाण

Panentheism

Main article: Panentheism (Ismailism)

With the exception of the Mustaali Ismailis, most Ismaili believe in panentheism, meaning God is both reality and transcendent of it. With the exception of the Mustaali Ismaili most Ismaili Shi'a Muslims believe in Panentheism, meaning God is both Reality and transcendent See also Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine The Musta‘lī (مستعلي Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept al-Musta‘lī Panentheism (from Greek (pân "all" (en "in" and (Theós "God" "all-in-God" is a belief system Reality, in everyday usage means "the state of things as they actually exist" While the figure of the Godhead is beyond this universe, the Godhead has created reality, which is God itself. All living beings exist in this reality, however reality in its entirety is invested in the form of the manifestation of Allah, the Imam of the Time.

Numerology

Main article: Numerology (Ismailism)

Ismailis believes that numbers have religious meanings. Ismailis believe that numbers have religious meanings The number seven plays a general role in the theology of the Ismā'īliyya including mystical speculations that there are seven heavens seven The number seven plays a general role in the theology of the Ismā'īliyya, including mystical speculations that there are seven heavens, seven continents, seven orifices in the skull, seven days in a week, and so forth.

Imamate

Main articles: Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine) and List of Ismaili Imams

In Ismailism, the Imam is seen through the Qur'anic phrase, “The Face of Allah. This is a sub-article to Imamah (Shi'a doctrine. The Ismaili view on the Imamah differs from the Twelver Shi'a as well as Sunni views This is a list of the Imams recognized by the Ismaili Shia and their sub-branches ” The Imam is a manifestation Allah in this reality, and hence he is their one true desire in this world. ^[30]

Sevener Ismaili doctrine holds that divine revelation had been given in six periods (daur) entrusted to six prophets, who they also call Natiq (Speaker), who were commissioned to preach a religion of law to their respective communities.

Whereas the Natiq was concerned with the rites and outward shape of religion, the inner meaning is entrusted to a Wasi (Representative). The Wasi would know the secret meaning of all rites and rules and would reveal them to a small circles of initiates.

The Natiq and the Wasi are in turn succeeded by a line of seven Imams, who would guard what they received. The seventh and last Imam in any period would in turn be the Natiq of the next period. The last Imam of the sixth period however would not bring about a new religion of law but supersede all previous religions, abrogate the law and introduce din Adama al-awwal ("the original religion of Adam") practised by Adam and the Angels in paradise before the fall, which would be without cult or law but consist merely in all creatures praising the creator and recognizing his unity. See also Adam and Eve Adam ( Hebrew: אָדָם was according to a literal interpretation of Genesis, the first man created by An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition Paradise is a word of Persian origin ( Persian: پردیس Pardìs) that is generally identified with the Garden of Eden or with Heaven. This final stage was called Qiyamah. In Islam, Yawm al-Qiyāmah "the Day of Resurrection" (يوم القيامة or Yawm ad-Din "the Day of Faith" (يوم الدين is God's final ^[31]

Pir and Dawah

Main article: Da'i al-Mutlaq

Just as the Imam is seen as the Face of Allah, Allah's avatar within reality, the guide to the avatar is known as the Dai. The term Dāˤī al-Mutlaq (الداعي المطلق literally means "the absolute or unrestricted missionary " During the period between the Imamates of Muhammad ibn Ismail and al-Madhi Billah, the relationship between the teacher and the student became a sacred one, and the Dai became a position much beyond a normal missionary. The Dai passed on the sacred and hidden knowledge of the Imam to the student who could then use that information to ascend to higher levels. First the student loved the Dai, and from the Dai he learned to love the Imam, who was but a manifestation of Allah. In Nizari Ismailism, the head Dai is called the Pir. ^[15].

However, in the Mustaali branch, the Dai came to have a similar but more important task. The term Dāˤī al-Mutlaq (Arabic: الداعي المطلق) literally means "the absolute or unrestricted missionary". Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Da‘wah usually denotes proselytizing of Islam. The Arabic دعوة da‘wah means literally "issuing a summons" This dai was the only source of the Imam's knowledge after the occultation of al-Qasim in Mustaali thought.

According to Tayyabī Mustaˤlī Ismā'īlī tradition, after the death of Imam al-Amīr, his infant son, AtTaiyab abi-l-Qasim, about 2 years old, was protected by the most important woman in Musta'li history after Prophet's daughter Fatima. See also Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine The Musta‘lī (مستعلي Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept al-Musta‘lī She was al-Malika al-Sayyida (Hurratul-Malika), wife of Fatimid Dai of Yemen. She was promoted to the post of hujja long before by Imam Mustansir at the death of her husband and she now ran the dawat from Yemen in the name of Imaam Tayyib. She was instructed and prepared by Imam Mustansir and following Imams for the second period of Satr. It was going to be on her hands, that Imam Tayyib would go into seclusion, and she would institute the office of Dāˤī al-Mutlaq. Syedna Zueb-bin-Musa was first to be instituted to this office and the line of Tayyib Dais that began in 526 AH (1132 AD) have passed from one Dai to another and is continuing till date.

Zahir

Main article: Zahir (Islam)

In Ismailism, things have an exterior meaning, what is apparent. According to some Muslim groups the Zahir is the external or apparent meaning of the Quran. This is called zahir.

Batini

Main article: Batin (Islam)

In Ismailism, things have an interior meaning that is reserved for a special few who are in tune with the Imam, or are the Imam himself. Batin is defined as the interior or hidden meaning of the Quran. This is called batin.

Aql

Main article: Aql (Shiasm)

As with other Shias, Ismailis believe that the understanding of Allah is derived from the first light in the universe, the light of Aql, which in Arabic roughly translates as knowledge. It is through this knowledge that all living and non-living entities know Allah, and all of humanity is dependent and united in this light. ^{[32] [28]} Contrastingly, in Twelver thought this includes the Prophets as well, especially Muhammad who is the greatest of all the incarnations of Aql.

Taqiyya

Main article: Taqiyya

Ismailis believe in taqiyya, which means to hide one's true religious beliefs. Persecution of Shia MuslimsWithin Shi'ite Islamic tradition the concept of Taqiyya (تقية - 'fear guard against' refers to a dispensation allowing believers to conceal This has been pivotal to the survival of Ismaili groups since they have been small minorities in many countries and empires hostile to them.

Niranjan Nirakar Swaroop

Main article: Niranjan Nirakar Swaroop

Niranjan Nirakar Swaroop is a Sanskrit term and refers to the Satpanth idea (found in the Ginans of the Ismaili religious tradition) that the true spiritual teacher is esoteric and all-pervading, found by the Mureed when meditating upon special mantras given by the exoteric spiritual teacher (Bandagi). Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical ' Satpanth ' is a subgroup (but not separate from Nizari Ismailism, a blend of Ismaili Sufism and Hinduism, inspired by followers of Pir

Seven Pillars

Main article: Seven Pillars of Islam (Ismaili)

Walayah

Main article: Walayah

A pillar which translates from Arabic as “guardianship. The Shi'a Ismāˤīlī - the Nizari, Druze and Mustaali - have Pillars beyond those of the Sunni. This is about the "pillar of Islam" for the historical view see Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine Guardianship (ولاية Walayah ” It denotes, “Love and devotion for God, the Prophets, the Imam, and the Dai. ” In Ismaili doctrine, Allah is the true desire of every soul, and he manifests himself in the forms of Prophets and Imams, and to be guided to his path, one requires a messenger or a guide: a Dai.

Taharah or Shahada

Taharah

Main article: Taharah

A pillar which translates from Arabic as “purity. This article is about Hygiene in Islam. For the Jewish Taharah ritual preparation for burial see Bereavement in Judaism preparing the body — Taharah ” The Druze do not believe in this pillar and instead substitute shahada in its place. The Shahada ( Arabic: ar الشهادة, from the verb ar شهد "to testify" is the Islamic Creed.

Shahada

Main article: Shahada

In place of Taharah, the Druze have the Shahada, or affirmation of faith. The Shahada ( Arabic: ar الشهادة, from the verb ar شهد "to testify" is the Islamic Creed. The Druze ( Arabic: درزي derzī or durzī, plural دروز durūz) are a religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon

Salah

Main article: Salah

A pillar which translates from Arabic as “prayer. Ṣalāt ( Arabic: صلاة‎, pl ṣalawāt, Qur'anic Arabic: صلوة ṣalawah) (also munz in Pashto and ” Unlike Sunni and Twelver Muslims, Nizari Ismai'lis do not necessarily follow the mainstream Ummah in regards to the number of daily prayers. Nizari Ismai'lis reason that it is up to the Imam of the time to designate the style and form of prayer, and for this reason current Nizari prayer resembles a dua (translated word of Salah from the Quran) and is done three times a day. These three times have been related with the three times that have been mentioned in the Holy Quran, i-e, Sunrise, before Sunset, and After Sunset. In this regard, Imam of the time has the right to amend the prayers according to the needs of the time. The Druze choose not to follow Islamic sharia hence have attributed a solely metaphorical meaning to salah. In contrast, the Mustaali (Bohra) branch of Ismailism has kept five prayers and their style is generally closely related to Twelver groups.

Zakah

Main article: Zakah

A pillar which translates as “charity. This is a sub-article of Islamic economical jurisprudence. Zakaat ( زكاة zækæːh zakaat or zakāh, has the implied ” With the exception of the Druze branch, all Ismailis form of zakat resembles mainstream Muslims, only with the addition of khumms, which is 1/8 of one's unspent money at the end of the year. This resembles Twelvers who after the believed occultation of Muhammad ibn Hassan al-Askari pay khumms to their Ayatollahs under whom they do taqleed, meaning religious emulation. Ayatollah ( Persian: آيت‌الله, âyato-llâh, from Arabic: آية الله, āyatu 'llāh, meaning 'the sign of Taqlid or taqleed ( Arabic تَقْليد taqlīd) is an Arabic term meaning "to follow (someone" or "to imitate" In addition to khums, Ismailies pay 12. 5% of their monthly gross income to the Hazir Imam, which goes to the central accounts and then spent on welfare of the humankind like education and health projects. One of the major examples of these projects is the Aga Khan Development Network, that is one of the biggest welfare networks of the world. Thus, Ismailies believe that as Prophet Muhammad was designated to take Zakah from the muslims in the past, it is now the duty of muslims to pay their Zakah to the Imam of the time.

Sawm

Main article: Sawm

A pillar which translates as “fasting. Sawm ( Arabic: صوم is an Arabic word for Fasting regulated by Islamic jurisprudence. ” The Nizari and Mustaali believe in both a metaphorical and literal meaning of fasting. The literal meaning is that one must fast as an obligation, such as during the Holy Month of Ramadan, and the metaphorical meaning being that one is in attainment of the Divine Truth and must strive to avoid worldy activities which may detract from this goal. Ramadan or Ramazan ( Arabic: رمضان Ramaḍān) is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic In particular, Ismailiese believe that the real and esoteric meaning of the fasting is the fasting of soul by avoiding devilish acts, and doing the good deeds everytime. The fasting by not eating during the month of Ramadan has been considered as a metaphorical implementation of fasting, and has been appreciated, but has not been considered compulsory for the Ismailies, as the real challenge of a Muslim is the fasting of his emotions and fantasies, rather than his hunger. I

Hajj

Main article: Hajj

A pillar which translates from Arabic as “pilgrimage. The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world ” In Ismaili sects this has come to metaphorically mean visiting the Imam himself, and that this is the greatest and most spiritual of all pilgrimages. However, as the Druze do not follow shariah, they do not believe in a literal pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca like other Muslims do, while the Mustaali still hold on to the literal meaning as well. ^[33]

Jihad

Main article: Jihad

A pillar which translates from Arabic as “struggle. Jihad (جهاد ʤɪhæːd an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. ” The definition of jihad is generally controversial within certain sects of the Muslim ummah (community), with it having two meanings and dispute concerning which is the correct or 'literal' one. One meaning is that of personal struggle, otherwise known as Jihad-e-Akbar, "the Greater Struggle," while the other, Jihad-e-Asghar, "The Lower Struggle" is that of struggle against the 'adversaries' of the faith. ' In general, in contrast to other Muslim groups, the Nizari group is primarily pacifist hence interpreting 'adversaries' of the faith as both personal and social vices (i. e. wrath, intolerance, etc. ) and those individuals who harm the peace of the faith. Thus Nizari Ismailism does not encourage the stereotypically misconstrued 'warfare' or 'crusade-like' interpretation of the Jihad-e-Asghar. Rather, Ismailis are told to avoid provocation and use force only as a final resort only in self-defense. The Druze have been engaged in conflict with other religious and ethnic groups even into the 20th and 21st centuries. It is unclear what the Mustaali believe.

Branches

Nizari

Main article: Nizari

The largest part of the Ismaili community today accepts Prince Karim Aga Khan IV as their 49th Imam, who is descended from Nizar. Karīm al-Hussaynī Āgā Khān IV, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH ( سمو الأمیر شاہ کریم الحسیني آغا خان An imam (إمام plural ائمة A'immah, امام is an Islamic leader often the leader of a Mosque and/or community The 46th Imam, Aga Hassan Ali Shah, fled Iran to South Asia in the 1840s after a failed coup against the Shah of the Qajar dynasty. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Qajar dynasty (also known as Ghajar or Kadjar ( ( - or دودمان قاجار) is a common term to describe Iran (then known as Persia) under ^[34] Aga Hassan Ali Shah settled in Mumbai in 1848. Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap ^[34]

Like its predecessors, the present constitution is founded on each Ismaili's spiritual allegiance to the Imam of the Time, which is separate from the secular allegiance that all Ismāʿīlīs owe as citizens to their national entities. The present Imam and his predecessor emphasized Ismaili's allegiance to his or her country as a fundamental obligation. These obligations discharged not by passive affirmation but through responsible engagement and active commitment to uphold national integrity and contribute to peaceful development.

The Nizari followers of the Aga Khan are found today in India, Pakistan, Syria, China and other countries. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National In countries such as Pakistan, they are well represented in government.

In view of the importance that Islām places on maintaining a balance between the spiritual well-being of the individual and the quality of his life, the Imam's guidance deals with both aspects of the life of his followers. The Aga Khan has encouraged Ismaili Muslims, settled in the industrialized world, to contribute towards the progress of communities in the developing world through various development programs. In recent years, Nizari Ismaili Muslims, who have come to the US, Canada and Europe, many as refugees from Asia and Africa, have readily settled into the social, educational and economic fabric of urban and rural centers across the two continents. As in the developing world, the Nizari Ismaili Muslim community's settlement in the industrial world has involved the establishment of community institutions characterized by an ethos of self-reliance, an emphasis on education, and a spirit of philanthropy.

Druze

The movement's adherents went on to establish a stronghold in Syria where they developed their body of doctrine and sacred scriptures. The Druze ( Arabic: درزي derzī or durzī, plural دروز durūz) are a religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Today, the Druze community lives mainly in Lebanon, Syria and Israel. Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. ^[34]

Large communities of expatriate Druze also live outside the Middle East, in the United States, Canada, Latin America, West Africa, Australia and Europe. The Druze ( Arabic: درزي derzī or durzī, plural دروز durūz) are a religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. They use the Arabic language and follow a social pattern very similar to the East Mediterraneans of the region. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language

There are thought to be as many as 1 million Druze worldwide, the vast majority in the Levant or East Mediterranean. See also Names of the Levant The Levant (lə'vænt is a geographical term that denotes a large area in Western Asia, roughly bounded on the north by the ^[35] However, some estimates of the total Druze population have been as low as 450,000. The Druze ( Arabic: درزي derzī or durzī, plural دروز durūz) are a religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon ^[36]

Because of their beliefs contrasting greatly with both other Ismaili groups and Islam in general, the classification of Druze as Ismaili Muslims is controversial.

Mustaali

Main article: Mustaali

In time, the seat for one chain of the Dai was split between South Asia and Syria as the community split several times, each recognizing a different Dai. See also Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine The Musta‘lī (مستعلي Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept al-Musta‘lī Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Today, the Dawoodi Bohras, which constitute the majority of the Mustaali Ismaili accept Mohammed Burhanuddin as the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq. Dawoodi Bohras ( Arabic: داؤدی بوہرہ Hindi: दवूदि बोह्रा are the main branch of the Bohras, a Musta‘lī subsect Mohammed Burhanuddin (محمد برھان الدین (born March 6, 1915) is the 52nd Dā‘ī l-Muṭlaq "Unrestricted Missionary" The Dawoodi Bohras are based in India, along with the Alawi Bohra. The Sulaimani Bohra however still are in primarily Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

There has been, in recent years, a rapprochement between the Sulaimani Mustaali and the Dawoodi Mustaali.

The Bohra are noted to be the more traditional of the three main groups of Ismaili, maintaining rituals such as prayer and fasting more consistently with the practices of other Shīˤa sects. See also Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine The Musta‘lī (مستعلي Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept al-Musta‘lī It is often said they resemble Sunni Islam even more than Twelvers do, though this would hold true for matters of the exterior (zahir) only, with little bearing on doctrinal differences.

Dawoodi Bohra

Main article: Dawoodi Bohra

The Dawoodi Bohras are a very closely-knit community who seek advice from the Dai on spiritual and temporal matters. Dawoodi Bohras ( Arabic: داؤدی بوہرہ Hindi: दवूदि बोह्रा are the main branch of the Bohras, a Musta‘lī subsect

Dawoodi Bohras is essentially and traditionally Fatimid and is headed by the Dāˤī al-Mutlaq, who is appointed by his predecessor in office. The Dāˤī al-Mutlaq appoints two others to the subsidiary ranks of māzūn (Arabic Ma'ðūn مأذون)"licentiate" and Mukāsir (Arabic مكاسر). These positions are followed by the rank of ra'sul hudood, bhaisaheb, miya-saheb, shaikh-saheb and mulla-saheb, which are held by several of Bohras. The 'Aamil or Saheb-e Raza who is granted the permission to perform the religious ceremonies of the believers by the Dāˤī al-Mutlaq and also leads the local congregation in religious, social and community affairs, is sent to each town where a sizable population of believers exists. Such towns normally have a mosque and an adjoining jamaa'at-khaana (assembly hall) where socio-religious functions are held. The local organizations which manage these properties and administer the social and religious activities of the local Bohras report directly to the central administration of the Dāˤī al-Mutlaq. See also Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine The Musta‘lī (مستعلي Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept al-Musta‘lī

While the majority of Dawoodi Bohras have traditionally been traders, it is becoming increasingly common for them to become professionals. Within South Asia many choose to become Doctors, and in the Far East and the West, a large number now work as consultants or analysts as well as a large contingent of medical professionals. A physician, medical practitioner or medical doctor who practices Medicine, and is concerned with maintaining or restoring human Health The Far East is a term often used by people in the Western world to refer to the countries of East Asia. The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings A consultant (from the Latin consultare means "to discuss" from which we also derive words such as consul and counsel) is a Professional Dawoodi Bohras are encouraged to educate themselves in both religious and secular knowledge, and as a result, the number of professionals in the community is rapidly increasing. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Secularity ( adjective form secular) is the state of being separate from Religion. Dawoodi Bohras believe that the education of women is equally important to that of men, and many Dawoodi Bohra women choose to enter the workforce. Al Jamea tus Saifiyah (The Arabic Academy) in Surat and Karachi is a sign to the educational importance in the Dawoodi community. Al Jamea Tus Saifiyah is an Islamic Arabic Academy situated in the heart of Surat city India which is a leading theological University for Dawoodi Bohras (ڪراچي) is the largest city in Pakistan. It is the world's second largest city proper behind Mumbai in terms of population which exceeds 10 million The Academy has an advanced curriculum which encompasses religious and secular education for both men and women.

Today there are approximately one million Dawoodi Bohras. The majority of these reside in India and Pakistan, but there is also a significant diaspora resident in the Middle East, East Africa, Europe, North America and the Far East. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and The term Diaspora (in Greek, διασπορά &ndash " a scattering or sowing of seeds " refers any population sharing common ethnic The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. The Far East is a term often used by people in the Western world to refer to the countries of East Asia.

The ordinary Bohra is highly conscious of his identity and this is especially demonstrated at religious and traditional occasions by the appearance and attire of the participants. Dawoodi Bohra men wear a traditional white three piece outfit, plus a white and gold cap (called a topi), and women wear the rida, a distinctive form of the commonly known burqa which is distinguished from other forms of the veil due to it often being in color and decorated with patterns and lace. A burqa (also Transliterated burkha, burka or burqua) is an enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic traditions for the A veil is an article of clothing worn almost exclusively by women that is intended to cover some part of the head or Face.

Besides speaking the local languages, the Dawoodis have their own language called Lisānu l-Dāˤwat "Tongue of the Dāˤwat". Lisan al-Dawat (لسان الدعوة, also transcribed as Lisan ud-Dawat, is the language of the Dawoodi Bohras, an Ismaili Shia Muslim This is written in Arabic script but is derived from Urdu, Gujarati and Arabic and Persian. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised Gujarati (ગુજરાતી Gujǎrātī ?

Sulaimani Bohra

Main article: Sulaimani Bohra

Founded in 1592, they are mostly concentrated in Yemen, but are today also found in Pakistan and India. Sulaymanis are a Musta‘lī Ismaili community that predominantly reside in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan and India Yemen ( Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman officially the Republic of Yemen ( Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhuuriyya Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The denomination is named after its 27th Daˤī, (Sulayman ibn Hassan). The 27th Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Sulaimani Bohra. His coming to power led to a schism with a group who did not accept him primarily in India known as the Dawoodi Bohra

The total number of Sulaimanis currently are around 300,000, mainly living in the eastern district of Haraz in the North west of Yemen and in Najaran, Saudi Arabia, beside the Banu Yam of Najaran, the Sulaimanis are in Haraz, among the inhabitants of the Jabal Maghariba and in Hawzan, Lahab and Attara, as well as in the district of Hamdan and in the vicinity of Yarim. Yemen ( Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman officially the Republic of Yemen ( Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhuuriyya The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi Banu Yam ( بنو يام) are a large tribe native to Najran Province in Saudi Arabia, and are the principal tribe of that area

In India there are between three to four thousand Sulaimanis living mainly in Baroda, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Surat. In Pakistan there is a well established Sulaimani community in Sind, some five to six thousand Sulaimanis live in rural areas of Sind, these Ismaili Sulaimani communities are in Sind from the time of Fatimid Imam Muizz li din Allah when he sent his Dais to Sind.

There are also some 900-1000 Sulaimanis mainly from Indian Sub-continent scattered around the World, in the Persian Gulf States, USA, Canada, Thailand, Australia, Japan and UK. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Alavi Bohra

Main article: Alavi Bohra

While lesser known and smallest in number, Alavi Bohras accept as the 44th Dāʿī al-Mutlaq, H.H. Saiyedna Abu Haatim Taiyeb Ziyauddin Saheb. Alavi Bohra (علوی بوہرہ are a subsect of Ismaili Mustaali. Alavi Bohra (علوی بوہرہ are a subsect of Ismaili Mustaali. The term Dāˤī al-Mutlaq (الداعي المطلق literally means "the absolute or unrestricted missionary " They are mostly concentrated in India.

The Alavi Bohra community has its headquarters at Baroda City, Gujarat, India. The 44th Dāˤī al-Mutlaq, Saiyedna Taiyeb Ziyauddin Saheb, is the head of the community. The religious hierarchy of the Alavi Bohras is essentially and traditionally Fatimid and is headed by the Dāˤī al-Mutlaq, who is appointed by his predecessor in office. The Dāˤī al-Mutlaq appoints two others to the subsidiary ranks of māzūn (Arabic Ma'ðūn مأذون)"licentiate" and Mukāsir (Arabic مكاسر). These positions are followed by the rank of ra'sul hudood, bhaisaheb, miya-saheb, shaikh-saheb and mulla-saheb, which are held by several of Bohras. The 'Aamil or Saheb-e Raza who is granted the permission to perform the religious ceremonies of the believers by the Dāˤī al-Mutlaq and also leads the local congregation in religious, social and community affairs, is sent to each town where a sizable population of believers exists. Such towns normally have a mosque and an adjoining jamaa'at-khaana (assembly hall) where socio-religious functions are held. The local organizations which manage these properties and administer the social and religious activities of the local Bohras report directly to the central administration of the Dāˤī al-Mutlaq. See also Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine The Musta‘lī (مستعلي Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept al-Musta‘lī

Hafizi

Main article: Hafizi

This branch held that whoever the political ruler of the Fatimid Empire was, was also the Imam of the faith. A branch of Mustaali Ismailism that believed the current ruler of the Fatimid Empire after the reign of Al-Amir Bi-Ahkamillah, Al-Hafiz was also This branch died with the Fatimid Empire.

Seveners

Main article: Seveners

A branch of the Ismaili known as the Sabaʿiyyīn "Seveners" hold that Ismāʿīl's son, Muhammad, was the seventh Imam and, after Muhammad ibn Ismail, the spiritual authority of Imams continues until the present day. Seveners (Arabic سبعية are a branch of Ismā'īlī Shīˤa. Seveners (Arabic سبعية are a branch of Ismā'īlī Shīˤa. ^[15]. However, most scholars believe this group is either extremely small or totally non-existent today.

Statistics

Unreliable statistics have resulted in there being only an estimate as to the number of Ismai'lis in the world. Estimates range from 15-30 million. ^[37] It is accepted that Ismai'lis constitute the second-largest Shi'a Muslim population. Within the Ismai'li sub-sect, the largest branch is Nizari at around 10 million. With its three branches added together, the Mustaali are the second largest at under 2 million, followed by the Druze at around 1 million.

Notes

See also

• Nizārī
• Ainsarii
• Batiniyya
• Khoja
• Banu Yam
• Naser Khusraw

External links

• A Film on the Aga Khan and the Ismailis
• Official Nizari Ismaili Website
• IsmailiSpark.com Ismaili Dating
• Ismaili an article by encyclopedia Britannica online
• Institute of Ismaili Studies
• An Official website about Ismaili Community
• Graphical illustration of the sects of Shi'a Islam
• Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims Golden Jubilee Celebration
• History of Imams from the Nizarī point of view.
• Ismaili Web
• Dawoodi Bohras
• Aga Khan Development Network
• Alavi Bohra: The Smallest Sect of Ismā'īlī Mustaˤlī Faith
• Isma'ilism, in the Encyclopedia of the Orient

See also Ismaili The Nizārī s (النزاريون an-Nizāriyyūn) are the largest branch of the Ismā‘īlī (اسماعیلیه and comprise The Ainsarii were a sect of the Ismaili Assassins who survived the destruction of the stronghold of Alamut. The Batiniyya (or Batini') was an Esoteric Ismaili sect of Shi'i Islam. Ismaili Khojas About six hundred years ago the Persian -born Pir Sadruddin arrived in Sindh. Banu Yam ( بنو يام) are a large tribe native to Najran Province in Saudi Arabia, and are the principal tribe of that area Abu Mo’in Hamid ad-Din Nasir ibn Khusraw al-Qubadiani or Nasir Khusraw Qubadyani spelled ''Khusrow'' (1004 - 1088 AD ( was a Persian ( Tajik) poet philosopher

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