Ismailism

Mosque of al-Hakim , an Ismāʿīlī Shī‘ah Imām . Ismāʿīlism ( Arabic : الإسماعيليون al-Ismāʿīliyyūn ; Persian : اسماعیلیان Esmāʿiliyān ; Urdu : إسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī ) is a branch of Shia Islam . It is the second largest sect of Shiaism, after the mainstream Twelvers ( Ithnāʿashariyya ). The Ismāʿīlī get their name from their acceptance of Ismāʿīl ibn Jaʿfar as the divinely appointed spiritual successor ( Imām ) to Jaʿfar aṣ-Ṣādiq , wherein they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Mūsà al-Kāżim , younger brother of Ismāʿīl, as the true Imām . Tracing its earliest theology to the lifetime of Muḥammad, Ismāʿīlism rose at one point to become the largest branch of Shī‘ism, climaxing as a political power with the Fatimid Empire in the tenth through twelfth centuries. Ismailis believe in the oneness of God , as well as the closing of divine revelation with Muḥammad, whom they see as the final prophet and messenger of God to all humanity. The Ismāʿīlī and the Twelvers both accept the same initial A'immah from the descendants of Muḥammad through his daughter Fāṭimah az-Zahra and therefore share much of their early history. Both Shī‘ite groups see the family of Muḥammad ( Ahl al-Bayt ) as divinely chosen, infallible ( ismah ) , and guided by God to lead the Islamic community ( Ummah ) , a belief that distinguishes them from the majority Sunni branch of Islam. After the death—or Occultation according to Seveners —of 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. 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 Ismāʿīlī group focusing on the mystical path and nature of Allah , with the "Imām of the Time" representing the manifestation of truth and reality, with the more literalistic Twelver group focusing on divine law ( sharia ) and the deeds and sayings ( sunnah ) of Muhammad and the Twelve Imams who were guides and a light to God. Though there are several paths ( tariqah ) within the Ismāʿīlīs, the term in today's vernacular generally refers to the Nizari path, which recognizes the Aga Khan as the 49th hereditary Imam and is the largest group among the Ismāʿīlīs. While some 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 Imāms. In recent centuries Ismāʿīlīs have largely been an Indo-Iranian community, but Ismāʿīlī are found in India , Pakistan , Syria , Saudi Arabia , Yemen , China , Jordan , Uzbekistan , Tajikistan , Afghanistan , East Africa , Syria , and South Africa , and have in recent years emigrated to Europe , Australia , New Zealand , and North America . A Short History of the Ismailis .

Ismāʿīlism ( al-Ismāʿīliyya ; ; , Esmāʿiliyān ) is a branch of Shia Islam whose adherents are also known as Seveners and Agha Khanies . The Ismāʿīlī ( / ˌ ɪ s m eɪ ˈ ɪ l i / ) get their name from their acceptance of Isma'il ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor ( Imām ) to Ja'far al-Sadiq , wherein they differ from the Twelvers , who accept Musa al-Kadhim , younger brother of Isma'il, as the true Imām . Tree of the Shia Islam . Tracing its earliest theology to the lifetime of Muhammad , Ismailism rose at one point to become the largest branch of Shī‘ism, climaxing as a political power with the Fatimid Caliphate in the tenth through twelfth centuries. Ismailis believe in the oneness of God , as well as the closing of divine revelation with Muhammad, whom they see as "the final Prophet and Messenger of God to all humanity". The Ismāʿīlī and the Twelvers both accept the same initial Imams from the descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah and therefore share much of their early history. Both groups see the family of Muhammad (the Ahl al-Bayt ) as divinely chosen, infallible ( ismah ) , and guided by God to lead the Islamic community ( Ummah ) , a belief that distinguishes them from the majority Sunni branch of Islam. After the death of Muhammad ibn Ismail in the 8th century AD, 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. With the eventual development of Twelverism into the more literalistic ( zahir ) oriented Akhbari and later Usuli schools of thought, Shi'i Islam developed into two separate directions: the metaphorical Ismaili group focusing on the mystical path and nature of God , with the "Imām of the Time" representing the manifestation of truth and reality, with the more literalistic Twelver group focusing on divine law ( sharia ) and the deeds and sayings ( sunnah ) of Muhammad and the Twelve Imams who were guides and a light to God. Though there are several paths ( tariqat ) within Ismailism, the term in today's vernacular generally refers to the Nizaris , who recognize the Aga Khan IV as the 49th hereditary Imam and is the largest Ismaili group. In recent centuries Ismāʿīlīs have largely been a Pakistani , Afghani , Indian and Irani (Persian) community, but Ismaili's are also found in Bangladesh , Syria , Saudi Arabia , Yemen , Jordan , Kurdistan , East Africa , Angola , Lebanon , and South Africa , and have in recent years emigrated to Europe , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , the United States , and Trinidad and Tobago . There are also a significant number of Ismāʿīlīs in Central Asia . A Short History of the Ismailis .

Branch of Shia Islam "Ismaili" redirects here. Ismāʿīlism ( , al-ʾIsmāʿīlīyah ; , Esmâ'īliyân ) is a branch or sub-sect of Shia Islam . The Ismāʿīlī ( / ˌ ɪ s m eɪ ˈ ɪ l i / ) get their name from their acceptance of Imam Ismaʻil ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor ( imām ) to Ja'far al-Sadiq , wherein they differ from the Twelvers who accept Musa al-Kadhim , younger brother of Ismaʻil, as the true Imām . Ismailism rose at one point to become the largest branch of Shīʻism, climaxing as a political power with the Fatimid Caliphate in the tenth through twelfth centuries. Ismailis believe in the oneness of God , as well as the closing of divine revelation with Muhammad , whom they see as "the final Prophet and Messenger of God to all humanity". The Ismāʿīlī and the Twelvers both accept the same initial Imams. After the death of Muhammad ibn Ismaʻil 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. With the eventual development of Twelverism into the more literalistic ( zahir ) oriented Akhbari and later Usuli schools of thought, Shiʻi Islam developed into two separate directions: the metaphorical Ismaili group focusing on the mystical path and nature of God , with the "Imām of the Time" representing the manifestation of esoteric truth and intelligible reality, with the more literalistic Twelver group focusing on divine law ( sharia ) and the deeds and sayings ( sunnah ) of Muhammad and the Twelve Imams who were guides and a light to God . Ismaili thought is heavily influenced by neoplatonism . Though there are several paths ( tariqat ) within Ismailism, like Mustaali and Tayyibi , the term in today's vernacular generally refers to the Nizaris , who recognize Aga Khan IV as the 49th hereditary Imam and are the largest Ismaili group. In recent centuries Ismāʿīlīs have largely been a Pakistani and Indian community, but Ismailis are also found in Bangladesh , Malaysia , Syria , Iran , Saudi Arabia , Yemen , Jordan , Iraq , East Africa , Angola , Lebanon , and South Africa , and have in recent years emigrated to Europe , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , the United States , and Trinidad and Tobago . There are also a significant number of Ismāʿīlīs in Central Asia . A Short History of the Ismailis .

Branch of Shia Islam "Ismaili" redirects here. Isma'ilism ( ) is a branch or sub-sect of Shia Islam . The Isma'ili ( / ˌ ɪ s m eɪ ˈ ɪ l i / ) get their name from their acceptance of Imam Isma'il ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor ( imām ) to Ja'far al-Sadiq , wherein they differ from the Twelver Shia , who accept Musa al-Kadhim , the younger brother of Isma'il, as the true Imām . After the death of Muhammad ibn Isma'il 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. With the eventual development of Usulism and Akhbarism into the more literalistic ( zahir ) oriented, Shia Islam developed into two separate directions: the metaphorical Ismaili, Alevi , Bektashi , Alian , and Alawite groups focusing on the mystical path and nature of God , along with the "Imam of the Time" representing the manifestation of esoteric truth and intelligible divine reality, with the more literalistic Usuli and Akhbari groups focusing on divine law ( sharia ) and the deeds and sayings ( sunnah ) of Muhammad and the Twelve Imams who were guides and a light to God. Isma'ilism rose at one point to become the largest branch of Shia Islam, climaxing as a political power with the Fatimid Caliphate in the 10th through 12th centuries. Ismailis believe in the oneness of God , as well as the closing of divine revelation with Muhammad , whom they see as "the final Prophet and Messenger of God to all humanity". The Isma'ili and the Twelvers both accept the same six initial Imams; the Isma'ili accept Isma'il ibn Jafar as the seventh Imam. Isma'ili thought is heavily influenced by Neoplatonism . The larger sect of Ismaili are the Nizaris , who recognize Aga Khan IV as the 49th hereditary Imam, while other groups are known as the Tayyibi branch. The biggest Ismaili community is in Gorno-Badakhshan , but Isma'ilis can be found in Central Asia , Afghanistan , India , Pakistan , Yemen , Lebanon , Malaysia , Syria , Iran , Saudi Arabia , Jordan , Iraq , Kuwait , East Africa , Angola , Bangladesh , and South Africa , and have in recent years emigrated to Europe , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , the United States , and Trinidad and Tobago . The Politics of Islamic Revivalism: Diversity and Unity: Center for Strategic and International Studies (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown University. Center for Strategic and International Studies . Druze - An offshoot of Shi'ism; its members are not considered Muslims by orthodox Muslims. The Oxford Handbook of American Islam . While they appear parallel to those of normative Islam, in the Druze religion they are different in meaning and interpretation. The religion is consider distinct from the Ismaili as well as from other Muslims belief and practice... Most Druze do not identify as Muslims.. The Druze, who live mostly in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, are also Ismāʿīlī in origin. A Short History of the Ismailis .