| Imamate of Imam Islam Shah |
During the lifetime of Imam Islam Shah the headquarters of the Ismaili Imamat shifted from Azerbhaijaan to Kahek. The Ismailis once again fell prey to the cruelty of the Mongols, this time at the hands of Tamerlane, a descendent of Genghis Khan (Aziz, 1974). |
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| Imamate of Imam Qasim Shah |
As his father had done, Imam Qassim Shah lived in Azerbhaijaan under an assumed identity (Daftary & Hirji, 2008). Under his 60-year rule, the Ismailis lived peaceful lives by continuing the practice of taqiya. Imam Qassim Shah sent Pir Shams to India, where he converted a significant number of inhabitants to the Ismaili tariqah of Islam. |
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| Imamate of Imam Shamsiddeen Muhammed |
The Imamate of Imam Shamsiddeen Muhammed marks the beginning of the second period of taqiya in Ismaili history. The great Ismaili saint, Shams Tabriz, who was also the uncle of the Imam, played a vital role in the propagation of the faith despite the harsh conditions. He is well known due to the fact that one of his loyal disciples was the mystical poet Jalaluddin Rumi. |
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| Birth of Imam Shamsiddeen Muhammed |
Mowlana Shamsiddeen Muhammed was born in Lamasar. As his only son, he was sent away by his father during the Mongol invasion to ensure his safety. He was destined to succeed his father at the age of eight years. |
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| Imamate of Imam Ruknuddin Khairshah |
Imam Ruknuddin Khairshah reigned as Imam of the Time for a period of one to two years before being murdered by the Mongols. This event marks the end of the Alamut period. |
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| Birth of Imam Ruknuddin Khairshah |
Imam Ruknuddin Khairshah's Imamate would mark the last period of glory of the Ismaili state in Alamut. Thereafter, and until the rise of the lineage of the Aga Khans, there appears in Ismaili history a stretch of obscurity and uncertainty in terms of historic detail, most likely related to the practice of taqiya by the Imams and the Ismaili community. |
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| Imamate of Imam Alauddin Muhammed |
Notable figures that lived during the rule of Imam Alaiddeen Muhammed include Jalaluddin Rumi, Ibn al-Arabi, and Naseeruddin Tusi, who served as the Prime Minister of the Alamut State (Aziz, 1974). Threatened by the Mongol empire, the Imam of the Time sent a message of peace to these imminent invaders, which was promptly dismissed by them in great contempt (Daftary & Hirji, 2008). |
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| Birth of Imam Alauddin Muhammed |
Mowlana Imam Alaiddeen Muhammed was born in 1212AD and became the Imam of the Time at the age of 9 years. |
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| Imamate of Imam Jalaluddin Hassan |
The orthodox Muslims had responded to the doctrine of qiyama by propagating that the Ismailis had violated the Islamic Shariah. |
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| Birth of Imam Jalaluddin Hassan |
Imam Jalaluddin Hassan was born in Lamasar in the year 1185AD. He would play a significant role in articulating the concept of qiyama, first declared by his grandfather Mowlana Ala Zikrihis Salaam in 1164AD. |
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| Imamate of Imam Ala Muhammed |
The Imamate of Imam Ala Muhammed spanned a period of about 44 years - a span of time that saw the succession of three Pirs one after the other, namely, Pir Salaamuddin, followed by Sayyid Solehdin alias Sayyid Muhammed Noorbaksh, followed by Pir Salaahuddin. The Imam died of poisoning and was buried in Alamut in 1210AD. |
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| Birth of Imam Ala Muhammed |
Born in the fortress of Lamasar, Mowlana Ala Muhammed would grow up to prove himself a great writer in philosophy and jurisprudence. |
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| Imamate of Imam Ala Zikrihis Salaam |
Born in Alamut, Mowlana Imam Ala Zikrihis Salaam is known to have declared the Yaum el-Qiyama or Day of Resurrection on the 19th of Ramazan, 559AH (10th of August, 1164). On the day, he made the following farman to the Jamat: "I am your Imam-e-Zaman, I am Hasan bin Qahir bin Mohtadi bin Hadi bin Nizar bin Mustansir Billah. The line of our succession will continue till the end of this world. |
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| Birth of Imam Ala Zikrihis Salaam |
The 23rd Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, Imam Ala Zikrihis Salaam, was born in Alamut in the year 1152AD. |
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| Imamate of Imam Qahir |
During the reign of Imam Qahir, the Imam once again began to govern both religious and temporal powers, the latter of which had been entrusted hitherto in the hands of an appointed prime minister or dai during the period of Dawri Satr. |
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| Birth of Imam Qahir |
Born in Alamut, Imam Qahir's full name was al-Qahir bi Quowatullah. Physically well-built and handsome, he took an early interest in the governing of affairs at Alamut and succeeded to the Throne of Imamate when he was in his late thirties. |
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| Imamate of Imam Mohtadi |
The reign of Imam Mohtadi was comparatively peaceful and prosperous. New castles were built and territories were expanded. The Imam passed away in Alamut where he was buried, and was succeeded by his son Qahir. |
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| Birth of Imam Mohtadi |
Imam Mohtadi, born in the fortress of Lamasar, was the first Ismaili Imam to have taken birth in Iran. |
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| Imamate of Imam Hadi |
Imam Hadi was 21 years of age when he succeeded to the Throne of Imamate. Escaping imprisonment by his uncle Caliph Mustali, Imam Hadi established a new Ismaili kingdom at Alamut. Founded by Hassan bin Sabbah during the Imamate of Imam Mustansir Billah, the new state of Alamut was to last for 170 years, until the Imamate of Imam Ruknuddin Khairshah. |
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| Birth of Imam Hadi |
Mowlana Imam Hadi, the 20th Imam of the Ismailis, was born in Cairo in the year 462AH (1069AD) during the Imamat of his grandfather Imam Mustansir Billah. |
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| Imamate of Imam Nizar |
Al-Mustali, the younger half-brother of Imam Nizar, in a wave of political ambitions of perverse administrators of the state, would himself come to be the leader of the seceding sect of the Ismailis, the Bohras. |
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| Birth of Imam Nizar |
Imam Nizar was born on the 10th of Rabi-el-Awwal, 437AH, 1045AD, in Cairo. He would succeed his father as the 19th Imam of the Ismailis at the age of 51 years. |
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| Imamate of Imam Mustansir Billah |
During his reign, political unrest amidst a massive earthquake contributed to much of the insecurity and economic instability throughout the Fatimid territory. Notable personalities who lived during this Imam's rule include among others Hassan bin Sabbah, Nasir Khusraw, and Omar Khayyam. |
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| Birth of Imam Mustansir Billah |
Imam Mustansir Billah was born on the 17th of Jama'di-el Thani, 420 AH, 1029AD, in Cairo. He would become the eighth Fatimid Caliph at the early age of seven years, and reign as Imam and Caliph for a period of more than 60 years. |
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| Imamate of Imam Zahir |
Imam Zahir became the Imam of the Time and the seventh Fatimid Caliph at the young age of 16 years. This period marks the life and times of the famous Ismaili physician and philosopher Avicenna. |
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| Birth of Imam Zahir |
Imam Zahir was born on the 10th of Ramazan, 395AH (1005AD) in Cairo. |
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| Imamate of Imam Hakem bi Amrillah - 996 |
Mowlana Imam Hakem bi Amrillah ascended the Throne of Imamate at the young age of eleven years. Many forces in the pursuit of power actively sought to undermine the security of the Fatimid Empire during his reign, including the Abbasid Caliph of Baghdad, Qadir Billah. |
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| Birth of Imam Hakem bi Amrillah - 986AD |
Mowlana Imam Hakem bi Amrillah was born on the 3rd of Rabi-el-Awwal, 375AH (986AD), in Cairo. |
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| Imamate of Imam Aziz - 975-996AD |
The twenty-one year rule of Imam Aziz marks the height of the Fatimid rule, with the empire securing regions as far as Yemen, Damascus, and Palestine to the lands bordering on the Atlantic Ocean. Espousing a culture of religious freedom of practice, the resulting peace and prosperity attracted many non-Muslims and foreigners to make their home within the perimeters of the vast empire. |
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| Birth of Imam Aziz - 953AD |
Mowlana Imam Aziz was born on the 14th of Muharram, 344AH (953AD), in Qairwan. |
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