I just want to point out that Mowlana Ala' Muhammad, when traveling to Syria and residing at Masiyaf Fort, was known as Dai Rashiduddin Sinan and as Old Man of the Mountain by Orientalists, he was not known by anyone as the Imam, he was not telling anyone in Syria that he was Imam Ala Muhammed son of Imam Hasan Alazikrihis Salaam in Alamut. (Mustafa Ghaleb, The Ismailis of Syria. See also the letter of Rashiddudin Sinan to Noureddin Zenki.
Also my personal remark is one should not always believe what is printed, even if it comes from our institutions as "Authorised, authentic, approved etc..." What was considered or institutionally declared once "authorised or authentic" can be within a second be declared void by the Imam if he so which. Never forget that.
Imam and Imamat
Re: Imam and Imamat
I fully agree with and understand your perspective, Admin. While I possess a few books published by reputable sources such as IIS, I have observed that much of the information they contain is either inaccurate or misleading. This issue is not confined to IIS alone; for instance, I have noted errors in the first edition of Noran Mubin (India), authored by Chunara, including the claim that a fabricated burial ceremony took place in which Imam Jaffar Sadiq participated.
-
swamidada786
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2025 8:56 pm
Re: Imam and Imamat
you have asked me,"What is your understanding of Dawr i Satr"?kmaherali wrote: Thu Jan 22, 2026 5:24 amIt is well known in our history, that Imams concealed their true identities hence we have periods of concealment (Satr). What is your understanding of Dawr-i Satr?swamidada786 wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:14 pm Was Imam scared of worldly powers (I donn't think so) that he went into Taqqiyah, calling himself first Hujjah of Hidden Imam, and then Khalifa and representative of Allah, finally settled as Real Imam!!! Brainless Ismaili Nizari Historians have degraded the Institution of Imamah (following secondary sources, mostly written by enemies of Ismailis).
Kmaherali you wrote:... and where is it mentioned that he was assasinated?True but I did not mention these facts in my post!swamidada786 wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:14 pm First proof: Imam was assasinated by his brother in law named Hasan Namawar. Name of book; Tarikh A'ama e Ismailia part 3, page 62, published by Ismaila Association Pakistan, year 1980.
Second proof: Name of book: The Ismailis, their history and doctrines by Farhad Daftary, page 391. Published by Cambridge University press in 1990. Imam was stabbed by his brother in law Hasan Namawar in castle of Lamasar.
Answer: Is Imam scared of worldly powers that he has to conceal his true identification? Imam Hussain fought sacrificed himself and his family but never concealed his identification.
For second question, your tone of asking was,....and where is it mentioned that he was assasinated?
And I gave you proofs. I have few more non Ismaili accounts of assasination also.
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swamidada786
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2025 8:56 pm
Re: Imam and Imamat
Patron of IIS and ITREB is Hazar Imam. Both institutions work under his guidance. Mostly books published by IIS are abridged means paragraphs which go against Ismaili ideology are not included. Regarding the history bookashraf59 wrote: Thu Jan 22, 2026 2:38 pm I fully agree with and understand your perspective, Admin. While I possess a few books published by reputable sources such as IIS, I have observed that much of the information they contain is either inaccurate or misleading. This issue is not confined to IIS alone; for instance, I have noted errors in the first edition of Noran Mubin (India), authored by Chunara, including the claim that a fabricated burial ceremony took place in which Imam Jaffar Sadiq participated.
'The Ismailis' written by Farhad Daftray had Shah Karim's approval. The history book Nooran Mubin had Shah Sultan Muhammad Shah's approval and he specially asked jamaits to read that book.
Re: Imam and Imamat
Imam's don't express themselves in the same manner in all circumstances. Sometimes they are kings and sometimes unknown to the majority. That is how Imamat has continued regardless of the external circumstances. Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah stated in his Memoirs:swamidada786 wrote: Thu Jan 22, 2026 10:31 pm
you have asked me,"What is your understanding of Dawr i Satr"?
Answer: Is Imam scared of worldly powers that he has to conceal his true identification? Imam Hussain fought sacrificed himself and his family but never concealed his identification.
Often persecuted and oppressed, the faith of my ancestors was never destroyed; at times it flourished as in the epoch of the Fatimite Khalifs, at times it was obscure and little understood.
I meant to tell you that I did not mention the assassination in my post. I am not disputing the fact that he was assassinated.swamidada786 wrote: Thu Jan 22, 2026 10:31 pm For second question, your tone of asking was,....and where is it mentioned that he was assasinated?
And I gave you proofs. I have few more non Ismaili accounts of assasination also.
Re: Imam and Imamat
To Admin ,
So, brother Admin, do you really believe that Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (a.s.) participated in a fake funeral for his own son, Imam Ismail (a.s.)? This claim appears in the first edition of Nooran Mubin, published by the Ismailia Association of India.
If possible, please read the first edition of Nooran Mubin, if you can find it.
Do you think this passage was printed by mistake, or later misunderstood?
Also, who actually authored the well-known granth Buj Niranjan?
There has already been a long discussion on this forum about how accurate Mr. Daftary’s writings are—so I request that you revisit those discussions and read them once again with a critical eye.
So, brother Admin, do you really believe that Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (a.s.) participated in a fake funeral for his own son, Imam Ismail (a.s.)? This claim appears in the first edition of Nooran Mubin, published by the Ismailia Association of India.
If possible, please read the first edition of Nooran Mubin, if you can find it.
Do you think this passage was printed by mistake, or later misunderstood?
Also, who actually authored the well-known granth Buj Niranjan?
There has already been a long discussion on this forum about how accurate Mr. Daftary’s writings are—so I request that you revisit those discussions and read them once again with a critical eye.
Re: Imam and Imamat
There is discussion about Buj Niranjan in this forum at : viewtopic.php?t=8826ashraf59 wrote: Fri Jan 23, 2026 2:59 pm Also, who actually authored the well-known granth Buj Niranjan?
Re: Imam and Imamat
Mawlana Murad Mirza, our 36th Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kow7rOT ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Murad Mirza (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat at an unknown date in the mid-16th century. His Imamat coincided with the rule of Shah Tahmasp I (r. 1524-1576), who persecuted the Imam because of his popularity among his Ismaili followers. Mawlana Murad Mirza died in 1574, having been executed by the Safavid Shah.
Story
During the Imamat of Mawlana Murad Mirza (peace be upon him), the Safavids became increasingly intolerant towards other Shia and Sufi communities, resulting in the renewed persecution of Ismailis. The Safavids noticed the Imam’s popularity among his followers both within and outside Persia, including Ismailis who would visit from the Indian subcontinent and other regions. This alarmed Shah Tahmasp I, who had the Imam imprisoned in 1573. Imam Murad Mirza escaped from prison with the help of a high-ranking Safavid official who was secretly an Ismaili, then he fled to Afghanistan. However, the Imam was recaptured a few months later in 1574. He was brought before the Shah, who had him executed soon after. Mawlana Murad Mirza’s story demonstrates the danger and persecution faced by the Imams and the Ismailis if they revealed their true identity. His descendants would change their strategy for concealing themselves during the Safavid period.
Era: Anjudan Period
Quote
“Do you desire salvation, O brother of mine?
Then with affection for the king of Anjudan, arise!”
Darwish, Ismaili poet during the 15th and 16th centuries
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 169-173.
Landolt, Sheikh & Kassam, eds. An Anthology of Ismaili Literature, p. 293.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-murad- ... -36th-imam
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Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali, our 37th Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpOnOAk ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali (peace be upon him) was born around 1566 and succeeded to the Imamat in 1574 at just eight years old. He was known both as Khalil Allah and by his Sufi name, Dhu’l-Faqar Ali. He re-established the seat of the Imamat at Anjudan after his father, Mawlana Murad Mirza (peace be upon him), had left due to persecution by the Safavid empire. Unlike his father, Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali largely stayed aloof from political activity, although he established friendly relations with Shah Abbas I (r. 1587-1629), including marrying the Shah’s sister, Sharaf Nisa Begum. After the second Imamat in history that is known to have reached 60 years, he died in March 1634 at the age of 68.
Story
Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali (peace be upon him) responded to the Safavid empire’s persecution of Ismailis in Persia by changing strategies for hiding their religious identity. Instead of posing as a Sufi tariqa, Ismailis now appeared outwardly as a Shia Ithna‘ashari community. Presenting himself as a sayyid, or descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny), Imam Dhu’l-Faqar Ali developed friendly relations with Shah Abbas I, the most famous Safavid ruler, and married a Safavid princess. This strategy seems to have worked, because a royal decree was issued to the Imam in March 1627 granting a tax exemption for the community at Anjudan, recognising them as Ithna‘asharis. As the political and religious landscapes changed around them, Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali’s diplomatic efforts and strategy for hiding their identity helped safeguard the security of the Ismailis in Persia.
Era: Anjudan Period
Quote
“Ali of the age, lord of the time, master of the epoch,
From whose pleasure all your desires you find.”
Da’i Anjudani, 16th century Ismaili da‘i and poet
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 175-177.
Virani, Shafique N. The Ismailis in the Middle Ages, p. 81.
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Encounters in Muslim History, vol. 2, pp. 234.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-dhu-l- ... -37th-imam
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Mawlana Nur al-Din Ali, our 38th Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8TCaKm ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Nur al-Din Ali (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat in March 1634. He was also known as Nur al-Dahr Ali, a name with both Shia and Sufi connotations, as the Ismailis of the Safavid period continued to pose outwardly as a Shia Ithna‘ashari community. The relationship between the Imamat and the Safavid shahs became even stronger after Shah Abbas II came to power in 1642, and it is reported that Imam Nur al-Din Ali accompanied Shah Abbas II on a visit to Mashhad. He died in November 1671 at Anjudan after an Imamat that lasted 37 years.
Story
Mawlana Nur al-Din Ali (peace be upon him) continued to reside in Anjudan. While the Ismailis continued to pose outwardly as Shia Ithna‘asharis, the da‘wa also remained active in many regions, teaching the faith and composing literature. Khaki Khurasani was one Persian Ismaili poet who lived during both the Imamats of Mawlana Nur al-Din Ali and his father, Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali (peace be upon him). One of Khaki Khurasani’s poems describes the transition of the Imamat, saying: “The allusion to ‘offspring, one from the other’ means that after the father comes the son. One entrusts the essence to the other when the body and the name have to change.” This poem speaks to the emotions of Ismailis throughout history during the transition from one Imam to the next, while also emphasising the spiritual reality that unites all the Imams.
Era: Anjudan Period
Quote
“The inner reality of the Ali of the time is not
the same as his outward forms.
He is the manifestation of every wonder in the world,
his state different at every time.”
Khaki Khurasani, 17th century Ismaili poet
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 177-178
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Encounters in Muslim History, vol. 2, p. 234.
Hunzai, Faquir, trans. Shimmering Light, p. 102.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-nur-al ... -38th-imam
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Mawlana Khalil Allah Ali, our 39th Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGTTEw4 ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Khalil Allah Ali (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat in November 1671. He was the last Imam of the Anjudan period. After a brief Imamat of nine years, he died in January 1680. He is buried in the mausoleum of Mawlana Gharib Mirza (peace be upon him) in Anjudan, where his tombstone had been preserved until recently.
Story
Mawlana Khalil Allah Ali (peace be upon him) was the last Imam of the Anjudan period. After the instability that followed the fall of the Nizari Ismaili state at Alamut, the relative stability of the Anjudan period allowed the da‘wa to be strengthened. Despite still having to pose outwardly as a Shia Ithna‘ashari community, the da‘wa was organised into a simple but clear structure, and was active in various parts of Persia, Badakhshan, Afghanistan, and the Indian subcontinent. As a result of their efforts, the bulk of Nizari Ismailis were following the Qasim-Shahi line of Imams by the end of Mawlana Khalil Allah Ali’s Imamat, attesting to the Imamat’s capacity for adapting and organising the community’s institutions through changing circumstances.
Era: Anjudan Period
Quote
“By the grace of God, a light shone upon my imagination,
Teaching it lessons about His blessings.”
Husayn b. Yaqub Shah b. Sufi, 17th century Ismaili poet
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 177-178.
Landolt, Sheikh & Kassam, eds. An Anthology of Ismaili Literature, p. 297.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-khalil-allah-ali
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Mawlana Nizar II, our 40th Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUMdxg3 ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Nizar II (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat in January 1680. During the early years of his Imamat, he moved his seat from Anjudan to the nearby village of Kahak, marking the end of the Anjudan period of the Imamat’s history. He also had ties to the Ni‘mat Allahi Sufi tariqa and was known by the Sufi name ‘Ata Allah, hence some of his followers came to be known as ‘Ata Allahis. There is a qasida, or devotional poem, attributed to him in which he speaks of his exalted position and his knowledge as the Imam. Mawlana Nizar died in September 1722 after an Imamat of 42 years, and is buried in his former residence at Kahak, which still exists today.
Story
Mawlana Nizar II (peace be upon him) relocated his residence and the headquarters of the Ismaili da‘wa to the nearby village of Kahak. Kahak is mentioned as the Imam’s seat in some ginans, which are Ismaili devotional poetry from South Asia. At Imam Nizar’s mausoleum, there are numerous other tombstones including some written in Khojki, a script that was used by Khoja Ismailis from the Indian subcontinent. Such tombstones provide clear evidence that Ismailis, especially members of the da‘wa, were making the long and dangerous pilgrimage from South Asia to visit Mawlana Nizar at Kahak, and that some also stayed there to work in his service. In a time when such journeys were difficult to make, those who travelled from various regions demonstrated a deep commitment to their faith and to serving the Imam.
Era: 18th century
Quote
“See my station, see my place;
Hear my lineage, hear my race.
If the world’s foundations shine with light,
I am the Light, and the Hand that gives it sight.”
Mawlana Nizar II
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 181-184.
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Encounters in Muslim History, vol. 2, pp. 235.
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Connecting Worlds, Volume 1, p. 24.
Qasida translation by Dr Karim Javan.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-nizar-ii-our-40th-imam
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Mawlana Sayyid Ali, our 41st Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xAt2rB ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Sayyid Ali (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat in 1722, continuing to reside at Kahak. His Imamat coincided with the fall of the Safavid empire and a period of political instability in Persia. While the exact date is not known, Imam Sayyid Ali likely died sometime during the mid-1730s at Kahak.
Story
Mawlana Sayyid Ali (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat in 1722, amidst the collapse of the Safavid empire and an Afghan invasion of Persia. This resulted in various short-lived dynasties, which created an unstable political environment in Persia until the ruler Nadir Shah came to power in 1736, founding the Afsharid empire. Nadir Shah reduced the influence of the Shia Ithna‘ashari religious clerics, which freed Ismaili and Sufi communities from the persecution that they had endured under the Safavids. The Afsharids built strong relations with the Ismaili Imams, reducing the need for the Imams to hide their identity. After living in concealment for much of the past few centuries, the Imams were able to emerge more into the open during the 18th century.
Era: 18th Century
Quote
“Whoever comes to this blessed place
and reaches the threshold of the Imam's door,
his desire is fulfilled and he alights
in the abode of paradise.”
al-Hajj Shaykh Khudr, 18th century Syrian Ismaili poet
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 185-188.
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Connecting Worlds, Volume 1, p. 24.
Hunzai, Faquir, trans. Shimmering Light, p. 114.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-sayyid ... -41st-imam
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Mawlana Hasan Ali, our 42nd Imam
Biography
Mawlana Hasan Ali (peace be upon him) probably succeeded to the Imamat during the mid-1730s. He moved the seat of the Imamat from Kahak to Shahr-i Babak in the region of Kirman of southeastern Persia, where he acquired extensive properties. He maintained close relations with Nadir Shah and his descendants, which allowed the Ismailis to stop hiding their identity and emerge more into the open. Thus, Mawlana Hasan Ali became actively engaged in the political, social, and economic affairs of the city and the province, becoming a well-respected member of society. He died shortly before 1750.
Story
During a period of political upheaval in Persia, Mawlana Hasan Ali (peace be upon him) moved the seat of the Imamat to Shahr-i Babak in the region of Kirman in southeastern Persia. This decision may have been motivated by the Imam’s concern for the safety of Ismailis travelling from the Indian subcontinent to visit him. By the 18th century, members of the large community of South Asian Ismailis were travelling in increasing numbers to Kahak, but political instability in Persia was making it more dangerous for them to travel, and they were often attacked on the long journey. The move to Kirman made the journey shorter and safer, demonstrating the lengths to which Mawlana Hasan Ali was willing to go to safeguard the security of members of his community.
Era: 18th Century
Quote
“The people of the house of Prophethood
are the manifestations of light…
They are the ships of salvation for those
who come running to them with hope.”
al-Hajj Shaykh Khudr, 18th century Syrian Ismaili poet
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 185-188.
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Connecting Worlds, Volume 1, pp. 26-27.
Hunzai, Faquir, trans. Shimmering Light, p. 106.
https://the.ismaili/gb/en/news/mawlana- ... -42nd-imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kow7rOT ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Murad Mirza (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat at an unknown date in the mid-16th century. His Imamat coincided with the rule of Shah Tahmasp I (r. 1524-1576), who persecuted the Imam because of his popularity among his Ismaili followers. Mawlana Murad Mirza died in 1574, having been executed by the Safavid Shah.
Story
During the Imamat of Mawlana Murad Mirza (peace be upon him), the Safavids became increasingly intolerant towards other Shia and Sufi communities, resulting in the renewed persecution of Ismailis. The Safavids noticed the Imam’s popularity among his followers both within and outside Persia, including Ismailis who would visit from the Indian subcontinent and other regions. This alarmed Shah Tahmasp I, who had the Imam imprisoned in 1573. Imam Murad Mirza escaped from prison with the help of a high-ranking Safavid official who was secretly an Ismaili, then he fled to Afghanistan. However, the Imam was recaptured a few months later in 1574. He was brought before the Shah, who had him executed soon after. Mawlana Murad Mirza’s story demonstrates the danger and persecution faced by the Imams and the Ismailis if they revealed their true identity. His descendants would change their strategy for concealing themselves during the Safavid period.
Era: Anjudan Period
Quote
“Do you desire salvation, O brother of mine?
Then with affection for the king of Anjudan, arise!”
Darwish, Ismaili poet during the 15th and 16th centuries
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 169-173.
Landolt, Sheikh & Kassam, eds. An Anthology of Ismaili Literature, p. 293.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-murad- ... -36th-imam
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Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali, our 37th Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpOnOAk ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali (peace be upon him) was born around 1566 and succeeded to the Imamat in 1574 at just eight years old. He was known both as Khalil Allah and by his Sufi name, Dhu’l-Faqar Ali. He re-established the seat of the Imamat at Anjudan after his father, Mawlana Murad Mirza (peace be upon him), had left due to persecution by the Safavid empire. Unlike his father, Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali largely stayed aloof from political activity, although he established friendly relations with Shah Abbas I (r. 1587-1629), including marrying the Shah’s sister, Sharaf Nisa Begum. After the second Imamat in history that is known to have reached 60 years, he died in March 1634 at the age of 68.
Story
Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali (peace be upon him) responded to the Safavid empire’s persecution of Ismailis in Persia by changing strategies for hiding their religious identity. Instead of posing as a Sufi tariqa, Ismailis now appeared outwardly as a Shia Ithna‘ashari community. Presenting himself as a sayyid, or descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny), Imam Dhu’l-Faqar Ali developed friendly relations with Shah Abbas I, the most famous Safavid ruler, and married a Safavid princess. This strategy seems to have worked, because a royal decree was issued to the Imam in March 1627 granting a tax exemption for the community at Anjudan, recognising them as Ithna‘asharis. As the political and religious landscapes changed around them, Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali’s diplomatic efforts and strategy for hiding their identity helped safeguard the security of the Ismailis in Persia.
Era: Anjudan Period
Quote
“Ali of the age, lord of the time, master of the epoch,
From whose pleasure all your desires you find.”
Da’i Anjudani, 16th century Ismaili da‘i and poet
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 175-177.
Virani, Shafique N. The Ismailis in the Middle Ages, p. 81.
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Encounters in Muslim History, vol. 2, pp. 234.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-dhu-l- ... -37th-imam
**************************
Mawlana Nur al-Din Ali, our 38th Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8TCaKm ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Nur al-Din Ali (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat in March 1634. He was also known as Nur al-Dahr Ali, a name with both Shia and Sufi connotations, as the Ismailis of the Safavid period continued to pose outwardly as a Shia Ithna‘ashari community. The relationship between the Imamat and the Safavid shahs became even stronger after Shah Abbas II came to power in 1642, and it is reported that Imam Nur al-Din Ali accompanied Shah Abbas II on a visit to Mashhad. He died in November 1671 at Anjudan after an Imamat that lasted 37 years.
Story
Mawlana Nur al-Din Ali (peace be upon him) continued to reside in Anjudan. While the Ismailis continued to pose outwardly as Shia Ithna‘asharis, the da‘wa also remained active in many regions, teaching the faith and composing literature. Khaki Khurasani was one Persian Ismaili poet who lived during both the Imamats of Mawlana Nur al-Din Ali and his father, Mawlana Dhu’l-Faqar Ali (peace be upon him). One of Khaki Khurasani’s poems describes the transition of the Imamat, saying: “The allusion to ‘offspring, one from the other’ means that after the father comes the son. One entrusts the essence to the other when the body and the name have to change.” This poem speaks to the emotions of Ismailis throughout history during the transition from one Imam to the next, while also emphasising the spiritual reality that unites all the Imams.
Era: Anjudan Period
Quote
“The inner reality of the Ali of the time is not
the same as his outward forms.
He is the manifestation of every wonder in the world,
his state different at every time.”
Khaki Khurasani, 17th century Ismaili poet
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 177-178
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Encounters in Muslim History, vol. 2, p. 234.
Hunzai, Faquir, trans. Shimmering Light, p. 102.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-nur-al ... -38th-imam
***********************
Mawlana Khalil Allah Ali, our 39th Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGTTEw4 ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Khalil Allah Ali (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat in November 1671. He was the last Imam of the Anjudan period. After a brief Imamat of nine years, he died in January 1680. He is buried in the mausoleum of Mawlana Gharib Mirza (peace be upon him) in Anjudan, where his tombstone had been preserved until recently.
Story
Mawlana Khalil Allah Ali (peace be upon him) was the last Imam of the Anjudan period. After the instability that followed the fall of the Nizari Ismaili state at Alamut, the relative stability of the Anjudan period allowed the da‘wa to be strengthened. Despite still having to pose outwardly as a Shia Ithna‘ashari community, the da‘wa was organised into a simple but clear structure, and was active in various parts of Persia, Badakhshan, Afghanistan, and the Indian subcontinent. As a result of their efforts, the bulk of Nizari Ismailis were following the Qasim-Shahi line of Imams by the end of Mawlana Khalil Allah Ali’s Imamat, attesting to the Imamat’s capacity for adapting and organising the community’s institutions through changing circumstances.
Era: Anjudan Period
Quote
“By the grace of God, a light shone upon my imagination,
Teaching it lessons about His blessings.”
Husayn b. Yaqub Shah b. Sufi, 17th century Ismaili poet
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 177-178.
Landolt, Sheikh & Kassam, eds. An Anthology of Ismaili Literature, p. 297.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-khalil-allah-ali
***************************
Mawlana Nizar II, our 40th Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUMdxg3 ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Nizar II (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat in January 1680. During the early years of his Imamat, he moved his seat from Anjudan to the nearby village of Kahak, marking the end of the Anjudan period of the Imamat’s history. He also had ties to the Ni‘mat Allahi Sufi tariqa and was known by the Sufi name ‘Ata Allah, hence some of his followers came to be known as ‘Ata Allahis. There is a qasida, or devotional poem, attributed to him in which he speaks of his exalted position and his knowledge as the Imam. Mawlana Nizar died in September 1722 after an Imamat of 42 years, and is buried in his former residence at Kahak, which still exists today.
Story
Mawlana Nizar II (peace be upon him) relocated his residence and the headquarters of the Ismaili da‘wa to the nearby village of Kahak. Kahak is mentioned as the Imam’s seat in some ginans, which are Ismaili devotional poetry from South Asia. At Imam Nizar’s mausoleum, there are numerous other tombstones including some written in Khojki, a script that was used by Khoja Ismailis from the Indian subcontinent. Such tombstones provide clear evidence that Ismailis, especially members of the da‘wa, were making the long and dangerous pilgrimage from South Asia to visit Mawlana Nizar at Kahak, and that some also stayed there to work in his service. In a time when such journeys were difficult to make, those who travelled from various regions demonstrated a deep commitment to their faith and to serving the Imam.
Era: 18th century
Quote
“See my station, see my place;
Hear my lineage, hear my race.
If the world’s foundations shine with light,
I am the Light, and the Hand that gives it sight.”
Mawlana Nizar II
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 181-184.
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Encounters in Muslim History, vol. 2, pp. 235.
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Connecting Worlds, Volume 1, p. 24.
Qasida translation by Dr Karim Javan.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-nizar-ii-our-40th-imam
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Mawlana Sayyid Ali, our 41st Imam
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xAt2rB ... he.ismaili
Biography
Mawlana Sayyid Ali (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat in 1722, continuing to reside at Kahak. His Imamat coincided with the fall of the Safavid empire and a period of political instability in Persia. While the exact date is not known, Imam Sayyid Ali likely died sometime during the mid-1730s at Kahak.
Story
Mawlana Sayyid Ali (peace be upon him) succeeded to the Imamat in 1722, amidst the collapse of the Safavid empire and an Afghan invasion of Persia. This resulted in various short-lived dynasties, which created an unstable political environment in Persia until the ruler Nadir Shah came to power in 1736, founding the Afsharid empire. Nadir Shah reduced the influence of the Shia Ithna‘ashari religious clerics, which freed Ismaili and Sufi communities from the persecution that they had endured under the Safavids. The Afsharids built strong relations with the Ismaili Imams, reducing the need for the Imams to hide their identity. After living in concealment for much of the past few centuries, the Imams were able to emerge more into the open during the 18th century.
Era: 18th Century
Quote
“Whoever comes to this blessed place
and reaches the threshold of the Imam's door,
his desire is fulfilled and he alights
in the abode of paradise.”
al-Hajj Shaykh Khudr, 18th century Syrian Ismaili poet
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 185-188.
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Connecting Worlds, Volume 1, p. 24.
Hunzai, Faquir, trans. Shimmering Light, p. 114.
https://the.ismaili/news/mawlana-sayyid ... -41st-imam
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Mawlana Hasan Ali, our 42nd Imam
Biography
Mawlana Hasan Ali (peace be upon him) probably succeeded to the Imamat during the mid-1730s. He moved the seat of the Imamat from Kahak to Shahr-i Babak in the region of Kirman of southeastern Persia, where he acquired extensive properties. He maintained close relations with Nadir Shah and his descendants, which allowed the Ismailis to stop hiding their identity and emerge more into the open. Thus, Mawlana Hasan Ali became actively engaged in the political, social, and economic affairs of the city and the province, becoming a well-respected member of society. He died shortly before 1750.
Story
During a period of political upheaval in Persia, Mawlana Hasan Ali (peace be upon him) moved the seat of the Imamat to Shahr-i Babak in the region of Kirman in southeastern Persia. This decision may have been motivated by the Imam’s concern for the safety of Ismailis travelling from the Indian subcontinent to visit him. By the 18th century, members of the large community of South Asian Ismailis were travelling in increasing numbers to Kahak, but political instability in Persia was making it more dangerous for them to travel, and they were often attacked on the long journey. The move to Kirman made the journey shorter and safer, demonstrating the lengths to which Mawlana Hasan Ali was willing to go to safeguard the security of members of his community.
Era: 18th Century
Quote
“The people of the house of Prophethood
are the manifestations of light…
They are the ships of salvation for those
who come running to them with hope.”
al-Hajj Shaykh Khudr, 18th century Syrian Ismaili poet
Sources
Daftary, Farhad. The Ismaili Imams, 2020, pp. 185-188.
IIS Secondary Curriculum: Connecting Worlds, Volume 1, pp. 26-27.
Hunzai, Faquir, trans. Shimmering Light, p. 106.
https://the.ismaili/gb/en/news/mawlana- ... -42nd-imam