📜 Definition
Ismāʿīlīyah (اسماعيلية) – Ismāʿīlīyah refers to a Shīʿah sect that diverged from mainstream Shīʿah beliefs by recognizing Ismāʿīl ibn Jaʿfar aṣ-Ṣādiq as the rightful Imām instead of Mūsā al-Kāẓim. This sect posits that divine attributes or predicates cannot be associated with God, maintaining a unique theological stance.
📖 Etymology & Background
The term “Ismāʿīlīyah” is derived from the name Ismāʿīl (إسماعيل), who was the eldest son of Jaʿfar aṣ-Ṣādiq, the sixth Imām in the Shīʿah tradition. The believers in this sect argue that Ismāʿīl holds the rightful succession, contrary to those who follow his younger brother, Mūsā al-Kāẓim.
🌍 Cultural Differences & Similarities
While Ismāʿīlīyah shares several doctrines of mainstream Shīʿah Islam, such as the reverence towards Imāms and the significance of hidden knowledge (esoteric understanding), it distinctly differs in its theological nuances. The Ismāʿīlī interpretation of divine simplicity (tanzīh) leads to a pronounced emphasis on divine transcendence, stating that God transcends all attributes and human understanding.
🔄 Synonyms
- Ismāʿīlī (individual adherent)
- Sevener Shīʿah (due to the lineage belief that ends at the seventh Imām, Ismāʿīl)
🚫 Antonyms
- Twelver Shīʿah (Ithnā ʿAshariyyah)
- Zaydī Shīʿah
🚀 Related Terms with Definitions
- Imāmate (إمامة): The religious and political leadership in Shīʿah Islam vested in the Imāms.
- Jaʿfar aṣ-Ṣādiq (جعفر الصادق): The sixth Shīʿah Imām, a pivotal figure in both Ismāʿīlīyah and Twelver traditions.
- Unicity (توحيد): Refers to the oneness of God in Islam, a crucial theological concept in Ismāʿīlī thought.
🥳 Exciting Facts
- The Fatimid Caliphate, a prominent Ismāʿīlī dynasty, established a thriving intellectual and cultural center in Cairo.
- The Ismāʿīlī Imāmate is still a recognized lineage today, with the current Imām being the Aga Khan.
📜 Quotations from Notable Writers
“God is too elevated in truth, to be described or defined; for all expressions (about Him) are bestowed, from mere impressions and beliefs, on things created.” – Kitābu ṭ-Taʿrīfāt
🔖 References & Suggested Literature
- “The Ismāʿīlīs: Their History and Doctrines” by Farhad Daftary
- “Boḵārestān-e jahān” edited by John Norman Hollister
- “A Short History of the Ismailis: Traditions of a Muslim Community” by Farhad Daftary
📚 Quizzes & Explanations
As we journey through the rich tapestry of Islamic traditions, the exploration of Ismāʿīlīyah encourages an embrace of diverse theological perspectives. It is a call to reach beyond the known shores and wade into the profound waters of spiritual understanding.
Yasmin Al-Hassan October 3, 2023
📜 “Dialogue in the language of intellect fosters a world where wisdom reigns supreme.”
