The Political Movement of Nizari Ismailies and its Relation with Iranian National Identity and Farsi Language

The formation of the Ismaili movement is rooted in the political-religious disputes of first two centuries of the Islamic history over the succession issues. The Ismail’s Fatimid could create big government in the form of an empire and for the first time have challenged Baghdad state (Caliphate). Nizaris or Eastern Ismaili gradually declared independence in Iran and founded the state of Alamut. The Shia Nizari state claims against Caliphate and brought many cultural changes such strengthening Farsi language and promotion of the Iranian patterns instead of Arabic and Caliphate patterns. In this paper the connection between Nizari state and the Iranian identity has been examined. It is argued that that Nizaris chose Iranian pattern of life and as a defense strategy it was important. Intermixture with Sufism (mysticism) is other political strategies that Ismail’s elites exercised after the fall of Alamut state.