The Nizari Isma ili Cultural Developments From Invitation to Reign (483-654 A.H./1090-1256 AD)

The Nizari Isma‘ilis were rulers of the Alamut castles in Iran for more than two centuries (483-654 A.H./1090-1256 AD). During this period, they were busy propagating and spreading their ideas and beliefs. Their aim was to overthrow the Abbasid Caliphate and expel the Turks from Iran. Despite all these efforts, influenced by developments from the outside world, the Nizari Isma‘ilis switched over from idealism to realism. In the 6th century A.H. (12th century AD) and following measures taken by the Abbasid caliphs and fatwas issued by jurists, the Isma‘ilis were massacred in cities and took refuge in mountainous areas and consequently, they did not manage to continue propagating their works and beliefs for half a century. In the 7th century A.H., they were faced with the Mongol invasion of the Muslim World; the invasion that caused the fall of Baghdad and spread of Islamic mysticism. The Mongol invasion and migration of scholars to the territories controlled by the Isma‘ilis promoted the growth of various philosophical thoughts among them. The political developments in the Muslim World caused the Isma‘ilis to better understand the reality of the outside world and moved them away from the ideal of the reign of the Isma‘ili imam over the Muslim World to a more realistic view of the facts on the ground such that they organized a monarchy and began to establish relations with other governments and states. This paper has embarked on a study of the cultural developments in the Nizari Isma‘ili movement during the two centuries that they were in the peak of their power and strength in the Muslim World.