The Ismailis in the Middle Ages - A History of Survival, a Search for Salvation (2007)

" None of that people should be spared, not even the babe in its cradle. " With these chilling words, the Mongol warlord Genghis Khan declared his intention to destroy the Ismailis, one of the most intellectually and politically significant Muslim communities of medieval Islamdom. The massacres that followed convinced observers that this powerful voice of Shi'i Islam had been forever silenced. Little was heard of these people for centuries, until their recent and dramatic emergence from obscurity. Today they exist as a dynamic and thriving community established in over twenty-five countries. Yet the interval between what appeared to have been their total annihilation, and their modern, seemingly phoenix-like renaissance, has remained shrouded in mystery. Drawing on an astonishing array of sources gathered from many countries around the globe, The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, A Search for Salvation is a richly nuanced and compelling study of the murkiest portion of this era. In probing the period from the dark days when the Ismaili fortresses in Iran fell before the marauding Mongol hordes, to the emergence at Anjudan of the Ismaili Imams who provided a spiritual centre to a scattered community, this work explores the motivations, passions and presumptions of historical actors. With penetrating insight, Shafique N. Virani examines the rich esoteric thought that animated the Ismailis and enabled them to persevere. A work of remarkable erudition, this landmark book is essential reading for scholars of Islamic history and spirituality, Shi'ism and Iran. Both specialists and informed lay readers will take pleasure not only in its scholarly perception, but in its lively anecdotes, quotations of delightful poetry, and gripping narrative style. This is an extraordinary book of historical beauty and spiritual vision. Table of Contents The Ismailis in the Middle Ages : A History of Survival, a Search for Salvation by Virani, Shafique N. Terms of Use Introduction Chapter 1 Recovering a Lost History Chapter 2 The Eagle Returns Chapter 3 Veiling the Sun Chapter 4 Summoning to the Truth Chapter 5 Possessors of the Command Chapter 6 Qibla of the World Chapter 7 The Way of the Seeker Chapter 8 Gnosis and Imamate Afterword Glossary Bibliography Notes Descriptive content provided by Syndetics"! a Bowker service. Summary The Ismailis in the Middle Ages : A History of Survival, a Search for Salvation by Virani, Shafique N. Terms of use " None of that people should be spared, not even the babe in its cradle." With these chilling words, the Mongol warlord Genghis Khan declared his intention to destroy the Ismailis, one of the most intellectually and politically significant Muslim communities of medieval Islamdom. The massacres that followed convinced observers that this powerful voice of Shi'i Islam had been forever silenced. Little was heard of these people for centuries, until their recent and dramatic emergence from obscurity. Today they exist as a dynamic and thriving community established in over twenty-five countries. Yet the interval between what appeared to have been their total annihilation, and their modern, seemingly phoenix-like renaissance, has remained shrouded in mystery. Drawing on an astonishing array of sources gathered from many countries around the globe, The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, A Search for Salvation is a richly nuanced and compelling study of the murkiest portion of this era. In probing the period from the dark days when the Ismaili fortresses in Iran fell before the marauding Mongol hordes, to the emergence at Anjudan of the Ismaili Imams who provided a spiritual centre to a scattered community, this work explores the motivations, passions and presumptions of historical actors. With penetrating insight, Shafique N. Virani examines the rich esoteric thought that animated the Ismailis and enabled them to persevere. A work of remarkable erudition, this landmark book is essential reading for scholars of Islamic history and spirituality, Shi'ism and Iran. Both specialists and informed lay readers will take pleasure not only in its scholarly perception, but in its lively anecdotes, quotations of delightful poetry, and gripping narrative style. This is an extraordinary book of historical beauty and spiritual vision. Descriptive content provided by Syndetics"! a Bowker service CONTENTS......Page 10 NOTE ON THE TEXT......Page 12 Map of the Near East......Page 17 Map of the Iranian Lands......Page 19 INTRODUCTION......Page 24 Emerging from Obscurity......Page 30 Signposts for the Way......Page 34 ONE: RECOVERING A LOST HISTORY......Page 40 History Is Written by the Victors......Page 43 Asking the People of the House......Page 46 TWO: THE EAGLE RETURNS......Page 50 A Corrective to 'Ata-Malik Juwayni's Narrative......Page 51 In the Shadow of the Ilkhanids......Page 54 The Trials of the Kushayji Family......Page 55 The Appearance of Khudawand Muhammad......Page 56 Continued Ismaili Activity......Page 58 Testimony from Latin, Khurasani, and South Asian Sources......Page 60 Conclusion......Page 64 THREE: VEILING THE SUN......Page 68 Imamate of Shams al-Din Muhammad......Page 70 Nizari Quhistani (d. 720/1320)......Page 81 FOUR: SUMMONING TO THE TRUTH......Page 92 The Da'wa......Page 93 Imam Qasimshah......Page 98 Qasim Tushtari (or Turshizi)......Page 108 The Command and the Commander......Page 112 The Imams Islamshah b. Qasimshah and Muhammad b. Islamshah......Page 115 SIX: QIBLA OF THE WORLD......Page 130 Transference of the Seat of Imamate to Anjudan......Page 133 Imamate of Mustansir bi'llah (d. 885/1480)......Page 137 Imamate of 'Abd al-Salam (d. ca. 899/1493)......Page 140 Imamate of Gharib Mirza (d. 904/1498)......Page 142 SEVEN: THE WAY OF THE SEEKER......Page 154 Veiling and Unveiling: The Workings of Taqiyya......Page 157 The Workings of the Da'wa......Page 169 '“You have done this, and yet you have not done it”......Page 186 Seekers of Union......Page 189 Conclusion......Page 203 AFTERWORD......Page 204 A......Page 208 F......Page 209 H......Page 210 K......Page 211 M......Page 212 P......Page 213 S......Page 214 Z......Page 215 ABBREVIATIONS......Page 216 NOTES......Page 218 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 286 A......Page 312 B......Page 313 G......Page 314 I......Page 315 K......Page 316 M......Page 317 Q......Page 319 S......Page 320 T......Page 321 Z......Page 322 CONTENTS 10 NOTE ON THE TEXT 12 Map of the Near East 17 Map of the Iranian Lands 19 INTRODUCTION 24 Emerging from Obscurity 30 Signposts for the Way 34 ONE: RECOVERING A LOST HISTORY 40 History Is Written by the Victors 43 Asking the People of the House 46 TWO: THE EAGLE RETURNS 50 A Corrective to 'Ata-Malik Juwayni's Narrative 51 In the Shadow of the Ilkhanids 54 The Trials of the Kushayji Family 55 The Appearance of Khudawand Muhammad 56 Continued Ismaili Activity 58 Testimony from Latin, Khurasani, and South Asian Sources 60 Conclusion 64 THREE: VEILING THE SUN 68 Imamate of Shams al-Din Muhammad 70 Nizari Quhistani (d. 720/1320) 81 FOUR: SUMMONING TO THE TRUTH 92 The Da'wa 93 Imam Qasimshah 98 Qasim Tushtari (or Turshizi) 108 FIVE: POSSESSORS OF THE COMMAND 112 The Command and the Commander 112 The Imams Islamshah b. Qasimshah and Muhammad b. Islamshah 115 SIX: QIBLA OF THE WORLD 130 Transference of the Seat of Imamate to Anjudan 133 Imamate of Mustansir bi'llah (d. 885/1480) 137 Imamate of 'Abd al-Salam (d. ca. 899/1493) 140 Imamate of Gharib Mirza (d. 904/1498) 142 SEVEN: THE WAY OF THE SEEKER 154 Veiling and Unveiling: The Workings of Taqiyya 157 The Workings of the Da'wa 169 EIGHT: SALVATION AND IMAMATE 186 '“You have done this, and yet you have not done it” 186 Seekers of Union 189 Conclusion 203 AFTERWORD 204 GLOSSARY 208 A 208 B 209 D 209 F 209 G 210 H 210 I 211 J 211 K 211 L 212 M 212 N 213 P 213 Q 214 R 214 S 214 T 215 U 215 Z 215 ABBREVIATIONS 216 NOTES 218 BIBLIOGRAPHY 286 INDEX 312 A 312 B 313 C 314 D 314 E 314 F 314 G 314 H 315 I 315 J 316 K 316 L 317 M 317 N 319 O 319 P 319 Q 319 R 320 S 320 T 321 U 322 W 322 Y 322 Z 322 ## Abstract “None of that people should be spared, not even the babe in its cradle”. With these chilling words, the Mongol warlord Genghis Khan declared his intention to destroy the Ismailis, one of the most intellectually and politically significant Muslim communities of medieval Islamdom. The massacres that followed convinced observers that this powerful voice of Shi'i Islam had been forever silenced. Little was heard of these people for centuries, until their recent and dramatic emergence from obscurity. Today they exist as a dynamic and thriving community established in over twenty-five countries. Yet the interval between what appeared to have been their total annihilation, and their modern, seemingly phoenix-like renaissance has remained shrouded in mystery. This book probes the period from the dark days when the Ismaili fortresses in Iran fell one by one before the marauding Mongol hordes, to the emergence at Anjudan of the Ismaili Imams as the spiritual center of a community scattered across much of the Muslim world. The work explores the motivations, passions, and presumptions of historical actors while contemplating the esoteric worldview that animated the Ismailis and gave them the wherewithal to persevere. It explains how three aspects of Ismaili thought were crucial to the community's survival: taqiyya (precautionary dissimulation); the Ismaili da'wa, which literally means “summons”; and the soteriological dimension of the imamate and, in particular, of the role of the Imam of one's time in leading the adept to salvation and a mystical recognition of God. ""None of that people should be spared, not even the babe in its cradle." With these chilling words, the Mongol warlord Genghis Khan declared his intention to destroy the Ismailis, one of the most intellectually and politically significant Muslim communities of medieval Islamdom. The massacres that followed convinced observers that this powerful voice of Shi'i Islam had been forever silenced. Little was heard of these people for centuries until their recent and dramatic emergence from obscurity. Today they exist as a dynamic and thriving community established in more than twenty-five countries. Yet the interval between what appeared to have been their total annihilation, and their modern, seemingly phoenix-like renaissance, has remained shrouded in mystery. Drawing on an astonishing array of sources gathered from many countries around the globe, The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, A Search for Salvation is a study of the murkiest portion of this era. In probing the period from the dark days when the Ismaili fortresses in Iran fell before the marauding Mongol hordes, to the emergence at Anjudan of the Ismaili Imams who provided a spiritual center to a scattered community, this work explores the motivations, passions, and presumptions of historical actors."--Jacket In the 13th century, an edict of the Mongol warlord Genghis Khan ordained that the Ismaili Muslims, who had hitherto resisted all attempts at subjugation, be utterly destroyed. This text examines the most obscure portion of this period, from the mid 13th century to the end of the 15th century