Ismailism

[mythmonster2]

Well, as some of you may know, for us Ismailis this is our Imam's Golden Jubilee (50 years of Imamat) so I'm wondering what society's general mood is toward Shia Ismaili Muslims.

Rules: No flame wars, if there is one I will ask a mod to close this thread

 

[Zardnaar]

I know next to nothing about Ismaili Islam so I would lump you in with the rest of the Muslim who I have no strong opinion about either way.

 

[plarq]

Your basic theological concept please.

 

[Aramazd]

so I'm wondering what society's general mood is toward Shia Ismaili Muslims.

I've no idea what Ismaili Islam is.

 

[mythmonster2]

We are basically like the rest of Shi'as because we believe in Imams who are descendants of Mohammad, unlike our Sunni cousins, who believe that there are no descendants of Mohammad other than Ali. However, we differ from our Ithnasheries(not sure how to spell it) cousins at the 12th imam, while they believe that the younger son was the true heir, we believed the older one was the correct heir. The Ithnashereis had only 6 more Imams, I think, while our Imamat line continues to this very day with our Imam Sheik Karim Al Hussein Hazir Imam.

 

[ParkCungHee]

When I saw this topic name I thought it was about Ismail Enver.

 

[Shadylookin]

personally i find the split over heirs when they(according to my knowledge) aren't even given any sort of divine right in Islam to be rather silly. of course i find most religion in general silly so that's not to be unexpected. I don't really have any strong feelings towards it either way.

 

[jeps]

I know some very cool Ismaili muslims in TO, who introduced me to their very cool Imaili Muslim cousins from Texas.

 

[Yoda Power]

The Fatimids were Ismaili, right?

 

[Tee Kay]

The Fatimids were Ismaili, right?

Yep

Honestly I don't know a lot about Ismaili Islam. Maybe you could explain in detail mythmonsters

 

[Jawz II]

Wasn't ishmael the guy in moby dick?

 

[Rambuchan]

Aren't there big Ismaili communities in Iran and India? Also, do you observe the feast of Muharram and practise Motia in any way? It always struck me that this festival is very much like the Christian (Catholic) festival of Lent.

 

[GenMarshall]

Someone needs to bump one of those old "Ask a Muslim" threads now.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

What's the Ismailis' general view on the Hashashin ?

 

[Phlegmak]

Well, as some of you may know, for us Ismailis this is our Imam's Golden Jubilee (50 years of Imamat) so I'm wondering what society's general mood is toward Shia Ismaili Muslims.

Rules: No flame wars, if there is one I will ask a mod to close this thread

First of all, Ismaili Muslims are most likely unknown here in the US. I hadn't heard of them before you mentioned them. My general opinion toward Islam is negative, but I generally just think, "If that's what they want to believe, fine."

 

[Lockesdonkey]

We are basically like the rest of Shi'as because we believe in Imams who are descendants of Mohammad, unlike our Sunni cousins, who believe that there are no descendants of Mohammad other than Ali.

Actually (as a Sunni), I can tell you that we do believe that there are descendants of Muhammad (&#1589 other than Ali (we don't deny the existence of Hasan and Hussein!), we just don't think that their descent from the Prophet gives them any special powers or divine connections or a particular right to rule the Muslim Ummah. We're the (little-r) republicans of Islam, so to speak (there are, of course, plenty of Sunni monarchies...).

 

[ohcrapitsnico]

I'm a sunni muslim, personally I have no animosity or bad feelings to any of the other sects of islam. Were the assassins of the middle ages ismailis?

 

[innonimatu]

Well, I recall having read this book online (linked to in some iranian history site) and found it interesting. Though the author is not an historian by profession, and I don't know how reliable his material is.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

I'm a sunni muslim, personally I have no animosity or bad feelings to any of the other sects of islam. Were the assassins of the middle ages ismailis?

If i remember what i've read correctly - they were called "The Reformed order of the Ismaili" ... or at least that's what they were called in that book. (please corect me if i've mixed things up - i read that book 5 years ago)

Wiki seems to say they were a sub-sect of the ismailis too.

 

[Squonk]

the funny thing was that ismailites I've met next to Musyaf, that is old assassins' stronghold, tried to convince me that ismailism is a knowledge, not a religion and You can be a christian ismailite

No offence, but once You've asked it, I consider shiism in general, and especially its non-12-imamites branches, a bit, well, strange . If I believed Muhammad was a prophet, I would be a sunni. That doesn't mean I like sunnis more than shiites, just I find them more comprehensible and more in accordance with Muhammad's teachings.

I study arabic / islamic studies, but I never took the time to get to know ismaili doctrine thoroughly, which is a shame. Where the knowledge of ismailism could pay off is my thesis, about persecution of christians under caliph Al-Hakim bi-amr Allah...
It would be interesting to know if ismaili view on christians was different than sunni, and in what respect. But I don't see much possibilities of checking it, I have too many historical sources and other books to read anyway.
I also think that it had little to do with ismaili doctrine or tradition, just like Al-Hakim was in general an unorthodox ruler... How do ismailites perceive him? and drusism?

ismailites = 7 imams,
ithna'asharites = 12 imams,
so I guess it's 5 more imams