After the death of Osma'n the Islamic state remained without a Caliph for three days. Ali refused to accept the Caliphate. But he was compelled by the people overwhelmingly to take the leadership to save them from disintegration.
Mowla Ali was born on the thirteenth of Rajab twenty-two years before Hijra (A.D. 600) inside the sacred house of Ka'ba. No one else has been born in the House of Allah ever since its foundation by Prophet Ibra'hi'm (Abraham).
His mother Sayyida Fa'tima, daughter of Asad bin Ha'shem, said that he did not cry after birth, nor did he open his eyes. He refused to be fed until after three days when the Holy Prophet arrived and took him caressingly in his arms. He opened his eyes and smiled at the Holy Prophet who then gave his tongue into his mouth. Ali sucked the moisture of the tongue. Ever since they remained together in all walks of life only to be separated physically at the death of the Holy Prophet.
Short in physical structure but robust, Ali was born bald with thick hair at the back of his head and at the temples. Thich eyebrows, over his large and heavy eyes, meeting together above his straight nose, and thin lips gave an impressive look no one could resist. The Holy Prophet said that to look at Ali's face was the worship of Allah.24
Ali was never defeated in a war or a combat throughout his life. His physical strenght was beyond human comprehension. He removed from the hinges the strong doors of the Khyber fort with a single jolt of his hand. Later, seven strong men with Abu Ra'fe', the famous strongman, could not lift even an inch from the ground one of the corners of the door. When asked about his wonderful display of strength, in removing the doors, Ali replied that it was his divine power.25
About the love and attachment between the Holy Prophet and himself Ali writes as follows:
"I used to visit the Messenger of Allah habitually, every night and every day in strict privacy, when he used to answer me concerning what I asked, and I used to go about him wherever he went. The companions of the Messenger of Allah knew (full well) that he did not act in this manner with anyone else. And this (private conversation) would often take place in my house. And whenever I would visit him at some of his resting places, he would arrange for being alone with me and ask his wives to leave, so that no one would remain except he and I. And when he would come to me in private, he would ask everyone to withdraw except Fa'tima or one of my two sons, and when questioned he would answer me. And when I would remain silent and my questions would be exhasusted, he would begin himself. So that nothing was revealed to the Prophet of the verses of the Qura'n, or taught to him by Allah, Exalted is He, concerning what was lawful and what was forbidden, command or prohibition, obedience or sin, things past or future--but he would teach it to me and I would write it down in my own hand. He would expain to me its true meaning (ta'weel), and its apparent and hidden significance (za'hir, ba'tin), and I would commit it to memory and would not forget even a letter of it.26
He married Fa'tima, the daughter of the Holy Prophet, in 2 A.H. (A.D. 625). She was born to Khadi'ja on Friday the twentieth of Jama'di-el-Tha'ni, eighteen years before the Hijra. She died on the third of jama'di el-Tha'ni, 11 A.H. (A.D. 632) seventy five days after the death of her father. She was the mother of Hazrat Pi'r Hasan and Ima'm Husain.
It was Ali who fought agianst the enemies of Isla'm in every battle, except the battle of Tabuk in Rajab, 9 A.H. (February, 630) when the Holy Prophet left him in Medina as the Regent. The mission of the Holy Prophet would probably have failed without the protection of Ali's sword. Take for example the battle of Badar. The situation of Badar was critical. A thousand strong enemy including the best fighters of Arabia, with all the best available weapons, invaded Isla'm in Medina. There were 313 soldiers of Isla'm who had only seven swords among them. Most of them had only wooden sticks or iron bars. A few armed themselves with just leg bones of camels.
The Holy Prophet was worried. The enemy was strong and three times in size. He threw his forehead in the dust and lamented in prayer: "O Allah! Save Isla'm from destruction. If today we are defeated here shall never be a person who will glorify Thy name on earth".27
Most of the best soldiers of the enemy such as their commander Utba, (Mua'wiya's maternal grandfather), his no Wali'd Shi'ba (Mua'wiya's uncle), his brother Hanzala, Aas bin Saad, Nofal bin Khwailed, Saad bin Aas, U'lqama bin Adi and many others all perished under the word of Ali. Half of the dead of the enemy were killed by him alone. He usually killed his attacker in a single stroke. He never attacked first.
In the battle of al-Ahza'b (trench) in the month of Zul-Qua'da, 5 A.H. (A.D. 627) Omru bin Abd Wudd who was famous for his courage and strength challenged the Muslims. Hazrat Omar announced that Omru was equal to a thousand fighters. No one came forward except Ali who killed Omru in a single stroke. As mentioned above, it was the Zulfiqua'r (the sword) of Ali which won every battle for Isla'm.
Hazrat Ali took the reign of Caliphate at the end of the year 35 A.H. (A.D. 656) and immediately ordered the dismissal of the corrupt governors appointed by Caliph Osma'n, and brought some drastic changes to the benefit of the poor masses. "These orders gave great offence to those who had enriched themselves under the last administration. Some of Osman's nominees gave up their posts without resistance, others revolted. Among the latter was Muawiya, the son of Abu Sufiya'n who held the Government of Syria, and who had, with the wealth of the Province, collected a large force of mercenaries, bound to him by love of pay. Thus supported Muawiya raised the standard of rebellion".28
Talha bin Abdullah and Zubair bin Awaa'm wanted the governorship of Ku'fa and Basra but Ali rejected their requests. On this they turned against him. A'ysha, the daughter of Abu Bakr, who hated Ali, fanned the flames of hatred and joined hands with them. Talha and Zubair forgetting their oath of allegiance raised an army against Ali. A'ysha led the army on a camel's back. She persuaded Hafsa, the daughter of Omar, to join her but in vain. Ali tried his best to avoid a war but the enemy arrived near Basra. It was a short battle. Talha and Zubair were killed and A'ysha was immediately sent back home with all respect. History has enough evidence that A'ysha was istigated against Ali by Mua'wiya. When Talha and Zubair came to her for moral support she at once consented to participate in person.
After the Battle of Camel Mowla Ali proceeded to Syria to settle his affairs with Mua'wiya. He met the enemy on the plain
of Siffi'n. He suggested to the rebels to avoid unnecessary shedding of blood of the Muslims and ofered to end the dispute by a personal combat; but Mua'wiya declined the challenge. Omru bin Aas told his accomplice to go for a personal comabat as Ali was old. But the Omayyad replied that no one ever excaped from Ali's sword.
The rebels started the war but were defeated in three successive battles and they were ready to fly from the battle ground. Mua'wiya, dishearteded, asked Omru bin Aas to find out a solution to avoid destruction. The son of Aas ordered his soldiers to tie copies of the Holy Qura'n to their spears and flags and shout for settlement. The trick worked well. Ali's soldiers stopped fighting. Ali informed his men that it was a mere trick of the enemy to avoid defeat, but they desisted from pursuit and compelled the Caliph to refer the quarrel to arbitration. Actually there were Mua'wiya's spies in the army of the Caliph. They created confusion.
Hostilities ceased. Ali named Ma'lik Oshtar as arbitrator of his side which was rejected by the enemy. He was compelled to appoint a weak old man named Abu Mu'sa Asha'ri who was secretly against Ali. The rebel was representd by the shrewd Omru bin Aas. The arbitrators deprived the Caliph of the fruit of his own men. He returned to Ku'fa with his army in disgust.
A group of Ali's soldiers, who favoured the matter or arbitration at Siffi'n, numbering about four thousand under the leadership of Abdullah bin Wahab al-Ra'sibi denounced the arbitration as sinful. They made their slogan: La hukma illa lillah, meaning: arbitration is for Allah alone. They wre known as Kha'rijis. They mutinied and gathered near Nahrwa'n. The Caliph asked them either to return to duty or disperse to their homes peacefully but they assumed a threatening attitude. Ali was compelled to attack their camp (in 38 A.H.) and almost annihilated them. Only nine of them escaped to Baharain where they formed a fanatical movement which time after time harassed the Caliphate till the Abbasid period.
As stated above Abu Mu'sa Asha'ri and Omru bin Aas wre apppointed as the arbitrators. Abu Mu'sa proved a traitor. They agreed to depose both Ali and Mua'wiya and elect a third person as the Caliph. Omru made the old man to speak first. He deposed Ali from Caliphate. Then Omru announced that Ali was already deposed so he reinstated Mua'wiya as the Caliph of Muslims. Abu Mu'sa became furious and declared that he was cheated. Thus arbitration collapsed.
The prepartions of another war were started on both sides. Afraid of losing another war with Ali, Mua'wiya used underground tactics. Hazrat Ali was assissinated by Abdur Rehma'n bin Muljam on the nineteenth of Ramaza'n, 40 A.H. (24th of January, 661) during prayer in the mosque of Ku'fa. He died after two days. He was buried at Najaf.
Mowla Ali had idvided the Isla'mic state into five provinces: Ku'fa, Mecca, Medina, Basra and Fa'rs which was extended up to Baluchistan and part of Afghanistan. The respective governors were (except in Ku'fa, the Capital): Qutham bin Abba's, Abu Ayoob Ansa'ri, Abdullah bin Abba's and Zia'd bin Samayya.29 He had also appointed Abul Aswad as head of the Department of Finance; Qadhi Sharrih as the Chief Justie; Ma'lik bin Habi'b as the Chief of the Police Department and Abdullah bin Abi-Ra'fe' as the head of the Civil Service.
The people elected Hazrat Hasan, the eledest son of Mowla Ali, as their Caliph but he abdicated after five months in favour of Mua'wiya to avoid further bloodshed; moreover, his soldiers were half-hearted. Mua'wiya had sent his spies in the Caliph's army to create confusion and mutiny. Mua'wiya agreed to spare the lives and respect the honour of Beni Ha'shem; to pay a large sum of money to Hazrat Hasan as the annual pension and to pass the Caliphate to Beni Ha'shem after his own death. Mua'wiya broke all his promises and poisoned Hasan to death in the month of Safar 50, A.H. (July, 671).
Ima'm Hasan, as he is generally known among the Shi'as, was born on the ifteenth of Ramaza'n, 3 A.H. (March, 625) in Medina. The Holy Prophet was extremely happy on his birth. His own sons had earlier died and his daughter Fa'tima was the only surviving child, and loved her most. He said that her childern wre his itrat, progeny. He named his grandson Hasan according to the Divine Will.
Hazrat Hasan resembled his grandfather. The Holy Prophet loved him much and often kissed him on his lips and the navel. He would lift the child on his shoulder and walk in the streets of Medina proudly. One day Hazrat Abu Bakr saw them in this way and remarked jokingly that Hasan had a nice carrier. The Holy Prophet replied smilingly that the rider was nice too. Once Caliph Abu Bakr was delivering a serman from the minbar, pulpit, which was used before him exclusively by the Holy Prophet. Hasan who was about eight years old and present in the mosque shouted at the Caliph to come down from the pulpit of his grandfather. The Caliph came down and lifted Hasan in his arms lovingly and confirmed that it was true that the minbar belonged to his (Hasan's) grandfather.
Mua'wiya became the first emperor of Isla'm, though for the
name sake he was called Caliph. It was not an accident of history that the archenemies of Isla'm and the Holy Prophet and his family became the absolute rulers, but it eas a pre-planned scheme, conceived during the life of the Holy Prophet, to deprive Beni Ha'shem of their position and honour. Knowing well the dirty tricks, intriques and the malicious methods of their enemies the Ahl-Bait of the Prophet did not react in any mean or inglorious way. They would rather suffer and lose but would not give up their piety, honesty, dignity and magnanimity.
Mua'wiya built a strong and vast empire and ruled for nineteen years as an absolute monarch. In his reign of terror and torture most of the supporters of Beni Ha'shem were put to death one by one. Abu Zar Ghifa'ri, Ma'lik Oshtar, Qais bin Saad and hundreds of the lovers of Ahl-Bait wre murdered. Mua'wiya ordered that after the prayer the congregation should curse and abuse Ali in the mosque throughout the kingdom. No admirer of Ali should be given any job. Those who praised Ali should be killed.30
Before he died Mua'wiya pronounced that his son Yazi'd. Mua'wiya died in the month of Rajab, 60 A.H. (April, 680) and imposed Yazi'd as the Caliph upon the Muslims. "Yazi'd was both cruel and treacherous; his depraved nature knew no pit or justice:, wries Ameer Ali. "He insulted the ministers of religion by dressing up a monkey as a learned divine and carrying the animal mounted on a beautiful caparisoned Syrian donkey wherever he went."31 He butchered Ima'm Husain and his family including the young children at Kerbala, and massacred thousands of Muslums including hundreds of the companions of the Holy Prophet in Medina and Mecca; and damaged by fire the buildings of Ka'ba. His timely death saved the Meccans from further destruction.
He was succeeded by his son Mua'wiya-II, a mild-natured youngster, who abdicated the throne within a few months. Marwa'n bin el-Hukam became the Caliph.32 His father Hukam bin al-Aas used to ridicule the Holy Prophet by imitating his physical actions. After two years' reign Marwa'n died; his son Abdul Malik succeeded him.
The eighth Omayyad Caliph was Omar bin Abdul Azi'z. He was in fact the Omayyad saint. He wore clothes with many pathces and lived a simple and pious life. He discontinued the practice of cursing Mowla Ali from the pulpit started by Mua'wiya. He also returned the oasis of Fadak, confiscated by Caliph Abu Bakr, to Beni Ha'shem.
The Omayyads conquered many countries and extended the boundaries of their empire in the name of Isla'm during the
ninety years (A.D. 661-750) period of their Caliphate. Their empire reached the zenith of its power and glory during the reigns of Wali'd and Hisha'm stretching from Sind and western China and southern Russia to the mountains of Pyrenees in Europe and the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in North Africa. They built beautiful mosques and palaces, roads and bridges. Communication was improved to the extent that the world had never known before.
Though the military achievements and the pageantry glorified the Muslims, particularly the Omayyad emperors, the spritual aspects deteriorated sharply. The rapid conquests of various lands tempted the masses to embrace Isla'm not for any spiritual reason but to gain material benefits or to escape from the non-Muslim taxes and treatment. The contact of the Arabs with the non-Arabs brought untold social and religious problems.33
Mowla'na Ima'm Husain, the gounger son of Mowla'na Ali, succeeded his father as the Ima'm of the faithful. His elder brother Hazrat Hasan, according to the Isma'ili tradition, was no the Ima'me' Zama'n but the Hujjatul Ima'm. Ima'mat does not pass on to a brothe; it goes down to a male issue. If Hazrat Hasan wee the Ima'm then Hazrat Zainul Abedi'n would not have succeeded to Ima'mat but one of the sons of Hasan and his line of descendants would have succeeded. All the Shi'a Ima'miya branches of Isla'm agree that the Ima'ms were Aale'Husain and not of Hasan.
Ima'm Husain was born on Thursday the third of Sha'ba'n, 4 A.H. (February, 626) in Medina. He was immediately placed, after birth, in the arms of the Holy Prophet who announced aza'n34 in his right ear and aqa'mat35 in the left and then put his tongue in his mouth to suck its moisture. During his infancy whenever he was taken in the arms of the Holy Prophet he was given a finger to suck which he loved very much. The Holy Prophet used to enjoy the smell of Hasan's or Husain's body under the chin. Sometimes he would sit on the back of his grandfather when the latter prostrated in prayer.
Ima'm Husain succeeded his father as the Ima'me' Zama'n, furing the reign of Mua'wiya, on the twenty-first of Ramaza'n, 40 A.H. (26th of January, 661). He led a quiet and a private life keeping away from politics in the tense situation after the assassination of his father. The tension had increased when Mua'wiya poisoned his elder brother Hazrat Hasan to death in 50 A.H.
Mua'wiya died in Rajab, 60 A.H. and imposed his treacherous son Yezi'd upon the Muslims as their Caliph Yezi'd was a cruel person and a habitual drunkard. He had utter disregard for religion. Some prominent leaders such as Ima'm Husain, Abdur Rehma'n bin Abu Bakr, Abdulla bin Zubair and others refused to recognize him. Yezi'd resorted to the use of force. He ordered his governor in Medina, Wali'd bin Okba, to press Ima'm Husain for allegiance, if he refused he should be killed.
Meanwhile, various letters and deputations from his admirers in Iraq came to Ima'm Husain earnestly requesting him to come to Ku'fa, the capital of Iraq. In view of the circumstances in Medina the Holy Ima'm decided to go to Ku'fa. He knew what was going to happen. He left Medina for Mecca with his family and to Ku'fa. Yezi'd ahd sent thiry men to Mecca to kill the Holy Ima'm at the time of hajj. But the Ima'm performed all the ceremonies earlier than the actual date of hajj--this is known as umrah--and left Mecca on the eighth of Zil Hijja, 61 A.H. for Ku'fa.
Ima'm Husain knew that he was destined for a cruel murder at Kerbala. The Holy Prophet had long ago told his family about the martyrdom of his two grandsons. The Holy Ima'm knew that he had to sacrifice his life to save Isla'm. He would have agreed to the Caliphate of Yezi'd and saved his life, and the lives of his family and friends, but this would have ruined completely the spirit of Isla'm.
Isla'm--the religion that the Holy Prophet taught--was already forgotten. Truthfulness, piety, honesty, justice, unity, spirit of brotherhood and above all the love of Allah and Rasool and his progeny were altogether forgotten. Prayers wre held but without the spirit of worship; zaka't was paid but it was spent for personal comforts of the rulers; jeha'd was made for political conquest and material benefits; the Holy Qura'n was read without understanding. The sacrifice of Ima'm Husain encouraged the true believers of Isla'm and ignited their hearts with spiritual love.
Yezi'd sent an army at four thousand men against about a hundred of Ima'm's family and followers. The army encountered them at Kerbala while they were travelling from Mecca to Ku'fa. It was at this place in the Iraqi desert that the Holy Ima'm and his comapnions were slaughtered savagely on the tenth of Muharram, 61 A.H. (10th of October, 680).
They fought bravely and inflicted a heavy loss of life upon the enemy. It is reported that there were 320 wounds on the body of the Holy Ima'm. Like Prophet Ya'hya (John the Baptist) who was executed and whose head was presented in a tray to Harod Antipus. Ima'm Husain's head was severed from his body and presented in a tray to Yezi'd, who laughed at the sight of the holy head and struck the lips with his stick in vengeance. Yezi'd's grandmother Hinda had eaten the liver of Hazrat Hamza, an uncle of the Holy Prophet, in the battle of Ohod.
Ima'm Husain's son Zainul A'bedin, who was sick, miraculously survived the massacre at Kerbala, succeeded him as Ima'me' Zama'n.
Mowla'na Ima'm Zainul A'bedin was born at Medina on the fifteenth of Sha'ba'n, 38 A.H. (January, 659) during the Caliphate of his grandfather Mowla Ali. He succeeded his father Ima'm Husain at the age of twenty-two. He lived a private life, teaching and preaching. Four Omayyad rulers, Yezi'd, his son Mua'wiya-II, Merwa'n and his son Abdul Malik died during the life of the Ima'm. Caliph Wali'd bin Abdul Malik killed the Ima'm by poisoning him on the eighteenth of Muharram, 95 A.H. (September, 713). The Omayyads troubled the Ima'm extremely but he exercised great fortitude.
Ha'fiz Abu Na'eem has mentioned in his Huliyatul Auliya that once Hisha'm bin Abdul Malik (later the tneth Omayyad Caliph) went to perform the hajj but could not pass through the crowd to reach the sacred Black Stone. Suddenly he was surprised to see the crowd giving way to a serene handsome youth (ima'm Zaunul A'bedin). He asked the people who the honourable person was who enjoyed so much respect. Abul Faras Farzooq, the famous poet, was standing nearby, replied in verse:
"I know him. He is the son of the most honourable. The Ka'ba is familiar of his footsteps. He is immaculate, pious and divine. His bravery is matchless. His forehead is shinning with Noor (the Light of God); Like the Sun his Noor tears off the sheets of darkness- His miraculous hand makes fragrant whatever it touches. And wisdom of all the Prophets was enriched by the wisdom of his grandfather. Those who know him know God."
Hisha'm turned pale. He warned the poet to be careful. Later, he took revenge on the poet when he came to power.36
Sulema'n bin Saro, Ibra'him bin Ma'lik Oshtar and Mukhta'r bin Obaida Thaqafi rose against the Omayyads immediately after the death of Yazi'd. The Holy Ima'm remained aloof.
The period of 34 years of his Ima'mat was the most critical
time for the Shi'as. The Omayyad governors Muslim bin Oqba, Hassain bin Nami'r and Hajjaj bin Yu'suf murdered countless Muslims who admired and loved the Holy Ahl-Bail.
The Holy Ima'm was succeeded by his son Ima'm Mohammed Ba'qir.
Mowla'na Ima'm Mohammed el-Ba'qir succeeded his father at the age of thirty-eight as the fourth Holy Ima'm. He was born at Medina on the third of Safar, 57 A.H. (December, 677) during the Caliphate of Mua'wiya. His mother was Omm Abdullah daughter of Hazrat Hasan bin Ali. He was about three years old when his grandfather Ima'm Husain was martyred at Kerbala on the tenth of Muharram, 61 A.H. Ba'qir was his title.
He was well-built and strong. He had brown and thick hair on his head and wore a short rounded beard. His fair complexion, big black eyes, soft and sweet voice would make his visitor speechless at the first glance. He always looked smart and well-dressed.
Life his father the Holy Ima'm took a keen interest in teaching and preaching. He was always surrounded by his admirers and students seeking knowledge after morning prayer. This was the daily routine. Hundreds of people used to attend these morning 'sessions.'
Ima'm Ba'qir and his son Ima'm Ja'fer es Sa'diq worked very hard to fight the prevailing atheism and misinterpretation of the Holy Qura'n and the tradition of the Holy Prophet among the Muslims. He organized the propagation of Isla'm and appointed da'is to spread the truth. Once he bought a slave during one of his travel. The slave was Abu Sha'kir May'moon al-Qadah, a descendant of Hazrat Salma'n el-Fa'rsi. He was very intelligent and educated. The Holy Ima'm trained him personally and then handed him over to Ima'm Sa'diq who later appointed him as the head of Da'wat, propagation of religion.
The famous Sunni jurists Hazrat Abu Hanifa (d. 150 A.H.), Hazrat Zohri (d. 124), Hazrat Sufiya'n Thawri (d. 161) and Hazrat Oza'i (d. 157) were among the students of Ima'm Ba'qir.
Before the reign of Omayyad Caliph Abdul Malik the Roman and Persian currencies were used in Isla'mic countries. The Muslims called upon the Caliph to introduce their own currency. The Caliph invited a conference of the wise and learned to solve this problem. Ima'm Zainul A'bedin, who was also invited, sent his seventeen-year-old son, Ima'm Baqir, to the conference. The conference unanimously agreed upon his suggestion of minting an Isla'mic dina'r with the inscription of "La ilah illa Allah' on its one side and "Mohammadan Rasoolallah' on the other, in Arabic. Thus the first Isla'mic coin was minted in Damascus in 74 A.H. (A.D. 694).
Zaid bin Hasan, an uncle of the Ima'm, claimed Ima'mat in vain. He instigated the Omayyad Caliph Hisha'm bin Abdul Malik against the Holy Ima'm and his family. The Omayyad troubled them throughout their lives. Another claimant of Ima'mat was Zaid bin Zainul A'bedin, step-brother of the Holy Ima'm, who revolted against the Omayyads and was killed.
Four Omayyad rulers, Wali'd bin Abdul Malik, Sulemaa'n bin ABdul Malik, Omar bin Abdul Azi'z and Yezi'd bin Abdul Malik, died during his nineteen years of Ima'mat. Hisha'm bin Abdul Malik succeeded Yezi'd bin Abdul Malik. Omar bin Abdul Aziz was a noble person. He was a pious and God-fearing man. The historians have called him an Omayyad saint. He ordered the preachers to stop the practice of abusing and cursing Mowla Ali and Ahl-bain from the pulpit after prayer. This practice had been started by Mua'wiya half a century previously. His respect and sympathy for the Ahl-Bait eventually infruruated the Omayyads but the Caliph did not care. He also returned to the Holy Ima'm the garden of Fadak which was confiscated by Caliph Abu Bakr from Sayyidah Bibi Fa'tima soon after the death of the Holy Prophet.
Mowla'na Ima'm Ba'qir lived a simple life. He was very kind and generous. He shared his food with his slaves and servants. He was famous for his hospitality and for this reason people from all walks of life, from far and near, used to some to see him.
Ja'bir bin Abdullah Ansa'ri has reported that once he went to see Ima'm Ba'qir at his house. The Ima'm was sitting on a mat. There was nothing else in the room. After a while a man came in and greted the Ima'm. The Holy Ima'm received him warmly. The visitor said that he was a poet and wanted to recite some verses in praise of his host. The permission was granted. When he finished his recitation the Ima'm went to another rom and brought a bag full of silver coins which he gave to the poet. He asked the Ima'm's permission to recite another poem. Ima'm Ba'qir smillingly consented and gave him another bag of silver coins. This was repeated the third time. The poet then left happily.
Ima'm Ba'qir had six sons: Ima'm Ja'fer, Abdullah, Ibra'hi'm, Hasan, Abu Tura'b and Tha'bit and two daughters: Zainab and Omm Kalthoom. He died of poisoning at the age of fifty-seven on the seventeenth of Zil Hijja, 114 A.H. (August, 732). He was buried in Medina.
Mowla'na Ima'm Ja'fer es-Sa'diq succeeded his father at the age of thirty-one. He was born in Medina on the seventeenth of Rabi-el-Awwal, 83 A.H. (August, 702) during the Ima'mat of his grandfather, Ima'm Zainul A'bedin, and the regn of Omayyad Abdul Malik bin Marwa'n. He was also known as Sa'diq Aal Mohammed and Ami'r Ahmed.
He was of medium height and stout. He had thick and curly hair around his head, bald at the top. He had a slim and straight nose on a round face. He wore a thick round beard. He was very handsome and attractive.
From his early childhood the Holy Ima'm took a deep interest in learning. Later, he assisted his father in all religious matters acting as his Hujjat, a deputy. He sent two da'is to India where they converted thousands of natives to Isla'm in the provinces of Thatta and Multan (now in Pakistan). Two other da'is were sent to Salamiy followed by his son Ima'm Isma'il.
Abul Khatta'b Asadi, a famous da'i of the Holy Ima'm, went astray and claimed divine authority. The Ima'm dismissed him publicy. He then formed his own group of followers. They were known as Khatta'biya. He was later hanged to death in Ku'fa.
Omayyad Hisha'm was the ruler when Ima'm Sa'diq succeeded his father to the throne of Ima'mat. In the first eighteen years of his Ima'mat the Omayyad Caliphate came to an end. Caliph Hisha'm, Wali'd-II, Yazi'd-III, his brother Ibra'hi'm and Marwa'n-II all five either died or they were killed. Beni Abba's seized the Caliphate and started mass killing of the Omayyads. Abul-Abbas's as Saffa'h was proclaimed as the first Abba'sid Caliph in the month of Rabi-el-Tha'ni, 132 A.H. (November, 749).
The Abbasids were a branch of Beni Ha'shem, the closest relatives of Beni Fa'tima, but jealous of the superiority and honour of Ahl-Bait. They too, like their Omayyad predecessors, treated Beni Ha'shem with cruelty and injustice as soon as they came to power.
Mowla'na Ima'm mansoor was born in 302 A.H. (A.D. 913) In Qairwa'n. He was a poet and an estrordinary orator. His full name was Abu-Ta'hir Isma'il Mansoor Billah.
The Isma'ili army had to fight several battles against an obstinate enemy, Abu-Yezi'd Kha'riji. At last the Ima'm himself chased him out of the Fatimid boundary into Sudan where he was arrested and killed. But after sometime Abu-Yezi'd's son Fa'zal revolted. This time the Holy Ima'm sent his seventeen-year-old son Prince Mo'izz with a sizeable army. Prince Mo'izz exterminated the Kha'rijis once and for all.
The uprising of the Kha'rijis occupied the Isma'ili army completely for a long time. Taking advantage of this situation the Omayyad ruler of Spain invaded and conquered some parts of the Fatimid territory in the north-west of Africa and the island of Sicily. But the Isma'ilis promptly too action against the enemy. All the territory was reconquered and peace was restored.
The Holy Ima'm appointed Hasan bin Ali Kalibi as the governor of Sicily. He served his Ima'm with devotion all his life. He improved the existing navy and increased the number of ships.
Isma'ili da'wat under Pi'r Abdul Maji'd bin Pi'r Gha'libuddi'n was spreading in the north-east Africa, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.
During the seven years of his Caliphate and Ima'mat all the empire was in complete control of the Holy Ima'm. The Pope used to pay a large sum of money annually as tribute to the Fatimid Caliph.
Ima'm Mansoor died at the age of thirty-nine on the twenty-eighth of Shawwa'l, 341 A.H. (A.D. 952) and was buried at Mehdia.
Mowla'na Ima'm Mo'izz succeeded his father at the age of twenty-two. He was born on the twenty-first of Ramaza'n, 318 A.H. (A.D. 930) at Mehdia.
He was extremely handsome, tall and well-built. He was very kind, generous and obliging. The most glorious period of the Fatimid Caliphate started with the enthronement of Ima'm Abu-Tami'm Ma'add al-Mo'izz. He pardoned all those who sided with the Kha'rijis. This amnesty greatly increased the popularity of the Fatimids.
The Omayyad rules of Spain Abdur Rehma'n al-Na'sir, who was under the Abbasid Caliph of Beghdad, had built a naval fleet. In 344 A.H. his navy arrested a Fatimid ship which was carrying some documents and valueable gifts for the Holy Ima'm from Admiral Hasan bin Ali Kalibi. The ship was taken to a Spanish harbour. Admiral Hasan sent his fleet to the harbour and destroyed all the enemy ships and the installations and freed the captured ship without any loss.
"Under al-Qa'im's grandson Abu-Tamim Ma'add al-Mu'izz (952-75)", writes P.K. Hitti, "the Egyptian fleet, strengthened by new units built at Maqs, the predecessor of Bula'q as the port of Cairo, in 955 raided the coasts of Spain, whose caliph was non other than the mighty al-Na'sir. Three years later the Fatimid army advanced westward as far as the Atlantic, whence the commander sent to his caliph live fish in jars. In 969 Egypt was wrested from its Ikhshidid rulers."71
Gha'zi Jawhar-a Sicilian Christian converted to Isma'ilism-was the commander of the Isma'ili armies. He started to build the new capital near Fusta't, now Cairo, in 359 and completed it in 363 A.H. (A.D. 969-973). It was named al-Qa'hira. According to the wish of his Ima'm he also built the great mosque of al-Azhar which was later extended into a university by Ima'm Azi'z.
By this time the Isma'ili empire spread from the Atlantic Ocean to Damascus. But the Carmathians started troubling the peaceful subjects again.
Isma'ili da'wat headed by Pi'r Abdul Maji'd had spread in all parts of the empire and the neighbouring countries. A famous da'i Qa'zi Mona'n bin Mohammed was appointed as the chief justice. An other famous da'i of this period was Abu Ya'qoob Sijista'ni who died in 331 A.H. He wrote many books. The most popular was Al-yenabi'.
In about 2000 B.C. a canal was dug to link the river Mile through the Wadi Tumilat with the Bitter lakes and another canal was in the south to connect it to the Red Sea. Many a time these channels were filled with shifting sands which made useless. These were re-excavated depending on the whim of an individual ruler. After the conquest of Egypt by the Persians, Darius the Great ordered the restoration and enlargement of the canal.
During the Fatimid period the canal was enlarged and re-routed in the north to enable it to pass sea-going boats.
Ima'm Mo'izz died on the eleventh of Rabi-el-Awwal, 365 A.H. (A.D. 975) and was buried in Cairo. He was forty-six. His son Ima'm Azi'z succeeded him.
Mowla'na Ima'm Abu-Mansoor Niza'r al-Azi'z Billah was the fifth Fatimid Caliph and the fifteenth Isma'ili Ima'm. He was
born on the fourteenth of Muharram, 344 A.H. (A.D. 953) in Qairwa'n.
The twenty-one-year reign of Ima'm Azi'z was the most glorious period of the Fatimid Caliphate. The empire reached its zenith spreading from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea and up to Yemen including Mosul, Mecca, Damascus Palestine, Islands of Crete, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the whole of the eastern Mediterranean.
It was during this time that the great waterway, now known as the Suez Canal, was rebuilt and the boats sailed from the Mediterranean into the Red Sea and vice versa. The Holy Ima'm built libraries, mosques, schools, roads, bridges, canals and street lights. Freedom of worship, peace and prosperity attracted many foreigners and non-Muslims to settle in various parts of the empire.72
Gha'zi Abul-Hasan Jawhar died in 381 A.H. He was a Roman slave born in Sicily. Ima'm Mo'izz bought him and trained him as a personal attendant. He was a man of great qualities. He rose to the position of Qaid, the Leader. Ima'm Azi'z personally attended the funeral of this great soldier and great man.
Ima'm Azi'z died on the twenty-fifth of Ramaza'n 386 A.H. (A.D. 996) in Cairo at the age of forty-two. He was succeeded by his son Al-Ha'kem.
Hujjatul Ima'm Pi'r Abdul Maji'd was living in Yemen. He was too old to travel but he was supervising the work of da'wat assisted by his son Sayyid Munt'zir Billah and hundreds of da'is.
Mowla'na Ima'm Abu-Ali al-Husain al-Ha'kem Bi-Amrillah was born on Thursday the third of Rabi-el-Awwal, 375 A.H. (A.D. 986) in Cairo. His mother was a Russian Princess. At the tender age of eleven he ascended the throne of Ima'mat and Caliphate after the death of his father. In his reign the people were happy and prosperous especially the non-Muslim minorities such as the Jews and the Christians who enjoyed equal rights as citizens.
The lenient attitude of the government tempted the Jews and the Christians to take undue advantage. They started corruption and conversion of the Muslims into their respective faiths. They were warned but took no heed. For this obvious reason the Ima'm later had to take drastic action against them. He ordered them to wear black robes, to display the sign of their repective faith and to ride only on donkeys. Many western historians have
exaggerated this matter. The Caliph was forced to take such an action to save the integrity of the Muslim society and Isla'm. It was not a new order in Isla'm. Caliph Omar had ordered the Christians to wear a certain type of dress to show that the wearer was a Christian.73
During the first year of Ima'm Ha'kem's Caliphate a struggle for power and influence started between the Turk and the Berber army commanders. It developed into an armed conflict. Turk Barjawa'n defeated the Berber commander Hasan bin Amma'r who was later killed. Victorious Barjwa'n assumed the absolute power. He introduced many reforms and became popular but gradually became proud. He often insulted the young Caliph. At last an aide of the Holy Ima'm killed him in 390 A.H. Ima'm Ha'kem took over the absolute authority as the Caliph. He appointed Husain bin Gha'zi Jawhar as the chief minister.
In 389 A.H. Qa'zi Mohammed bin Noma'n died. The Caliph appointed Husain bin Ali bin Noma'n as the chief justice.
Due to his jealousy for the Fatimid Ima'ms the Abbasid Caliph of Baghdad, Qa'dir Billah, issued a statement, in 406 A.H., that Ima'm Ha'kem was not a Fatimid. This false statement was signed by some prominent jurists of his court. Pi'r Abdul Ma'jid died in 397 A.H. in Yemen at the age of ninety-seven. The Holy Ima'm appointed the Pi'r's eldest son Sayyid Munt'zir Billah as the Pi'r. Another famous da'i of this period was Ahmed Hammiduddin Kerma'ni.
Ima'm Ha'kem was very fond of building. He constructed many roads, bridges, schools and mosques. He was very generous but strict in implementing justice and discipline. Very often he would ride his white mare alone. The people loved him very much and talked fdreely to him about their problems.
On the twenty-seventh of Shawwa'l, 411 A.H. (A.D. 1021) he left his palace at night with his two aids whom he later sent back. He was never seen again. Some thought he was murdered. But the others believed he ascended to heaven and would return after a thousand years; they are known as the Dru'ze.
Ima'm Ha'kem's son Ali succeeded to the throne of Ima'mat and Caliphate after him.
17. IMA'M ZA'HIR
Mowla'na Ima'm Za'hir was born on Wednesday the tenth of Ramaza'n, 395 A.H. (A.D. 1005) in Cairo. His name was Ali and the title was Abul Hasan az-Za'hir.
At the age of sixteen he became the seventeenth Isma'ili Ima'm and the seventh Fatimid Caliph. His paternal aunt Sitt-al-Mu'lk helped him in the affairs of the dourt and the palace. She died after four years in 415 A.H.
After Ima'm Ha'kem a spllit occured among the Isma'ilis. The seceders were called Dru'ze who believed that the Ima'm did not die but he would return. They believed that the Ima'm ascended to heaven physically and would reappear in the same body after one thousand years. A section of the Dru'ze believed that he was god himself who had appointed Hamza, a da'i, as their Ima'm who was later succeeded by the successive Shaikhs-ul-Aql. The seat of their present shaikh is in Lebanon, about thirty kilometres from Beirut.
In 421 A.H. the Roman king Constantine-II invaded Aleppo with an army of 600,000 but was defeated by the tactics of a very small Isma'ili force. He was forced to sign a treaty to keep peace in future and to announce the Caliphate of Ima'm Za'hir in all the mosques in his territory. This treaty was revived by the succeeding Roman king Michael-IV in 428 A.H. (A.D. 1037).
A great Isma'ili physician and philosopher, Bu-Ali Si'na (Avicenna), lived during this period. Abu Reha'n al-Beru'ni was his contemporary who later joined the service of Mahmoud of Ghazna.
The Holy Ima'm died after a short illness on the fifteenth of Sha'ba'n, 427 A.H. (A.D. 1036) and was buried in Cairo. He was succeeded by his son Mustansir Billah.
At the age of seven Mowla'na Ima'm al-Mustansir was proclaimed as the eighth Fatimid Caliph of Egypt, and the eighteenth Isma'ili Ima'm, on the fifteenth of Sha'ba'n, 427 A.H. He was born on the seventeenth of Jama'di-el-Tha'ni, 420 A.H. (A.D. 1066) an earthquake shook the city of Cairo and other towns nearby and caused considerable damage. The Holy Ima'm compensated generously to everyone who had lost even a goat.
As a result of this earthquake and lack of rain the following six years, from 461 to 466 A.H., widespread famine ruined the country economically. Thousands of people died of starvation. The Holy Ima'm gave away all his wealth, even the clothes and furniture of his palace, to save the people. Many generals and high officials took great advantage of the situation. Unrest and insecurity prevailed throughout the country. At last the Ima'm summoned his governor of Syria, Bader al-Jama'li in 467 A.H. and gave him full authority as the prime minister to restore law and order. Within a year all was quite in order. The prime minister served his Ima'm sincerely for nearly twenty years. He died in 487 A.H. The Holy Ima'm appointed al-Jama'li's son Afzal as the prime minister.
Ali bin Mohammed Salihi, Hasan bin Sabbah, Ha'ser khusrao, Abdul Malik Atta'sh, Omar Khayya'm, Pi'r Mohammed Shah Satgur Noor and many other famous isma'ili personaliries lived during the reign of Ima'm Mustansir Billah whose Ima'mat and Caliphate lasted for over sixty years, the longest period of Ima'mat till that time.
The Holy Ima'm died at the age of sixty-eight on Wednesday the eighteenth of Zil-Hijja, 487 A.H. (A.D. 1094) and was buried in Cairo. His eldest son Niza'r succeeded him as the Ima'me'Zama'n.
Mowla'na Ima'm Niza'r was born in Cairo on the tenth of Rabi-el-Awwal, 437 A.H. (A.D. 1045). He succeeded his father as the nineteenth Ima'm of the Isma'ilis at the age of fifty-one.
His father died in his absence. The prime minister, Afzal al-Jama'li, promptly declared the Caliphate of his son-in-law Ahmed Must'li, the eighteen-year-old half-frother of Ima'm Niza'r. When Ima'm Niza'r and his two brothes Abdullah and Isma'il came to Cairo to attend the funeral of their father, they found the conditions were different from what their late father had instructed. After the burial of their father they left for Alexandria.
In Alexandria the governor Oftakeen and the Qa'zi had sworn allegiance to Ima'm Niza'r. For two years many battles were fought. Eventually Musta'li's army arrested the Holy Ima'm and the governor. They were brought before him. He killed the governor and imprisoned the Ima'm where he died a year later in 490 A.H. (A.D. 1096). His two sons Ma'add and Ha'di were also imprisoned. Ma'add died shortly in the prison.
A split took place among the Isma'ilis after the death of Ima'm Mustansir Billah. The seceders followed Caliph Musta'li who was enthroned by his father-in-law Afzal, the prime minister. The Caliph died in 495 A.H. after eight years' reign at the age of twenty-six and was succeeded by his five year old son Aamer. In 524 A.H. he was murdered at the age of thirty-four leaving behind a pregnant widow who later gave birth to a girl.74 Thus the line of succession ended.
But it was announced that a boy, named Tayyib, was born. He went into concealment at the age of seven months. He would reappear near the end of the world, they said. Abdul Mahi'd al-Ha'fez, the uncle of Aamer, took over the charge of the state as well as the faith as the Ba'b, a chief da'i. After one year he claimed to be the Ima'm himself.75 After his reign of twenty years Caliph Ha'fez died in 544 A.H. at the age of seventy-five. His sixteen-year-old son Isma'il succeeded as the Caliph with the title of Za'fer. He was murdered in 549 A.H. and was succeeded by his five-year-old son al-Fa'iz. After six years he died at the age of eleven. Nine years old Aazid, the grand son of Ha'fez was proclaimed as the fourteenth 'fatimid Caliph in Rajab, 555 A.H. After twelve years he died in 567 A.H. The Fatimid Caliphate ended with him.
The Rock of Alamut is situated in the mountain range of Elburz in the north-west of Tehran, the capital of Iran. The nearest city is Qazqi'n at a distance of 40 kilometres only. The Isma'ilis built a formidable fort over this rock.
An Isma'ili kingdom, in the name of Ima'm Niza'r was established at Alamut on the sixth of Rajab, 483 A.H. (4th of September, 1090), by Hasan bin Sabbah and his colleagues, during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Mustansir Billah.76 But it was Ima'm Ha'di who in 490 A.H. came to Alamut and reigned as the Head of State. The glorious period of Alamut lasted 170 years. From Ima'm Ha'di to Ima'm Ruknuddi'n Khorshah, the Isma'ilis made tremendous progress in education, science, economics, political and religious fields. The kingdom spread from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The propagation of the faith reached the neighbourhood of Burma and millions of people were converted.
The founder of Alamut Hasan bin Sabbah al-Hami'ri sent a deputation headed by a trusted da'i Abul Hasan Sa'eed to bring Ima'm Niza'r and the two princes from Cairo. When abul Hasan and his companions learnt that the Ima'm and the princes were imprisoned in the palace, they killed the guards at night and put on their uniforms. In this way they entered the palace and saw their beloved Ima'me'Zama'n sick in bed. THey prayed to him to go with them to Alamut. The Holy Ima'm told them that he was unable to travel but they should take away Prince Ha'di (as Prince Ma'add had already died) who would be their Ima'm. Soon after Ima'm Niza'r died.
Ima'm Niza'r died in 490 A.H. (A.D. 1097), at the age of fifty-three in the palace of his half brother Caliph Musta'li in Cairo.
Mowla'na Ima'm Ha'di, the younger son of Ima'm Niza'r, was born in Cairo during the Ima'mat of his grandfather in 462 A.H. (A.D. 1069).77 He was twenty-eight years old when he succeeded to the throne of Ima'mat. While he was imprisoned, with his father and a brother by his uncle Caliph Musta'li in Cairo, a kingdom in Alamut awaited his arrival.
Da'i Abul Hasan brought the Holy Ima'm to Alamut and proclaimed him as the Ima'me'Zama'n and the Head of the State. The Holy Ima'm lived a simple life and did not take part in political activities directly.
During his reign the Isma'ilis spread their faith from Mediterranean to the Caspian Seas, in India and Central Asia. Hasan bin Sabbah was the prime minister as well as the chief of da'wat as the Hujjate'Aazam. He had to fight against a powerful enemy, the Sultans of Parsia. Therefore, he created a force of the fida'is.
There is no truth in Marco Polo's tales of paradise and the strange legends of the assassins. Modern research has revealed this fact. "In speaking of the Ismailis of Persia as Assassins," writes Bernard Lewis, "and of their leader as the Old Man, Marco Polo-or his transcriber-was using terms already familiar in Europe. They had, however, come from Syria, not from Persia.78 In his book the learned professor has made it clear that there is no relevance between the words hashish and Assassins as has been alleged by the western writers. He further writes: "But there is still, as far as known, no text in which the Ismailis are called hashshash."79
Hasan bin Sabbah died on the twenty-sixth of Jama'di-el-Awwal, 518 A.H. (A.D. 1127). On his recommendation the Holy Ima'm appointed a highly respected and learned da'i Kiya Buzurg Umi'd as the prime minister who followed the footsteps of Hasan and served his Master faithfully.80
After the death of Pi'r Mohibbuddi'n in 522 A.H., in Sabzwa'r, the Holy Ima'm appointed the Pi'r's son Sayyid Kha'liduddi'n as the Hujjatul Ima'm. He was popularly known as Pi'r Khaleequddi'n.
In 524 A.H. the line of Musta'li ended with the birth of a girl born to the widow of Aamer in Cairo.
Ima'm Ha'di died in 530 A.H. (A.D. 1138) in the fortress of La'ma'sar. His reign lasted forty years. His son Moh'tadi succeeded him.
Mowla'na Ima'm Moh'tadi was born in La'ma'sar. His full name was Moh'tadi al-Mehdi Ala'Zikrihisalaam. He succeeded his father in 530 A.H. Two years later in 532 A.H. Kiya Buzurg died whose son Mohammed was appointed by the Holy Ima'm as the prime minister.
The twenty-two years reign of Ima'm Moh'tadi was comparatively very peaceful and prosperous. The Isma'ilis built new castles and greatly developed their territory. In 533 A.H. (A.D 1149) Abbasid Caliph Rash'd Billah brought a large number of soldiers to destroy Alamut. Four fida'is gained their entrance in his royal tent and killed him before he reached near the border. His army immediately dispersed leaving behind their weapons.
The Ima'm died in 552 A.H. (A.D. 1157) in Alamut and was buried there. His son Qa'hir succeeded him as the Ima'me'Zama'n.
Mowla'na Ima'm Qa'hir was born in Alamut in about 513 A.H. His full name was Al-Qa'hir Bi'Quowwatullah. He was estremely handsome and well-built physically. Since his childhood he had been taking interest in the affairs of the empire. He was in his late thirties when he succeeded his father.
During his Ima'mat, Ima'm Mohtadi had given the prime minister, Mohammed bin Kiya Buzurg, all the executive power to run the affairs of the vast Alamut empire. The prime minister was loyal and humble but his son, Hasan, thought of himself too much. When Ima'm Qa'hir succeeded, to the throne of Ima'mat, Hasan claimed Ima'mat. His father was shocked and confined to bed.
When the prime minister recovered he summoned a public gathering and declared that his son was a liar and a traitor. He announced that he was a humble servant of Holy Ima'm Qa'hir bin Moh'tadi bin Ha'di bin Niza'r bin Mustansir Billah.
Hasan disappeared but the prime minister killed his followers and supporters. Later, Hasan repented and prayed to the Holy Ima'm for mercy and pardon.
Because of this unpleasant circumstances the celebrations fo the Ima'm's enthronement and coronation were delayed. Within a short time the Holy Ima'm took over all the authority of the vast Isma'ili empire which covered the areas between the Mediterranean Sea and the Caspian Sea including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Khurasan and Kuhistan.
During this period Pi'r Salaamuddi'n bin Pi'r Abdul Mu'omin was working in Afghanistan and Badakhashan (now in Russia). Isma'ili da'wat was spreading in Russia and Central Asia.
In the beginning of 557 A.H. (A.D. 1162) Mohammed bin Kiya Buzurg died. The Holy Ima'm appointed his own son, Prince Hasan Ala'Zikrihis Salaam, as the prime minister.81
Ima'm Qa'hir died in 557 A.H. (A.D. 1163) at the age of forty-four. His Ima'mat lasted five years. He was buried in Alamut.
Mowla'na Ima'm Hasan Ala'Zikrihis Salaam was born in Alamut in 536 A.H.82 (A.D. 1152). He had already all the control of the State as its prime minister before his father died.
Ever since the Abbasids established their Caliphate, which they did in the name of Beni Fa'tima to gain popularity against the ruling Omayyads, they tried to convince the Muslims that they were Beni Ha'shem and the only legitimate successors of the Holy Prophet. Afraid at the same time of Fatimid Ima'ms, the true successors of the Prophet of Isla'm, the Abbasids did their best to wipe out the holy descendants of Mohammed and Ali. They murdered thousands of Beni Fa'tima yet they could not stop the line of the Holy Ima'ms.
The Abbasids also published in vain, from time to time, false geneological charts showing that the Fatimid Ima'ms were not from the progeny of Sayyida Bibi Fa'tima, the daughter of the Holy Prophet. But they were not able to convince the people.
Mowla'na Ima'm Hasan Ala'Zikrihis Salaam declared the Youm-el-Qiya'ma, the Day of Resurrection, which was held on the nineteenth of Ramaza'n, 559 A.H. (10th of August, 1164). Thousands upon thousands of Isma'ilis came from all corners of the world to attend this important day of the resurrection of the holy faity. The Holy Ima'm declared.83
"I am your Ima'me'Zama'n. I am Hasan bin Qa'hir bin Moh'tadi bin Ha'di bin Niza'r bin Mustansir Billah. The line of our succession will continue till the end of this world. I am pleased with your obedience and fealty. You have made in the past great sacrifices, which I accept and bless you."
Then he explained in details the principles of Isla'm and the Day of Judgement and announced.
"Today I have explained to you the Law (shari'at) and its meaning. I make you free from the rigidity of the Law and resurrect you from the bondage of the letter to the freedom of the spirit of the Law. Obey me and follow my farma'n. Give up all your misunderstanding and be united. Lead a virtuous life to be free from the fear of the Day of Judgement. Union with God, in reality, is the resurrection. Break your fast and rejoice. This is the day of utmost happiness and gratitude."
This was the date when Ima'm Mowla Ali was attacked and wounded by Ibn-Muljam. Ima'm Ali shouted: "By God I have succeeded." The metaphorical meaning was "union with God."
Discarding the earthly cage of the mortal body, the soul becomes free to unite with the Absolute. The momin passes through the Qiya'ma-resurrection-when he dies. This was the significance behind the Youm-el-Qiya'ma that Isma'ilis celebrated at Alamut.
Ima'm Ala'Zikrihis Salaam was assassinated by his brother-in-law, Hasan bin Na'm'war, on the sixth of Rabi-el-Awwal, 561 A.H. (10th of January, 1166). He was thirty-five. His Ima'mat lasted four years. He was succeeded by his son Mohammed.
Mowla'na Ima'm Ala'Mohammed was born in 550 A.H. (A.D. 1155) in the fortress of la'ma'sar. He was a great writer. Even his enemies admired and highly valued his several treatises on philosophy and jurisprudance.
During this time in the month of Muharram, 567 A.H the last Caliph Of Egypt, Abdullah al-Aazid, a descendant of Musta'li, died; and with his death came the end of the Fatimid Caliphate at the hands of Sala'huddi'n Ayyoobi who served the Abbasid Caliphate. The centre of the Musta'lian branch of Isma'ilism, known as Bohoras, shifted to Yemen.
A very famous Ismai'ili personality of this time was Abul-Hasan Rashi'duddi'n bin Sina'n who was a contemporary of Sala'huddi'n Ayyoobi. Ibn Si'na'n was a great soldier and administrator. He was also known as Shaikh Iraqi. He died in 589 A.H. (A.D. 1194). Alla'ma Fakhruddi'n Ra'zi, a, great Sunni theologian, was also living during this period. He was a great admirer of the Isma'ilis, their principle of Ima'mat and their system of various organizations.
Hazrat Pi'r Salaamuddi'n died in 579 A.H. in Sabzwa'r at the age of sixty-three. His sons Sayyid Soleh'di'n alias Sayyid Mohammed Noorbakhsh was appointed by Ima'm Ala'Mohammed as the Pi'r. After five years Pi'r Soleh'din died. His son Pi'r Sala'huddi'n succeeded him. He was appointed by the Holy Ima'm.
After forty-six years of Ima'mat, Ima'm Ala'Mohammed died of poisoning in the mouth of Shawwa'l, 607 A.H. (A.D. September, 1210) in Alamut. He was buried there. His son Jala'luddi'n succeeded him to the throne of Ima'mat and the State.
25. IMA'M JALA'LUDDIN
Mowla'na Ima'm JKala'luddi'n was born in 583 A.H. (A.D. 1186) in La'ma'sar. His name was Hasan.
About fifty years previously his grandfather had declared the Youm-el-Qiya'ma and relaxed the rigidity of the Shari'at, after which multitudes of peoples became Isma'ili on account of the da'wat. A vast majority of the converts, and some section of the old followers, could not grasp the spiritual significance of the Youm-el-Qiya'ma. They adopted unjustified attitude towards the faith and its practice which was criticised by other Muslims.
The Holy Ima'm took prompt action and announced the strict observance of the Sharia't in its letter and spirit. The orthodox Muslims stopped their criticism. Even the Abbasid Caliph at Baghdad was pleased. He persuaded his governor of Gila'n to marry his sister to the Holy Ima'm which too place with a great pomp.
By this time the Tartar Genghis Khan (A.D. 1167-1227) had conquered almost the whole of central Asia and was looking forward to expand his rule towards the Indian Ocean. An Isma'ili ambassador was sent to his court.
The Ima'm was given poison in food due to which he died in the month of Ramaza'n, 618 A.H. (November, 1221) and was succeeded by his son Ala'uddi'n Mohammed.
Mowla'na Ima'm Ala'uddi'n was about ten years old when he succeeded his father as the Ima'm of the Isma'ilis in 618 A.H. For some years, in the beginning, his mother suupervised the affairs of the empire on his behalf.
Some great men of this period were Shams Tabriz, the son of the Holy Ima'm, Jala'luddi'n Ru'mi, Ibn al-Arabi, Naseeruddi'n Tu'si and Su'fi Jama'luddi'n. Naseeruddi'n Tu'si was the prime minister. The Isma'ilis had to fight some battles with the Shah of Khwa'rzam successfully. There were many Indian Isma'ilis in the force of fida'is.
Ghengis Khan died in 625 A.H. (A.D. 1227). His grandson Mangu Khan sent his brother Hulagu Khan (A.D. 1255-1265) to invade the Isla'mic territories. His armies tried hard to cross the Isma'ili boundary but were repulsed every time with great losses. The kingdom of Alamut was surrounded by three enemies; the Tartars, the Abbasids and Khwa'rzam Shah.
Ima'm Ala'uddi'n was murdered by Hasan Mazandaarani, an agent of Khwa'rzam Shah on the twenty-ninth of Shawwa'l, 653 A.H. (1st of December, 1255). He was succeeded gy his son Ruknuddi'n.
Mowla'na Ima'm Ruknuddi'n Khorshah was born in 626 A.H. (A.D. 1228). He was twenty-seven years old when he succeeded his father.
Khwa'rzam Shah and the Abbasid Caliph Musta'sim, who were archenemies of the Isma'ilis and their Ima'm, sent their emissaris, from time to time, to the Mongol court asking for help to destroy Alamut. The Mongols, who already had a programme of conquest of the Muslim countries, found an excuse to invade Alamut.
The Mongol army crossed the border of the Isma'ili terrritory in the month of Muharram, 654 A.H. (March, 1256) but they were repulsed immediately. For the next eight to nine monthsmany bloody battles were fought. The ruthless enemy outnumbered the Isma'ilis by ten to one yet he could not achieve his goal easily. Afraid of prolonged war against the Isma'ilis, Hulagu Khan asked the Abbasid Musta'sim to help him against a common enemy but the Caliph did not take heed. At last by treachery and tricks the Mongols defeated the Isma'ilis, and destroyed whatever could be destroyed. These were: scientific instruments, an observatory a large library and thousands of houses and buildings.84 Thirty thousand Isma'ilis were killed in one day during Isma'ilis sacrificed their lives for the sake of their faith and their Ima'm in the battles of Alamut.
Alamut and La'ma'sar together with other fortresses were destroyed by the Isma'ilis themselves in order that they may be useless to the enemy militarily. Two years later Hulagu Khan in
revenge destroyed Baghdad, the Abbasid capital, and ended their Caliphate by murdering Musta'sim. According to Ibn Khaldoon the Mongols massacred 1.6 million out of the two million inhabitants of the city of Baghdad.
Ima'm Ruknuddi'n reigned as the Head of State and as Ima'm of the Isma'ilis for a year before he was murdered by the Mongols, on the twenty-ninth of Shawwa'l, 654 A.H. (19th of November 1256). This was the end of Alamut and the empire. He was succeeded by his son Ima'm Shamsuddin.
Mowla'na Ima'm Shamsuddi'n succeeded his father at the age of eight. He was born in La'ma'sar in 646 A.H. (A.D. 1250). During the Mongol invasion his father had sent him away for safety.
After the destruction of Alamut Ima'm Shamsuddi'n Mohammed lived a private life in Azerbaijan. His Ima'mat lasted fifty-six years, and in this period the Isma'ilis concentrated on the work of rehabilitation and propagation. This was the beginning of the second period of taqiyya. Ima'm's uncle Shams Tabriz, the great Isma'ili saint, and the two sons Momin Shah and Ki'ya Shah propagated Isma'ilism in Russia and China. Pi'r Sala'huddi'n Sabzwa'ri was in India and Afghanistan. The famous mystic Jala'luddi'n Ru'mi was a disciple of Shams Tabriz. Ru'mi died in 672 A.H. at the ae of sixty-six.
Another great poet of Iran, Sa'di of Shira'z, also died in 690 A.H. at the age of one hundred and ten.
In 664 A.H. Pi'r Sala'huddi'n died in Sabzwa'r. His son Sayyid Shamsuddi'n was appointed as the Pi'r by Ima'm Shamsudd'in. Pi'r Shams, as he is commonly known, served his Ima'ms for ninety years. He was also known, as Shams Iraqi and Khwa ja Shams Multa'ni.
Poet Niza'ri Kuhista'ni praised his Ima'm in these words:
"He is the king of the world, the Crown of Religion, He is the son of Ali, who is the Light of the Eyes of the King of the World.He, Shamsuddin (Muhammed) is the Father of Spiritualism, and the sweetest Fruit of the Eternal Garden of Creation."85
The Holy Ima'm died in 710 A.H. (A.D. 1310). His son Qa'sim Shah succeeded as the Ima'me' Zama'n.
Mowla'na Ima'm Qa'sim Shah reigned for sixty years. He succeeded his father in 710 A.H. (A.D. 1310). His date and pale of birth is not known.
The Isma'ilis were living peacefully by practising taqiyya. Their da'is were travelling freely from one country to another. Isma'ili da'wat reached Caucasia and Armenia.86 J.N. Hollister records: "Ima'm Shams al din was followed by his son, Qasim Shah, who also died and was buried at Azarbaijan. Both father and son contributed to the reorganizing of the Ismaili da'wat and a number of da'is were sent out to Iran. One of these was Pir Shams al din Sabzwari."87
Ima'm Qa'sim Shah had sent Pi'r Shams to India where he converted multitudes of people to Isma'ili satpanth.88 Through the efforts of Isma'ili da'is the Mongols embraced Isla'm in their thousands. This was a turning point in their way of life.
Ima'm Qa'sim died in 771 A.H. (A.D. 1368) in Azarbaijan. He was buried there. His eldest son Sayyid Isla'm Shah succeeded to the throne of Ima'mat.
Mowla'na Ima'm Isla'm Shah succeeded his father in his prime of youth. His full name was Sayyid Ahmed Isla'm Shah. He was born in Shahr Ba'bak. Later, he shifted to Kahak where he passed his life. His mother was Sayyid Khalilah Bibi, the daughter of a nobleman.
In 783 A.H. (A.D. 1380) Tamerlane, a descendant of Genghis Khan, invaded Seistan, Mazandaran and Khorassan. In 787 he invaded Iran third time and massacred about a hundred thousand citizens in Isfahan alone. The whole of Iran was shaken badly by the brutality of the Tartar. After a hundred and fifty years of Genghis Khan the Isma'ilis had to suffer once again at the hands of the Mongols with millions of the Muslims in Iran, Afghanistan and India. This time the tyrant was a Muslim. The famous Persian poet Ha'fiz of Shiraz lived during this period.
After the death of Pi'r Shams in 757 A.H., in Multan, the Holy Ima'm appointed the Pi'r's eldest son Sayyid Naseeruddi'n who died in 767 A.H. He was succeeded by his son Pi'r Sheha Sheha'buddi'n appointed by the Holy Ima'm. Pi'r Sheha'buddi'n too died in 800 A.H. Ima'm Isla'm Shah appointed Pi'r Sadruddi'n bin Pi'r Sheha'buddi'n. Pi'r Sadrudd'in's Pi'ra'tan lasted nineteen years. In 819 A.H. the Holy Ima'm appointed Pi'r Hasan
Kabi'r'di'n, the youngest son of Pi'r Sadruddi'n. These five Holy Pi'rs had converted over half a million people to Isma'ilism.89 The converts in Sind, Gujrat and Kathiawar are now known as the Khojas (a corrupt of Persian word Khwajah meaning: boss or leader). Those who lived in the Punjab, Kashmir and the Frontier Province are known as the Shamsis.
After fifty-six years of Ima'mat Ima'm Isla'm Shah died in 827 A.H. (A.D. 1423) in Kahak. He was buried there. His son Sayyid Mohammed succeeded him.
31. IMA'M MOHAMMED BIN ISLA'M SHAH
Mowla'na Ima'm Mohammed bin Isla'm Shah was born in Kahak. Thousands of Isma'ilis from India used to travel to Iran to see their beloved Spiritual Father. It was a hazardous journey through the jungles and mountains of Baluchistan. Many a man travelled all alone in love of his Ima'm. Anyone who had seen and met the holy Ima'm was respectfully called as darwaish (dervish), a monk. This word later corrupted to darass or dharas.
Pi'r Hasan Kabi'rdi'n, his four brothers and his eighteen sons and a daughter all worked enthusiastically for the da'wat in India and abroad.
After the fall of Alamut, about two hundred years previously, the Isma'ilis had turned to farming. But now they were gradually going into other occupations such as trade and service in the police and army.
The Ima'mat of Ima'm Mohammed lasted forty-one years. He died in 868 A.H. (A.D. 1464). He was buried in Shahr Ba'bak. His son Ali succeeded as the Ima'me' Zama'n.
Mowla'na Ima'm Mustansir Billah succeeded his father in 868 A.H. His name was Ali but he was well- known by his title of Mustansir Billah.
Isma'ilis had to observe taqiyya once again because of the enemies--the ruling class and the orthodox religious leaders of the Muslims--who were still holding vengeance against them.
Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'din died during this period. His brother Pi'r Ta'jdi'n was appointed by the Holy Ima'm to work in India. In 876 A.H. (A.D. 1471) Pi'r Ta'jdi'n was physically assaulted by some unscrupulous followers in India. Consequently he died. The Holy Ima'm became angry and discontinued sending his
ta'liqa's90 to the jama'ts of India. But the Isma'ili da'wat continued in India by Sayyid Mitha, a grandson of Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n. He lived most of his life in the Punjab and Kashmir. He was buried in Jammu where he died at an advanced age.
The Holy Ima'm wrote a book, Pandiya'te' Jawa'nmardi, in Persian.
Ima'm Mustansir Billah died in 880 A.H. (A.D. 1476) in Shahr Ba'bak. He was buried there. His son Sayyid Mahmood Shah known as Ima'm Abd Slaam succeeded him.
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Mowla'na Ima'm Abd Salaam was born in Shahr Ba'bak. His name was Mahmood Shah. He was also addressed as Shah Salaam-Ullah. He succeeded to the throne of Ima'mat in his prime of youth at the age of twenty-one. He was born in 859 A.H. (A.D. 1456).
Isma'ili da'wat continued. But it slowed down due to unfavourable circumstances. In India it spread throughout the North Province and in the Central Asia territories. A deputation from India arrived in the court of the Holy Ima'm and begged his forgiveness in the matter of Pi'r Ta'jdi'n's death. Ima'm Abd Salaam pardoned the jama't and gave them a book known as Pandiya'te' Jawa'nmardi (Maxims of the Righteous) written by Ima'm Mustansir Billah-II. They were ordered to respect the book as if it was their Holy Pi'r. Later, the Holy Ima'm appointed Pi'r Haider Ali.
The titles of Varas and Ra'i were created by the Holy Ima'm who conferred these upon the leaders of the jama'ts. The title of Varas was equivalent to a vazier (minister); this was also known as Darga'hi.
A famous Isma'ili poet Kha'ki Khorasani was living during this period.
The Shi'a and Sunni differences brought a war between Shi'a Iran and Sunni Turkey. Turk Sulta'n Mohammed-II invaded Iran and defeated Shah Husain in 899 A.H. (A.D. 1494). Later, Shah Isma'il Safawi established his kingdom after deposing and killing Shah Husain in 901 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Gharib Mirza.
Ima'm Abd Salaam spent almost all his life in Shahr Ba'bak and died there in 899 A.H. (A.D. 1494), at the age of forty. His son Ima'm Ghari'b Mirza succeeded him.
Mowla'na Ima'm Ghari'b Mirza was born in Shahr Ba'bak where he lived till the death of his father. His name was Shah Abba's. He was also known as Shah Mustansir Billah-III. When he succeeded to Ima'mat he changed his residence to Anjuda'n, a hill-reseort near Mahala't. This change of residence gave a tremendous upliftment to the Isma'ilis all over Iran. Isma'ili da'wat, headed by Pi'r Haider Ali was going on well in Turkey and Central Asia.
Shah Isma'il Safawi became the king of Iran in 901 A.H. He was himself a Shaikh of a su'fi sect and had thousands of followers. Within five years of his rule he established law and order in the whole of Iran and became the absolute ruler.
The Holy Ima'm lived a private life and kept away from politics. He died in Zil-Hijja, 902 (A.D. 1498) leaving his son Sayyid Mohammed Abu-Zar Shah to succeed him. His Ima'mat lasted three years.
Mowla'na Ima'm Abu-Zar Ali ascended to the throne of Ima'mat in 902 A.H. He was born during the Ima'mat of his great-grandfather. His name was Mohammed. He was also known as Sayyid Noordi'n Shah.
In 907 A.H. the Shah of Iran Isma'il Safawi declared Ithna'sherism to be the state religion. The Isma'ilis in Iran, afraid of persecution once again, had to observe taqiyya. But after sometime the Ima'm married a Safawi princess. This marriage strengthened the relation between the Holy Ima'm and the Safawi ruler making the situation tolerable for the Isma'ilis.
The thirtieth Isma'ili Pi'r, Sayyid Haider Ali Shah, died at an advanced age. His son Sayyid Ala'uddi'n was appointed by Ima'm Abu-Zar Ali to Pi'ra'tan. The family of Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n was propagating Isma'ili faith in India under the guidance of the Holy Ima'm through his Vaki'l, agent.
After a little over twelve years of Ima'mat the Holy Ima'm died in Anjuda'n in 915 A.H. (A.D. 1511). He was buried there. His son Sayyid Ali Shah succeeded him.
Mowla'na Ima'm Ali Shah, otherwise famous as Sayyid Mu'ra'd Mirza, succeeded his father in 915 A.H. He was also known as Shah Mu'ra'd. He was very generous. He never disappointed a beggar.
Because of his mother Sa'bra Kha'toon, a Safawi princess, he had very cordial relations with the royal family. He was extremely respected and loved. This reflected favourably for the Isma'ilis in Iran. Besides small trade and farming, the Isma'ilis were serving in military and civil services.
The Holy Ima'm did not travel much during his five years of Ima'mat. He passed most of his time in religious duties at home. He was very famous and popular among the learned class.
Pi'r Ala'uddi'n died in Khorasan. His son Sayyid Qa'sim Shah was appointed by Ima'm Mu'ra'd Mirza to Pi'ra'tan. Kha'ki Khora'sani was the most popular poet of this time. His poetry helped the activities of Isma'ili da'wat.
Ima'm Mu'ra'd Mirza died in 920 A.H. (A.D. 1516) in Anjuda'n. He was buried there. A beautiful tomb was erected over his grave. His son Sayyid Noor Shah known as Sayyid Zulfiqa'r Ali succeeded him.
Mowla'na Ima'm Zulfiqa'r Ali was born in Anjuda'n, during the Ima'mat of his great-grandfather Ima'm Ghari'b Mirza. He succeeded his father at the young age of twenty. His name was Sayyid Noor Shah. He was also addressed as Shah Khali'lullah.
The famous Isma'ili poet Kha'ki Khora'sani was living in his home village of Deezba'd near Khorasan. Sultan Sali'm of Turkey invaded Iran. Safawi Shah Isma'il ran away and reappeared after the Turks left. The war had damaged plantations and animals to a great extent. As a major farming community the Isma'ilis suffered most. Otherwise they were quite happy with their religious freedom.
Pi'r Qa'sim Shah looked after the affairs of religion and its propagation. He sent his da'is to Badakhshan and Afghanistan. In India Sayyid Ima'm Shah son of Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n died in the month of Ramaza'n, 920 A.H.
Ima'm Zulfiqa'r Ali died in 922 A.H. (A.D. 1518) in Anjuda'n after about two years of Ima'mat. He was buried there. His son Sayyid Nooruddi'n succeeded him.
Mowla'na Ima'm Nooruddi'n Ali succeeded his father in 922 A.H. He was also known as Sayyid Noor Shah. He was born in 917 A.H. (A.D. 1513) in Anjuda'n.
Shah Isma'il Safawi died in 930 A.H. He was succeeded by his eleven-year-old son Tahma'sp (A.D. 1524--76). The Shah gradually became powerful as the years passed. In 950 A.H. (A.D. 1543) he helped Mogul king Huma'yoon of India to regain his lost throne at Delhi from Sher Shah Soori.
Poet Kha'ki Khorasani was imprisoned by the king because of his poems in praise of the Holy Ima'm. He died in jail and was buried in his home-town Deezba'd.
Pi'r Qa'sim Shah bin Pi'r Ala'uddi'n died after a short illness. His son Pi'r Naseer Mohammed was appointed to Pi'ra'tan by Ima'm Nooruddi'n Ali. He was he thirty-third Pi'r of the Isma'ilis.
After thirty-five years' Ima'mat, Ima'm Nooruddi'n Ali died in Anjuda'n in 957 A.H. (A.D. 1550). He was buried there. His son Sayyid Shah Kali'lullah Ali succeeded him as the Ima'me' Zama'n.
Mowla'na Ima'm Ali, known as Shak Khali'lullah succeeded to Ima'mat at a young age but managed the spiritual affairs of the ever-increasing number of the Isma'ili jama'ts.
During the early years of his Ima'mat the political instability prevailed throughout Iran, but the Ima'm remained aloof. He appointed Pi'r Agha Ha'shem son of Pi'r Naseer Mohammed as the Pi'r after the death of the later. Sayyid Da'ood was acting as the Vakl'l, and agent, appointed by the Holy Ima'm. Sayyid Da'ood was responsible for da'wat and other religious affairs in Indian jama'ts. He lived in Sind where he died in 1005 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Niza'r Ali.
After thirty-six years' of Ima'mat Mowla'na Ima'm Khali'lullah Ali died in 993 A.H. (A.D. 1585). He was buried near the tomb of his father in Anjuda'n. He was succeeded by his son Sayyid Niza'r Ali.
Mowla'na Ima'm Niza'r Ali was born in Anjuda'n to a Safawi princess. He was also known as Shah Ata'ullah.
The fortieth Isma'ili Ima'm Shah Niza'r rebuilt Kahak which was to become the abode of many future Ima'ms. From Anjuda'n he shifted his residence to Kahak. Once again the da'wat picked up momentum and Isma'ilis from various countries visited the Darkha'na, the Centre, to see their Holy Ima'm frequently.
Ima'm Niza'r appointed Sayyid Mohammed Zama'n son of Pi'r Agha Ha'shem Shah, who had died earlier, as the Pi'r. Sayyid Da'ood also died in India. Another Isma'ili da'i Sayyid Abdul Nabi, a descendant of Pi'r Sadruddi'n, had lived in India during this period. He was later killed in Iran, while travelling, in 999 A.H. Hundreds of Sayyids, the descendants of Pi'r Sadruddi'n, and bhagats (convert-devotees) had been working for the da'wat of holy Isma'ili faith.
Hundreds of Indian Isma'ilis were travelling to Iran to pay their homage to their beloved Spiritual Father. Many of them permanently settled in Kahak. They were known as Ata'ila'his or Ata'i's.
Ima'm Niza'r Ali died in 1038 A.H. (A.D. 1629) in Kahak. He was buried there. His Ima'mat lasted forty-five years. His son Sayyid Ali succeeded to the throne of Ima'mat after him.
Mowla'na Ima'm Sayyid Ali was born in Kahak. He was also known as Shah Isma'il, Agha Hasan Shah and Shah Abuo-Hasan Baig.
Because of a relationship through his mother and grandmother with the Safawi kings the Holy Ima'm had a great influence in the court. The Shah gave him the governorship of Kerman, the province mostly populated by Isma'ilis. Therefore, the Holy Ima'm shifted his residence from Kahak to Kerman. The popularity of the Isma'ilis was greatly increased. This made it easy for them to enter, once again, into the civil and military services throughout the country.
The thirty-fifth Isma'ili Pi'r Mohammed Zama'n son of Pi'r Ba'ba Ha'shem Shah died after a short illness. His son Sayyid Agha Azi'z was appointed as the Pi'r by Ima'm Sayyid Ali.
After thirty-three years of Ima'mat Mowla'na Ima'm Sayyid Ali died in Kerman in 1071 A.H. (A.D. 1661). He was buried there. A beautiful tomb was erected over his grave. He did not travel much. He spent almost all his life in Kahak and Kerman. He was succeeded by his son Agha Hasan Shah.
Mowla'na Ima'm Hasan Ali was born in Kahak during the Ima'mat of his father MOwla'na Ima'm Sayyid Ali. He was also known as Sayyid Ba'qir Shah. His mother was Sarawi princess. In 1085 A.H. he, too, married the daughter of Safawi king, Shah Isma'il-II.
After the death of his father in Kerman the Holy Ima'm changed his residence to Mahala't. Isma'ili da'wat spread to Turkey, Armenia and Crimea. Pi'r Agha Mehra'b Baig was appointed as the Pi'r father, Pi'r Agha Azi'z.
Shah Husain Safawi handed over the province of Kerman in 1105 A.H. to be governed directly by Ima'm Hasan Ali himself. The province was populated mostly by the Isma'ilis.
Ima'm Hasan Ali shifted to Kerman where he died in 1106 A.H. (A.D. 1695). He was buried in Jajjaf, in Iraq, according to his will. His Ima'mat lasted thirty-five years. HIs son Ima'm Qa'sim Ali succeeded him.
Mowla'na Ima'm Qa'sim Ali was also known as Agha Ja'fer Shah. He was born in Kahak in 1086 A.H. (A.D. 1675). He succeeded to the throne of Ima'mat at the age of twenty after the death of his father Ima'm Hasan Ali Shah in 1106 A.H.
Safawi king Sultan Shah was his contemporary. The last Safawi king was Shah Abba's who died in 1150 A.H. (A.D. 1737) sand Na'dir Shah became the ruler of Iran. Na'dir Shah Durra'ni was a shepherd boy born of a humble family. He was by profession a brigand chief. He had helped the Shah in wars against Afghanistan. Later, he entered the service of Shah Tahma'sp. Owing to the incompetence of his master, Na'dir became the de facto ruler of the state. On the death of Shah Tahma'sp his infant son Shah Abba's was istalled as the king but the power remained in the hands of Na'dir Shah. After the death of Shah Abba's he was proclaimed as the Shah of Iran.
Ima'm Qa'sim Ali appointed his teenaged son Sayyid Abul Hasanali as the Pi'r. He was also addressed as Pi'r Shah Hasan Baig. He was the forty-second Holy Pi'r of the Isma'ilis.
The Holy Ima'm died after a prolonged illness in Kerman in 1143 A.H. (A.D. 1730) at the age of fifty-seven. He was buried there. He reigned as the Ima'me'Zama'n for thirty-seven years. His son Pi'r Agha Abul Hasanali succeeded him as the Ima'me'Zama'n.
Mowla'na Ima'm Agha Abul Hasanli Shah was born in Shahr Ba'bak. His other names were Shah Mohammed Hasan and Hasan Baig. He succeeded to the throne of Ima'mat in 1143 A.H.
He became the ruler of Kerman after the death of his father but after some time he resigned during the reign of na'dir Shah and went to Mahala't where he lived until his death.
The Safawi dynasty ended with the death of Shah Abba's son of Shah Tahma'sp-II in 1150 A.H. (A.D. 1737). Na'dir Shah Durra'ni took over as the absolute ruler of Iran.
When Na'dir Shah invaded India, in January 1739, he requested the Holy Ima'm to accompany him in order to bring good luck. The Holy Ima'm went with the Shah but returned home after the conquest of Lahore. The death of Nadi'r Shah, in 1163 A.H. (A.D. 1749), spread laslessness and chaos throughout the country. Kari'm Khan Zand eventually took over as the king and established law and order. He was a great admirer of the Holy Ima'm and the Isma'ilis. He proudly called himself as the agent of Ima'm Abul Hasanali Shah. He died in 1193 A.H.
Before going to India with Na'dir Shah, the Holy Ima'm handed over PJi'ra'tan to his younger brother Mirza Mohammed Ba'qir. In India the work of da'wat was looked after by Sayyid Reamatullah Shah assisted by Sayyid Hasan Shah and the descendants of Sayyid Da'ood.
Ima'm Abul Hasanali Shah died after fifty-one years of Ima'mat in 1194 A.H. (A.D. 1780) in Mahala't. He was buried in Najjaf. His son Shah Khali'lullah succeeded him at the age of forty-one.
Mowla'na Ima'm Shah Khali'lullah Ali was born in Kerman in 1153 A.H. (A.D. 1749). At the age of two he joined his father in Mahala't. He was married to Bibi Maryam Kha'toon, the daughter of his uncle Pi'r Mirza Mohammed Ba'qir. She gave birth to Agha Hasanali Shah in Mahala't in 1220 A.H. (A.D. 1805-6).
In 1193 A.H. the Shah of Iran, Kari'm Khan Zand, died and was succeeded by his brother Zaki Khan But his reign was short lived. The country had plunged into disorder for many years. At last the Zands were overthrown and purged by the Ka'ja'rs (Qa'cha'rs). Shah Fatehali ascended the Peacocck Throne of Iran in 1212 A.H. (A.D. 1798).
Pi'r Mirza Mohammed Ba'qir, the uncle and father-in-law of the Holy Ima'm, was living in Mahala't. Sayyid Ghula'mali Shah, a descendant of Pi'r Sadruddi'n was working for the Isma'ili da'wat in India on behalf of the Holy Ima'm. On his death 1207 A.H. Sayyid Mohammed Shah was appointed as a da'i by the Ima'm.
Ima'm Shah Khali'lullah had four sons: Shah Hasanali, Mohammed Taqi Khan, Mohammed Abul-Hasan Khan and Mohammed Ba'qir Khan; and two daughters: Shah Bibi and Gohar Ta'j Begum.
Ima'm Shah Khali'lullah was murdered by some Ithna'sheri fanatics in Yezd in 1233 A.H. (A.D. 1817). He was eighty years old. His Ima'mat lasted thirty-nine years. He was succeeded by his son Agha Sha Hasanali. Ima'm Shah Khali'lullah was buried in Najjaf.
Mowla'na Ima'm Agha Hasanali Shah was born in Mahala't in 1220 A.H. (A.D. 1805). He was also known as Sayyid MOhammed Husain Al-Husaini Mahala'ti. He was very handsome and strong. He was very fond of horse-riding and military exercises.
He was about thirteen years old when he succeeded his father who was murdered by some fanatics. King Fatehali Qa'cha'r promptly sentenced the assassins and their leader Mullah Husain Yezdi to death and greatly comforted Ima'm Hasanali Shah and the Isama'ilis. He gave him his daughter in marriage and decorated him with the title of Agha Khan (now spelled Aga Khan), meanilng: Lord of the Chiefs. He was the first Aga Khan.
After the death of the king, civil war broke out in Iran, but soon order was restored by his grandson Mohammed with the help of Ima'm Hasanali Shah.
He was greatly honoured by the young king but this infuriated his enemies. A friction developed between the Ima'm and the prime minister, Mirza Aka'shi, which turned into an armed conflict. The Holy Ima'm left Iran for good and arrived in Sind, Pakistan, via Afghanistan towards the end of 1258 A.H. (A.D. 1842). Later he moved to Bombay where he lived till the end of his life. His arrival in India was a great historical event for the Isma'ilis. It has a great religious significance as it was predicted by Isma'ili Pi'rs three centuries before.
In 1252 A.H. (A.D. 1836) a dissident group of a few families was ex-communicated by the jama't in India. They turned Sunnis and were called Ba'hrbbaid,91 meaning the expelled brothers. These agitators brought a suit in the High Court of Bombay, in 1282 A.H. (A.D. 1866) against the Holy Ima'm and the leaders of the jama't purporting that the Khoja's were Sunnis, who were converted by a Sunni saint, Pi'r Sadruddi'n; and therefore the Aga Khan, who was a Shi'a, had no jurisdiction over the jama't. This case was known as the Chief Justice Sir Joseph Arnold in favour of the Isma'ilis.
Queen Victoria of Britain conferred upon the Holy Ima'm the hereditary royal title of His HIghness after considering the Background of his roual position and his family, and his help to
Britain in the first Afghan War.
The Holy Ima'm had four son: Agha Ali Shah, Agha Jehangir Shah (popularly known as Agha Jangi Shah), Agha Jala'l Shah and Agha Akbar Shah.
Ima'm Agha Hasanali Shah died in 1298 A.H. (12th of April, 1881) and was buried in Bombay at Mazagon where a splendid tomb was erected over his grave which is now known as Hasana'ba'd. He was succeeded by his fifty-two-year old son Agha Ali Shah.
47. IMA'M ALI SHAH
Mowla'na Ima'm Ali Shah, the Aga Khan-II, was born in 1246 A.H. (A.D. 1830) in Mahala't. His mother, Sarwar Jeha'n, was the daughter of the Shah of Iran, Fatehali Qa'sha'r. He was very fond of hunting and travelling.
He came to India with his father who had appointed his as the Pi'r. Pi'r Agha Ali Shah and his father Ima'm Hasanali Shah had travelled all over India to meet the jama'ts.
Mowla'na Ima'm Ali Shah married Maryam Sulta'n the daughter of an Iraqi nobleman, to whom two sons were born. She died in Iran before the Ima'm migrated to India with his father and relatives in 1258 A.H. (A.D. 1842). His two sons, Agha Sheha'buddi'n Shah and Agha Noor Shah, were born in India. His second marriage took place in Bombay with a Shirazi noblewoman in 1260 A.H. (A.D. 1844). She died childless after a few years. Then he married Shamsul Mulk, the granddaughter of the prime minister of Iran during the reign of Shah Fatehali Qa'cha'r. Her mother Ta'judowleh was a granddaughter of the Shah. The Holy Ima'm had married five wives one after the other.
From this third marriage the Ima'm's successor Sulta'n Mohammed Shah was born in 1294 A.H. (A.D. 1877).
His eldest son Pi'r Agha Sheha'buddi'n died at the age of thirty-three in Rajab, 1302 A.H. May 1885) in Poona. Within three months his second son Agha Noor Shah also died in an accident. Soon after Ima'm Agha Ali Shah fell sick and died at the age of fifty-six, on Monday the sixth of Zul-Qua'da, 1302 A.H. (17th August, 1885).
His eight-year-old son Agha Sulta'n Mohammed Shah succeeded as the Ima'me'Zama'n.
Mowla'na Ima'm Sulta'n Mohammed Shah, the Aga Khan-III, was born on Friday the twenty-fifth of Shawwa'l, 1294 A.H. (2nd of November, 1877) at Karachi (Pakistan) during the Ima'mat of hi grandfather Agha Hasanali Shah.
He was four years old when his grandfather died and four years later he himself became Ima'm after the death of his father on monday, the sixth of Zul-Qua'da, 1302 A.H. (17th of August, 1885).
The Holy Ima'm went to Europe in 1897 where he lived most of his life.
During the Ima'mat of Ima'm Shah KLhali'lullah some Indian Isma'ilis had settled in Zanzibar in the last quarter of the eighteenth century. Long before Agha Hasanali Shah succeeded his father, the Isma'ilis in Zanzibar were well settled as an organized jama't having their contact with the Darkha'na through the jama't of Muscat. Emigration to East Africa continued at a slow pace which was increased by the further encouragement from the young Ima'm Sulta'n Mohammed Shah. This great Ima'm transformed the weak and insignificant jama't of East Africa into the most organized and influential community of a cultured, educated, religious and progressive people in Africa.
As mentioned above that during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Agha Hasanali Shah some mischievous people were ex-communicated, from the jama't, who were called as Ba'hrbhais. They continued their subversive activities against the Holy Ima'm and the Isma'ili faith in collaboration with their Isma'ili relatives and friends who did not secede openly. Consequently another group of dissidents gave up their Isma'ili faith in favour of Ithna'sherism in 1901. They were called as the Khoha Ithna'sheris. They numbered between three hundred and four hundred.
The seceders, in course of time, instigated some discontented members of the Ima'm's family who brought a case against the Holy Ima'm in the High Court of Bombay in 1905. The case No. 725 of 1905 is well known as the Haji Bibi Case. Haji Bibi was a granddaughter of Ima'm Hasanali Shah and the daughter of Agha Jangi Shah and wife of Agha Muchal Shah. She had claimed her share in the income of the jama't, who, she said, were the followers of her grandfather. She and her supporters lost the case with cost. Mr. Justice Rusell, the Chief Justice, delivered his judgement in this historic case on the third of September, 1908 in favour of the Holy Ima'm. He confirmed the pedigree of the Ima'ms from Mowla Ali and the Ima'm's sole authority over his Isma'ili followers.
The four Ima'ms before him had had over sixty years of Ima'mat, his was the longest. The four Ima'ms were: Ima'm Mohammed al-Mehdi, 262-322 A.H.; Ima'm Mustansir Billah-I, 427-487 A.H.; Ima'm Qa'sim Shah, 710-771 A.H.; Ima'm Agha Hasanali Shah, 1233-1298 A.H. Ima'm Agha Sulta'n Mohammed Shah's Ima'mat lasted from 1302 to 1376 A.H. (August, 1885-July, 1957).
The most glorious period for Isma'ilis was the Ima'mat of the forty-eighth Ima'm, the Aga Khan-III. After the Arabian period of Isma'ili glory, from Ima'm Mo;hammed al-Mehdi to Ima'm Mustansir Billah-I, and the Persian period, from Ima'm Ha'di to Ima'm Ala'ddi'n Mohammed, came the turn of the Indian period, from Ima'm Hasanali Shah to Ima'm Sulta'n Mohammed Shah. The Indian Isma'ilis arranged and celegrated the Golden Jubilees in Bombay in 1936 and in Niarobi in 1937; the Diamond Jubilees in Bombay in 1946 and in Dar es Salaam in 1946 and the Platinum Jubilees in Cairo in 1953 and in Karachi in 1954, be weighing the Holy Ima'm physically against gold, diamonds and platinum respectively to express their devotion and gratitude to their Spiritual Father who did so much for them. The precious gifts were placed at the feet of their Ima'me'Zama'n. Accepting the gifts he appreciated the devotees' feelings and love for him, but graciously gave these back to be used for the economic and the educational upliftment of the jama'ts in India, Pakistan and Africa.
The great Ima'm, like his ancestors, not only raised the material and spiritual conditions of his followers but also worked untiringly for Isla'm in general. The founding of the All India Muslim League in1906, the establishment of the Alighar Muslim University in1911, His struggle for saving Turkey from Greek expansionist ambition in 1920, his efforts to preserve the Caliphate after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1921, his stand for the Palestinians in 1929, the building of hundreds of Medrisa (schools for teaching Isla'm) and mosques in Africa, India and Pakistan and his work for the Pan-Isla'mism are but a few examples of his great services for the cause of Isla'm. For humanity at large, he worked untiringly for the independence of the Indian sub-continent from the British Empire and also the emancipation of the other peoples from Euro[ean colonialism. He was representing the Indian government in the League of Nations whose president, he was elected in 1937 just before the second World War. He tried his best through diplomatic efforts to avert the first and the second World Wars.
He wrote a book "India in transition" on the Indian problems, in 1918. The book was published by the Times of India Press, Bombay. It won a worldwide acclaim. Baal Ganga'dhar Tilak, a political ancestor of Mahatama Gandhi, remarked that it was "the political Geeta of India".
He married four wives one after another. His first wife Shahza'di Begum was his cousim whom he married in 1897 at the age of nineteen. She was divorced. She died in 1926. His second wife was Mlle. Theresa Maglian whom he married in 1908 in Cairo. She was the mother of Prince Aly Solomone Khan. Princess Theresa died on the first of December, 1926 at the age of thirty-seven. His third marriage took place on the seventh of December, 1929 with Mlle. Andree Carron who gave birth to his second son, Prince Sadruddi'n, on the seventeenth of January, 1933 at Neuilly-sur-seine. His fourth wife was Omm Habibah, the Ma'ta Sala'mat, whom he married in 1944.
His sons Prince Aly S. Khan and Prince Sadruddi'n, have followed the footsteps of their illustrious father. Prince Aly sacrificed his life in May, 1960, while serving Isla'm, without remuneration, as the representative of the then biggest Muslim country, Pakistan, at the United Nations. Prince Sadruddi'n has also been serving humanity at large by working at the United Nations without remuneration, for the refugees all over the world, as the High Commissioner for Refugees.
Ima'm Sulta'n Mohammed Shah passed away at the age of eighty-two on Thursday the twelfth of Zil-Hijja, 1376 A.H. (11th of July, 1957) at his residence Bar'kat Villa in Geneva, Switzerland. He was temporarily buried on the nineteenth of July, 1957 at Aswan in Egypt. When the tomb was ready the sacred body was permanently buried in it on Friday the eleventy of Sha'ba'n, 1379 A.H. (20th of February, 1959) by his sons and grandsons. About four thousand Isma'ilis from all parts of the world attended the ceremony.
According to his will his grandson Shahza'da Kari'm bin Aly succeeded him as the Ima'm and the Pi'r of the Isma'ilis. He wrote: "Ever since the time of my ancestor ALI the first Imam that is to say ove a period of some thirteen hundred years it has always been tradition of our family that each Imam chooses his successor at his absolute and unfettered discretion from amongst any of his descendants whether they be sons or remoter male issue (notwithstanding that under Shia Moslem Law that issue of a son is not an heir if there be a son alive) and in these circumstances and in view of the fundamentally altered conditions in the world invery recent years due to the great changes which have taken place including the discoveries of atomic science I am convinced that it is in the best interests of the Shia Moslem Ismailian Community that I should be succeeded by a young man who has been brought up and developed during recent years and in the midst of the new age and who brings a new outlook on life to his office as Imam. For these reasons and although he is not now one of my heirs I APPOINT my grandson KARIM the son of my son ALY SOLOMONE KHAN TO SUCCEED TO THE TITLE OF AGA KHAN and to be the Imam and Pi'r of all my Shia Ismailian followers".
Hazrat Shahza'da Aly Solomone Khan was the eldest son of Ima'm Sulta'n Mohammed Shah and Princess Theresa. He was born on Tuesday the thirteenth of June, 1911 at Turin.
His grandmother, Mata Sala'mat Lady Ali Shah, was too old to travel to Europe to see him thus at the age of about twelve he visited Bombay and Poona with his mother to see her. They arrived in India in January, 1923, and stayed for two weeks. It was the first occasion that the jama't saw him. He was undoubtedly the beloved of his family as well as the jama'ts. At the age of nineteen in August, 1930, when he visited Syria, the jama'ts there went crazy in love after him. For the past hundreds of years the Syrian jama'ts had not seen amidst them any member of the Nooran'i family.
He was extremely popular in the jama'ts all over the world and was loved by young and old alike. Very often he was sent by the Holy Ima'm to represent him for religious duties. He was a great sportsman and a statesman. He was very fond of hunting, travelling and horse-racing.
On the eighteenth of May, 1936 he married Joan Yarde-Buller, the daughter of Lord Churston, who bore him two sons, Prince Kari'm Agha and Prince Amyn Mohammed. His grandmother gave the bride the Muslim name Ta'judowleh. Princess Ta'judowleh visited the jama'ts of India and Africa where she won the hearts of all.
His Serene Highness Prince Aly was a great champion of Isla'm and never missed an opportunity to serve and defend it. He had all his life contributed financially, as well as physically, to