Religion / idea · religion

Isma'ilism

Also known as Ismaili, Ismailis

Isma'ilism is a branch of Shia Islam that recognises Ismail, son of the imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, and his descendants as the line of imams. The Fatimid Caliphate was founded on Ismaili claims and promoted the faith through missionary activity. The Nizari Ismailis later opposed the Seljuk Empire, and their strongholds were destroyed by Hulagu during the founding of the Ilkhanate.

Mentioned in 4 profiles

Fatimid CaliphateFoundation, Governance, Impact, DeclineIlkhanateFoundationSeljuk EmpireGovernance, DeclineGhaznavid EmpireSocioeconomy

Mentioned in 14 state histories

Aghlabid emirateYufirid dynastyHabbari dynastyEmirate of MultanSallarid dynastyNajahid dynastySoomra dynastySulayhid dynastyZurayid dynastyNizari Ismaili stateHamdanid sultanate of YemenHunza Stateand 2 more

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Isma'ilism. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ismailism
MLA
“Isma'ilism.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ismailism. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Isma'ilism.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ismailism.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Isma'ilism’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ismailism (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻