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MUSTANSIR BILLAH II (868-880/1463-1475), 32ND IMAM

Encyclopaedia of Ismailism by Mumtaz Ali Tajddin

"Ali Shah, surnamed Mustansir billah, also known as Jalaluddin was born in Kahek. He seems to have known as Shah Qalandar among the Iranian mystics. He too resided in Kahek and sometimes in Shahr-i Babak. In Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi, we also find different terms for the Imam that became vogue among his followers, such as Imam-i Zaman (Imam of the time), Imam-i Hazar (the apparent Imam), Sahibu'z Zaman (the master of the world), Ali Zaman (the Ali of the time), Sahibu'l Amr (the master of authority), Hazar Jama (the present bearer of light), and simply Hazrat-i Mawlana Mustansir billah.

The Syeds in the line of Syed Imam Shah (1430-1520) were known as Pirana Syeds and the Syeds of the mainstream of the community in the descent of Syed Rehmatullah Shah were called Kadiwal Syeds. There are different versions for the appellation of the word Kadiwal. It is related that Syed Rehmatullah Shah, the son of Pir Hasan Kabir and his family members shortly lived in the village, named Kadhi, between Uchh and Multan, and then he had gone to live in a village, Kadi in the northern Gujrat on the route to Junagadh. Thus, his descendants became known as Kadhiwala, or Kadiwala.

The Kadiwal Syeds operated the mission in India for about 250 years. Some of them had retained their contact with the Imams in Iran, but some discontinued, and conducted the mission independently. Syed Rehmatullah Shah mostly preached in Gujrat and Kutchh. Syed Nurbaksh (1446-1504), the grandson of Pir Hasan Kabiruddin, also known as Syed Mitha Shah in Punjab, is said to have preached in Jammu and Kashmir. He was assisted by his son Mir Shamsuddin II. Syed Nurbaksh also visited Badakhshan, Kohistan, Tibet, Gilgit, Yarkand and Iskardu. His son was also active in Kashmir, and his followers became known as Shamsi, who migrated towards Punjab during 14th century. They preached Ismailism in the Sufic mantle and their Sufic tariqah became known as Nurbakhshia, also existed in Kohistan.

It appears fragmentarily that Imam Mustansir billah had taken serious notice of the impairing economy of the Ismailis of Iran, Syria, India, Badakhshan and other parts of Central Asia. He emphasized his followers to assist one another, and thus he said: "The real believer is one who assists and helps his brother in religion, who shares with him his food, his sorrow and joy, never admitting into his heart any malice or enmity, being one with him in word and deed. If one satisfies his hunger, the other's hunger must also be satisfied. If one remains hungry, the other should remain hungry too. If one eats something, the other should also partake of everything that his friend has eaten." (Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi, p. 56)

Badiuddin Khwaja Kassim was an eminent hujjat in Anjudan, who served as the chief of the Ismaili mission between the period of Imam Mustansir billah and Imam Gharib Mirza.

Syed Hashim launched his mission in Multan, India in the period of Imam Islam Shah and Imam Muhammad bin Islam Shah. His son Bawa Gul Muhammad, known as Bawa Gulgul was a trader and had extended his mercantile activities in Iran. He visited Shahr-i Babak to see Imam Mustansir billah. The Imam appointed him his vakil for Punjab. His son Mahr al-Din, known as Bawa Mohyi continued the mission in Punjab, then in Sind where he lived mostly in the village of Phul'nai.

Imam Mustansir billah was a good horseman and hunter and stayed in Anjudan as his summer villa, where a small number of his followers inhabited. He died in Kahek in 880/1475, but was buried in Anjudan, most probably in pursuant of his will. Later on, a mausoleum was erected in Anjudan. The mausoleum of Imam Mustansir billah II is the oldest surviving Nizari Ismaili monument in Anjudan; which is an imposing octagonal building with a dome, appearing conical from outside. In the middle of the chamber, there is a wooden-coffer, exquisitely carved. On its top is written:- "The pure, sacred and luminous grave of Shah Mustansir billah. By the order and care of Abdus Salam." A broad panel at the top edge on all sides is beautifully carved with the text of Sura Yasin of the Koran. At the bottom, there is written:- "Wrote this the humble slave Abdul Jalil in 885/1480". This tends to the conclusion that the wooden box was erected by the order of Imam Abdus Salam, the son and successor of Imam Mustansir billah, most probably five years after latter's death.


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