Welcome to F.I.E.L.D.- the First Ismaili Electronic Library and Database.

SECTARIANIST WRITINGS IN ISLAM: PREJUDICE AGAINST THE HASHSHASHIN IN 12TH AND 13TH CENTURY MUSLIM HISTORIOGRAPHY

Publication Type  Article
Year of Publication  2016
Date Published  2016
Authors  Shahid, Natasha
Original Publication  International Journal of Arts & Sciences, CD-ROM. ISSN: 1944-6934 :: 09(03):437–448 (2016)
Publisher  Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Pakistan
Key Words  medieval Muslim historiography; anti-Nizari Isma’ili; Hashshashin; al- Mustansir bi’Allah; Fatimid Empire; Assassins
Full Text  

This paper seeks to present a review and analysis of medieval Muslim historiography – especially that originating in what constitutes modern-day Iran, Iraq, and Syria, or the-then Seljuk Empire – with exclusive reference to its anti-Nizari Isma’ili content. The Nizari Isma’ili sect, also called the “Hashshashin”, was an offshoot of Isma’ilism that was created in 1094 AD after the death of al- Mustansir bi’Allah, the Caliph-Imam of the Fatimid Empire. The sect was primarily founded by Hasan
bin Sabah, and was insultingly called the Hashshashin – better known to the English-speaking world as the Order of the Assassins.


SECTARIANIST WRITINGS IN ISLAM: PREJUDICE AGAINST THE HASHSHASHIN IN 12TH AND 13TH CENTURY MUSLIM HISTORIOGRAPHY

This paper seeks to present a review and analysis of medieval Muslim historiography – especially that originating in what constitutes modern-day Iran, Iraq, and Syria, or the-then Seljuk Empire – with exclusive reference to its anti-Nizari Isma’ili content. The Nizari Isma’ili sect, also called the “Hashshashin”, was an offshoot of Isma’ilism that was created in 1094 AD after the death of al- Mustansir bi’Allah, the Caliph-Imam of the Fatimid Empire. The sect was primarily founded by Hasan
bin Sabah, and was insultingly called the Hashshashin – better known to the English-speaking world as the Order of the Assassins.

Back to top