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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.


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