During the 13th century, the Persian-speaking lands, extending from Central Asia to Iraq, were devastated by a series of Mongol invasions. Their movement from the inner steppes of Asia resulted in the massacre and displacement of many communities, including the Ismaili Muslims of the region. The fall of the chief Ismaili fortress of聽Alamut聽in 1256, followed by the destruction of some two hundred other strongholds, brought to an end the territorial independence of the IsmailisAdherents of a branch of Shi’i Islam that considers Ismail, the eldest son of the Shi’i Imam Ja士far al-峁⒛乨iq (d. 765), as his successor. in Persia. Contrary to the belief that the community was virtually eliminated, Ismailis in Persia survived the Mongol onslaught, together with the basic infrastructure of their religious organisation, the聽诲补鈥榳补.
After providing an overview of the development of the Ismaili聽诲补鈥榳补聽in the historical context, the author explores how this organisation enabled the Persian Ismailis to maintain their religious identity and the cohesion of their community in difficult times. Basing her analysis principally on the works of the poet and聽da鈥業,听Nizari Quhistani (d. 1320), and in particular his聽Safarnama,听Nadia Eboo Jamal聽demonstrates the continuity of the Ismaili tradition in Persia through the era of Mongol rule.
