Muhammad ibn Ismail
Encyclopedia
Muhammad ibn Ismail was the son of Ismail ibn Jafar and an Ismaili
Imam
. The majority of Ismaili
follow his descendants through his son Wafi Ahmad
/ Abdullah ibn Mohammad
who founded the Fatimid Empire, including the Nizari
and Mustaali
.
He spent his early childhood under the protection of his grandfather Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (as). He stayed in Medina for most of the time under disguise. Only the selected missionaries (da'is) and few loyal and faithful members knew about his identity. Abbasid caliph Haroon Rasheed was in constant search of him and he had deployed his detectives throughout the city of Medina. The wife of Haroon Rasheed, Zubaida, was loyal and devoted to the rank and status of Imamat of Mohammad ibn Isma'il just like the wife of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) who was faithful and a believer of Moosa (Moses). Zubaida gave all the information to Mohammad ibn Isma'il about the plans of Haroon Rasheed. It was because of her assistance and help that Imam Mohammad ibn Isma'il remained alert and migrated to the city of Koofa with his brother 'Ali. He stayed there for long time under disguise.
His father Imam Isma'il (as) died during the lifetime of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (as). He was succeeded by his son Abdullah ibn Mohammad
(Wafiahmed), who became the 8th Ismaili Imam. The 8th, 9th (Ahmed ibn Abdullah
)and 10th (Husain ibn Ahmed
)Ismaili Imams are believed to have gone into seclusion because
of the constant threat of life from the Abbasid dynasty.
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
. The majority of Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
follow his descendants through his son Wafi Ahmad
Wafi Ahmad
Ahmad al- Wafi is the eighth Ismaili Imam . He was surnamed al-Wafi. As the Imam, he was the supreme spiritual leader of the Ismaili community from his appointment till his death...
/ Abdullah ibn Mohammad
Wafi Ahmad
Ahmad al- Wafi is the eighth Ismaili Imam . He was surnamed al-Wafi. As the Imam, he was the supreme spiritual leader of the Ismaili community from his appointment till his death...
who founded the Fatimid Empire, including the Nizari
Nizari
'The Shī‘a Imami Ismā‘īlī Tariqah also referred to as the Ismā‘īlī or Nizārī , is a path of Shī‘a Islām, emphasizing social justice, pluralism, and human reason within the framework of the mystical tradition of Islam. The Nizari are the second largest branch of Shia Islam and form the majority...
and Mustaali
Mustaali
The Musta‘lī Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept Al-Musta'li as the nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir...
.
Biography
He was born on 12 th Rabi ' al- Awwal 128 AH/746 AD. The period of his Imaamat is 45 years. He died on 11 th Shawwal 193 AH/27 July 809 AD in the region of Farghana.He spent his early childhood under the protection of his grandfather Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (as). He stayed in Medina for most of the time under disguise. Only the selected missionaries (da'is) and few loyal and faithful members knew about his identity. Abbasid caliph Haroon Rasheed was in constant search of him and he had deployed his detectives throughout the city of Medina. The wife of Haroon Rasheed, Zubaida, was loyal and devoted to the rank and status of Imamat of Mohammad ibn Isma'il just like the wife of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) who was faithful and a believer of Moosa (Moses). Zubaida gave all the information to Mohammad ibn Isma'il about the plans of Haroon Rasheed. It was because of her assistance and help that Imam Mohammad ibn Isma'il remained alert and migrated to the city of Koofa with his brother 'Ali. He stayed there for long time under disguise.
His father Imam Isma'il (as) died during the lifetime of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (as). He was succeeded by his son Abdullah ibn Mohammad
Wafi Ahmad
Ahmad al- Wafi is the eighth Ismaili Imam . He was surnamed al-Wafi. As the Imam, he was the supreme spiritual leader of the Ismaili community from his appointment till his death...
(Wafiahmed), who became the 8th Ismaili Imam. The 8th, 9th (Ahmed ibn Abdullah
Taqi Muhammad
Muhammad at-Taqi is the ninth Ismaili Imam . As the Imam, he was the supreme spiritual leader of the Ismaili community from his appointment until his death. The Nizari and Mustaali trace their Imamate lines from him and his descendants who founded the Fatimid Empire...
)and 10th (Husain ibn Ahmed
Rabi Abdullah
Rabi Abdullah / Husain ibn Ahmed is the tenth Ismaili Imam, surnamed az-Zaki. Tenth imam as per Ismaili/Mustali/Dawoodi Bohra is Imam Husain ibn Ahmed...
)Ismaili Imams are believed to have gone into seclusion because
of the constant threat of life from the Abbasid dynasty.