Shi`a Pajoohi

Shi`a Pajoohi

An Analysis of the Concept of Imamate in Ismailism Based on Its Cosmological Foundations

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Eastern Religions, Faculty of Religions, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
Abstract
The position and concept of Imamate constitute one of the most fundamental pillars of Ismaili thought. The exchange of ideas to address doubts and confront complex doctrinal doubts throughout various historical periods, along with the establishment of the Fatimid Caliphate and the need to rely on strong theoretical foundations to consolidate intellectual structures, led the Ismailis to adopt Neoplatonic teachings and the hermeneutical — and at times exaggerated — approaches of certain dissident daʿīs (missionaries). These daʿīs, who lived for years in Iran and possessed a deep familiarity with ancient Iranian wisdom, played a significant role in this intellectual shift. This research is based on the analysis of Ismaili theological and doctrinal texts. The findings indicate that historical developments have driven the sect’s theological and doctrinal foundations toward semantic shifts in the concept of Imamate. These fundamental transformations paved the way for reinterpretation, rethinking, and profound structural changes in the views and theories of Ismaili scholars. Consequently, Ismaili scholars, with a precise understanding of the weaknesses and shortcomings of the existing intellectual system and an awareness of ongoing developments, moved toward redesigning the intellectual framework and reinterpreting the theory of Imamate based on contemporary needs. This, in turn, brought about a profound transformation in the cosmological foundations of Ismailism.
Keywords
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