Ismailism

Ismailism, known historically as Batiniyya (lit. 'esotericism'), is a denomination of Shia Islam. It is one of the three denominations of Shia Islam, the other two being Twelver Shia Islam and Zaydism. The Ismailis and Zaydis constitute a minority within Shia Islam, in contrast to Twelvers, who constitute the predominant denomination. The Ismailis emphasize a distinction between the exoteric (zahir) and esoteric (batin) dimension of Islam. Unlike the Twelvers, the Ismailis are characterized by a unique emphasis on the esoteric. The Isma'ilis get their name from their acceptance of Isma'il ibn Ja'far as the appointed spiritual successor (Imām) to Ja'far al-Sadiq. The question of succession after al-Sadiq's death divided the early Shia Muslims. The first group accepted the Imamate of his younger son Musa al-Kazim, while the second group considered the Imam to be his eldest son Isma'il, who had predeceased his father. The first and much larger group became known as the Twelvers, while the second and much smaller group came to be known as the Isma'ilis, which separated from the mainstream Shia Islam and formed the Isma'ili sect. Isma'ili thought is heavily influenced by Neoplatonism. After the death of Muhammad ibn Isma'il in the 8th century CE, the teachings of Ismailism further transformed into the belief system as it is known today, with an explicit concentration on the deeper, esoteric meaning (batin) of the Islamic religion. With the eventual development of Usulism and Akhbarism into the more literalistic (zahir) oriented, Shia Islam developed into two separate directions: the metaphorical Ismaili, Alevi, Bektashi, Alian, and Alawite groups focusing on the mystical path and nature of God, along with the "Imam of the Time" representing the manifestation of esoteric truth and intelligible divine reality, with the more literalistic Usuli and Akhbari groups focusing on divine law (sharia) and the deeds...