Nizari Ismaili (Aga Khan) | Belief Origin

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Nizari Ismaili (Aga Khan)

~1094 AD

The Nizari branch of Ismailism follows the line of Nizar ibn al-Mustansir as the legitimate imam after the Fatimid Caliph al-Mustansir (died 1094 AD). The Nizari tradition is led by a living, present imam — currently Shah Karim al-Husayni, the Aga Khan IV (born 1936, imam since 1957). The Nizari Ismailis, numbering approximately 15 million globally, are among the most modernizing Muslim communities: the Aga Khan Development Network operates hospitals, schools, and development programs across 30+ countries. The Assassins (Hashishin) of medieval Europe’s imagination were Nizari Ismailis — the fortress of Alamut in Iran was their stronghold from 1090 AD until the Mongol invasion of 1256 AD. The term ‘assassin’ derives from stories about this community, though the historical reality is complex. Today Nizari communities are found in India, Pakistan, East Africa, Central Asia, and the Western diaspora.