The Nizârī Society of Quhistân as Viewed by Muhtasham Nasir Ad-Din

Document Type : ..

Author

Assistant Professor of History, Firdawsi university of Mashhad

Abstract

In the 13th (7th century), Quhistan besides Alamut and Suria was considered as one of the three large Nizari centers. After the Mongol invasion and before the Hulaku, this society was extended. Nobody informed about Nizari social status and relationships within the community. Those who reported from outside, wrote with hatred and prejudice of Nizaries. The most of a few sources that were written in the community and survived, belonged to the ethical books, which were compiled or translated by Nasir al-Din Tusi, in support of  Nasir al-Din Mohtasham, the head and commander of the Nizari community of Quhistan.  In the lack of other sources, one may find more information of the community from these ethical books, especially Akhlaq-e Muhtashami. In the view that, Muhtasham Nasir, the Nizari head and thinker of quhistan, was the main supporter of ethical works and even he, himself and purposely chose the contents of an ethical book, Akhlaq-e Muhtashami, then ordered Tusi to translate and edit it. So the content of this book should be regard as a Prescription, which a physician, who was familiar with the patient, Nizari society of Quhistan, prescribed it. This paper is going to describe the social status and relationships within the Nizari community of Quhistan, through Akhlaq-e Muhtashami by historical method: internal and external criticism.

Keywords