In just a few days time, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan comes to an end. Across the world millions of Muslims are fasting from all food and liquids during daylight hours. Many will be making Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca, the holiest city in the Muslim world.

For many Ismailis, however, this month could pass with little or no difference. Ramadan and the Hajj make up 2 of the 5 pillars of Sunni Islam, the structure by which Muslims order their lives. Ismailis, however, adhere to a slightly different code.

This difference lies not just in the composition but also the thinking behind the code. First, as the picture above illustrates, the pillars are seen as the branches of a tree rooted in 5 unchangeable truths. The pillars themselves, however, are subject to change and interpretation (typically by the Imam).

Second, the 7 pillars of Ismailism are intrepreted just as the rest of Ismaili theology, through an esoteric lens. It's the deeper, spiritual meaning behind the external facade that carries the greatest weight.

Indeed, Ismailism holds that there are 3 levels of meaning to each Pillar. The first is the exoteric meaning and revealed as the sharia, or law. The second is the esoteric meaning and revealed as the tariqah, or the path of interpretation. The third is the esoteric of the esoteric and revealed as the haqiqah, or the ultimate reality.

Stage one, the exoteric, is practiced by the physical body and is expressed through the different laws of each religion. Stage two, the esoteric, is practiced by the first stage of the mind, reason, imagination and reflection and is colored by each relgion's understanding of symbolism. Stage 3 depends on the intellect ('aql), located in the soul of each person, and is universal. It's at this level that all religions are united under the banner of Ultimate Truth.

In fact, there are several rituals the Ismailis perform at the jamatkhana (meeting place/Ismaili mosque), each of which is, according to the Essential Ismaili, "the embodiment of the esoteric interpretation (ta’wil) of a Qur’anic concept or Pillar of Islam". It is these esoteric practices that carry more weight than the traditional 5 pillars.

Image from Ismaili Gnosis

Image from Ismaili Gnosis

  1. Walayah - Devotion

    • The cornerstone of the Ismaili house, the central pillar on which the rest depend. Briefly, it describes the Ismaili's total devotion to, and love for, the Imam.

  2. Tahahra - Purity

    • A commitment to purity not just in actions, but also of the mind and soul

  3. Salat - Prayer

    • Three, not five times a day (unlike the Sunnis) and often condensed to twice a day. The prayers follow the words and pattern set by the Imam and were recently changed to more closely follow mainstream Muslim prayers.

  4. Zakah - Tithing

    • 12.5% of an Ismailis gross monthly income is tithed to the Imam, a portion of which is passed onto his charitable arm, the AKDN. A further 12.5% of any unspent income at the end of the year is also given.

  5. Sawm - Fasting

    • The purpose is to reach a higher plane of understanding of truth. Consequently, the emphasis is not on fasting food for a month, but rather abstaining year-round from worldly activities that get in the way of understanding, avoiding evil and doing good.

  6. Hajj - Pilgrimage

    • The most important visit an Ismaili can make is to their Imam, so fulfilling the first and primary pillar, that of devotion to the Imam. Alternatively, visiting the jamatkhana, known as the House of the Imam, is also sufficient.

  7. Jihad - Strugle

    • Not the violent version of 'extremists' and terrorists. Instead, a battle against personal and social vices. Ismailism post-Alamut is in a pacifist phase.

Originally published 1 year ago

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