List of titles used by the followers of Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam.
The titles are of Persian and Arabic origin.
Nizari Ismaili titles
Alamut period The hierarchy (hudūd) of the organization of the Nizari Ismailis of the Alamut period was as follows: Imām (), the descendants of Nizar Dā'ī ad-Du'āt ( literally "Da'i of the Da'is"), "Chief Da'i" Dā'ī kabīr () – "Superior Da'i", "Great Da'i" Dā'ī (, literally "missionary") – "Ordinary Da'i", "Da'i" Rafīq (, literally "companion, assistance, fellow-traveler"), plural rafīqān () Lāṣiq (, literally "adherent"). Lasiqs had to swear a special oath of obedience to the Imam. Fidā'ī (, literally "self-sacrificer")
Imam and da'is were the elites, while the majority of the sect consisted of the last three grades who were peasants and artisans.
Other titles include:
The titles Bābā (; Persian equivalent of the Arabic Shaykh, "Old Man") and Sayyidinā (Sayyidnā) (; literally "Our Lord" or "Our Master") was used by the Nizaris to refer to Hassan-i Sabbah.Farhad Daftary, “ḤASAN ṢABBĀḤ,” Encyclopaedia Iranica, XII/1, pp. 34-37, available online at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/hasan-sabbah (accessed on 30 December 2012). Shaykh al-Jabal or the Old Man of the Mountain
Kiyā () – a ruler or commander. Notably held by Buzurg-Ummid. MuhtashamAlso mistakenly transliterated as muhtashim. () – a governor of Quhistan. Mahdī - the rightly guided one Qāim - the one who rises Nāṭiq (ناطق) - the messenger-prophet Waṣī (وصي) - the prophet's "legatee" Bāb - literally "gate" Hujjah - literally "proof"
Other periods
Dā'ī al-Balagh - regional missionary Dā'ī al-Mutlaq - absolute missionary Mādhun - assistant Mukāsir - debater Shaykh - elder in Arabic Pīr - senior elder in Persian Mukhi - headman Kāmādia - treasurer Vāras/Vizier - minister Aāmilsaheb - agent Shāhzāda - prince Allāma - scholar Mu'allim - teacher Mullāh - lesser elder in Persian President - national leadership title Amīr - commander Amīr al-mu'minīn - commander of the faithful Begum - noble lady Māta Salāmat - Mother of Peace Sayyid - descendant Hakīm - doctor Khwājah - master Mawlānā - our master Murshid - guide-master Wali - guardian Qādī - judge Murīd - follower Mustajib - respondent Hājī - pilgrim Khalif - deputy Sitt - noble lady
Other titles Aga Khan
References