Abu Hatam Razi

Abu Hatam Ahmad Ibn Hamdan, great Ismaili scholar. Ismailis (a major section of the Shia, also known, not quite accurately, as the “Seveners”). There is not enough information about his life. It is said that he was from Rey – Iran. Abu Hatam was expert at poetry, Hadith and philosophy. He propagated the Ismaili religion. Wrote many books to support the religion. Abu Hatam, Abu Yaqub Sajestani and Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Nasafi all had a deep influence on propagation of Ismaili’s culture and philosophy. “Khalaf” was a person who propagated Ismaili #### religion in Rey, Kashan and Qom. After his death, his son “Ahmad” started propagating the religion but then appointed “Ghias” as his successor. The Ismaili religion was spread throught the Islamic world. The followers of this religion were only a small minority among the Sunnis. Abu Hatam propagated the religion in the reign of the founder of Fatimids, “Ubayd Allah Mahdi”. Fatimids (Shia dynasty, connected with the Ismailis, in North Africa from 909 – 973 and then in Egypt until 1171), which had a great effect on the political situations of Tabarestan (name applied by the Arabs to the Persian province of Mazandaran – Iran), and Daylam (the highland of Gilan in Iran). He also continued his invitation to Azerbaijan, Isfahan and Rey. The governor of Rey, “Ahmad Ibn Ali” embraced the religion. In Daylam, he invited “Asfar Ibn Shiruyeh” and after him “Mardawij”. Abu Hatam had said that soon an Imam will be appeared and eveything will go on well; therefore many people believed him, but when it did not happen, they became against him and Mardawij who first had supported Ismailis, then in 933 started killing them. After this event, Abu Hatam lived secretly and after his death, there was complete anarchy among Ismailis, many of them left their religion. Two persons were supposed to lead Ismailis: Abdul Malek Kowkabi and Abu Yaqub Isaac Sajestani. Abu Hatam, at first was not Ismaili, then was interested in the religion and became one of the greatest of Ismailis. He had an important role in the history of religions and sects. He lived in the reign of the Shia dynasty Fatimids which appeared in Egypt and there was a great separation in Ismailis.

His works:
1- The ornament in the Isalamic Arabic words (on the Islamic expressions, which has been collected irregularly. Hossein Ibn Feiz Allah Hamedani published the 1st and the 2nd volumes in Cairo).
2- The signs of prophecy (containing his answers to the viewpoints of Muhammad Ibn Zakariyya Razi “the great physician of Islam, alchemist and philosopher. 864 – 925).
3- Islah “The correction” (on correcting the oppinions of his companion Muhammad Nasafi. It is an Quranic exegesis based on Ismaili thought and also the earliest Ismaili book which explained the religion according to neoPlatonic philosophy)
4- The comprehensive (on jurisprudence)
5- Raj’at (Returning)