Islam · branch
Nizari Ismailism
Reads scripture allegorically through ta’wil, guided by a living hereditary Imam whose interpretation is authoritative for the present. The combination of esoteric reason and highly centralised living authority is close to unique in this matrix.
What makes it unusual
The axes on which this tradition sits furthest from the middle of the matrix — which is to say, the positions that actually distinguish it.
- E2 Origin of the cosmosan intentional actFurther toward "an intentional act" than most traditions in the matrix.
- B3 Institutional authorityclergy and tradition decideFurther toward "clergy and tradition decide" than most traditions in the matrix.
- C2 Shape of timeone life, then judgmentFurther toward "one life, then judgment" than most traditions in the matrix.
- C1 Survival of the selfcontinues in some formFurther toward "continues in some form" than most traditions in the matrix.
All seventeen positions
Each cell carries a centre, a dispersion — how much internal variation the tradition genuinely tolerates — and the source the position rests on. Disagree with one? Say so; corrections are public and recorded.
The same seventeen values as a single shape, read clockwise from A1 at the top. The outline is where the tradition sits; the wider band around it is the variation it genuinely tolerates, so a tight outline is a tight tradition.
- position
- tolerated variation
A · The divine
| Axis | Position | Value | ±σ |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Divine realitynothing beyond the natural → a divine reality certainly exists | a divine reality certainly existsIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 1.00 | 0.03 |
| A2 Personhoodimpersonal principle or order → a personal being one can address | leaning a personal being one can addressIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.78 | 0.12 |
| A3 Pluralitystrictly one → many powers and spirits | strictly oneIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.08 | 0.06 |
| A4 Locuswholly beyond the world → fully present within it | between wholly beyond the world and fully present within itIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.62 | 0.12 |
B · Knowledge and authority
| Axis | Position | Value | ±σ |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1 Source of truthrevealed and fixed → reason and direct experience | between revealed and fixed and reason and direct experienceIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.55 | 0.14 |
| B2 Reading of sacred textliteral and binding → metaphorical, or no text at all | leaning metaphorical, or no text at allIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.78 | 0.10 |
| B3 Institutional authorityclergy and tradition decide → individual conscience decides | clergy and tradition decideIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.05 | 0.05 |
C · Self and destiny
| Axis | Position | Value | ±σ |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 Survival of the selfends at death → continues in some form | continues in some formIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.98 | 0.02 |
| C2 Shape of timeone life, then judgment → cyclical return | one life, then judgmentIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| C3 The human conditionfallen and in need of rescue → ignorant but fundamentally sound | between fallen and in need of rescue and ignorant but fundamentally soundIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.62 | 0.12 |
D · Practice
| Axis | Position | Value | ±σ |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 Mechanism of the ultimate goodgiven as grace → achieved by effort or insight | between given as grace and achieved by effort or insightIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.52 | 0.14 |
| D2 Centrality of ritualessential and prescribed → optional or absent | between essential and prescribed and optional or absentIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.45 | 0.14 |
| D3 The bodyto be disciplined → to be celebrated | between to be disciplined and to be celebratedIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.42 | 0.14 |
E · World and others
| Axis | Position | Value | ±σ |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 Exclusivityone true path → many valid paths | between one true path and many valid pathsIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.48 | 0.15 |
| E2 Origin of the cosmosan intentional act → beginningless or natural | an intentional actIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| E3 Locus of belonginga people, inherited → an individual choice | leaning a people, inheritedIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.35 | 0.13 |
| E4 Standing of naturecreation, given for use → animate and itself sacred | between creation, given for use and animate and itself sacredIsmaili ta’wil literature and contemporary Imamate guidance | 0.48 | 0.13 |
Further reading
- Daftary, The Isma’ilis: Their History and Doctrines — The standard scholarly account, and the source for most cells here.
- Nasir-i Khusraw, Knowledge and Liberation — Ta’wil practised rather than described.
Compared with
The questionnaire places your own answers on these same seventeen axes and reports how close you are to this tradition and to 64 others. Take it — eight to fourteen questions, nothing transmitted.