hierarchical analysis of the factors influential on the unquestioning obedience of the ismā‘īlīs using the fuzzy model

ḥasan ṣabbāḥ’s specific leadership style and his followers’ specific style of obedience, because of his followers’ unquestionable and voluntary obedience to him, is one of the most outstanding examples for stylistics studies of leadership and unquestionable obedience. unquestionable obedience of the ismā‘īlīs to the leadership of ḥasan ṣabbāḥ in a totally voluntary condition and to the cost of their lives, would stimulate the curiosity of any reader to find out the reasons for such an obedience. examining the reason for this tendency, the present research has tried through a case study to delve into the behavior of the ismā‘īlī social group during ḥasan ṣabbāḥ’s leadership. in this research, first with the use of a descriptive-analytical method of the content analysis type, the reasons for unquestionable obedience to ḥasan ṣabbāḥ by his followers are identified. then, using the maxqda software, the early codes have been analyzed and re-examined, and finally, four major indices and 18 sub-indices were identified from among the total data. in the end, by referring to the elites and with the use of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, the reasons for the unquestionable obedience of the ismā’īlīs have been prioritized. the results show that such factors as social status and position of the leader, the leader’s persuading power, and the ability to satisfy the material needs have had the least impact on this group’s unquestionable obedience and such indices as religious leadership, social influencing techniques, and religious bigotry of the followers were among the most important factors affecting this group’s voluntary and unquestionable obedience. also, among the major indices, ḥasan ṣabbāḥ’s special leadership style was known to be the most important factor in the process of absolutely voluntary obedience of the ismā’īlīs.