in the second half of the 2nd/8th century, the ismā‘īlī sect, who believed in the imamate of ismā‘īl, the second son of imam ja‘far al-ṣādiq (a.s.), was formed. the ismā‘īlīs brought up specific views concerning imamate. from their point of view, the world of being can not survive a moment without the existence of an imam and that mankind is always in need of a teacher, leader, and infallible i...