The neoplatonic transformation of Ismā'īlī: The case of Abū Ya'qub al-Sijistānī

Although it emerged in the 8th century Ismā'īlīsm trying to spread secretly due to the pressures of the ʿAbbāsīds, showed an intellectual development by findind a free environment, especially in the K̲h̲urāsān-Mā Warāʾ al-Nahr region at the end of 9th century, and was transformed by the influence of Neoplatonism at the beginning of 10th century. It is assumed that Neoplatonism, having a significant impact of Islamic thought, has a greater effect on Ismā'īlīsm, a mystical and esoteric structure with the influence of mysticism. The study aims to reveal the Neoplatonist influence in the thoughts of Abū Ya'qūb Al-Sijistānī, one of architects of the transformation in question, to reveal the Neoplatonist impact in Ismā'īlīsm and the transformation that occurred due to this impact. Analyzing Sijistānī's works and comparing his ideas with Plotinus' thoughts, revealing the similarities and differences between the two, evaluating and interpreting the emerging similarities and differences have been determined as a method in this study, which excludes the views that have no equivalent in Plotinus and limits Sijistānī's views on God and the cosmos. The research reveals that Ismā'īlīsm underwent a Neoplatonic transformation and that the new Ismā'īlīsm that emerged due to this transformation became standart after the 10th century. In addition, the research concludes that Sijistānī, as one of the architects of Neoplatonic Ismā'īlīsm, reflects the thoughts of Plotinus and adopts them as a belief.