Sevener

This article is about the defunct Ismaili sub-sect. For the Ismaili Muslim faith overall, see Ismailism.

Seveners (Arabic: سبعية‎‎) were a branch of Ismā'īlī Shīʻa. They became known as "Seveners" because they believe that Ismā'īl ibn Jaʻfar was the seventh and the last Imām (hereditary leader of the Muslim community in the direct line of ʻAlī ibn Abī Tālib). They believed his son, Muħammad ibn Ismā'īl al-Maktum, would return and bring about an age of justice as Mahdi. Their most famous and active branch were the Qarmatians.

Imamate of Seven Imams

Imām	Sevener-Ismā'īlī Imām	Period
1	Ali - First Ismā'īlī Imām	(632–661)
2	Hasan ibn Ali - Second Ismā'īlī Imām	(661–669)
3	Husayn ibn Ali - Third Ismā'īlī Imām	(669–680)
4	Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin - Fourth Ismā'īlī Imām	(680–713)
5	Muhammad al-Baqir - Fifth Ismā'īlī Imām	(713–733)
6	Ja'far al-Sadiq - Sixth Ismā'īlī Imām	(733–765)
7	Isma'il ibn Jafar - Seventh Ismā'īlī Imām	(765 - 775)
Mahdi	Muħammad ibn Ismā'īl al-Maktum - The promised Mahdi	(775-813)

Sometimes "sevener" is used to refer to Ismā'īlīs overall, though several branches, such as the Nizari Ismailis, have far more than seven imams.

Ismaili imams who were not accepted as legitimate by Seveners

The following Ismaili imams after Mahdi had been considered as heretics of dubious origins by certain Qarmatian groups who refused to acknowledge the imamate of the Fatimids and clung to their belief in the coming of the Mahdi.

• Ahmad al-Wafi (Abadullah) (813-829)
• Muhammad at-Taqi (Ahmed ibn Abadullah) (829-840)
• Rabi Abdullah (840-881)
• Abdullah al-Mahdi Billah (881-934) (Founder of Fatimid Caliphate)

See also

• List of extinct Shia sects