n.
properly Niz 0101; riyyah
Byname for any member of a sub-sect of Ism 0101; 02BD; il 012B; Sh 012B; 02BD; ite Muslims who operated in parts of Iran and Syria from the 11th to the 13th century.
The order takes its name from the purported use of hashish to induce ecstatic visions of paradise among its devotees ( hashsh 0101; sh 016B; n , "hashish smokers"
whence is derived the English term) before they set out to face martyrdom. The Assassins operated out of series of mountain fortresses and, seeing assassination as a religious duty, engaged in a long campaign of murder against members of the Sunnite community, including numerous officials of the 02BD; Abb 0101; sid and Selj 016B; q dynasties, and others. The Assassins' power was finally broken by the Mongols, who captured the great Assassin stronghold of 02BD; Alam 016B; t in Iran in 1256. The Syrian branch was destroyed by the Maml 016B; k Baybars I in 127173. Leadership of the Niz 0101; r 012B; order continued until modern times in the line of the Aga Khan s, a family prominent worldwide as philanthropists and public servants.