Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 52:205 (Jan 1895)
Article: The Order Of The Assassins
Author: Harvey Porter

BSac 52:205 (Jan 1895) p. 113

The Order Of The Assassins

Prof. Harvey Porter

Of all the strange and mystic sects the East has produced, none surpass the Order of the Assassins in fanatical zeal, boldness of design, and the ruthless manner of execution which characterized all their measures. It still remains a question, whence the term “Assassin” is derived. It is commonly referred to the word hashish, the intoxicating extract of hemp (Cannabis Indica). It is supposed that they used the drug to nerve them for their daring exploits, and hence they were called, in Arabic, Hashîshîyeen, whence we derive “Assassin.” This may be incorrect, but there is no doubt that our word “assassin” is derived from this order of fanatics whose deeds of darkness and horror overshadowed all Western Asia for more than one hundred and fifty years, and resounded through all Europe, and gave us our most appropriate word to denote swift and secret murder.

But the Assassins never called themselves by this name. The term which they applied to themselves was Ismaîlians, from a certain Ismail, whom they regarded as the origin of the sect, who will be mentioned further on. Ismaîl is the same as Ishmael; hence they might be called Ishmaelites, — a not inappropriate designation, since their hand was against every man, and every man’s hand against them. Their Chief Ismail, however, has no connection with the Ishmael of the Bible.

They were called by the Mohammedans Batinîyeh, which indicates that they had one doctrine or set of doctrines for

BSac 52:205 (Jan 1895) p. 114

the outside world, and quite another for the initiated. This was true. They held esoteric doctrines, which were taught to the inner circle of the initiated only, and which were of the most abominable character, while their exoteric doctrines were in general accord with the religion of Islam. They were in the outset a heretical sect of Mohammedans, but in their later development they became the bitter foes of Islam, and indeed of every form of faith except their own.

For a better understanding of the order of the Assassins, and its relation to Islam, we must glance briefly at the heretical sects that preceded it.

The first break in the united ranks of Islam occurred during the caliphate of Ali, the fourth successor of the Arabian prophet. Ali was repudiated by a large party at whose head was Moawiyah, the Governor of Damascus, and, after a long struggle, Ali and his sons were put to death, and the family nearly exterminated; but there was a remnant left, and there arose a party among the Mohammedans who claimed that the rightful succession to the caliphate belonged to Ali and his descendants. This party beca...