Satpanth

Pir Sadruddin and his grandson Pir Imam Shah are credited with the conversion of the Khojas from the Hindu caste of the Lohanas located in Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. He laid the foundation of the communal organization, built the first assembly and prayer halls and appointed the community leaders mukhis. The founder of the Imamshahi Satpanth was Pir Sayed Nur or Nar Muhammad Shah who broke with the Nizari Isma'ili dawah in the 16th century by proclaiming himself the da'i or the Pir instead of Pir Tajuddin who was appointed as the Nizari Isma'ili da'i for Hind and Sindh by the Nizari Isma'ili Imam Muhammad bin Islam Shah. He thus lead the Satpanth until his death in 1534 AD.

The descendants of Pir Sayed Nar Muhammad Shah (died 1534) led the Imamshahi Satpanth and its branches. They were Sa'id Khan, Muhammad Shah and Shahji Miran Shah. Shahji Miran Shah's son and successor Sayyid Muhammad Shah along with his followers, especially among the Matiya Kanbis caste, launched a revolt and seized the fort of Bharuch. This revolt occurred around 1688/89 and was put down by Aurangzeb. The leadership of the Imamshahi Satpanth remained in the hands of the direct descendants of Shahji Miran Shah until Baqir Ali who died around 1835 and was the last Pir of the Aththiya. Shahji Miran Shah's wife Raji Tahira founded a separate branch of the Imamshahi Satpanth. The Imamshahi Satpanth then split into various groups that later identified as either Hindu or Muslim in the present day.

Pir Sayyid Imam Shah was a prominent Nizari Ismaili da'i in India. His name was Imamuddin Abdur Rahim. He was born in Uchh Sharif in 834/1430, and was the younger son of Pir Hasan Kabiruddin. The Nizari Isma'ili historical tradition explains that when Pir Hasan Kabiruddin died, all his sons were present at Uch Sharif with the exception of Pir Sayed Imam Shah. The tradition attests that he reached late during the interment of his father's body. Many traditions are recounted for his dissatisfaction, but all are legendary in character. Pir Sayed Imam Shah resided at Uchh Sharif with his sister Bai Budhai, where he received a letter of the Nizari Ismaili Imam Muhammad bin Islam Shah through a certain Khoja Devasi Chandan. Hence, he started his journey for Kahek, Iran in 854/1450. Imam Muhammad bin Islam Shah is said to have consigned him the mission for Gujarat. He returned and established a prominent community consisting of multiple local faiths as well as those of migrants from nearby states, thereby initiating a new cohesive identity for its followers, "Satpanthi".

He married the daughter of Shah Muhammad Shah II Bakhri, the Sultan of the Gujarat Sultanate, who gave birth to Pir Sayed Nur/Nar Muhammad Shah (d. 1534 CE). Pir Sayed Imam Shah died in 1520 CE and was buried in Pirana, Gujarat, the site of his famous Dargah. It is said that he abjured traditional Ismailism and created a community far more syncretic with Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The reason for this schism is often attributed to legends of a quarrel with his kin or a shift in his own philosophy and theology. Weighing up the extant evidence, it appears that he remained ingrained in Nizari Ismailism and demonstrated unswerving loyalty to the Nizari Ismaili Imams, see List of Isma'ili imams for further information, till his death, and never took any other route in his ambition. He remains famous and revered by his followers for encouraging the preservation of traditional (mostly Hindu) culture and customs, in stark contrast to other Islamic and Christian missions. According to "The Shorter Encyclopaedia of Islam"(Leiden, 1961, p. 167), "As far as it is possible to ascertain, he cannot be regarded as the founder of a new sect, as he remained loyal to the Imam of his time." He wrote many ginans which are recited by the Nizari Ismailis. He had four sons, viz. Sayed Alam Shah, Sayed Ali Shah, Sayed Bakar Shah and Sayed Nur Muhammad Shah, and a daughter called Shams Khatoon.

Satpanth is used as a means of self-identification for millions of resident and non-resident Indians, and due to the varying degrees of its syncretic structure, there are various sects who reject a singular leadership and elect local committees. The leadership of the Muslim identifying group of Satpanthis is led by the descendants of Pir Imam Shah known as Saiyeds. Other groups will appoint a single Mukhi or a group of Mukhis to represent their leadership.

Satpanth followers that are more aligned with traditional Ismailism, called Mureeds, believe that the physical form of the Imam is merely a vessel for the spiritual Imam which is Nūr or eternal light. They also believe that his farmans (proclamations), his shabd (word) and his formless being are the real Imam. These separate concepts of an esoteric Imam and an exoteric Imam are called "Baatini Imam" and "Zahiri Imam".

Satpanth devotees believe in "Nurani Didar," which is the "vision of light" or enlightenment one achieves when one views the True Imam. This, again, has an esoteric and an exoteric meaning.