Imam e imamato: la polemica ismailita nel resoconto di al-Siğistānī

The aim of this paper is to analyze the necessity for the imam and his role in the Ismaili thought. Abū Yaʻqūb al-Siğistānī (4th/10th ce.), who is considered the pioneer of Ismaili philosophy, devoted his attention in his last work, the Kitāb al-iftiḫār, to this topic, which represents the backbone of the Ismaili doctrine. In the chapter “On the understanding of the imamate”, al-Siğistānī justifies the legitimacy of the Alids in guiding the community, harshly criticizing their opponents for having usurped their right to succession.