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The Massacre of the Ismailis in Damascus in 523

مقتلة الإسماعيلية بدمشق سنة 523

c. 1129 CE · 523 AH

Damascus

In 523 about six thousand people accused of Ismaili allegiance were killed at Damascus; Bahram al-Astarabadhi had entered Syria gathering followers, Tughtigin granted him Banyas, his da'i drew a large Damascus following, and they held Syrian fortresses including Qadmus — while Banyas's safe-conduct was handed to the Franks 1.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Crusades, Ayyubids and Mamluks
Region
Levant & Iraq
Review
Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it

In time

112011301140 c.
The Buyid, Fatimid and Seljuk Era · The Crusades, Ayyubids and Mamluks

In space

Damascus

Map: Natural Earth, public domain · places and route from the graph

Sides

Summary

In 523 AH about 6,000 people accused of Isma'ili belief were killed in Damascus 1.

Background

Bahram al-Astarabadi had entered Syria and concealed a great following. Tughtakin appointed him to Banyas, which was one of Tughtakin's bad decisions, and set up a Isma'ili missionary for Bahram in Damascus. His followers grew there, and they took several Syrian fortresses, including al-Qadmus. The safe conduct of Banyas was handed to the Franks 1.

Connections

Explore the connections

Occurred at
Damascus

People and things also explored

the Cave of Qasyun (Jibril's Cave)· Qasr Hiraql / Qasr Shams al-Muluk· The Umayyad Mosque of Damascus· The Fitna of the Hafiz Abd al-Ghani in Damascus in 595· al-Afdal besieges Damascus and turns back· al-Adil's seizure of Damascus· al-Ghazali's arrival in Damascus as an ascetic, in 488· al-Ashraf takes Damascus

Sources

  1. Shadharat al-Dhahab — Ibn al-Imad al-Hanbali , p. 546
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The Massacre of the Ismailis in Damascus in 523”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/damascus-ismaili-massacre-523/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.

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Time

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the Cave of Qasyun (Jibril's Cave)

The mosque raised inside the cave of Mount Qasyun by Abu al-Faraj Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Mu'allim beginning in 370, after a dream in which Jibril bade him build a mosque where God's name would be remembered — he called it Jibril's Cave; a broad prayer-hall floored in white marble, its columns all marble, never empty of the pious at remembrance.