# Alians

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The Alian Kızılbaşī community (in Bulgarian: алиани, in Turkish: Alevi), are a Shi`a order, similar to the Sufi Mevlevi, who live in several regions of Bulgaria. Alians revere the name "Ali" carried by their circle of 12 Imams (awliya'), which they consider an emanation of God. They follow the mystical rituals of the wandering dervishes.

## Origin theories

Their exact origin is not certain, since few relevant historical records have been preserved, but according to the prevailing theory they fled to Bulgaria from Central Anatolia after the 1512 victory by the Ottoman Sultan Selim I, a Sunni, over the first, part-Turcoman Safavid shah of the Persians, Ismail I.
Alians appear to be descendants of a Sufi-dervish-like group of priests but they themselves believe about 10% are the descendants of the earliest Christians of Asia Minor who fled the Sunni invasion of Anatolia. Ali for them is not one single historical person but the ineffable name kept by God's Ministers (Avlioh).
It has also been suggested that they perhaps first came to the Balkans during the 15th century, in order to keep up the morale of Ottoman soldiers and to help integrate the newly conquered peoples into the empire.

## Observances and beliefs

The Alians have similar beliefs and practices to the Alevis and, along with Alevis are surviving examples of pre-Sunni Islam because the Alians are believed to be descendants of a member of the Banu Eli tribe who was called Abbas ibn Ali and Umm ul-Banin. Their 12 imams refer to 12 ministerial roles during the Alian religious ceremony, and they are hence different from those of Twelver Shiism. They believe the Quran was compiled by Salman al-Farsi, whom they hold in high esteem. Their tafsir of the Quran is based on harmony between the 4 books (Quran, the Old Testament, the New Testament, and Psalter).
They are a closed society and hide their rituals. Circumcision, reserved for the priests, is done when the boy is one week old. At the age of 13 years, his pubic hair may be trimmed in a special ceremony where only male Elders are present. They are monogamous and should only marry other Alians. Marriages may be arranged years in advance by the families, but the couple is only married together as young men and women because Alians abhor child marriage. Alians believe in personal communication with God through a near-trance state during Zikr. They use the Persian calendar, an Old Rite-style breviary, and use candles and wine during their Dzhem on Thursday nights to achieve the Haqq–Muhammad–Ali communion. They celebrate Gaxand in winter and Nowruz in spring, and celebrate Sufi saints, using icons and crosses alongside tasbih. They historically placed a great role among themselves for converting Christians in Bulgaria.
A tradition is performed among Alians after the 3rd week of December until the first week of January, during which Gaxan, his bride Fadike, and a character normally known as the Arab, will visit homes to perform a play and collect gifts. They distribute these to others in the community, especially Zeyi, i.e. young women who can not afford dowries; they also distribute nuts, sweets, chocolate and dried fruits to children.
Balkan Christians visit Alian shrines. Alians did not visit madrassahs in the Ottoman Empire because Sunni Islam was taught there. Consequently, they educated their children themselves. They are at risk of gradual assimilation into Orthodox Christianity or secularism. By the Second World War and the following Communism in Bulgaria, many Alians fled to the European part of Turkey.
Demir Baba teke is a sacred place to Alians and other Islamic sects because Demir Baba, a famous dervish who lived during the 16th century, is buried there. The tekke of Otman Baba, located in the Haskovo-region village of Teketo, is another Alian holy site.
The historical emergence of the Shī'ah Imāmī Alian Ṭarīqah and other related Muslim sects :
The schematic history of the development of the Imāmī-Bektāşīlik from other Shī'ah Muslim sects :
| Wahb | Wahb | Wahb | Wahb | Wahb | Wahb | | | Barrah | Barrah | Barrah | Barrah | Barrah | Barrah | | | Fatimah | Fatimah | Fatimah | Fatimah | Fatimah | Fatimah | | | Abdul-Muttalib | Abdul-Muttalib | Abdul-Muttalib | Abdul-Muttalib | Abdul-Muttalib | Abdul-Muttalib | | | Natīla | Natīla | Natīla | Natīla | Natīla | Natīla | | |
| Aminah bint Wahab | Aminah bint Wahab | Aminah bint Wahab | Aminah bint Wahab | Aminah bint Wahab | Aminah bint Wahab | | | ʿAbd Allāh | ʿAbd Allāh | ʿAbd Allāh | ʿAbd Allāh | ʿAbd Allāh | ʿAbd Allāh | | | Asad ibn Hashim | Asad ibn Hashim | Asad ibn Hashim | Asad ibn Hashim | Asad ibn Hashim | Asad ibn Hashim | | | Fatimah bint Qays | Fatimah bint Qays | Fatimah bint Qays | Fatimah bint Qays | Fatimah bint Qays | Fatimah bint Qays | | | 'Abbas | 'Abbas | 'Abbas | 'Abbas | 'Abbas | 'Abbas |
| Khadija bint Khuwaylid | Khadija bint Khuwaylid | Khadija bint Khuwaylid | Khadija bint Khuwaylid | Khadija bint Khuwaylid | Khadija bint Khuwaylid | | | Muhammad (Family tree) | Muhammad (Family tree) | Muhammad (Family tree) | Muhammad (Family tree) | Muhammad (Family tree) | Muhammad (Family tree) | | | Abi Talib | Abi Talib | Abi Talib | Abi Talib | Abi Talib | Abi Talib | | | Fatimah bint Asad | Fatimah bint Asad | Fatimah bint Asad | Fatimah bint Asad | Fatimah bint Asad | Fatimah bint Asad | | | ʿAbd Allāh | ʿAbd Allāh | ʿAbd Allāh | ʿAbd Allāh | ʿAbd Allāh | ʿAbd Allāh | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fatima Zahra | Fatima Zahra | Fatima Zahra | Fatima Zahra | Fatima Zahra | Fatima Zahra | | | | | | | Ali al Murtaza (Family tree) | Ali al Murtaza (Family tree) | Ali al Murtaza (Family tree) | Ali al Murtaza (Family tree) | Ali al Murtaza (Family tree) | Ali al Murtaza (Family tree) | | | | | | | Khawlah b. Ja'far al-Hanafiyyah | Khawlah b. Ja'far al-Hanafiyyah | Khawlah b. Ja'far al-Hanafiyyah | Khawlah b. Ja'far al-Hanafiyyah | Khawlah b. Ja'far al-Hanafiyyah | Khawlah b. Ja'far al-Hanafiyyah | | | ʿAli bin ʿAbd Allāh b. 'Abbas | ʿAli bin ʿAbd Allāh b. 'Abbas | ʿAli bin ʿAbd Allāh b. 'Abbas | ʿAli bin ʿAbd Allāh b. 'Abbas | ʿAli bin ʿAbd Allāh b. 'Abbas | ʿAli bin ʿAbd Allāh b. 'Abbas |
| | | Hasan al Mujtaba | Hasan al Mujtaba | Hasan al Mujtaba | Hasan al Mujtaba | Hasan al Mujtaba | Hasan al Mujtaba | | | Husayn ibn Ali (Family) | Husayn ibn Ali (Family) | Husayn ibn Ali (Family) | Husayn ibn Ali (Family) | Husayn ibn Ali (Family) | Husayn ibn Ali (Family) | | | Shahr Banu | Shahr Banu | Shahr Banu | Shahr Banu | Shahr Banu | Shahr Banu | | | Ibn al-Hanifiyyah | Ibn al-Hanifiyyah | Ibn al-Hanifiyyah | Ibn al-Hanifiyyah | Ibn al-Hanifiyyah | Ibn al-Hanifiyyah | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fatimah bint Hasan | Fatimah bint Hasan | Fatimah bint Hasan | Fatimah bint Hasan | Fatimah bint Hasan | Fatimah bint Hasan | | | | | | | Zayn al-'Abidin | Zayn al-'Abidin | Zayn al-'Abidin | Zayn al-'Abidin | Zayn al-'Abidin | Zayn al-'Abidin | | | Jayda al-Sindhi | Jayda al-Sindhi | Jayda al-Sindhi | Jayda al-Sindhi | Jayda al-Sindhi | Jayda al-Sindhi | | | Kaysanites (Al-Mukhtar) | Kaysanites (Al-Mukhtar) | Kaysanites (Al-Mukhtar) | Kaysanites (Al-Mukhtar) | Kaysanites (Al-Mukhtar) | Kaysanites (Al-Mukhtar) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Farwah bint Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad | Farwah bint Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad | Farwah bint Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad | Farwah bint Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad | Farwah bint Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad | Farwah bint Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad | | | Muhammad al-Baqir | Muhammad al-Baqir | Muhammad al-Baqir | Muhammad al-Baqir | Muhammad al-Baqir | Muhammad al-Baqir | | | | | Zayd ash-Shahīd (Zaydiyyah) | Zayd ash-Shahīd (Zaydiyyah) | Zayd ash-Shahīd (Zaydiyyah) | Zayd ash-Shahīd (Zaydiyyah) | Zayd ash-Shahīd (Zaydiyyah) | Zayd ash-Shahīd (Zaydiyyah) | | | First Sufi Abu Hashim (Hashimiyya) | First Sufi Abu Hashim (Hashimiyya) | First Sufi Abu Hashim (Hashimiyya) | First Sufi Abu Hashim (Hashimiyya) | First Sufi Abu Hashim (Hashimiyya) | First Sufi Abu Hashim (Hashimiyya) | | | | | | |
| | | | | Ja'far al-Sadiq | Ja'far al-Sadiq | Ja'far al-Sadiq | Ja'far al-Sadiq | Ja'far al-Sadiq | Ja'far al-Sadiq | | | | | Yemen-Fivers | Yemen-Fivers | Yemen-Fivers | Yemen-Fivers | Yemen-Fivers | Yemen-Fivers | | | Zaydi-Alavids | Zaydi-Alavids | Zaydi-Alavids | Zaydi-Alavids | Zaydi-Alavids | Zaydi-Alavids | | | | | Muhammad "al-Imām" | Muhammad "al-Imām" | Muhammad "al-Imām" | Muhammad "al-Imām" | Muhammad "al-Imām" | Muhammad "al-Imām" | | |
| Isma'il ibn Jafar | Isma'il ibn Jafar | Isma'il ibn Jafar | Isma'il ibn Jafar | Isma'il ibn Jafar | Isma'il ibn Jafar | | | Al-Aftah (Aftahiyya) | Al-Aftah (Aftahiyya) | Al-Aftah (Aftahiyya) | Al-Aftah (Aftahiyya) | Al-Aftah (Aftahiyya) | Al-Aftah (Aftahiyya) | | | Al-Dibaj (Sumaytiyya) | Al-Dibaj (Sumaytiyya) | Al-Dibaj (Sumaytiyya) | Al-Dibaj (Sumaytiyya) | Al-Dibaj (Sumaytiyya) | Al-Dibaj (Sumaytiyya) | | | Musa al-Kadhim | Musa al-Kadhim | Musa al-Kadhim | Musa al-Kadhim | Musa al-Kadhim | Musa al-Kadhim | | | Ibrāhim "al-Imām" | Ibrāhim "al-Imām" | Ibrāhim "al-Imām" | Ibrāhim "al-Imām" | Ibrāhim "al-Imām" | Ibrāhim "al-Imām" | | | | |
| Imāmī Ismā'īlīsm | Imāmī Ismā'īlīsm | Imāmī Ismā'īlīsm | Imāmī Ismā'īlīsm | Imāmī Ismā'īlīsm | Imāmī Ismā'īlīsm | | | Muhammad al-Aftah | Muhammad al-Aftah | Muhammad al-Aftah | Muhammad al-Aftah | Muhammad al-Aftah | Muhammad al-Aftah | | | Ibrāhim ibn Mūsā | Ibrāhim ibn Mūsā | Ibrāhim ibn Mūsā | Ibrāhim ibn Mūsā | Ibrāhim ibn Mūsā | Ibrāhim ibn Mūsā | | | Imāmī Athnā'ashariyyah | Imāmī Athnā'ashariyyah | Imāmī Athnā'ashariyyah | Imāmī Athnā'ashariyyah | Imāmī Athnā'ashariyyah | Imāmī Athnā'ashariyyah | | | Muslim'īyyah (Sīnbād) | Muslim'īyyah (Sīnbād) | Muslim'īyyah (Sīnbād) | Muslim'īyyah (Sīnbād) | Muslim'īyyah (Sīnbād) | Muslim'īyyah (Sīnbād) | | |
| Al-Maktūm (Mubārakʾiyya) | Al-Maktūm (Mubārakʾiyya) | Al-Maktūm (Mubārakʾiyya) | Al-Maktūm (Mubārakʾiyya) | Al-Maktūm (Mubārakʾiyya) | Al-Maktūm (Mubārakʾiyya) | | | Seveners | Seveners | Seveners | Seveners | Seveners | Seveners | | | Fātimā al-Ma'sūmah | Fātimā al-Ma'sūmah | Fātimā al-Ma'sūmah | Fātimā al-Ma'sūmah | Fātimā al-Ma'sūmah | Fātimā al-Ma'sūmah | | | Ali al-Rida | Ali al-Rida | Ali al-Rida | Ali al-Rida | Ali al-Rida | Ali al-Rida | | | Ishaq al-Turk | Ishaq al-Turk | Ishaq al-Turk | Ishaq al-Turk | Ishaq al-Turk | Ishaq al-Turk | | | | | | |
| ʿAbadullāh (Wafī Aḥmad) | ʿAbadullāh (Wafī Aḥmad) | ʿAbadullāh (Wafī Aḥmad) | ʿAbadullāh (Wafī Aḥmad) | ʿAbadullāh (Wafī Aḥmad) | ʿAbadullāh (Wafī Aḥmad) | | | Ḥamdān Qarmaṭ'l-ʾAšʿaṯ | Ḥamdān Qarmaṭ'l-ʾAšʿaṯ | Ḥamdān Qarmaṭ'l-ʾAšʿaṯ | Ḥamdān Qarmaṭ'l-ʾAšʿaṯ | Ḥamdān Qarmaṭ'l-ʾAšʿaṯ | Ḥamdān Qarmaṭ'l-ʾAšʿaṯ | | | Al-Tustari (Taṣawwuf) | Al-Tustari (Taṣawwuf) | Al-Tustari (Taṣawwuf) | Al-Tustari (Taṣawwuf) | Al-Tustari (Taṣawwuf) | Al-Tustari (Taṣawwuf) | | | Muhammad al-Taqī (Jawad) | Muhammad al-Taqī (Jawad) | Muhammad al-Taqī (Jawad) | Muhammad al-Taqī (Jawad) | Muhammad al-Taqī (Jawad) | Muhammad al-Taqī (Jawad) | | | Muhammerah (Muqanna) | Muhammerah (Muqanna) | Muhammerah (Muqanna) | Muhammerah (Muqanna) | Muhammerah (Muqanna) | Muhammerah (Muqanna) | | | | |
| Aḥmad (Taqī Muhammad) | Aḥmad (Taqī Muhammad) | Aḥmad (Taqī Muhammad) | Aḥmad (Taqī Muhammad) | Aḥmad (Taqī Muhammad) | Aḥmad (Taqī Muhammad) | | | Abū Sa'id | Abū Sa'id | Abū Sa'id | Abū Sa'id | Abū Sa'id | Abū Sa'id | | | Mūsā al-Mūbārraqā | Mūsā al-Mūbārraqā | Mūsā al-Mūbārraqā | Mūsā al-Mūbārraqā | Mūsā al-Mūbārraqā | Mūsā al-Mūbārraqā | | | Ali al Hadi | Ali al Hadi | Ali al Hadi | Ali al Hadi | Ali al Hadi | Ali al Hadi | | | Khurrāmīyah (Pāpak, Maziar) | Khurrāmīyah (Pāpak, Maziar) | Khurrāmīyah (Pāpak, Maziar) | Khurrāmīyah (Pāpak, Maziar) | Khurrāmīyah (Pāpak, Maziar) | Khurrāmīyah (Pāpak, Maziar) |
| Ḥusayn (Raḍī ʿAbdillāh) | Ḥusayn (Raḍī ʿAbdillāh) | Ḥusayn (Raḍī ʿAbdillāh) | Ḥusayn (Raḍī ʿAbdillāh) | Ḥusayn (Raḍī ʿAbdillāh) | Ḥusayn (Raḍī ʿAbdillāh) | | | Abū-Tāhir | Abū-Tāhir | Abū-Tāhir | Abū-Tāhir | Abū-Tāhir | Abū-Tāhir | | | Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi | Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi | Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi | Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi | Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi | Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi | | | Hasan al-Askari | Hasan al-Askari | Hasan al-Askari | Hasan al-Askari | Hasan al-Askari | Hasan al-Askari | | | Kızılbaş | Kızılbaş | Kızılbaş | Kızılbaş | Kızılbaş | Kızılbaş | | | | |
| Ubayd Allāh (Fatimids) | Ubayd Allāh (Fatimids) | Ubayd Allāh (Fatimids) | Ubayd Allāh (Fatimids) | Ubayd Allāh (Fatimids) | Ubayd Allāh (Fatimids) | | | Qarmatis | Qarmatis | Qarmatis | Qarmatis | Qarmatis | Qarmatis | | | | | Nāimī-Ḥurūfīs | Nāimī-Ḥurūfīs | Nāimī-Ḥurūfīs | Nāimī-Ḥurūfīs | Nāimī-Ḥurūfīs | Nāimī-Ḥurūfīs | | | | | Ibn Nusayr ('Ulyāʾiyya) | Ibn Nusayr ('Ulyāʾiyya) | Ibn Nusayr ('Ulyāʾiyya) | Ibn Nusayr ('Ulyāʾiyya) | Ibn Nusayr ('Ulyāʾiyya) | Ibn Nusayr ('Ulyāʾiyya) | | | | |
| al-Qāʾim | al-Qāʾim | al-Qāʾim | al-Qāʾim | al-Qāʾim | al-Qāʾim | | | ʿAlī Al-Aʿlā (Baktāsh'īyyah) | ʿAlī Al-Aʿlā (Baktāsh'īyyah) | ʿAlī Al-Aʿlā (Baktāsh'īyyah) | ʿAlī Al-Aʿlā (Baktāsh'īyyah) | ʿAlī Al-Aʿlā (Baktāsh'īyyah) | ʿAlī Al-Aʿlā (Baktāsh'īyyah) | | | | | | | Muhammad (Imām Zāmān) | Muhammad (Imām Zāmān) | Muhammad (Imām Zāmān) | Muhammad (Imām Zāmān) | Muhammad (Imām Zāmān) | Muhammad (Imām Zāmān) | | | Al-Khaṣībī (Nusairis) | Al-Khaṣībī (Nusairis) | Al-Khaṣībī (Nusairis) | Al-Khaṣībī (Nusairis) | Al-Khaṣībī (Nusairis) | Al-Khaṣībī (Nusairis) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | al-Manṣūr | al-Manṣūr | al-Manṣūr | al-Manṣūr | al-Manṣūr | al-Manṣūr | | | | | | | Pasīkhānī (Nuktawiyya) | Pasīkhānī (Nuktawiyya) | Pasīkhānī (Nuktawiyya) | Pasīkhānī (Nuktawiyya) | Pasīkhānī (Nuktawiyya) | Pasīkhānī (Nuktawiyya) | | | Imamiyyah (Twelvers) | Imamiyyah (Twelvers) | Imamiyyah (Twelvers) | Imamiyyah (Twelvers) | Imamiyyah (Twelvers) | Imamiyyah (Twelvers) | | | Sarı Saltuk (Baktāshīs) | Sarı Saltuk (Baktāshīs) | Sarı Saltuk (Baktāshīs) | Sarı Saltuk (Baktāshīs) | Sarı Saltuk (Baktāshīs) | Sarı Saltuk (Baktāshīs) |
| al-Muʿizz | al-Muʿizz | al-Muʿizz | al-Muʿizz | al-Muʿizz | al-Muʿizz | | | Nasīmī | Nasīmī | Nasīmī | Nasīmī | Nasīmī | Nasīmī | | | Ja'faris | Ja'faris | Ja'faris | Ja'faris | Ja'faris | Ja'faris | | | Alevis | Alevis | Alevis | Alevis | Alevis | Alevis | | | Otman Baba | Otman Baba | Otman Baba | Otman Baba | Otman Baba | Otman Baba |
| al-ʿAzīz | al-ʿAzīz | al-ʿAzīz | al-ʿAzīz | al-ʿAzīz | al-ʿAzīz | | | Akhbaris | Akhbaris | Akhbaris | Akhbaris | Akhbaris | Akhbaris | | | Shaykhis | Shaykhis | Shaykhis | Shaykhis | Shaykhis | Shaykhis | | | Usulis | Usulis | Usulis | Usulis | Usulis | Usulis | | | Balım Sultan | Balım Sultan | Balım Sultan | Balım Sultan | Balım Sultan | Balım Sultan | | | | | | |
| al-Ḥākim | al-Ḥākim | al-Ḥākim | al-Ḥākim | al-Ḥākim | al-Ḥākim | | | Safavids (Safavī Iran) | Safavids (Safavī Iran) | Safavids (Safavī Iran) | Safavids (Safavī Iran) | Safavids (Safavī Iran) | Safavids (Safavī Iran) | | | Nuqta-yi Ula (Bábis) | Nuqta-yi Ula (Bábis) | Nuqta-yi Ula (Bábis) | Nuqta-yi Ula (Bábis) | Nuqta-yi Ula (Bábis) | Nuqta-yi Ula (Bábis) | | | Velayat-e-faqih (Iran, Islamic Rep.) | Velayat-e-faqih (Iran, Islamic Rep.) | Velayat-e-faqih (Iran, Islamic Rep.) | Velayat-e-faqih (Iran, Islamic Rep.) | Velayat-e-faqih (Iran, Islamic Rep.) | Velayat-e-faqih (Iran, Islamic Rep.) | | | Gül Baba (Hurufi-Bektaşi) | Gül Baba (Hurufi-Bektaşi) | Gül Baba (Hurufi-Bektaşi) | Gül Baba (Hurufi-Bektaşi) | Gül Baba (Hurufi-Bektaşi) | Gül Baba (Hurufi-Bektaşi) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| al-Ẓāhir | al-Ẓāhir | al-Ẓāhir | al-Ẓāhir | al-Ẓāhir | al-Ẓāhir | | | Durzis (Al-Muqtana) | Durzis (Al-Muqtana) | Durzis (Al-Muqtana) | Durzis (Al-Muqtana) | Durzis (Al-Muqtana) | Durzis (Al-Muqtana) | | | Mírzá Yaḥyá (Azalis) | Mírzá Yaḥyá (Azalis) | Mírzá Yaḥyá (Azalis) | Mírzá Yaḥyá (Azalis) | Mírzá Yaḥyá (Azalis) | Mírzá Yaḥyá (Azalis) | | | Mírzá Ḥusayn (Baháʼís) | Mírzá Ḥusayn (Baháʼís) | Mírzá Ḥusayn (Baháʼís) | Mírzá Ḥusayn (Baháʼís) | Mírzá Ḥusayn (Baháʼís) | Mírzá Ḥusayn (Baháʼís) | | | Other Alevis (Bektashism) | Other Alevis (Bektashism) | Other Alevis (Bektashism) | Other Alevis (Bektashism) | Other Alevis (Bektashism) | Other Alevis (Bektashism) |
| | | | | Al-Mustanṣir bi-Llāh | Al-Mustanṣir bi-Llāh | Al-Mustanṣir bi-Llāh | Al-Mustanṣir bi-Llāh | Al-Mustanṣir bi-Llāh | Al-Mustanṣir bi-Llāh | | | Dā'ī Nasir Khusraw | Dā'ī Nasir Khusraw | Dā'ī Nasir Khusraw | Dā'ī Nasir Khusraw | Dā'ī Nasir Khusraw | Dā'ī Nasir Khusraw | | | Badakhshan & Afgan Pamiris | Badakhshan & Afgan Pamiris | Badakhshan & Afgan Pamiris | Badakhshan & Afgan Pamiris | Badakhshan & Afgan Pamiris | Badakhshan & Afgan Pamiris | | | Yarsanis (Sultan Sahak) | Yarsanis (Sultan Sahak) | Yarsanis (Sultan Sahak) | Yarsanis (Sultan Sahak) | Yarsanis (Sultan Sahak) | Yarsanis (Sultan Sahak) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Musta'li (Musta'lis) | Al-Musta'li (Musta'lis) | Al-Musta'li (Musta'lis) | Al-Musta'li (Musta'lis) | Al-Musta'li (Musta'lis) | Al-Musta'li (Musta'lis) | | | Muḥammad ibn Abū Tamīm | Muḥammad ibn Abū Tamīm | Muḥammad ibn Abū Tamīm | Muḥammad ibn Abū Tamīm | Muḥammad ibn Abū Tamīm | Muḥammad ibn Abū Tamīm | | | Al-Nizār (Nizārīs) | Al-Nizār (Nizārīs) | Al-Nizār (Nizārīs) | Al-Nizār (Nizārīs) | Al-Nizār (Nizārīs) | Al-Nizār (Nizārīs) | | | Ostad Elahi ('Ali-Ilahis) | Ostad Elahi ('Ali-Ilahis) | Ostad Elahi ('Ali-Ilahis) | Ostad Elahi ('Ali-Ilahis) | Ostad Elahi ('Ali-Ilahis) | Ostad Elahi ('Ali-Ilahis) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Al-Āmir | Al-Āmir | Al-Āmir | Al-Āmir | Al-Āmir | Al-Āmir | | | | | | | Hashshashins (Ḥ. bin Sabbah) | Hashshashins (Ḥ. bin Sabbah) | Hashshashins (Ḥ. bin Sabbah) | Hashshashins (Ḥ. bin Sabbah) | Hashshashins (Ḥ. bin Sabbah) | Hashshashins (Ḥ. bin Sabbah) | | | | | | | Işık Alevis | Işık Alevis | Işık Alevis | Işık Alevis | Işık Alevis | Işık Alevis | | | | |
| At-Tayyib (Tayyibis) | At-Tayyib (Tayyibis) | At-Tayyib (Tayyibis) | At-Tayyib (Tayyibis) | At-Tayyib (Tayyibis) | At-Tayyib (Tayyibis) | | | Al-Ḥāfīz (Hafizis) | Al-Ḥāfīz (Hafizis) | Al-Ḥāfīz (Hafizis) | Al-Ḥāfīz (Hafizis) | Al-Ḥāfīz (Hafizis) | Al-Ḥāfīz (Hafizis) | | | Ḥasan ʿAlā (Alamūt Nizārīs) | Ḥasan ʿAlā (Alamūt Nizārīs) | Ḥasan ʿAlā (Alamūt Nizārīs) | Ḥasan ʿAlā (Alamūt Nizārīs) | Ḥasan ʿAlā (Alamūt Nizārīs) | Ḥasan ʿAlā (Alamūt Nizārīs) | | | | | | | Alians (Demir Baba) | Alians (Demir Baba) | Alians (Demir Baba) | Alians (Demir Baba) | Alians (Demir Baba) | Alians (Demir Baba) | | | Harabatis (Baba Rexheb) | Harabatis (Baba Rexheb) | Harabatis (Baba Rexheb) | Harabatis (Baba Rexheb) | Harabatis (Baba Rexheb) | Harabatis (Baba Rexheb) | | | | |
| Arwa al-Sulayhi | Arwa al-Sulayhi | Arwa al-Sulayhi | Arwa al-Sulayhi | Arwa al-Sulayhi | Arwa al-Sulayhi | | | Zoeb Musa (Dawoodis) | Zoeb Musa (Dawoodis) | Zoeb Musa (Dawoodis) | Zoeb Musa (Dawoodis) | Zoeb Musa (Dawoodis) | Zoeb Musa (Dawoodis) | | | Agha Khans (Nizārī Ismā'īlīs) | Agha Khans (Nizārī Ismā'īlīs) | Agha Khans (Nizārī Ismā'īlīs) | Agha Khans (Nizārī Ismā'īlīs) | Agha Khans (Nizārī Ismā'īlīs) | Agha Khans (Nizārī Ismā'īlīs) | | | Pamir Ismāʿīlīsm | Pamir Ismāʿīlīsm | Pamir Ismāʿīlīsm | Pamir Ismāʿīlīsm | Pamir Ismāʿīlīsm | Pamir Ismāʿīlīsm | | | Chepnis | Chepnis | Chepnis | Chepnis | Chepnis | Chepnis | | |
| Sulayman (Sulaymanis) | Sulayman (Sulaymanis) | Sulayman (Sulaymanis) | Sulayman (Sulaymanis) | Sulayman (Sulaymanis) | Sulayman (Sulaymanis) | | | Ali bin Ibrāhim (Alavi Bohra) | Ali bin Ibrāhim (Alavi Bohra) | Ali bin Ibrāhim (Alavi Bohra) | Ali bin Ibrāhim (Alavi Bohra) | Ali bin Ibrāhim (Alavi Bohra) | Ali bin Ibrāhim (Alavi Bohra) | | | Hebtiahs Bohra | Hebtiahs Bohra | Hebtiahs Bohra | Hebtiahs Bohra | Hebtiahs Bohra | Hebtiahs Bohra | | | A . Hussain Jivaji (Atba-i-Malak) | A . Hussain Jivaji (Atba-i-Malak) | A . Hussain Jivaji (Atba-i-Malak) | A . Hussain Jivaji (Atba-i-Malak) | A . Hussain Jivaji (Atba-i-Malak) | A . Hussain Jivaji (Atba-i-Malak) | | | | |
| Jafari Bohras (Syed Jafar Ahmad Shirazi) | Jafari Bohras (Syed Jafar Ahmad Shirazi) | Jafari Bohras (Syed Jafar Ahmad Shirazi) | Jafari Bohras (Syed Jafar Ahmad Shirazi) | Jafari Bohras (Syed Jafar Ahmad Shirazi) | Jafari Bohras (Syed Jafar Ahmad Shirazi) | | | Progressive Dawoodis (Asghar Ali) | Progressive Dawoodis (Asghar Ali) | Progressive Dawoodis (Asghar Ali) | Progressive Dawoodis (Asghar Ali) | Progressive Dawoodis (Asghar Ali) | Progressive Dawoodis (Asghar Ali) | | | Atba-i-Malak Vakil (A. Qadir Ebrahimji) | Atba-i-Malak Vakil (A. Qadir Ebrahimji) | Atba-i-Malak Vakil (A. Qadir Ebrahimji) | Atba-i-Malak Vakil (A. Qadir Ebrahimji) | Atba-i-Malak Vakil (A. Qadir Ebrahimji) | Atba-i-Malak Vakil (A. Qadir Ebrahimji) | | | Atba-i-Malak Badar (Ghulam Hussain Miya Khan) | Atba-i-Malak Badar (Ghulam Hussain Miya Khan) | Atba-i-Malak Badar (Ghulam Hussain Miya Khan) | Atba-i-Malak Badar (Ghulam Hussain Miya Khan) | Atba-i-Malak Badar (Ghulam Hussain Miya Khan) | Atba-i-Malak Badar (Ghulam Hussain Miya Khan) | | | | |

## Location

In Bulgaria, Alians inhabit predominantly the villages of Yablanovo and Malko Selo in Sliven Province; Sevar, Ostrovo, Madrevo, Sveshtari, Bisertsi, and Lavino in Razgrad Province; Preslavci, Chernik, and Bradvari in Silistra Province; and Mogilets and Bayachevo in Targovishte Province.