[1] After a long and tedious journey, they alighted in the vicinity of Rudhbar, the chief city of Daylam in Iran, after crossing the ranges of Mount Taliqan.

A major part of the life of Imam al-Hadi was in concealment, while the ruling responsibilities were delegated to Hasan bin Sabbah and Kiya Buzrug Ummid.

Abu Muhammad al-Iraqi in his al-Firaq (from manuscript # 791 in the library of Sulemaniyya mosque, Istanbul, compiled soon after the fall of Alamut in 654/1256), and Zakariya Qazwini (1203–1283) in Athar al-Bilad wa-Akhbar al-Ibad (comp.

The Egyptian historian Ibn Muyassar (1231–1278) writes in Tarikh-i Misr (p. 68) that "Hasan-i Sabbah introduced an Imam to his successors during his death-bed."

The tradition widely referenced about Imam al-Hadi's arrival in Iran consists of very meager details, which are cited in the later sources, namely Dabistan al-Mazahib (comp.

Imam al-Hadi continued to guide his followers in religious matters through Kiya Buzrug from Lambsar (Persian:لمبسر, also pronounced Lamsar) Castle without making any public appearance.

The Nizari Ismaili developed a unique state of scattered fortresses, surrounded by large areas of enemy territory.

They created a power structure that proved more effective than that of Fatimid Cairo or the Seljuk Bagdad, both of which underwent political instability, mainly during the leadership transition.

These periods of internal political conflict in Cairo and Baghdad offered the Ismaili state respite from attacks, and even to have such sovereignty as to have minted their own coinage.