What do Ismaili Muslims believe?

Answer 1

Ismaili Islam is one of the divisions of Shia Islam, and, as such, shares many similar beliefs to them.

Most of the beliefs are the same with all Muslims, regardless of their sect, such as the belief in one God, with no partners or associates, and all sects use the Qur'an, and believe that it has not been tampered with by man, and is 100% the word of God.

The major difference between Ismaili Shias and Ja'fari, or Twelver, Shias is a matter of succession. After the sixth Imam, Jafar as-Sadiq, died, there was question of the community on who should succeed him. The two candidates in question were Jafar's eldest son, Ismail ibn Jafar (for whom the sect is named) and Musa al-Kadhim, who was accepted as the seventh Imam (leader) by the Twelver Shias. This caused a faction within the Shia sect.

The Ismailis generally use a seven-pillar system, vs the five pillars that Sunnis have. The seven pillars include the five pillars of Islam and add two more. These are:

1. Walayah: Guardianship, love and devotion to God
2. Tawheed: Oneness of God (the Shahada pillar)
3. Salah: Prayer (depending on which Ismaili branch either 3 or 5 times a day, 5 is more common)
4. Zakah: Charity, pay 12.5% of unspent money at end of year (vs 2.5% by other sects)
5. Sawm: Fasting Ramadan, also a metaphorical "fasting of the soul" where one attempts to purify the soul by avoiding sinful acts and doing good deeds
6. Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca and visiting an Imam or leader
7. Jihad: Struggle within one's self and within the community to do what is right.

Answer 2

Islams is the wrong word.

It's Muslims.

They believe in Allah the almighty and his messenger Muhammad (s.a.w)