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http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=105873
IIS Catalogue and Publications
Interview with Dr Amyn Sajoo
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=109497
The cover of the book features an image depicting Noah’s Ark – and it is remarkably evocative. Could you share your perspective on the choice and how it relates to the text?
Why have you chosen ‘Muslim ethics’ as the subject of this book? What makes ‘Muslim’ ethics unique and different from Christian or for that matter secular or cosmopolitan ethics?
There is much talk today about ‘public ethics’ in the Western world – in the professions, in matters related to healthcare, as well as in economic and political life. Is this something you address in your book?
Your sub-title for this book is ‘Emerging Vistas’. Could you elaborate on these ‘Vistas’?
In your book, you mention the plurality of meanings of religious texts. Is there an element of inconsistency between the notion of pluralism of interpretations and the idea of universal ethical commands? Does the idea of plurality of meanings support relativism in ethics rather than a universal ethical code?
Muslim Ethics: Emerging Vistas
Dr Amyn B Sajoo
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=104488
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=109497
The cover of the book features an image depicting Noah’s Ark – and it is remarkably evocative. Could you share your perspective on the choice and how it relates to the text?
Why have you chosen ‘Muslim ethics’ as the subject of this book? What makes ‘Muslim’ ethics unique and different from Christian or for that matter secular or cosmopolitan ethics?
There is much talk today about ‘public ethics’ in the Western world – in the professions, in matters related to healthcare, as well as in economic and political life. Is this something you address in your book?
Your sub-title for this book is ‘Emerging Vistas’. Could you elaborate on these ‘Vistas’?
In your book, you mention the plurality of meanings of religious texts. Is there an element of inconsistency between the notion of pluralism of interpretations and the idea of universal ethical commands? Does the idea of plurality of meanings support relativism in ethics rather than a universal ethical code?
Muslim Ethics: Emerging Vistas
Dr Amyn B Sajoo
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=104488
Interview with Dr Alice Hunsberger
What prompted you to write a book on Nasir Khusraw? What aspect of his life and writings interest you the most?
What were the circumstances which prompted Nasir Khusraw’s journey to Cairo and conversion to the Ismaili way of Islam?
What is distinctive about Nasir Khusraw’s Safarnama as compared to the travelogues written by his contemporaries?
Your book provides readers with a good account of Ismaili thought during the Fatimid period. What do you think are the more interesting aspects of Nasir Khusraw’s philosophy?
Nasir Khusraw placed a lot of importance on knowledge and each person’s duty to strive to attain it. How did he convey this in his poetry and philosophical writings?
An important theme in your book is the way in which Nasir Khusraw’s inner life was manifested in his external life. How does this impact his writing?
What do you see as the legacy and significance of Nasir Khusraw’s writings and teachings for people today?
Are you conducting any further research work on Nasir Khusraw?
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=109042
*****
Interview with Peter WilleyThe author of Eagle’s Nest:
Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria, published by I. B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies in 2005, Peter Willey, in interview discussed the nature of this important work, its themes and how he arrived at the point where he was able to put together the research and essential scholarship.
Your early career began in the military. How and why did you get involved in the area of medieval Ismaili castles? [.wmv, 2.5Mb]
How has your research contributed to correcting the fantastical myths about the Ismailis written over the centuries? [.wmv, 2.0Mb]
You published your first book on the Ismaili castles in 1963. To what extent does your new book, Eagle’s Nest, incorporate new research and how has your thinking or assessment changed? [.wmv, 1.8Mb]
In what other ways has your research contributed to a better understanding of the Ismailis of the Alamut period? [.wmv, 1.9Mb]
Please describe in more detail the findings of your investigations in particular, the Ismaili activities in the areas of architecture and its contribution to the larger world? [.wmv, 2.0Mb]
What, in your opinion should be the future lines of investigation and research of Ismaili castles? [.wmv, 1.8Mb]
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=108202
What prompted you to write a book on Nasir Khusraw? What aspect of his life and writings interest you the most?
What were the circumstances which prompted Nasir Khusraw’s journey to Cairo and conversion to the Ismaili way of Islam?
What is distinctive about Nasir Khusraw’s Safarnama as compared to the travelogues written by his contemporaries?
Your book provides readers with a good account of Ismaili thought during the Fatimid period. What do you think are the more interesting aspects of Nasir Khusraw’s philosophy?
Nasir Khusraw placed a lot of importance on knowledge and each person’s duty to strive to attain it. How did he convey this in his poetry and philosophical writings?
An important theme in your book is the way in which Nasir Khusraw’s inner life was manifested in his external life. How does this impact his writing?
What do you see as the legacy and significance of Nasir Khusraw’s writings and teachings for people today?
Are you conducting any further research work on Nasir Khusraw?
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=109042
*****
Interview with Peter WilleyThe author of Eagle’s Nest:
Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria, published by I. B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies in 2005, Peter Willey, in interview discussed the nature of this important work, its themes and how he arrived at the point where he was able to put together the research and essential scholarship.
Your early career began in the military. How and why did you get involved in the area of medieval Ismaili castles? [.wmv, 2.5Mb]
How has your research contributed to correcting the fantastical myths about the Ismailis written over the centuries? [.wmv, 2.0Mb]
You published your first book on the Ismaili castles in 1963. To what extent does your new book, Eagle’s Nest, incorporate new research and how has your thinking or assessment changed? [.wmv, 1.8Mb]
In what other ways has your research contributed to a better understanding of the Ismailis of the Alamut period? [.wmv, 1.9Mb]
Please describe in more detail the findings of your investigations in particular, the Ismaili activities in the areas of architecture and its contribution to the larger world? [.wmv, 2.0Mb]
What, in your opinion should be the future lines of investigation and research of Ismaili castles? [.wmv, 1.8Mb]
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=108202
Lifelong Learning: ArticlesReligion and State in a Pluralist Nation: Policy Challenges in Contemporary Canadian Society
Professor Karim H Karim
Ms Faiza Hirji
This is an edited version of an article that was originally published in ‘Religious Diversity and Canada’s Future’, Association for Canadian Studies, Winter 2008.
Abstract
The Canadian state has long made room for the practice of religion while maintaining its secular framework for public life. Recent years have seen increased policy discourse about religious identity in the public sphere, mostly due to growing diversity. Debates involving the intersection of religious and civic identities tend to become conflated with negative perceptions of immigration, of overly reasonable accommodation that privileges minority rights over those of the majority, and concerns about gender rights and public security. In several cases, the extent of the social conflict has been magnified by the media to produce moral panics. Public figures have also over-reacted to reports of apparent disputes. Central to this policy debate is the upholding of the fundamental rights and freedoms of all, particularly human rights and the ability to participate in public life.
Keywords
Canada, immigrants, media, minorities, multi-culturalism, pluralism, private sphere, public sphere, religion, human rights, secularism.
Download PDF version of article (51.5 KB)
Table of Contents
Church and State
Debates on Accommodation
Need for Careful Examination
Rights in the Public and Private Spheres
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110182
Professor Karim H Karim
Ms Faiza Hirji
This is an edited version of an article that was originally published in ‘Religious Diversity and Canada’s Future’, Association for Canadian Studies, Winter 2008.
Abstract
The Canadian state has long made room for the practice of religion while maintaining its secular framework for public life. Recent years have seen increased policy discourse about religious identity in the public sphere, mostly due to growing diversity. Debates involving the intersection of religious and civic identities tend to become conflated with negative perceptions of immigration, of overly reasonable accommodation that privileges minority rights over those of the majority, and concerns about gender rights and public security. In several cases, the extent of the social conflict has been magnified by the media to produce moral panics. Public figures have also over-reacted to reports of apparent disputes. Central to this policy debate is the upholding of the fundamental rights and freedoms of all, particularly human rights and the ability to participate in public life.
Keywords
Canada, immigrants, media, minorities, multi-culturalism, pluralism, private sphere, public sphere, religion, human rights, secularism.
Download PDF version of article (51.5 KB)
Table of Contents
Church and State
Debates on Accommodation
Need for Careful Examination
Rights in the Public and Private Spheres
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110182
Interview with Dr Sayyad Jalal Badakhchani
1. Contemplation and Action (Sayr wa Suluk) is a translation of Tusi’s autobiography. Please tell us a little about Tusi and the relevance of his work to studies of Islam and Shi‘ism in particular?
2. What is distinctive about Tusi’s Sayr wa Suluk and when was it written in the context of historical events during his life?
3. Tusi’s role in the events around the invasion of Alamut by the Mongols is enigmatic. There have also been questions about his religious affiliations. What can you tell us about these matters based on the writings of Tusi?
4. Lastly, who are the target audience for this work? Would a non-specialist reader be able to benefit from this translation?
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110347
1. Contemplation and Action (Sayr wa Suluk) is a translation of Tusi’s autobiography. Please tell us a little about Tusi and the relevance of his work to studies of Islam and Shi‘ism in particular?
2. What is distinctive about Tusi’s Sayr wa Suluk and when was it written in the context of historical events during his life?
3. Tusi’s role in the events around the invasion of Alamut by the Mongols is enigmatic. There have also been questions about his religious affiliations. What can you tell us about these matters based on the writings of Tusi?
4. Lastly, who are the target audience for this work? Would a non-specialist reader be able to benefit from this translation?
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110347
Scholars And Mombasa Muslim Ummah Attended A Book Launch
Coastweek -- Seen Dr Nader El-Bizri and Professor Azim
Nanji explaining to Professor Rashid some of the refe-
rences in the book at the launch which was attended
by scholars and members of the Muslim Ummah.
.
encyclopaedia of 52 epistles
on a wide array of subjects
Coastweek -- Dr. Nader El-Bizri from The Institute of Ismaili Studies and Professor Azim Nanji from Stanford University at the launch of the book “The Ikhwan al Safa and their Rasa’il: An Introduction”, on Sunday 14 June 2009.
The Ikhwan al-Safa’ or Brethren of Purity were a group of Muslim thinkers - based in Iraq - who produced, more than a thousand years ago, an encyclopaedia of 52 epistles on a wide array of subjects ranging from cosmology to mathematics and physical sciences, ethics to aesthetics, and revelation to metaphysics.
http://www.coastweek.com/3225-13.htm
Coastweek -- Seen Dr Nader El-Bizri and Professor Azim
Nanji explaining to Professor Rashid some of the refe-
rences in the book at the launch which was attended
by scholars and members of the Muslim Ummah.
.
encyclopaedia of 52 epistles
on a wide array of subjects
Coastweek -- Dr. Nader El-Bizri from The Institute of Ismaili Studies and Professor Azim Nanji from Stanford University at the launch of the book “The Ikhwan al Safa and their Rasa’il: An Introduction”, on Sunday 14 June 2009.
The Ikhwan al-Safa’ or Brethren of Purity were a group of Muslim thinkers - based in Iraq - who produced, more than a thousand years ago, an encyclopaedia of 52 epistles on a wide array of subjects ranging from cosmology to mathematics and physical sciences, ethics to aesthetics, and revelation to metaphysics.
http://www.coastweek.com/3225-13.htm
In Memory of Peter Willey, Authority on Medieval Ismaili Castles
June 2009
The leading international authority on medieval Ismaili castles and fortresses, Peter Willey, died peacefully at his home near Pewsey in Wiltshire on 23 April 2009 at the age of 86 years. He is best known for his knowledge of the remote and virtually impregnable Ismaili castles in Iran and Syria, which he recorded in a series of articles and publications.
His final work, Eagle’s Nest: Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria, published in 2005 by The Institute of Ismaili Studies in association with I.B. Tauris, is recognised as the standard work on the subject. A Persian translation of the same was published in Tehran in 2007.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110397
June 2009
The leading international authority on medieval Ismaili castles and fortresses, Peter Willey, died peacefully at his home near Pewsey in Wiltshire on 23 April 2009 at the age of 86 years. He is best known for his knowledge of the remote and virtually impregnable Ismaili castles in Iran and Syria, which he recorded in a series of articles and publications.
His final work, Eagle’s Nest: Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria, published in 2005 by The Institute of Ismaili Studies in association with I.B. Tauris, is recognised as the standard work on the subject. A Persian translation of the same was published in Tehran in 2007.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110397
IIS Publishes Shahrastani’s Esoteric Commentary on Qur’an
July 2009
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased to announce the publication of Keys to the Arcana: Shahrastani’s Esoteric Commentary on the Qur’an, translated by Toby Mayer. This book, published in association with Oxford University Press, is part of the IIS’ Qur’anic Studies series, which aims to illustrate the rich diversity of approaches which have appealed to the Holy Qur’an throughout Muslim intellectual history.
Given that it was nearly lost to history – only available in a unique manuscript held in Tehran – Sharastani’s commentary (dating from 540 AH/1145 CE) is a peculiarly exciting survival of the medieval literature on the Holy Qur’an. Its value mainly rests on three things. Firstly, its author enjoys a very high reputation as a scholar and thinker in the wider annals of Muslim intellectual history. He is better known as a Sunni theologian of remarkable subtlety, and as one of the great medieval authorities, in east or west, on the world’s religious denominations and philosophical doctrines. The recovery of his commentary on the Holy Qur’an, a summit in any Muslim thinker’s oeuvre due to the sheer prestige and foundationality of the sacred text within the overall tradition, completes our picture of a great mind. Secondly, while the commentary includes a wealth of valuable data transmitted on the scripture up to Shahrastani’s period, at its core is a unique set of interpretive ‘keys’ on the basis of which the author claims to lay bare a structure of ideas deep within the text – a virtual ‘philosophy’ of the Holy Qur’an. This central aspect of Sharastani’s Keys to the Arcana amounts to a great intellectual achievement, and one which is now timely. It opens up the depths of the sacred text to modern appreciation: an interpretive system which brings out an unsuspected intelligibility deep within the Holy Qur’an. Thirdly, this system is demonstrably of Ismaili origin, and Keys to the Arcana is thus major evidence for the truth of the claim of some of its author’s contemporaries, that he was secretly a Nizari Ismaili.
The volume contains an English translation of Shahrastani’s twelve introductory chapters, and his verse by verse commentary on the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an, Surat al-Fatiha. Copious annotation is provided, with an extended introduction by the translator. A fully cross-referenced Arabic edition of the text is included. This multifaceted volume has been a painstaking scholarly project. The result provides an English-speaking readership with full access to a lost gem of the Muslim heritage.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110452
July 2009
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased to announce the publication of Keys to the Arcana: Shahrastani’s Esoteric Commentary on the Qur’an, translated by Toby Mayer. This book, published in association with Oxford University Press, is part of the IIS’ Qur’anic Studies series, which aims to illustrate the rich diversity of approaches which have appealed to the Holy Qur’an throughout Muslim intellectual history.
Given that it was nearly lost to history – only available in a unique manuscript held in Tehran – Sharastani’s commentary (dating from 540 AH/1145 CE) is a peculiarly exciting survival of the medieval literature on the Holy Qur’an. Its value mainly rests on three things. Firstly, its author enjoys a very high reputation as a scholar and thinker in the wider annals of Muslim intellectual history. He is better known as a Sunni theologian of remarkable subtlety, and as one of the great medieval authorities, in east or west, on the world’s religious denominations and philosophical doctrines. The recovery of his commentary on the Holy Qur’an, a summit in any Muslim thinker’s oeuvre due to the sheer prestige and foundationality of the sacred text within the overall tradition, completes our picture of a great mind. Secondly, while the commentary includes a wealth of valuable data transmitted on the scripture up to Shahrastani’s period, at its core is a unique set of interpretive ‘keys’ on the basis of which the author claims to lay bare a structure of ideas deep within the text – a virtual ‘philosophy’ of the Holy Qur’an. This central aspect of Sharastani’s Keys to the Arcana amounts to a great intellectual achievement, and one which is now timely. It opens up the depths of the sacred text to modern appreciation: an interpretive system which brings out an unsuspected intelligibility deep within the Holy Qur’an. Thirdly, this system is demonstrably of Ismaili origin, and Keys to the Arcana is thus major evidence for the truth of the claim of some of its author’s contemporaries, that he was secretly a Nizari Ismaili.
The volume contains an English translation of Shahrastani’s twelve introductory chapters, and his verse by verse commentary on the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an, Surat al-Fatiha. Copious annotation is provided, with an extended introduction by the translator. A fully cross-referenced Arabic edition of the text is included. This multifaceted volume has been a painstaking scholarly project. The result provides an English-speaking readership with full access to a lost gem of the Muslim heritage.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110452
Muslim Heritage Series Inaugurated by the IIS
July 2009
With the publication of A Companion to the Muslim World, the IIS in association with I.B. Tauris (London), inaugurates a new series of publications on vital themes in Muslim civilisations. What distinguishes the ‘Muslim Heritage Series’ is not only the range of topics surveyed, but also its accessibility to a general public with an appetite for engaging writing in this field.
“Leading scholars and activists bring exciting perspectives on what went into the making of the Muslim world, its journeys into modernity, and the challenges it must confront after September 11, 2001”, says Amyn B. Sajoo, the series’ editor. He notes that while a feast of books on Islam and Muslims has been served since 2001, the ones of high quality tend to serve academics, while the general public is fed a dubious diet. “Polls show that even elite policy makers have a hopelessly distorted picture of Muslim peoples, traditions and narratives”, according to Dr. Sajoo.
Yet, Muslims themselves often need to be reminded of the diversity and dynamism of their heritage. There is plenty of evidence of this civilisational depth in the twelve chapters of the opening volume: Reza Aslan and Abdallah Saeed on how Prophet Muhammad and later interpreters grappled with the ideals of the Holy Qur’an, Amir Hussain on the many ‘Islams’ that have come out of the Revelation, Azizah al-Hibri on the status of women amid social change, Bruce Lawrence and Gary Bunt on the ‘digital umma’ and its predecessor networks, Hasan Khan, Raficq Abdulla and Amira Bennison on how architecture, poets and cities have shaped communities, Anil Khamis and Shainool Jiwa on the ethics of learning and governance.
The tone for this new series is set by the epigraph from Goethe in the Companion: “What you have as heritage, take now as task; for thus you will make it your own”. Future publications will focus on ethical traditions, cultures, and key figures and societal influences in Islam.
http://iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110482
July 2009
With the publication of A Companion to the Muslim World, the IIS in association with I.B. Tauris (London), inaugurates a new series of publications on vital themes in Muslim civilisations. What distinguishes the ‘Muslim Heritage Series’ is not only the range of topics surveyed, but also its accessibility to a general public with an appetite for engaging writing in this field.
“Leading scholars and activists bring exciting perspectives on what went into the making of the Muslim world, its journeys into modernity, and the challenges it must confront after September 11, 2001”, says Amyn B. Sajoo, the series’ editor. He notes that while a feast of books on Islam and Muslims has been served since 2001, the ones of high quality tend to serve academics, while the general public is fed a dubious diet. “Polls show that even elite policy makers have a hopelessly distorted picture of Muslim peoples, traditions and narratives”, according to Dr. Sajoo.
Yet, Muslims themselves often need to be reminded of the diversity and dynamism of their heritage. There is plenty of evidence of this civilisational depth in the twelve chapters of the opening volume: Reza Aslan and Abdallah Saeed on how Prophet Muhammad and later interpreters grappled with the ideals of the Holy Qur’an, Amir Hussain on the many ‘Islams’ that have come out of the Revelation, Azizah al-Hibri on the status of women amid social change, Bruce Lawrence and Gary Bunt on the ‘digital umma’ and its predecessor networks, Hasan Khan, Raficq Abdulla and Amira Bennison on how architecture, poets and cities have shaped communities, Anil Khamis and Shainool Jiwa on the ethics of learning and governance.
The tone for this new series is set by the epigraph from Goethe in the Companion: “What you have as heritage, take now as task; for thus you will make it your own”. Future publications will focus on ethical traditions, cultures, and key figures and societal influences in Islam.
http://iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110482
Distinguished Historian Professor K. K. Aziz Passes Away
August 2009
Professor Khurshid Kamal Aziz, the distinguished Pakistani historian, passed away recently in Lahore after a short illness. Amongst his numerous acclaimed publications were works on important individuals who shaped the history of the sub-continent around the time of its partition, including books on Chaudhry Rahmat Ali, Syed Ameer Ali and His Highness Aga Khan III.
Professor Aziz was born in the village of Ballamabad near Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) on 11 December 1927. The only surviving son of the late Shaikh Abdul Aziz (the distinguished Mughal historian and the first editor of the text of the Punjabi epic, the Hir of Waris Shah), he was educated in Batala, Government College Lahore and the University of Manchester.
He had served on the academic staff of the Government College, Lahore, and the Universities of the Punjab, London, Khartoum and Heidelberg. Occasionally he gave lectures on historical, political and Islamic themes at the Universities of Karachi, Peshawar, Dacca, Islamabad, Hull, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Geneva, Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and Bergen. In Pakistan he had held such appointments as Deputy to the Official Historian, Chairman of the National Commission on Historical and Cultural Research, and Special Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister's Office. In 1990's he was the (British) Old Ravians Research Fellow at Cambridge.
Professor Aziz knew eight languages and was a prolific writer. His books include:
· The Making of Pakistan: A Study in Nationalism;
· Studies in History and Politics, Party Politics in Pakistan 1947-1958;
· Britain and Pakistan;
· Ameer Ali: His Life and Work;
· Rahmat Ali: A Biography;
· A History of the Idea of Pakistan (4 volumes);
· Britain and Muslim India;
· Muslims under Congress Rule 1937-1939: A Documentary Record;
· British Imperialism in India;
· The All India Muslim Conference 1928-1935: A Documentary Record;
· The Meaning of Islamic Art: An Annotated Bibliography;
· The Meaning of Islamic Art, Explorations in Religious Symbolism and Social Relevance.
In a work entitled The Murder of History, he took a critical look at the state of historical scholarship in Pakistan.
His two volume study entitled Aga Khan III: Selected Speeches and Writings of Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, 1902 – 1955, was published by Kegan Paul International of London in 1998. Dr. Karim Janmohamed, former Head of the IIS-ITREB Liaison (now Community Relations) Department at the IIS, who collaborated with him for some years in the preparation of the study, recalls the author's meticulous scholarship, a commitment to the highest academic standards and a fluent writing style which are reflected in the 200 page Introduction to the book and the copious annotations to the 229 speeches, writings and interviews that were selected for publication. "I also cherish fond memories of his personal warmth and friendship which he always accorded me", says Dr Janmohamed.
An article by the late K.K. Aziz, entitled "Aga Khan III: A Study in Humanism", is available on the IIS Website in the section on Lifelong Learning.
He is survived by his wife, Zarina, who made it a labour of love to assist him in the preparation of his numerous books.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110487
August 2009
Professor Khurshid Kamal Aziz, the distinguished Pakistani historian, passed away recently in Lahore after a short illness. Amongst his numerous acclaimed publications were works on important individuals who shaped the history of the sub-continent around the time of its partition, including books on Chaudhry Rahmat Ali, Syed Ameer Ali and His Highness Aga Khan III.
Professor Aziz was born in the village of Ballamabad near Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) on 11 December 1927. The only surviving son of the late Shaikh Abdul Aziz (the distinguished Mughal historian and the first editor of the text of the Punjabi epic, the Hir of Waris Shah), he was educated in Batala, Government College Lahore and the University of Manchester.
He had served on the academic staff of the Government College, Lahore, and the Universities of the Punjab, London, Khartoum and Heidelberg. Occasionally he gave lectures on historical, political and Islamic themes at the Universities of Karachi, Peshawar, Dacca, Islamabad, Hull, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Geneva, Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and Bergen. In Pakistan he had held such appointments as Deputy to the Official Historian, Chairman of the National Commission on Historical and Cultural Research, and Special Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister's Office. In 1990's he was the (British) Old Ravians Research Fellow at Cambridge.
Professor Aziz knew eight languages and was a prolific writer. His books include:
· The Making of Pakistan: A Study in Nationalism;
· Studies in History and Politics, Party Politics in Pakistan 1947-1958;
· Britain and Pakistan;
· Ameer Ali: His Life and Work;
· Rahmat Ali: A Biography;
· A History of the Idea of Pakistan (4 volumes);
· Britain and Muslim India;
· Muslims under Congress Rule 1937-1939: A Documentary Record;
· British Imperialism in India;
· The All India Muslim Conference 1928-1935: A Documentary Record;
· The Meaning of Islamic Art: An Annotated Bibliography;
· The Meaning of Islamic Art, Explorations in Religious Symbolism and Social Relevance.
In a work entitled The Murder of History, he took a critical look at the state of historical scholarship in Pakistan.
His two volume study entitled Aga Khan III: Selected Speeches and Writings of Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, 1902 – 1955, was published by Kegan Paul International of London in 1998. Dr. Karim Janmohamed, former Head of the IIS-ITREB Liaison (now Community Relations) Department at the IIS, who collaborated with him for some years in the preparation of the study, recalls the author's meticulous scholarship, a commitment to the highest academic standards and a fluent writing style which are reflected in the 200 page Introduction to the book and the copious annotations to the 229 speeches, writings and interviews that were selected for publication. "I also cherish fond memories of his personal warmth and friendship which he always accorded me", says Dr Janmohamed.
An article by the late K.K. Aziz, entitled "Aga Khan III: A Study in Humanism", is available on the IIS Website in the section on Lifelong Learning.
He is survived by his wife, Zarina, who made it a labour of love to assist him in the preparation of his numerous books.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110487
Interview with Amyn Sajoo
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110622
Publication: 'A Companion to the Muslim World'
Editor: Dr Amyn B. Sajoo
Questions addressed in the interview:
1. In recent years, many introductions to Islam and Muslims have been published. Why the need for this Companion?
2. When it comes to writing about a civilisation with a span of 1,400 years and countless cultures, it must have been difficult to decide what to include and to exclude. What guided you in selecting the topics that the Companion explores?
3. You discuss in this book the forgetting of Muslim heritage ‘once colonial rule prevailed’. Can you explain what this was about – and why it occurred ?
4. You refer to the ‘overlapping worlds’ of the civilisations of Islam and other great traditions. In your opinion, what ethical principles can be our guide in navigating this world?
5. This Companion, as you mentioned, inaugurates a new series. Where do you from here with this ‘Muslim Heritage Series’ ?
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110622
Publication: 'A Companion to the Muslim World'
Editor: Dr Amyn B. Sajoo
Questions addressed in the interview:
1. In recent years, many introductions to Islam and Muslims have been published. Why the need for this Companion?
2. When it comes to writing about a civilisation with a span of 1,400 years and countless cultures, it must have been difficult to decide what to include and to exclude. What guided you in selecting the topics that the Companion explores?
3. You discuss in this book the forgetting of Muslim heritage ‘once colonial rule prevailed’. Can you explain what this was about – and why it occurred ?
4. You refer to the ‘overlapping worlds’ of the civilisations of Islam and other great traditions. In your opinion, what ethical principles can be our guide in navigating this world?
5. This Companion, as you mentioned, inaugurates a new series. Where do you from here with this ‘Muslim Heritage Series’ ?
Interview with Nader El-Bizri
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110657
Get Flash to see this video.
Publication: 'Epistles of the Brethren of Purity: Rasail Ikhawan al-Safa'
Editor: Nader El-Bizri
Questions addressed in the interview:
1) Can you briefly introduce the Ikhwan al-Safa’ to our audience.
2) Can you briefly describe what were the Rasa’il Ikhwan al-Safa’.
3) What are the major themes covered in the Rasa’il and how do they relate to the intellectual situation of their time?
4) What was the impact of the Rasa’il in the history of ideas in Islam?
5) How does the Rasa’il corpus compare with other classical encyclopaedic works?
6) Can you describe the project of publishing an Arabic edition and English translation of the Rasa’il, and what role this publication will play in public education about Muslim civilisations?
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110657
Get Flash to see this video.
Publication: 'Epistles of the Brethren of Purity: Rasail Ikhawan al-Safa'
Editor: Nader El-Bizri
Questions addressed in the interview:
1) Can you briefly introduce the Ikhwan al-Safa’ to our audience.
2) Can you briefly describe what were the Rasa’il Ikhwan al-Safa’.
3) What are the major themes covered in the Rasa’il and how do they relate to the intellectual situation of their time?
4) What was the impact of the Rasa’il in the history of ideas in Islam?
5) How does the Rasa’il corpus compare with other classical encyclopaedic works?
6) Can you describe the project of publishing an Arabic edition and English translation of the Rasa’il, and what role this publication will play in public education about Muslim civilisations?
First Edition of Nasirian Ethics in Tajik Language
September 2009
The Khujand State University in collaboration with The Institute of Ismaili Studies recently organised a book launch of Nasirian Ethics by Nasir ad-din Tusi, a celebrated 13th century Muslim scholar. The publication represents the first edition of the Nasirian Ethics in Tajik language.
The translation was commissioned by the IIS, through its Central Asian Studies Unit, to scholars from the Khujand State University, including Professor Nosirjon Salimov, the rector of KSU, and Professor Umeda Ghafforova. The scholars prepared the critical edition of the book with an introduction, commentary and an extensive glossary, which makes this publication accessible to a wide readership.
In her opening speech, Professor Umeda Ghafforova presented an overview of Nasir ud-Din Tusi’s life and work, emphasising his contribution to Muslim philosophical thought and development of the Persian Language. In particular, she pointed out that the practical ethics in Nasirian Ethics, presented in conjunction with political and social issues, enjoins human beings to acquire qualities and ethics that uplift their spirits and enables them to achieve happiness. She also drew attention to the fact that in this remarkable work Tusi touches upon the issues of justice and governance, laying out prerequisites for just governance, which promotes prosperity of all subjects. Professor Ghafforova also presented the titles of chapters of the book and highlighted their main content.
Dr Ramazon Nazariev, the IIS Liaison Officer in Dushanbe, spoke about the essential values of Nasirian Ethics with a particular reference to Tajik society. He highlighted its moral, philosophical, didactic, religious and socio-political values which have not lost their significance in the span of history, inspiring subsequent generations of scholars and philosophers to ponder over the ethical issues discussed by Nasir ad-din Tusi. Dr. Nazariev also noted that Nasirian Ethics served as a testimony to Tusi’s extensive knowledge of philosophical, ethical and social discourses of his time, evident from his references to contemporary and past philosophers and thinkers.
Mr Hakim Elnazarov, Coordinator of the Central Asian Studies at the IIS, commended the commissioned scholars for the quality of the translation and thanked them for their meticulous work. He described the publication of the book as an important milestone in the development of discourse on ethical issues and stressed that in Nasirian Ethics the ethical precepts go beyond the interaction between humans and the society, extending to the origins of human beings and their unique place in God’s creation. Mr Elnazarov also spoke about the goals of the IIS and its Department of Academic Research and Publications, outlining the range of publications and research that are promoted and supported by the IIS.
In this closing remarks, the rector of the KSU, Professor Nosirjon Salimov, noted the role of the IIS as a leading academic institution in Islamic studies in the west and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity of collaboration with the IIS through this edition of Nasirian Ethics. He expressed the hope that the publication of this work will be a beginning of cooperation between the scholars of KSU and the IIS.
The book launch took place in the academic activities auditorium of the Khujand State University and attracted a large number of scholars and students from the university’s faculties of history, philosophy and philology. The launch was followed by the exhibition of IIS sponsored publications in Russian and Tajik languages.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110662
September 2009
The Khujand State University in collaboration with The Institute of Ismaili Studies recently organised a book launch of Nasirian Ethics by Nasir ad-din Tusi, a celebrated 13th century Muslim scholar. The publication represents the first edition of the Nasirian Ethics in Tajik language.
The translation was commissioned by the IIS, through its Central Asian Studies Unit, to scholars from the Khujand State University, including Professor Nosirjon Salimov, the rector of KSU, and Professor Umeda Ghafforova. The scholars prepared the critical edition of the book with an introduction, commentary and an extensive glossary, which makes this publication accessible to a wide readership.
In her opening speech, Professor Umeda Ghafforova presented an overview of Nasir ud-Din Tusi’s life and work, emphasising his contribution to Muslim philosophical thought and development of the Persian Language. In particular, she pointed out that the practical ethics in Nasirian Ethics, presented in conjunction with political and social issues, enjoins human beings to acquire qualities and ethics that uplift their spirits and enables them to achieve happiness. She also drew attention to the fact that in this remarkable work Tusi touches upon the issues of justice and governance, laying out prerequisites for just governance, which promotes prosperity of all subjects. Professor Ghafforova also presented the titles of chapters of the book and highlighted their main content.
Dr Ramazon Nazariev, the IIS Liaison Officer in Dushanbe, spoke about the essential values of Nasirian Ethics with a particular reference to Tajik society. He highlighted its moral, philosophical, didactic, religious and socio-political values which have not lost their significance in the span of history, inspiring subsequent generations of scholars and philosophers to ponder over the ethical issues discussed by Nasir ad-din Tusi. Dr. Nazariev also noted that Nasirian Ethics served as a testimony to Tusi’s extensive knowledge of philosophical, ethical and social discourses of his time, evident from his references to contemporary and past philosophers and thinkers.
Mr Hakim Elnazarov, Coordinator of the Central Asian Studies at the IIS, commended the commissioned scholars for the quality of the translation and thanked them for their meticulous work. He described the publication of the book as an important milestone in the development of discourse on ethical issues and stressed that in Nasirian Ethics the ethical precepts go beyond the interaction between humans and the society, extending to the origins of human beings and their unique place in God’s creation. Mr Elnazarov also spoke about the goals of the IIS and its Department of Academic Research and Publications, outlining the range of publications and research that are promoted and supported by the IIS.
In this closing remarks, the rector of the KSU, Professor Nosirjon Salimov, noted the role of the IIS as a leading academic institution in Islamic studies in the west and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity of collaboration with the IIS through this edition of Nasirian Ethics. He expressed the hope that the publication of this work will be a beginning of cooperation between the scholars of KSU and the IIS.
The book launch took place in the academic activities auditorium of the Khujand State University and attracted a large number of scholars and students from the university’s faculties of history, philosophy and philology. The launch was followed by the exhibition of IIS sponsored publications in Russian and Tajik languages.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110662
IIS Publishes an Account of Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz’s Reign
October 2009
The latest IIS publication, Towards a Shi‘i Mediterranean Empire: Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo, explores the reign of the fourth Fatimid Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz li-din Allah (r. 953-975 CE), based on the only complete history of the Fatimids written by a mediaeval Sunni Muslim historian. The work by Dr Shainool Jiwa, provides a translation for the first time, of the writings of al-Maqrizi, a 15th century Mamluk scholar, on the reign of Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz.
Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz’s rule was among the most eventful periods in Fatimid history and has left indelible imprints on subsequent centuries. While being an accomplished statesman and administrator, Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz was also an avid scholar and a generous patron of learning. During his reign, the Fatimid Empire extended from present-day Morocco in the west to Syria and Yemen in the east and southeast, respectively. He has the distinction of planning and executing the Fatimid conquest of Egypt, which was subsequently ruled by the Fatimids for the next two centuries.
Dr Shainool JiwaThe expansion of the Fatimids, the conquest of Egypt and the founding of Cairo are among the significant historical events portrayed by al-Maqrizi in his Itti‘az al-hunafa’ bi-akhbar al a’imma al-Fatimiyyin al-khulafa’ (Lessons for the Seekers of Truth on the History of the Fatimid Imams and Caliphs). A distinctive feature of the Itti‘az is that it preserves a number of early Fatimid decrees, letters and sermons delivered by Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz. An example of this is the guarantee of safety (amān) which the Fatimid commander, Jawhar al-Siqilli (d. 381/922), issued to the Egyptian populace. The Fatimid commitment to establish just governance for all their subjects, including members of the Ahl al-Kitāb (The People of the Book), and their inclusive and tolerant attitude to all Muslim communities are among the principles upon which their policies in Egypt were instituted.
The book’s introduction provides a succinct and accessible account of the founding and evolution of the Fatimid Empire. It also introduces al-Maqrizi’s works and interest in the Fatimids. Inspired by the Khaldunian idea that “the inner meaning of history involves speculation and an attempt to get at the truth”, al-Maqrizi undertook a systematic study of the Muslim polity in order to define successful governance models and one such model was manifested in Fatimid rule.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110687
October 2009
The latest IIS publication, Towards a Shi‘i Mediterranean Empire: Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo, explores the reign of the fourth Fatimid Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz li-din Allah (r. 953-975 CE), based on the only complete history of the Fatimids written by a mediaeval Sunni Muslim historian. The work by Dr Shainool Jiwa, provides a translation for the first time, of the writings of al-Maqrizi, a 15th century Mamluk scholar, on the reign of Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz.
Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz’s rule was among the most eventful periods in Fatimid history and has left indelible imprints on subsequent centuries. While being an accomplished statesman and administrator, Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz was also an avid scholar and a generous patron of learning. During his reign, the Fatimid Empire extended from present-day Morocco in the west to Syria and Yemen in the east and southeast, respectively. He has the distinction of planning and executing the Fatimid conquest of Egypt, which was subsequently ruled by the Fatimids for the next two centuries.
Dr Shainool JiwaThe expansion of the Fatimids, the conquest of Egypt and the founding of Cairo are among the significant historical events portrayed by al-Maqrizi in his Itti‘az al-hunafa’ bi-akhbar al a’imma al-Fatimiyyin al-khulafa’ (Lessons for the Seekers of Truth on the History of the Fatimid Imams and Caliphs). A distinctive feature of the Itti‘az is that it preserves a number of early Fatimid decrees, letters and sermons delivered by Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz. An example of this is the guarantee of safety (amān) which the Fatimid commander, Jawhar al-Siqilli (d. 381/922), issued to the Egyptian populace. The Fatimid commitment to establish just governance for all their subjects, including members of the Ahl al-Kitāb (The People of the Book), and their inclusive and tolerant attitude to all Muslim communities are among the principles upon which their policies in Egypt were instituted.
The book’s introduction provides a succinct and accessible account of the founding and evolution of the Fatimid Empire. It also introduces al-Maqrizi’s works and interest in the Fatimids. Inspired by the Khaldunian idea that “the inner meaning of history involves speculation and an attempt to get at the truth”, al-Maqrizi undertook a systematic study of the Muslim polity in order to define successful governance models and one such model was manifested in Fatimid rule.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110687
Towards a Shi‘i Mediterranean Empire: Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo
Dr Shainool Jiwa
I.B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies
ISBN (Hardback): 1845119606
ISBN (Softback):
•Synopsis
•Contents
•Bibliography
Synopsis
Al-Muʿizz li-Din Allah (341-365 AH/ 953-975 CE), the fourth Fatimid Imam-caliph, transformed the Fatimid state from a North African regional power to a Mediterranean empire which, at its height, extended from present-day Morocco in the west to Syria and Yemen in the east. His vision and dynamism contributed to the high watermark of Fatimid achievement to establish a Shi‘i state, which contributed to the cultural and intellectual efflorescence of the Muslim world. Among the crowning achievements of this Ismaili imam-caliph was the peaceful conquest of Egypt, a cherished goal of the Fatimids, which they ruled for over two centuries. Al-Muʿizz’s successful move to Egypt and the founding of Cairo marked a high point of the Fatimid Empire, fostering an enduring legacy in the region. The reign of this illustrious Fatimid sovereign, as narrated by al-Maqrizi, is the focus of this work. It provides the first annotated translation of the chapter on al-Muʿizz from the only complete history of the Fatimids written by a mediaeval Sunni historian.
Taqi al-Din Ahmad b. ʿAli al-Maqrizi, the erudite Sunni scholar of the Mamluk period maintained a distinctive interest in the Fatimids. As such, his writings represent the most comprehensive account of the Fatimid era. His Ittiʿaz al-hunafaʾ bi-akhbar al-aʾimma al-Fatimiyyin al-khulafaʾ (Lessons for the Seekers of Truth in the History of the Fatimid Imams and Caliphs) focuses principally on the Fatimid age, and so it is a particularly valuable historical source on this dynasty. Al-Maqrizi carefully compiled his narrative from a wide range of materials then available to him, many of which are no longer extant, demonstrating a scholarly discernment regarding the value and limitations of his sources that was unusual among medieval Muslim historians. Moreover, he records a number of official documents, letters and sermons of the Fatimids in their entirety, often making his works the only surviving source for this material. As such, it is a rare work of its kind and makes a significant contribution to the study of the Fatimid era.
Towards a Shi‘i Mediterranean Empire centres on the reign of Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz li-Din Allah as relayed in the Ittiʿaz. It provides an extensive introduction to the rise of the Fatimids, their establishment in North Africa prior to their peaceful conquest of Egypt and the significant milestones of Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz and his rule. It then examines al-Maqrizi’s scholarship and interest in the Fatimids noting his Khaldunian approach to history. Although al-Maqrizi begins his chapter on Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz with events in North Africa, the narrative moves swiftly to the Fatimid preparations to transfer their seat of authority to Egypt, which is the primary locus of al-Maqrizi’s interest. His work provides the most comprehensive extant account of the meticulous planning and preparations that the Fatimid sovereign undertook to extend his sovereignty over Egypt.
A distinctive feature of the Ittiʿaz is that it preserves a number of early Fatimid decrees, letters and sermons delivered by Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz. The guarantee of safety (aman) which the Fatimid commander, Jawhar al-Siqilli (d. 381/922), issued to the Egyptian populace is one example of this. Preserved in its entirety, it delineates the principles upon which Fatimid policies in Egypt were instituted for their subsequent two-hundred-year reign. Its notable features include the perceived sacredness of the Fatimid mission, which is articulated in their divinely designated duty of care and protection of the cosmopolitan Egyptian populace. Accordingly, the document outlines the Fatimid commitment to establish just governance for all their subjects including members of the Ahl al-Kitab (The People of the Book), and their inclusive and tolerant attitude to all Muslim communities.
The origin, evolution and splintering of the Qaramita from the Fatimids form a third of this translated work. Embedded in this account is the letter to the Qaramita, ascribed to Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz, which provides one of the earliest articulations of the Fatimid notion of the imamate by an Ismaili Imam.
In reviewing the reign of Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz, al-Maqrizi candidly discusses the biases permeating the reports of certain historians and provides a reasoned argument for his views. However, while al-Maqrizi’s critique of his sources is extremely valuable, he does not use criticism as a pretext to circumvent or even marginalise those authors or their writings. Instead, he draws on the full range of Sunni and Shi‘i, eastern and western, sources to present a comprehensive and balanced overview of Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz’s reign and character.
Contents
Acknowledgements xiiiChronology xvMap xvii INTRODUCTION 1 The Fatimids 2 Origins of the Fatimids. The Fatimids in North Africa.
Al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah 11
The accession of al-Mu‘izz. Egypt and the founding of Cairo. Al-Mu‘izz and the Qaramita. Accomplishments of al-Mu‘izz. Al-Maqrizi’s portrayal of al-Mu‘izz.
Al-Maqrizi and the Fatimids 32
Al-Maqrizi and the Ahl al-Bayt. Al-Maqrizi’s scholarship on the Fatimids. A paradoxical Fatimid scion? The Khaldunian protégé.
Note on the Translation 49
TRANSLATION OF THE TEXT FROM THE ITTI‘AZ AL-HUNAFA’ 51
Establishing the Imamate of Al-Mu‘izz 53
Jawhar’s campaign in the Maghrib. Circumcision of the Princes. Al-Mu‘izz’s counsel to the Kutama.
Preparations for the Transfer to Egypt 58
Jawhar’s march to Egypt. A test of Kutama loyalty. Al-Mu‘izz’s advice to Jawhar. Appointment of a viceroy in the Maghrib. Al-Mu‘izz exhorts the Kutama. Al-Mu‘izz’s departure for Egypt. Episode of the two Slavs. Resolution of a Hasani-Ja‘fari feud in the Hijaz.
Fatimid Administration and the Building of Cairo 66
Proclamation of the aman. Revolt of the Ikshidiyya and Kafuriyya. Jawhar’s arrival in Futsat. The foundation of Cairo. Jawhar’s first year in Egypt.
Then Began the Year 359 [969–970] 86
Jawhar’s administration of Egypt. The Fatimid invasion of Syria.
Then Began the Year 360 [970–971] 96
More on Jawhar’s administration. Qaramita incursion into Egypt.
Then Began the Year 361 [971–972] 98
The Qaramita besiege Cairo.
Then Began the Year 362 [972–973] 101
More on Jawhar’s administration. Al-Mu‘izz’s departure for Egypt.
The Arrival of Al-Mu‘izz in Egypt 104
Al-Mu‘izz leads ‘id prayer in Cairo. Inauguration of the Nile Canal. Display of the Fatimid shamsa. Celebration of ‘Id al-Ghadir.
Then Began the Year 363 [973–974] 113
The collection of land-tax. Audiences with al-Mu‘izz.
An Account of Some News on the Qaramita 122
The conversion of Hamdan Qarmat. The Qarmati leader ‘Abdan. The Qarmati leader Abu Sa‘id al-Jannabi. Abbasid attempts to curb the Qaramita.
Al-Sanadiqi [Ibn Hawshab] 139
The Ismaili-Qaramita split. The Qarmati leaders Zikrawayh and al-Hasan b. Zikrawayh. The Qarmati leader Abu Tahir al-Jannabi. The Qaramita in Iran. Fatimid forces battle the Qaramita in Syria. Al-Mu‘izz’s letter to the Qaramita. Defeat of the Qaramita in Egypt. The Qaramita defeat in Syria. The Qaramita defeat in Iraq.
The Final Phase of Al-Mu‘izz’s Reign 187
Turmoil in Damascus.
Then Began the Year 364 [974–975] 195
Demise of Prince ‘Abd Allah b. al-Mu‘izz. The rise of Aftakin in Syria. The year of the comet. The final year of al-Mu‘izz’s reign. The demise of al-Mu‘izz.
Bibliography 217
Index 227
Content Date: August 2009
http://iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110527
*****
Interview with Dr Shainool Jiwa
http://iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110632
Get Flash to see this video.
Publication: Towards Shi'i Mediterranean Empire: Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo
Translated by: Dr Shainool Jiwa
1. Could you please elaborate on the title of the book and explain why you have chosen to call the Fatimids a ‘Mediterranean Empire’? (0-1:26)
2. The book’s introduction gives a succinct and informative account of the origins of the Fatimids. What were the key elements of the Ismaili da‘wa that attracted the Maghrebis and led to the founding of the Fatimid Empire there? (1:39-2:35)
3. In this book, you have translated part of al-Maqrizi's work. Can you tell us a little bit about this 15th century scholar and the reasons for his interest in the Fatimids? (2:45-5:50)
4. What were the distinctive features of Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz rule, particularly with regard to his policies towards the people of Egypt and his relations with other states? (6:00-8:09)
5. Who else has written about Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz and how do their accounts compare with Maqrizi’s writings? (8:26-9:08)
6. Who is the expected audience of ‘Towards a Shi‘i Mediterrean Empire’? (9:18-10:28
Dr Shainool Jiwa
I.B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies
ISBN (Hardback): 1845119606
ISBN (Softback):
•Synopsis
•Contents
•Bibliography
Synopsis
Al-Muʿizz li-Din Allah (341-365 AH/ 953-975 CE), the fourth Fatimid Imam-caliph, transformed the Fatimid state from a North African regional power to a Mediterranean empire which, at its height, extended from present-day Morocco in the west to Syria and Yemen in the east. His vision and dynamism contributed to the high watermark of Fatimid achievement to establish a Shi‘i state, which contributed to the cultural and intellectual efflorescence of the Muslim world. Among the crowning achievements of this Ismaili imam-caliph was the peaceful conquest of Egypt, a cherished goal of the Fatimids, which they ruled for over two centuries. Al-Muʿizz’s successful move to Egypt and the founding of Cairo marked a high point of the Fatimid Empire, fostering an enduring legacy in the region. The reign of this illustrious Fatimid sovereign, as narrated by al-Maqrizi, is the focus of this work. It provides the first annotated translation of the chapter on al-Muʿizz from the only complete history of the Fatimids written by a mediaeval Sunni historian.
Taqi al-Din Ahmad b. ʿAli al-Maqrizi, the erudite Sunni scholar of the Mamluk period maintained a distinctive interest in the Fatimids. As such, his writings represent the most comprehensive account of the Fatimid era. His Ittiʿaz al-hunafaʾ bi-akhbar al-aʾimma al-Fatimiyyin al-khulafaʾ (Lessons for the Seekers of Truth in the History of the Fatimid Imams and Caliphs) focuses principally on the Fatimid age, and so it is a particularly valuable historical source on this dynasty. Al-Maqrizi carefully compiled his narrative from a wide range of materials then available to him, many of which are no longer extant, demonstrating a scholarly discernment regarding the value and limitations of his sources that was unusual among medieval Muslim historians. Moreover, he records a number of official documents, letters and sermons of the Fatimids in their entirety, often making his works the only surviving source for this material. As such, it is a rare work of its kind and makes a significant contribution to the study of the Fatimid era.
Towards a Shi‘i Mediterranean Empire centres on the reign of Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz li-Din Allah as relayed in the Ittiʿaz. It provides an extensive introduction to the rise of the Fatimids, their establishment in North Africa prior to their peaceful conquest of Egypt and the significant milestones of Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz and his rule. It then examines al-Maqrizi’s scholarship and interest in the Fatimids noting his Khaldunian approach to history. Although al-Maqrizi begins his chapter on Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz with events in North Africa, the narrative moves swiftly to the Fatimid preparations to transfer their seat of authority to Egypt, which is the primary locus of al-Maqrizi’s interest. His work provides the most comprehensive extant account of the meticulous planning and preparations that the Fatimid sovereign undertook to extend his sovereignty over Egypt.
A distinctive feature of the Ittiʿaz is that it preserves a number of early Fatimid decrees, letters and sermons delivered by Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz. The guarantee of safety (aman) which the Fatimid commander, Jawhar al-Siqilli (d. 381/922), issued to the Egyptian populace is one example of this. Preserved in its entirety, it delineates the principles upon which Fatimid policies in Egypt were instituted for their subsequent two-hundred-year reign. Its notable features include the perceived sacredness of the Fatimid mission, which is articulated in their divinely designated duty of care and protection of the cosmopolitan Egyptian populace. Accordingly, the document outlines the Fatimid commitment to establish just governance for all their subjects including members of the Ahl al-Kitab (The People of the Book), and their inclusive and tolerant attitude to all Muslim communities.
The origin, evolution and splintering of the Qaramita from the Fatimids form a third of this translated work. Embedded in this account is the letter to the Qaramita, ascribed to Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz, which provides one of the earliest articulations of the Fatimid notion of the imamate by an Ismaili Imam.
In reviewing the reign of Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz, al-Maqrizi candidly discusses the biases permeating the reports of certain historians and provides a reasoned argument for his views. However, while al-Maqrizi’s critique of his sources is extremely valuable, he does not use criticism as a pretext to circumvent or even marginalise those authors or their writings. Instead, he draws on the full range of Sunni and Shi‘i, eastern and western, sources to present a comprehensive and balanced overview of Imam-caliph al-Muʿizz’s reign and character.
Contents
Acknowledgements xiiiChronology xvMap xvii INTRODUCTION 1 The Fatimids 2 Origins of the Fatimids. The Fatimids in North Africa.
Al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah 11
The accession of al-Mu‘izz. Egypt and the founding of Cairo. Al-Mu‘izz and the Qaramita. Accomplishments of al-Mu‘izz. Al-Maqrizi’s portrayal of al-Mu‘izz.
Al-Maqrizi and the Fatimids 32
Al-Maqrizi and the Ahl al-Bayt. Al-Maqrizi’s scholarship on the Fatimids. A paradoxical Fatimid scion? The Khaldunian protégé.
Note on the Translation 49
TRANSLATION OF THE TEXT FROM THE ITTI‘AZ AL-HUNAFA’ 51
Establishing the Imamate of Al-Mu‘izz 53
Jawhar’s campaign in the Maghrib. Circumcision of the Princes. Al-Mu‘izz’s counsel to the Kutama.
Preparations for the Transfer to Egypt 58
Jawhar’s march to Egypt. A test of Kutama loyalty. Al-Mu‘izz’s advice to Jawhar. Appointment of a viceroy in the Maghrib. Al-Mu‘izz exhorts the Kutama. Al-Mu‘izz’s departure for Egypt. Episode of the two Slavs. Resolution of a Hasani-Ja‘fari feud in the Hijaz.
Fatimid Administration and the Building of Cairo 66
Proclamation of the aman. Revolt of the Ikshidiyya and Kafuriyya. Jawhar’s arrival in Futsat. The foundation of Cairo. Jawhar’s first year in Egypt.
Then Began the Year 359 [969–970] 86
Jawhar’s administration of Egypt. The Fatimid invasion of Syria.
Then Began the Year 360 [970–971] 96
More on Jawhar’s administration. Qaramita incursion into Egypt.
Then Began the Year 361 [971–972] 98
The Qaramita besiege Cairo.
Then Began the Year 362 [972–973] 101
More on Jawhar’s administration. Al-Mu‘izz’s departure for Egypt.
The Arrival of Al-Mu‘izz in Egypt 104
Al-Mu‘izz leads ‘id prayer in Cairo. Inauguration of the Nile Canal. Display of the Fatimid shamsa. Celebration of ‘Id al-Ghadir.
Then Began the Year 363 [973–974] 113
The collection of land-tax. Audiences with al-Mu‘izz.
An Account of Some News on the Qaramita 122
The conversion of Hamdan Qarmat. The Qarmati leader ‘Abdan. The Qarmati leader Abu Sa‘id al-Jannabi. Abbasid attempts to curb the Qaramita.
Al-Sanadiqi [Ibn Hawshab] 139
The Ismaili-Qaramita split. The Qarmati leaders Zikrawayh and al-Hasan b. Zikrawayh. The Qarmati leader Abu Tahir al-Jannabi. The Qaramita in Iran. Fatimid forces battle the Qaramita in Syria. Al-Mu‘izz’s letter to the Qaramita. Defeat of the Qaramita in Egypt. The Qaramita defeat in Syria. The Qaramita defeat in Iraq.
The Final Phase of Al-Mu‘izz’s Reign 187
Turmoil in Damascus.
Then Began the Year 364 [974–975] 195
Demise of Prince ‘Abd Allah b. al-Mu‘izz. The rise of Aftakin in Syria. The year of the comet. The final year of al-Mu‘izz’s reign. The demise of al-Mu‘izz.
Bibliography 217
Index 227
Content Date: August 2009
http://iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110527
*****
Interview with Dr Shainool Jiwa
http://iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=110632
Get Flash to see this video.
Publication: Towards Shi'i Mediterranean Empire: Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo
Translated by: Dr Shainool Jiwa
1. Could you please elaborate on the title of the book and explain why you have chosen to call the Fatimids a ‘Mediterranean Empire’? (0-1:26)
2. The book’s introduction gives a succinct and informative account of the origins of the Fatimids. What were the key elements of the Ismaili da‘wa that attracted the Maghrebis and led to the founding of the Fatimid Empire there? (1:39-2:35)
3. In this book, you have translated part of al-Maqrizi's work. Can you tell us a little bit about this 15th century scholar and the reasons for his interest in the Fatimids? (2:45-5:50)
4. What were the distinctive features of Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz rule, particularly with regard to his policies towards the people of Egypt and his relations with other states? (6:00-8:09)
5. Who else has written about Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz and how do their accounts compare with Maqrizi’s writings? (8:26-9:08)
6. Who is the expected audience of ‘Towards a Shi‘i Mediterrean Empire’? (9:18-10:28
First Arabic Edition of ‘Uyun al-akhbar in collaboration with IFPO
January 2010
The ‘Uyun al-akhbar wa-funun al-athar, by the Tayyibi Musta‘lian Ismaili da‘i, Idris ‘Imad al-Din, occupies a central position in Ismaili historiography. This major publication project is an outcome of collaboration between the Institut Français du Proche Orient (IFPO) in Damascus and The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS).
This text, composed by the Ismaili da‘i-scholar in seven volumes, presents the most comprehensive history of the Ismaili imams and da‘wa, from the earliest period of Muslim history until the late Fatimid period. Idris ‘Imad al-Din (born 1392 CE) was descended from the prominent al-Walid family of the Quraysh in Yemen, who led the Tayyibi Musta‘lian Ismaili da‘wa for more than three centuries. This gave him access to the literary heritage of the Ismailis, including the majority of extant Fatimid texts transferred to Yemen.
This edition is primarily based on manuscripts from the IIS Library collections and forms part of the IIS’ Ismaili Texts and Translations Series. For the first time, the text has been critically edited by a team of Syrian and Egyptian Arabic scholars, coordinated by Dr Nader El-Bizri (IIS) and Dr Sarab Atassi-Khattab (IFPO).
The first volume of ‘Uyun al-akhbar, on the life of the Prophet Muhammad, is particularly valuable in reflecting Ismaili tradition. Similarly, Volumes Two and Three portray the Ismaili perspectives on Imam ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (d. 661 CE) and his battles against his opponents.
The fourth volume covers the biographies of the early imams, from al-Hasan b. ‘Ali (d. 669 CE) and al-Husayn b. ‘Ali (d. 680 CE) until al-Husayn b. Ahmad, the last Ismaili imam of the dawr al-satr, or period of concealment.
The fifth volume deals with the initiation of the Ismaili da‘wa in Yemen and North Africa, and the establishment of the Fatimid state in 909 CE, with the reigns of the Fatimid Ismaili caliph-imams al-Mahdi (909–934 CE), al-Qa’im (934–946 CE) and al-Mansur (946–953 CE).
The sixth volume covers the reigns of the next four Fatimid caliph-imams, al-Mu‘izz (953–975 CE), al-‘Aziz (975–996 CE), al-Hakim (996–1021 CE), al-Zahir (1021–1036 CE) as well as the early years of al-Mustansir (1036–1094 CE).
Finally, the seventh volume of the ‘Uyun covers the remaining period of al-Mustansir’s reign, the establishment of Sulayhid rule in the Yemen and the Musta‘lian–Nizari schism following al-Mustansir’s death in 1097 CE. The volume also deals with the reigns of the next two Fatimid caliphs recognised also as imams by the Musta‘lian Ismailis, namely, al-Musta‘li (1094–1101 CE) and al-Amir (1101–1130 CE), as well as the commencement of the Tayyibi da‘wa in the Yemen and the collapse of the Fatimids in Egypt. Furthermore, the volume contains important details on the various da‘is of the Yemen. It remains a basic source for the history of the Ismaili da‘wa in the Yemen under the Sulayhids.
Five volumes of the set of seven have already been published, between 2007 and 2009, in Arabic critical editions. The remaining two (Volumes 3 and 5) are due to be published in 2010. They are part of the exciting ongoing collaboration between the IIS and IFPO.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=111168
January 2010
The ‘Uyun al-akhbar wa-funun al-athar, by the Tayyibi Musta‘lian Ismaili da‘i, Idris ‘Imad al-Din, occupies a central position in Ismaili historiography. This major publication project is an outcome of collaboration between the Institut Français du Proche Orient (IFPO) in Damascus and The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS).
This text, composed by the Ismaili da‘i-scholar in seven volumes, presents the most comprehensive history of the Ismaili imams and da‘wa, from the earliest period of Muslim history until the late Fatimid period. Idris ‘Imad al-Din (born 1392 CE) was descended from the prominent al-Walid family of the Quraysh in Yemen, who led the Tayyibi Musta‘lian Ismaili da‘wa for more than three centuries. This gave him access to the literary heritage of the Ismailis, including the majority of extant Fatimid texts transferred to Yemen.
This edition is primarily based on manuscripts from the IIS Library collections and forms part of the IIS’ Ismaili Texts and Translations Series. For the first time, the text has been critically edited by a team of Syrian and Egyptian Arabic scholars, coordinated by Dr Nader El-Bizri (IIS) and Dr Sarab Atassi-Khattab (IFPO).
The first volume of ‘Uyun al-akhbar, on the life of the Prophet Muhammad, is particularly valuable in reflecting Ismaili tradition. Similarly, Volumes Two and Three portray the Ismaili perspectives on Imam ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (d. 661 CE) and his battles against his opponents.
The fourth volume covers the biographies of the early imams, from al-Hasan b. ‘Ali (d. 669 CE) and al-Husayn b. ‘Ali (d. 680 CE) until al-Husayn b. Ahmad, the last Ismaili imam of the dawr al-satr, or period of concealment.
The fifth volume deals with the initiation of the Ismaili da‘wa in Yemen and North Africa, and the establishment of the Fatimid state in 909 CE, with the reigns of the Fatimid Ismaili caliph-imams al-Mahdi (909–934 CE), al-Qa’im (934–946 CE) and al-Mansur (946–953 CE).
The sixth volume covers the reigns of the next four Fatimid caliph-imams, al-Mu‘izz (953–975 CE), al-‘Aziz (975–996 CE), al-Hakim (996–1021 CE), al-Zahir (1021–1036 CE) as well as the early years of al-Mustansir (1036–1094 CE).
Finally, the seventh volume of the ‘Uyun covers the remaining period of al-Mustansir’s reign, the establishment of Sulayhid rule in the Yemen and the Musta‘lian–Nizari schism following al-Mustansir’s death in 1097 CE. The volume also deals with the reigns of the next two Fatimid caliphs recognised also as imams by the Musta‘lian Ismailis, namely, al-Musta‘li (1094–1101 CE) and al-Amir (1101–1130 CE), as well as the commencement of the Tayyibi da‘wa in the Yemen and the collapse of the Fatimids in Egypt. Furthermore, the volume contains important details on the various da‘is of the Yemen. It remains a basic source for the history of the Ismaili da‘wa in the Yemen under the Sulayhids.
Five volumes of the set of seven have already been published, between 2007 and 2009, in Arabic critical editions. The remaining two (Volumes 3 and 5) are due to be published in 2010. They are part of the exciting ongoing collaboration between the IIS and IFPO.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=111168
Living in Historic Cairo: Past and Present in an Islamic City (Institute of Ismaili Studies)
Farhad Daftary (Editor), Elizabeth Fernea (Editor), Azim Nanji (Editor)
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
The history of Cairo is usually presented in terms of periods and dynasties such as the Fatimid or Ayyubid. The modern history of Egypt is generally held to begin in the last decades of the nineteenth century with the emergence of a new, modern city, constructed by the Khedives of Egypt along European lines. This illustrated book examines Cairo from the first century AH/seventh century AD until the present, considering the relationships between the physical layout of the city and its historic buildings, its economy, and its social, cultural, and religious life. The book discusses the programs of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, both for restoring historic monuments in the district of al-Darb al-Ahmar and for reviving and improving the social and economic life of the old city. It also seeks to convey what the residents of the old city think about these projects, to clarify what, if any, is the felt relationship between the great monuments like Bab al-Zuwayla and the people who live nearby and what can be learned from this experience for similar restoration projects in other parts of the world.--No previous book has dealt with Cairo across so wide a range of periods and subjects, examining the relationships between the inhabitants of Cairo and their city and the relationships between past and present.-- Economics, architecture, and religious practices in past ages all have reverberations in the present. The contributors range from academics with expertise in Islamic history and architecture, such as Nasser Rabbat and Roy Mottahedeh, to the personnel who were engaged in the restoration projects.--A DVD of the film Living with the Past: Historic Cairo (2001, 56 minutes, directed by Maysoon Pachachi for Echo Productions, produced by Elizabeth Fernea) accompanies the book. It portrays al-Darb al-Ahmar, a neighborhood in the heart of the old city, and follows several interwoven restoration projects undertaken with a unique approach combining conservation with social, cultural, and economic neighborhood schemes that aim not only to rescue endangered monuments but also to preserve the spirit and vitality of the community.
From the Inside Flap
Living in Historic Cairo examines Cairo across the centuries, from the 7th century AD to the present. It discusses the programs of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture for restoring historic monuments in the district of al-Darb al-Amar and for reviving and improving the social and economic life of the old city. It also seeks to convey what the residents of the old city think about these projects. --DVD-Living with the Past: Historic Cairo (2001), 56 mins, Directed by Maysoon Pachachi for Echo Productions.-Produced by Elizabeth Fernea this film portrays Darb al-Ahmar, a neighbourhood in the heart of the old city. Designed as a companion to the book the film follows several interwoven restoration projects undertaken with a unique approach combining conservation with social, cultural and economic neighbourhood schemes that aim not only to rescue endangered monuments but also to preserve the spirit and vitality of the community.
http://www.amazon.com/Living-Historic-C ... 1898592284
Farhad Daftary (Editor), Elizabeth Fernea (Editor), Azim Nanji (Editor)
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
The history of Cairo is usually presented in terms of periods and dynasties such as the Fatimid or Ayyubid. The modern history of Egypt is generally held to begin in the last decades of the nineteenth century with the emergence of a new, modern city, constructed by the Khedives of Egypt along European lines. This illustrated book examines Cairo from the first century AH/seventh century AD until the present, considering the relationships between the physical layout of the city and its historic buildings, its economy, and its social, cultural, and religious life. The book discusses the programs of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, both for restoring historic monuments in the district of al-Darb al-Ahmar and for reviving and improving the social and economic life of the old city. It also seeks to convey what the residents of the old city think about these projects, to clarify what, if any, is the felt relationship between the great monuments like Bab al-Zuwayla and the people who live nearby and what can be learned from this experience for similar restoration projects in other parts of the world.--No previous book has dealt with Cairo across so wide a range of periods and subjects, examining the relationships between the inhabitants of Cairo and their city and the relationships between past and present.-- Economics, architecture, and religious practices in past ages all have reverberations in the present. The contributors range from academics with expertise in Islamic history and architecture, such as Nasser Rabbat and Roy Mottahedeh, to the personnel who were engaged in the restoration projects.--A DVD of the film Living with the Past: Historic Cairo (2001, 56 minutes, directed by Maysoon Pachachi for Echo Productions, produced by Elizabeth Fernea) accompanies the book. It portrays al-Darb al-Ahmar, a neighborhood in the heart of the old city, and follows several interwoven restoration projects undertaken with a unique approach combining conservation with social, cultural, and economic neighborhood schemes that aim not only to rescue endangered monuments but also to preserve the spirit and vitality of the community.
From the Inside Flap
Living in Historic Cairo examines Cairo across the centuries, from the 7th century AD to the present. It discusses the programs of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture for restoring historic monuments in the district of al-Darb al-Amar and for reviving and improving the social and economic life of the old city. It also seeks to convey what the residents of the old city think about these projects. --DVD-Living with the Past: Historic Cairo (2001), 56 mins, Directed by Maysoon Pachachi for Echo Productions.-Produced by Elizabeth Fernea this film portrays Darb al-Ahmar, a neighbourhood in the heart of the old city. Designed as a companion to the book the film follows several interwoven restoration projects undertaken with a unique approach combining conservation with social, cultural and economic neighbourhood schemes that aim not only to rescue endangered monuments but also to preserve the spirit and vitality of the community.
http://www.amazon.com/Living-Historic-C ... 1898592284
Islam in the School Curriculum
Symbolic Pedagogy and Cultural Claims
by Shiraz Thobani
http://www.continuumbooks.com/books/det ... ct2Id=1423
Preview
Share
A sociological study of the recontextualisation of Islam as school knowledge in the UK education system.
Imprint: Continuum
Pub. date: 07 Jun 2010
ISBN: 9781441100078
288 Pages, hardcover
World rights
Translation Rights Available
$140.00
Add to my Catalogue
Add to my basket .Description
Islam in the School Curriculum explores the conceptualisation of school-based Islam on two levels: as a symbolic category in English religious education as a consequence of policy shifts, and as pedagogic discourse at the local community level in state and Muslim schools. Using recontextualisation theory, the author examines the relations between educational governance, social interests and cultural epistemology as they pertain specifically to symbolic constructs.
In the aftermath of September 11 2001, the teaching of Islam has assumed geopolitical significance, coming under close scrutiny internationally. Much of this attention has been directed at madrasas in Muslim countries, yet Islam in schooling contexts in the West has remained a blind-spot. In the UK, heightened anxieties about ‘home-grown’ terrorists point to the need for a better understanding of Islam in both state and faith schools.
Shiraz Thobani explores the role played by national and local policies and pedagogic practices in the production of school-based Islam in a secular, liberal context and makes an important contribution to the sociology of the curriculum and the study of religious education.
Table of Contents
List of Tables \ Abbreviations \ Acknowledgements \ Introduction \ 1. Policy Contexts and Disputed Knowledge \ 2. Researching School-based Islam \ 3. Tradition and Innovation in the Curriculum \ 4. Liberalism and Social Parity \ 5. State, Religion and Cultural Restoration \ 6. The Micropolitics of Representation \ 7. Symbolic Imaginings in State Schools \ 8. Creating the New Community \ 9. Politicized Islam and Civic Engagement \ 10. Recontextualized Culture and Social Implications \ Glossary \ References \ Index
Author(s)
Shiraz Thobani, Shiraz Thobani is Research Associate at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London, UK.
Symbolic Pedagogy and Cultural Claims
by Shiraz Thobani
http://www.continuumbooks.com/books/det ... ct2Id=1423
Preview
Share
A sociological study of the recontextualisation of Islam as school knowledge in the UK education system.
Imprint: Continuum
Pub. date: 07 Jun 2010
ISBN: 9781441100078
288 Pages, hardcover
World rights
Translation Rights Available
$140.00
Add to my Catalogue
Add to my basket .Description
Islam in the School Curriculum explores the conceptualisation of school-based Islam on two levels: as a symbolic category in English religious education as a consequence of policy shifts, and as pedagogic discourse at the local community level in state and Muslim schools. Using recontextualisation theory, the author examines the relations between educational governance, social interests and cultural epistemology as they pertain specifically to symbolic constructs.
In the aftermath of September 11 2001, the teaching of Islam has assumed geopolitical significance, coming under close scrutiny internationally. Much of this attention has been directed at madrasas in Muslim countries, yet Islam in schooling contexts in the West has remained a blind-spot. In the UK, heightened anxieties about ‘home-grown’ terrorists point to the need for a better understanding of Islam in both state and faith schools.
Shiraz Thobani explores the role played by national and local policies and pedagogic practices in the production of school-based Islam in a secular, liberal context and makes an important contribution to the sociology of the curriculum and the study of religious education.
Table of Contents
List of Tables \ Abbreviations \ Acknowledgements \ Introduction \ 1. Policy Contexts and Disputed Knowledge \ 2. Researching School-based Islam \ 3. Tradition and Innovation in the Curriculum \ 4. Liberalism and Social Parity \ 5. State, Religion and Cultural Restoration \ 6. The Micropolitics of Representation \ 7. Symbolic Imaginings in State Schools \ 8. Creating the New Community \ 9. Politicized Islam and Civic Engagement \ 10. Recontextualized Culture and Social Implications \ Glossary \ References \ Index
Author(s)
Shiraz Thobani, Shiraz Thobani is Research Associate at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London, UK.
Dear Subscriber
One of the richest and most rewarding - yet least familiar - traditions of Muslim literature is that of the Shi'i Imami Ismailis. Although many literary treasures of the Islamic world are already available in translation, those of the Ismailis are only slowly being made accessible.
The Anthology of Ismaili Literature makes a vital contribution to the process of wider dissemination. The single best compendium of one of the world's great undiscovered literary traditions, the Anthology makes Ismaili Literature newly available for a western audience.
With a comprehensive and representative range of texts, this is an ideal starting point for beginners, and an essential reference for experienced scholars.
An Anthology of Ismaili Literature
A Shi'i Vision of Islam
Edited by Hermann Landolt, Samira Sheikh & Kutub Kassam
RRP: £39.50
Special Price: £27.50 + p&p
Offer ends 7th May 2010
For the first time, extracts from a range of significant Ismaili texts in both poetry and prose are brought together and translated into English by some of the foremost scholars in the field. The texts included belong to a long span of Ismaili history, which extends from the Fatimid era to the beginning of the twentieth century.
With substantial sections devoted to such broad topics as faith and thought, history and biography, ethics, the Imamate, Ta'wil (or esoteric exegesis and textual interpretation), the Anthology offers continuously enriching glimpses into the depths, diversity and distinctiveness of one of the great traditions of Islamic thought and creativity. More details...
Read an Extract from the Anthology of Ismaili Literature
9781845117948 | Hardback | 400 pages | Special Price: £27.50 + p&p
Table of Contents:
Forward by Azim Nanji
Preface and Acknowledgements
Contributors
List of Reprinted Works
List of Illustrations
Ismaili History and Literary Traditions Farhad Daftary
Part I: History and Memoir
Introduction Samira Sheikh
Part II: Faith and Thought
Introduction Hermann Landolt
Section I: God and Creation
Section II: Prophethood and Imamate
Section III: Initiation, Knowledge and Meaning
Section IV: Faith and Ethics
Part III: Poetry
Introduction Kutub Kassam
Section I: Arabic Poetry
Section II: Persian Poetry
Section III: The Poetry of South Asia
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
About the Editors:
Hermann Landolt is Emeritus Professor of Islamic Studies, McGill University, and a Senior Research Fellow at The Institute of Ismaili Studies.
Samira Sheikh has a doctorate in history from the University of Oxford and is a Research Associate at The Institute of Ismaili Studies.
Kutub Kassam is a graduate of the University of Nairobi and is currently Senior editor at The Institute of Ismaili Studies.
Other ways to stay in touch:
http://twi.to/xsq
*****
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=109757
An Anthology of Ismaili Literature: A Shi‘i Vision of Islam
I.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies, 2008
ISBN (Hardback): 978 1 84511 794 8
ISBN (Softback):
* Synopsis
* Contents
* Bibliography
Synopsis
Publication page on Google Books
Download PDF version of Introduction to Part One(68 KB)
Download PDF version of Introduction to Part Two (68 KB)
Download PDF version of Introduction to Part Three (66 KB)
The word ‘anthology’ comes from the Greek for ‘flower-gathering’. An Anthology of Ismaili Literature: A Shi‘i Vision of Islam is the first collection of the literary ‘flowers’ of the Ismaili tradition, offering up to its readers glimpses of a literary tradition as rich and varied as it is little-known. The extracts, drawn from all periods of the Ismailis’ pre-modern history, reflect the plural and multi-ethnic history of the community and display a remarkable diversity in style and genre.
As Azim Nanji points out in his foreword, the impulse to anthologise has a hallowed history in Muslim literature. Muslims have long compiled collections of hadith, biographies, histories, poetry and commentaries as ways of preserving and systematising their heritages. The present volume follows in that tradition, albeit supplemented with the full apparatus of modern scholarship. With sections on ‘History and Memoir’, ‘Faith and Thought’, and ‘Poetry’, An Anthology of Ismaili Literature introduces its readers to the diverse genres of pre-modern Ismaili writing and to the circumstances in which they were produced.
The book opens with a substantial essay on Ismaili history and literary traditions by Farhad Daftary. The first section of historical extracts begins with the times of uncertainty that preceded the establishment of Fatimid rule in Egypt, as chronicled by the 10th century da‘i and author Ibn al-Haytham. Scenes from the days of the earliest Fatimid Imam-Caliph al-Mahdi (d. 322 AH/934 CE) are retold by his faithful chamberlain Ja‘far and by the renowned jurist and author, al-Qadi al-Nu‘man (d. 363 AH/974 CE). We hear more about the Qadi and the last imam of his time, Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz (r. 341-365 AH/953-975 CE), in the words of the 15th-century Tayyibi author Idris Imad al-Din. Two of the greatest luminaries of the 11th-century Ismaili da‘wa have also left detailed accounts of their travels. The autobiography of al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi (d. 470 AH/1078 CE) includes a gripping account of his escape from the hostile kingdom of the Buyids to safety in the Fatimid realms, an excerpt from which is included here. Roughly at the same time, Nasir-i Khusraw (d. after 462 AH/1070 CE) made a long spiritual journey from Persia to Egypt, then ruled by the Imam-Caliph al-Mustansir bi’llah (d. 487 AH/1094 CE). Here we include his famous description of Old Cairo and his account of the imam-caliph’s rule, in which justice was available to all, regardless of their faith. The section ends with chapters from Pir Sabzali’s narrative of a journey to Central Asia in the early 20th century, in which he and his Indian companions toiled through difficult terrain in Chitral and met with local Ismailis who impressed the Indian delegation with their fervent devotion to the imam of the time.
Part Two, on ‘Faith and Thought’, is the heart of the volume, and comprises four sections of reflections by the greatest Ismaili thinkers on fundamental questions of creation, revelation, the imamat, ethics and faith. In the first section are extracts from the work of classical Ismaili thinkers such as Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani (d. around 360 AH/971 CE), Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani (d. after 411 AH/1020 CE) and Nasir-i Khusraw, who argued against the theology of the time by refusing to project any anthropomorphic (human-like) qualities of God, the Originator. To quote one of the editors, Hermann Landolt, these thinkers ‘also set themselves apart from the mainstream philosophical tradition, arguing that ‘existence’ itself belongs to the domain of the originated and thus cannot be applied to the Originator, whose pure identity is beyond intellectual reach.’ This section also contains al-Sijistani’s reflections on the spiritual quality of beauty in nature and art. It ends with an extract from the epistles of the anonymous Brethren of Purity who are believed to have lived in Basra in the mid 10th century. The authors used the natural world to make profound philosophical arguments: here, the parrot, appointed to argue the case for the animals of prey, attempts to explain how animals stand higher in God’s eyes than humans.
The second section consists of reflections on the nature of prophecy and the imamat, many of which affirm the importance of the continued existence of the imamat and its role as a guiding principle down the generations. It begins with al-Sijistani’s demonstration of the universal process of prophetic revelation as an esoteric reflection of the history of mankind itself. The Fatimid da‘i al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi said that ‘…. all the sciences, including the rational ones… are collectively present in the sciences of the prophets’, thus establishing the importance of reason in religion. Human reason, further explains the Ismaili thinker and poet Nasir-i Khusraw, is a trace of the Universal Intellect, and thus does not contradict revelation. Another distinguished Fatimid scholar, Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Naysaburi (fl. 4th/10th – early 5th/11th century), similarly used rational tools and metaphors from the natural world to explain how the imamat is the pole and foundation of religion. Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani explains why the imamat is necessary to carry forward God’s message and the example of His Messenger. The 11th-century Persian hujja Hasan-i Sabbah, affirms, in a fragmentary surviving text, the need for the Ismaili imam as the authoritative teacher who would guide humans towards their spiritual goals. Finally, the thinker Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d. 672 AH/1274 CE) explains the nature and necessity of the imamat and why it is necessary for the seeker to submit to ‘the wise and perfect man’ to achieve true knowledge.
Several Ismaili texts describe individual journeys in search of spiritual knowledge. The third section begins with the tale of the initiation of a young seeker, excerpted from the account of Ja‘far b. Mansur al-Yaman (d. ca. 346 AH/957 CE), who wrote even before the establishment of the Fatimid caliphate. Next is the account of Nasir al-Din al-Tusi who found himself dissatisfied with various spiritual paths and eventually came to believe in the necessity of a ‘spiritual instructor’ to guide his way to spiritual knowledge. Knowledge itself has an external dimension and an inner, subtle truth. Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani explains the need for higher knowledge through the interpretation of scripture and al-Sijistani explains that such knowledge is acquired by the prophets in the form of spiritual inspiration, bypassing the material world. Next are three examples by Ismaili scholars of ta’wil or subtle elucidations that bring out the inner esoteric meanings of Qur’anic phrases and the religious duties of Muslims.
The section on faith and ethics begins with al-Qadi al-Nu‘man’s distinction between iman (faith) and islam (submission) from the start of his magnum opus of Fatimid law, the Da‘a’im al-Islam. This is followed by al-Naysaburi’s ‘code of conduct’ for da‘is, which brings out key aspects of the institutional hierarchy of the Fatimids. From laws and norms to ethics is a natural progression. In a passage on the refinement of character from a text attributed to Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, the author asserts that ethics is governed by the recognition of and reverence for the imam of the time. Al-Tusi also wrote a short treatise on tawalla, ‘solidarity’ and tabarra, ‘dissociation’, which is quoted here in full. This is followed by an extract from a treatise by a 16th-century author, Khayrkhwah-i Harati, who asserts the importance of spiritual edification or ta‘lim and the role of the Ismaili hierarchy in leading believers towards the truth and the divine.
The third part of the volume is devoted to Ismaili poetry, the prime vehicle for devotional expression throughout the generations. As Kutub Kassam explains, poetry discloses ‘the inner, spiritual life of the poets and the communities they represent’. This part is divided into compositions originally produced in Arabic, Persian and the languages of South Asia. The Fatimid period is represented by compositions of the versatile and prolific poet Ibn Hani al-Andalusi (d. 362 AH/973 CE), famed as the ‘Mutanabbi of the Maghrib’, and the more personal, devotional verses of al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi. Nasir-i Khusraw is another one of the greatest poets of the Persian Ismaili tradition. The poems included here demonstrate his devotion to the Ismaili cause as well as his virtuosity and poetic skill. These are followed by compositions by the 13th-century Alamut-based poet Hasan-i Mahmud-i Katib, which express devotion to the imam, and the more astringent, questioning poetry of Nizari Quhistani (d. 720 AH/1320 CE). The lesser-known poets of the post-Alamut era are represented in several compositions dating from the 15th to the 18th century, which demonstrate a continuing devotion to the Ismaili imams even when the community was dispersed and fragmented. The maddah poetry of the Ismailis of Badakhshan, composed largely in Tajik Persian, is represented here in several compositions that reflect the diversity of genres and themes in devotional poetry. Rounding off the volume are selections from the ginans of the South Asian Nizaris, attributed to some of the Ismaili preacher-poets who were active in the region from the 7th AH/13th CE century. Many of the poetic compositions in this part of the anthology continue to be a source of inspiration for Nizari Ismailis today.
Although the IIS has published Ismaili texts and their English translations for over a decade, it is for the first time that a publication brings the range of the tradition to academic and lay readers. Lovers of poetry could turn to Shimmering Light: An Anthology of Ismaili Poetry (1996), translated by F. M. Hunzai and edited by Kutub Kassam. Enthusiasts of Ismaili philosophy could consult the second volume of An Anthology of Philosophy in Persia: Ismaili Thought in the Classical Age edited by Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Mahdi Aminrazavi (2008). The present volume, however, brings to its readers a greater range of genres, new translations from the foremost scholars in the field, and brief contextual introductions to every extract. It is hoped that the bouquet of this anthology will draw readers to further explore the riches and diversity of Ismaili literature.
Contents
List of Plates xi
Foreword Azim Nanji xiii
Preface and Acknowledgements xv
Contributors xvii
List of Reprinted Works xxi
List of Abbreviations xxv
Ismaili History and Literary Traditions Farhad Daftary 1
PART ONE: HISTORY AND MEMOIR
Introduction Samira Sheikh 33
1. Ibn al-Haytham: Kitab al-munazarat 35
Ibn al-Haytham meets the da‘i Abu ‘Abd Allah 35
The Proof of the Excellence and Purity of Imam ‘Ali 37
Ibn al-Haytham Takes the Oath of Allegiance 40
The da‘is of the Kutama 41
2. Ja‘far b. ‘Ali: Sirat al-hajib Ja‘far 44
An Incident from al-Mahdi’s Journey to North Africa 44
al-Mahdi Greets his Troops 46
3. al-Qadi al-Nu‘man: Iftitah al-da‘wa 49
al-Mahdi’s Coming from Sijilmasa and his Arrival in Ifriqiya 49
Early Decrees of al-Mahdi 52
Eulogy of al-Mahdi 55
The Administrative System of al-Mahdi 56
4. Idris Imad al-Din: ‘Uyun al-akhbar 59
On the Nurturing of the Imams 59
Under the Guidance of the Imam: al-Qadi al-Nu‘man’s Compositions 62
5. al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi: Sirat al-Mu’ayyad 67
Fleeing from Shiraz to Ahwaz 67
6. Nasir-i Khusraw: Safar-nama 71
A Description of the City of Old Cairo 71
A Description of Sultan’s Banquet 75
7. Pir Sabzali: Madhya Eshiya ni rasik vigato 77
Journey to Central Asia 77
PART TWO: FAITH AND THOUGHT
Introduction Herman Landolt 85
I. GOD AND CREATION
1.Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani: al-Risala al-durriyya 89
On the Meaning of tawhid, muwahhid and muwahhad 89
2. Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani: Kashf al-yanabi 121
On the Pure Identity of the Originator 98
The Explanation of the World of Intellect and the World of Soul 99
3. Nasir-i Khusraw: Gushayish wa rahayish 102
Ontology 102
4. Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani: Kashf al-mahjub 111
That the Beauty or Adornment of Nature is Spirtual 111
5. Ikhwan al-Safa: Rasa’il Ikhwan al-Safa’ 113
The Case of the Animals versus Man before the King of the Jinn 113
II. PROPHETHOOD AND IMAMATE
1.Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani: Kash al-mahjub 121
On the Fifth Creation (Prophethood) 121
2.al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi: al-Majalis al-Mu’ayyadiyya 131
Reason and Revelation 131
3. Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Naysaburi: Kitab ithbat al-imama 142
Affirming the Imamate 135
4. Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani: al-Masabih fi ithbat al-imama 142
In the Proof of the Imamate and its Necessity 142
5. Hasan-i Sabbah: al-Fusul al-arba‘a 149
The Doctrine of ta‘lim 149
6. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Rawda-yi taslim 153
Concerning the Various Kinds of Submission 153
On Prophethood and Imamate 158
III. INITIATION, KNOWLEDGE AND MEANING
1. Ja‘far b. Mansur al-Yaman: Kitab al-alim wa’l-ghulam 169
Initiation of the Disciple by the Master 169
Conversation between Salih and Abu Malik 174
2. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Sayr wa suluk 180
al-Tusi’s Search for Knowledge 180
3. Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani: Kitab al-yanabi‘ 186
On the Manner of the Transmission of Spiritual Inspiration 186
4. Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani: al-Masabih fi ithbat al-imama 188
In Proof of the Interpretation of the Revelation 188
5. al-Qadi al-Nu‘man: Asas al-ta’wil 192
The Story of Job 192
6. Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani: Kitab al-yanabi‘ 195
On the Meaning of the Profession of Faith 195
On the Meaning of the Cross 197
On the Agreement of the Cross with the Profession of Faith 197
7. Nasir-i Khusraw: Wajh-i din 199
On the Establishment of Knowledge 199
On the Description of the Subtle Spiritual World 200
On the Necessity of Obedience to the Imam of the Time 203
On the ta’wil of Inna li’llahi wa-inna ilayhi raji‘un (We Belong to Allah and unto Him we Return) 207
IV. FAITH AND ETHICS
1. al-Qadi al-Nu‘man: Da‘a’im al-Islam 211
On Faith (iman) 211
On the Distinction between iman (Faith) and islam (Submission) 219
2. Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Naysaburi: al-Risala al-mujaza 222
Qualifications for the da‘wa 222
Qualifications for a da‘i 226
3. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Rawda-yi taslim 234
On the Refinement of Character 234
4. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Tawalla wa tabarra 241
Solidarity and Dissociation 241
5. Khayrkhwah-i Harati: Risala 247
The Epistle 247
PART THREE: POETRY
Introduction Kutub Kassam
I. ARABIC POETRY
1. Ibn Hani’ al-Andalusi 257
2. al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi 260
II. PERSIAN POETRY
1. Nasir-i Khusraw 271
2. Hasan-i Mahmud-i Katib 282
3. Nizari Quhistani 285
4. Persian Poets of the post-Alamut Era 290
5. The Poetry of Central Asia 298
III PERSIAN POETRY
1. Pir Shams 309
2. Pir Sadr al-Din 311
3. Pir Hasan Kabir al-Din 315
4. Nur Muhammad Shah 318
Glossary 322
Bibliography 328
Index 339
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Content Date: August 2008
One of the richest and most rewarding - yet least familiar - traditions of Muslim literature is that of the Shi'i Imami Ismailis. Although many literary treasures of the Islamic world are already available in translation, those of the Ismailis are only slowly being made accessible.
The Anthology of Ismaili Literature makes a vital contribution to the process of wider dissemination. The single best compendium of one of the world's great undiscovered literary traditions, the Anthology makes Ismaili Literature newly available for a western audience.
With a comprehensive and representative range of texts, this is an ideal starting point for beginners, and an essential reference for experienced scholars.
An Anthology of Ismaili Literature
A Shi'i Vision of Islam
Edited by Hermann Landolt, Samira Sheikh & Kutub Kassam
RRP: £39.50
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For the first time, extracts from a range of significant Ismaili texts in both poetry and prose are brought together and translated into English by some of the foremost scholars in the field. The texts included belong to a long span of Ismaili history, which extends from the Fatimid era to the beginning of the twentieth century.
With substantial sections devoted to such broad topics as faith and thought, history and biography, ethics, the Imamate, Ta'wil (or esoteric exegesis and textual interpretation), the Anthology offers continuously enriching glimpses into the depths, diversity and distinctiveness of one of the great traditions of Islamic thought and creativity. More details...
Read an Extract from the Anthology of Ismaili Literature
9781845117948 | Hardback | 400 pages | Special Price: £27.50 + p&p
Table of Contents:
Forward by Azim Nanji
Preface and Acknowledgements
Contributors
List of Reprinted Works
List of Illustrations
Ismaili History and Literary Traditions Farhad Daftary
Part I: History and Memoir
Introduction Samira Sheikh
Part II: Faith and Thought
Introduction Hermann Landolt
Section I: God and Creation
Section II: Prophethood and Imamate
Section III: Initiation, Knowledge and Meaning
Section IV: Faith and Ethics
Part III: Poetry
Introduction Kutub Kassam
Section I: Arabic Poetry
Section II: Persian Poetry
Section III: The Poetry of South Asia
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
About the Editors:
Hermann Landolt is Emeritus Professor of Islamic Studies, McGill University, and a Senior Research Fellow at The Institute of Ismaili Studies.
Samira Sheikh has a doctorate in history from the University of Oxford and is a Research Associate at The Institute of Ismaili Studies.
Kutub Kassam is a graduate of the University of Nairobi and is currently Senior editor at The Institute of Ismaili Studies.
Other ways to stay in touch:
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An Anthology of Ismaili Literature: A Shi‘i Vision of Islam
I.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies, 2008
ISBN (Hardback): 978 1 84511 794 8
ISBN (Softback):
* Synopsis
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* Bibliography
Synopsis
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Download PDF version of Introduction to Part One(68 KB)
Download PDF version of Introduction to Part Two (68 KB)
Download PDF version of Introduction to Part Three (66 KB)
The word ‘anthology’ comes from the Greek for ‘flower-gathering’. An Anthology of Ismaili Literature: A Shi‘i Vision of Islam is the first collection of the literary ‘flowers’ of the Ismaili tradition, offering up to its readers glimpses of a literary tradition as rich and varied as it is little-known. The extracts, drawn from all periods of the Ismailis’ pre-modern history, reflect the plural and multi-ethnic history of the community and display a remarkable diversity in style and genre.
As Azim Nanji points out in his foreword, the impulse to anthologise has a hallowed history in Muslim literature. Muslims have long compiled collections of hadith, biographies, histories, poetry and commentaries as ways of preserving and systematising their heritages. The present volume follows in that tradition, albeit supplemented with the full apparatus of modern scholarship. With sections on ‘History and Memoir’, ‘Faith and Thought’, and ‘Poetry’, An Anthology of Ismaili Literature introduces its readers to the diverse genres of pre-modern Ismaili writing and to the circumstances in which they were produced.
The book opens with a substantial essay on Ismaili history and literary traditions by Farhad Daftary. The first section of historical extracts begins with the times of uncertainty that preceded the establishment of Fatimid rule in Egypt, as chronicled by the 10th century da‘i and author Ibn al-Haytham. Scenes from the days of the earliest Fatimid Imam-Caliph al-Mahdi (d. 322 AH/934 CE) are retold by his faithful chamberlain Ja‘far and by the renowned jurist and author, al-Qadi al-Nu‘man (d. 363 AH/974 CE). We hear more about the Qadi and the last imam of his time, Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz (r. 341-365 AH/953-975 CE), in the words of the 15th-century Tayyibi author Idris Imad al-Din. Two of the greatest luminaries of the 11th-century Ismaili da‘wa have also left detailed accounts of their travels. The autobiography of al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi (d. 470 AH/1078 CE) includes a gripping account of his escape from the hostile kingdom of the Buyids to safety in the Fatimid realms, an excerpt from which is included here. Roughly at the same time, Nasir-i Khusraw (d. after 462 AH/1070 CE) made a long spiritual journey from Persia to Egypt, then ruled by the Imam-Caliph al-Mustansir bi’llah (d. 487 AH/1094 CE). Here we include his famous description of Old Cairo and his account of the imam-caliph’s rule, in which justice was available to all, regardless of their faith. The section ends with chapters from Pir Sabzali’s narrative of a journey to Central Asia in the early 20th century, in which he and his Indian companions toiled through difficult terrain in Chitral and met with local Ismailis who impressed the Indian delegation with their fervent devotion to the imam of the time.
Part Two, on ‘Faith and Thought’, is the heart of the volume, and comprises four sections of reflections by the greatest Ismaili thinkers on fundamental questions of creation, revelation, the imamat, ethics and faith. In the first section are extracts from the work of classical Ismaili thinkers such as Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani (d. around 360 AH/971 CE), Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani (d. after 411 AH/1020 CE) and Nasir-i Khusraw, who argued against the theology of the time by refusing to project any anthropomorphic (human-like) qualities of God, the Originator. To quote one of the editors, Hermann Landolt, these thinkers ‘also set themselves apart from the mainstream philosophical tradition, arguing that ‘existence’ itself belongs to the domain of the originated and thus cannot be applied to the Originator, whose pure identity is beyond intellectual reach.’ This section also contains al-Sijistani’s reflections on the spiritual quality of beauty in nature and art. It ends with an extract from the epistles of the anonymous Brethren of Purity who are believed to have lived in Basra in the mid 10th century. The authors used the natural world to make profound philosophical arguments: here, the parrot, appointed to argue the case for the animals of prey, attempts to explain how animals stand higher in God’s eyes than humans.
The second section consists of reflections on the nature of prophecy and the imamat, many of which affirm the importance of the continued existence of the imamat and its role as a guiding principle down the generations. It begins with al-Sijistani’s demonstration of the universal process of prophetic revelation as an esoteric reflection of the history of mankind itself. The Fatimid da‘i al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi said that ‘…. all the sciences, including the rational ones… are collectively present in the sciences of the prophets’, thus establishing the importance of reason in religion. Human reason, further explains the Ismaili thinker and poet Nasir-i Khusraw, is a trace of the Universal Intellect, and thus does not contradict revelation. Another distinguished Fatimid scholar, Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Naysaburi (fl. 4th/10th – early 5th/11th century), similarly used rational tools and metaphors from the natural world to explain how the imamat is the pole and foundation of religion. Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani explains why the imamat is necessary to carry forward God’s message and the example of His Messenger. The 11th-century Persian hujja Hasan-i Sabbah, affirms, in a fragmentary surviving text, the need for the Ismaili imam as the authoritative teacher who would guide humans towards their spiritual goals. Finally, the thinker Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d. 672 AH/1274 CE) explains the nature and necessity of the imamat and why it is necessary for the seeker to submit to ‘the wise and perfect man’ to achieve true knowledge.
Several Ismaili texts describe individual journeys in search of spiritual knowledge. The third section begins with the tale of the initiation of a young seeker, excerpted from the account of Ja‘far b. Mansur al-Yaman (d. ca. 346 AH/957 CE), who wrote even before the establishment of the Fatimid caliphate. Next is the account of Nasir al-Din al-Tusi who found himself dissatisfied with various spiritual paths and eventually came to believe in the necessity of a ‘spiritual instructor’ to guide his way to spiritual knowledge. Knowledge itself has an external dimension and an inner, subtle truth. Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani explains the need for higher knowledge through the interpretation of scripture and al-Sijistani explains that such knowledge is acquired by the prophets in the form of spiritual inspiration, bypassing the material world. Next are three examples by Ismaili scholars of ta’wil or subtle elucidations that bring out the inner esoteric meanings of Qur’anic phrases and the religious duties of Muslims.
The section on faith and ethics begins with al-Qadi al-Nu‘man’s distinction between iman (faith) and islam (submission) from the start of his magnum opus of Fatimid law, the Da‘a’im al-Islam. This is followed by al-Naysaburi’s ‘code of conduct’ for da‘is, which brings out key aspects of the institutional hierarchy of the Fatimids. From laws and norms to ethics is a natural progression. In a passage on the refinement of character from a text attributed to Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, the author asserts that ethics is governed by the recognition of and reverence for the imam of the time. Al-Tusi also wrote a short treatise on tawalla, ‘solidarity’ and tabarra, ‘dissociation’, which is quoted here in full. This is followed by an extract from a treatise by a 16th-century author, Khayrkhwah-i Harati, who asserts the importance of spiritual edification or ta‘lim and the role of the Ismaili hierarchy in leading believers towards the truth and the divine.
The third part of the volume is devoted to Ismaili poetry, the prime vehicle for devotional expression throughout the generations. As Kutub Kassam explains, poetry discloses ‘the inner, spiritual life of the poets and the communities they represent’. This part is divided into compositions originally produced in Arabic, Persian and the languages of South Asia. The Fatimid period is represented by compositions of the versatile and prolific poet Ibn Hani al-Andalusi (d. 362 AH/973 CE), famed as the ‘Mutanabbi of the Maghrib’, and the more personal, devotional verses of al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi. Nasir-i Khusraw is another one of the greatest poets of the Persian Ismaili tradition. The poems included here demonstrate his devotion to the Ismaili cause as well as his virtuosity and poetic skill. These are followed by compositions by the 13th-century Alamut-based poet Hasan-i Mahmud-i Katib, which express devotion to the imam, and the more astringent, questioning poetry of Nizari Quhistani (d. 720 AH/1320 CE). The lesser-known poets of the post-Alamut era are represented in several compositions dating from the 15th to the 18th century, which demonstrate a continuing devotion to the Ismaili imams even when the community was dispersed and fragmented. The maddah poetry of the Ismailis of Badakhshan, composed largely in Tajik Persian, is represented here in several compositions that reflect the diversity of genres and themes in devotional poetry. Rounding off the volume are selections from the ginans of the South Asian Nizaris, attributed to some of the Ismaili preacher-poets who were active in the region from the 7th AH/13th CE century. Many of the poetic compositions in this part of the anthology continue to be a source of inspiration for Nizari Ismailis today.
Although the IIS has published Ismaili texts and their English translations for over a decade, it is for the first time that a publication brings the range of the tradition to academic and lay readers. Lovers of poetry could turn to Shimmering Light: An Anthology of Ismaili Poetry (1996), translated by F. M. Hunzai and edited by Kutub Kassam. Enthusiasts of Ismaili philosophy could consult the second volume of An Anthology of Philosophy in Persia: Ismaili Thought in the Classical Age edited by Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Mahdi Aminrazavi (2008). The present volume, however, brings to its readers a greater range of genres, new translations from the foremost scholars in the field, and brief contextual introductions to every extract. It is hoped that the bouquet of this anthology will draw readers to further explore the riches and diversity of Ismaili literature.
Contents
List of Plates xi
Foreword Azim Nanji xiii
Preface and Acknowledgements xv
Contributors xvii
List of Reprinted Works xxi
List of Abbreviations xxv
Ismaili History and Literary Traditions Farhad Daftary 1
PART ONE: HISTORY AND MEMOIR
Introduction Samira Sheikh 33
1. Ibn al-Haytham: Kitab al-munazarat 35
Ibn al-Haytham meets the da‘i Abu ‘Abd Allah 35
The Proof of the Excellence and Purity of Imam ‘Ali 37
Ibn al-Haytham Takes the Oath of Allegiance 40
The da‘is of the Kutama 41
2. Ja‘far b. ‘Ali: Sirat al-hajib Ja‘far 44
An Incident from al-Mahdi’s Journey to North Africa 44
al-Mahdi Greets his Troops 46
3. al-Qadi al-Nu‘man: Iftitah al-da‘wa 49
al-Mahdi’s Coming from Sijilmasa and his Arrival in Ifriqiya 49
Early Decrees of al-Mahdi 52
Eulogy of al-Mahdi 55
The Administrative System of al-Mahdi 56
4. Idris Imad al-Din: ‘Uyun al-akhbar 59
On the Nurturing of the Imams 59
Under the Guidance of the Imam: al-Qadi al-Nu‘man’s Compositions 62
5. al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi: Sirat al-Mu’ayyad 67
Fleeing from Shiraz to Ahwaz 67
6. Nasir-i Khusraw: Safar-nama 71
A Description of the City of Old Cairo 71
A Description of Sultan’s Banquet 75
7. Pir Sabzali: Madhya Eshiya ni rasik vigato 77
Journey to Central Asia 77
PART TWO: FAITH AND THOUGHT
Introduction Herman Landolt 85
I. GOD AND CREATION
1.Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani: al-Risala al-durriyya 89
On the Meaning of tawhid, muwahhid and muwahhad 89
2. Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani: Kashf al-yanabi 121
On the Pure Identity of the Originator 98
The Explanation of the World of Intellect and the World of Soul 99
3. Nasir-i Khusraw: Gushayish wa rahayish 102
Ontology 102
4. Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani: Kashf al-mahjub 111
That the Beauty or Adornment of Nature is Spirtual 111
5. Ikhwan al-Safa: Rasa’il Ikhwan al-Safa’ 113
The Case of the Animals versus Man before the King of the Jinn 113
II. PROPHETHOOD AND IMAMATE
1.Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani: Kash al-mahjub 121
On the Fifth Creation (Prophethood) 121
2.al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi: al-Majalis al-Mu’ayyadiyya 131
Reason and Revelation 131
3. Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Naysaburi: Kitab ithbat al-imama 142
Affirming the Imamate 135
4. Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani: al-Masabih fi ithbat al-imama 142
In the Proof of the Imamate and its Necessity 142
5. Hasan-i Sabbah: al-Fusul al-arba‘a 149
The Doctrine of ta‘lim 149
6. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Rawda-yi taslim 153
Concerning the Various Kinds of Submission 153
On Prophethood and Imamate 158
III. INITIATION, KNOWLEDGE AND MEANING
1. Ja‘far b. Mansur al-Yaman: Kitab al-alim wa’l-ghulam 169
Initiation of the Disciple by the Master 169
Conversation between Salih and Abu Malik 174
2. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Sayr wa suluk 180
al-Tusi’s Search for Knowledge 180
3. Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani: Kitab al-yanabi‘ 186
On the Manner of the Transmission of Spiritual Inspiration 186
4. Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani: al-Masabih fi ithbat al-imama 188
In Proof of the Interpretation of the Revelation 188
5. al-Qadi al-Nu‘man: Asas al-ta’wil 192
The Story of Job 192
6. Abu Ya‘qub al-Sijistani: Kitab al-yanabi‘ 195
On the Meaning of the Profession of Faith 195
On the Meaning of the Cross 197
On the Agreement of the Cross with the Profession of Faith 197
7. Nasir-i Khusraw: Wajh-i din 199
On the Establishment of Knowledge 199
On the Description of the Subtle Spiritual World 200
On the Necessity of Obedience to the Imam of the Time 203
On the ta’wil of Inna li’llahi wa-inna ilayhi raji‘un (We Belong to Allah and unto Him we Return) 207
IV. FAITH AND ETHICS
1. al-Qadi al-Nu‘man: Da‘a’im al-Islam 211
On Faith (iman) 211
On the Distinction between iman (Faith) and islam (Submission) 219
2. Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Naysaburi: al-Risala al-mujaza 222
Qualifications for the da‘wa 222
Qualifications for a da‘i 226
3. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Rawda-yi taslim 234
On the Refinement of Character 234
4. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Tawalla wa tabarra 241
Solidarity and Dissociation 241
5. Khayrkhwah-i Harati: Risala 247
The Epistle 247
PART THREE: POETRY
Introduction Kutub Kassam
I. ARABIC POETRY
1. Ibn Hani’ al-Andalusi 257
2. al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi 260
II. PERSIAN POETRY
1. Nasir-i Khusraw 271
2. Hasan-i Mahmud-i Katib 282
3. Nizari Quhistani 285
4. Persian Poets of the post-Alamut Era 290
5. The Poetry of Central Asia 298
III PERSIAN POETRY
1. Pir Shams 309
2. Pir Sadr al-Din 311
3. Pir Hasan Kabir al-Din 315
4. Nur Muhammad Shah 318
Glossary 322
Bibliography 328
Index 339
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Content Date: August 2008
Last edited by kmaherali on Sat Feb 12, 2011 1:32 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Fortresses of the Intellect: Ismaili and Other Islamic Studies in Honour of Farhad Daftary [Hardcover]
Omar Ali-de-Unzaga (Author)
This title will be released on November 9, 2010.
Pre-order now!
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Dedicated to the achievements of Farhad Daftary, the foremost authority in Ismaili Studies of our time, this volume gathers together a number of studies on intellectual and political history, particularly in the three main areas where the significance of Daftary's scholarship has had the largest impact-Ismaili Studies as well as Persian Studies and Shi'i Studies in a wider context. It focuses, but not exclusively, on the intellectual production of the Ismailis and their role in history, with discussions ranging from some of the earliest Ismaili texts, to thinkers from the Fatimid and the Alamut periods as well as relations of the Fatimids with other dynasties. Containing essays from some of the most respected scholars in Ismaili, Shi'i and Persian Studies (including Patricia Crone, M A Amir-Moezzi, C Edmund Bosworth and Robert Gleave), the book makes a significant contribution to wider scholarship in philosophical theology and medieval Islam.
About the Author
Dr Omar Ali-de-Unzaga is a Research Associate in the Department of Academic Research and Publications and Academic Coordinator of the Qur'anic Studies Project at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. He has published numerous essays and reviews on Islamic and Qur'anic themes.
http://www.amazon.com/Fortresses-Intell ... 25&sr=8-36
Omar Ali-de-Unzaga (Author)
This title will be released on November 9, 2010.
Pre-order now!
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Dedicated to the achievements of Farhad Daftary, the foremost authority in Ismaili Studies of our time, this volume gathers together a number of studies on intellectual and political history, particularly in the three main areas where the significance of Daftary's scholarship has had the largest impact-Ismaili Studies as well as Persian Studies and Shi'i Studies in a wider context. It focuses, but not exclusively, on the intellectual production of the Ismailis and their role in history, with discussions ranging from some of the earliest Ismaili texts, to thinkers from the Fatimid and the Alamut periods as well as relations of the Fatimids with other dynasties. Containing essays from some of the most respected scholars in Ismaili, Shi'i and Persian Studies (including Patricia Crone, M A Amir-Moezzi, C Edmund Bosworth and Robert Gleave), the book makes a significant contribution to wider scholarship in philosophical theology and medieval Islam.
About the Author
Dr Omar Ali-de-Unzaga is a Research Associate in the Department of Academic Research and Publications and Academic Coordinator of the Qur'anic Studies Project at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. He has published numerous essays and reviews on Islamic and Qur'anic themes.
http://www.amazon.com/Fortresses-Intell ... 25&sr=8-36
Degrees of Excellence: A Fatimid Treatise on Leadership in Islam
Dr Arzina R Lalani
I.B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies
ISBN (Hardback): 9781845111458
ISBN (Softback):
•Synopsis
•Contents
•Bibliography
Synopsis
Degrees of Excellence is a bilingual work of decisive importance to the philosophical curriculum of medieval Muslim thought. It introduces the first book-length study of Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Naysaburi, a hitherto unknown scholar of the early fifth/eleventh century, who writes the most elaborate and erudite philosophical justification of the Imamate. He writes in a manner that is both logical and structured yet comparatively less complex and intricate than other such texts of the period. A distinguished scholar from the Fatimid period, al-Naysaburi came from Nishapur, noted particularly for its erudition and use of rationalistic philosophy. Although he has several works to his credit, it is the Kitab Ithbat al-Imama that allows us to capture and understand not only the significance of his own thought, but also the beliefs of his age.
Instead of basing his work exclusively on the Holy Qur’an and the traditions, al-Naysaburi applies intellectual tools to explain and expound his theology by presenting a range of arguments, foremost amongst which is the theory of ‘degrees of excellence’. As such, he argues that God created each genera and species with a unique capacity and distinct advantage not existing in others. While each category has its own differences and disparities, there are at the same time paradigms of perfect examples in each variety. Using examples from the ten Aristotelian categories and other natural metaphors from mineral, plant, tree and animal kingdoms, he reveals in a corresponding manner how the Imam stands at the zenith of humanity.
The Kitab Ithbat al-Imama provides an unparalleled insight into the intricacies of the imam-caliph al-Hakim’s rule (386-411/996-1021), not only adding considerably to our understanding of that period, but also dispelling the erroneous accusations against this caliph. Besides being annotated and contextualised, the work itself has a fluent and accessible introduction in which Dr Lalani introduces the author and his works, describes the contents of work, and elaborates several themes within the text. There is a specific section on the theme of ‘degrees of excellence’ and, for the specialist, a description of the Arabic manuscripts used alongside notes to the translation.
Amongst the highlights of the work is an explanation of how and why leadership is to be seen everywhere in the world and how, in order to guide humanity, the imam must always be present in the world, describing what is exclusive about him and why he is a necessity innately as well as intellectually. An example in question is paragraph [45]:
“Further, we say that there are disparities (tafawut) and differences in degrees of excellence (tafadul) in the organs of the body; the foremost and the best among them is the head. It is in the head that the face [is situated] by which each human being is recognized and distinguished from others. Among the internal organs, the best one is the brain, which is their chief, being the source of the intellect. So likewise the Imam has a position in the world similar to the head and in relation to the organs, similar to the brain. Around him revolve all affairs of the creation just as all actions pertaining to the body revolve around the brain. Amongst the faculties in man and the spirits, the best is the intellect, and the Imam is the Universal Intellect (‘aql al-kulli) in the world from and in whom all people of the world become united.”
Degrees of Excellence is an invaluable source on classical Fatimid thought and will prove essential reading for students of Islamic history, philosophy and theology besides serving as a useful reference for modern Shi’i communities of all persuasions.
Contents
Preface and Acknowledgements xiii
Introduction 1
The Author and his Works 4
The Contents of Kitab ithbat al-imama 9
Themes in the Text 12
Degrees of Excellence 17
Description of the Arabic Manuscripts 26
Notes on the Translation 27
Translation of Kitab ithbat al-imama:
Book on Affirming the Imamate 29
Select Bibliography 96
English Index 108
Arabic Index
Arabic Text
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=111203
Dr Arzina R Lalani
I.B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies
ISBN (Hardback): 9781845111458
ISBN (Softback):
•Synopsis
•Contents
•Bibliography
Synopsis
Degrees of Excellence is a bilingual work of decisive importance to the philosophical curriculum of medieval Muslim thought. It introduces the first book-length study of Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Naysaburi, a hitherto unknown scholar of the early fifth/eleventh century, who writes the most elaborate and erudite philosophical justification of the Imamate. He writes in a manner that is both logical and structured yet comparatively less complex and intricate than other such texts of the period. A distinguished scholar from the Fatimid period, al-Naysaburi came from Nishapur, noted particularly for its erudition and use of rationalistic philosophy. Although he has several works to his credit, it is the Kitab Ithbat al-Imama that allows us to capture and understand not only the significance of his own thought, but also the beliefs of his age.
Instead of basing his work exclusively on the Holy Qur’an and the traditions, al-Naysaburi applies intellectual tools to explain and expound his theology by presenting a range of arguments, foremost amongst which is the theory of ‘degrees of excellence’. As such, he argues that God created each genera and species with a unique capacity and distinct advantage not existing in others. While each category has its own differences and disparities, there are at the same time paradigms of perfect examples in each variety. Using examples from the ten Aristotelian categories and other natural metaphors from mineral, plant, tree and animal kingdoms, he reveals in a corresponding manner how the Imam stands at the zenith of humanity.
The Kitab Ithbat al-Imama provides an unparalleled insight into the intricacies of the imam-caliph al-Hakim’s rule (386-411/996-1021), not only adding considerably to our understanding of that period, but also dispelling the erroneous accusations against this caliph. Besides being annotated and contextualised, the work itself has a fluent and accessible introduction in which Dr Lalani introduces the author and his works, describes the contents of work, and elaborates several themes within the text. There is a specific section on the theme of ‘degrees of excellence’ and, for the specialist, a description of the Arabic manuscripts used alongside notes to the translation.
Amongst the highlights of the work is an explanation of how and why leadership is to be seen everywhere in the world and how, in order to guide humanity, the imam must always be present in the world, describing what is exclusive about him and why he is a necessity innately as well as intellectually. An example in question is paragraph [45]:
“Further, we say that there are disparities (tafawut) and differences in degrees of excellence (tafadul) in the organs of the body; the foremost and the best among them is the head. It is in the head that the face [is situated] by which each human being is recognized and distinguished from others. Among the internal organs, the best one is the brain, which is their chief, being the source of the intellect. So likewise the Imam has a position in the world similar to the head and in relation to the organs, similar to the brain. Around him revolve all affairs of the creation just as all actions pertaining to the body revolve around the brain. Amongst the faculties in man and the spirits, the best is the intellect, and the Imam is the Universal Intellect (‘aql al-kulli) in the world from and in whom all people of the world become united.”
Degrees of Excellence is an invaluable source on classical Fatimid thought and will prove essential reading for students of Islamic history, philosophy and theology besides serving as a useful reference for modern Shi’i communities of all persuasions.
Contents
Preface and Acknowledgements xiii
Introduction 1
The Author and his Works 4
The Contents of Kitab ithbat al-imama 9
Themes in the Text 12
Degrees of Excellence 17
Description of the Arabic Manuscripts 26
Notes on the Translation 27
Translation of Kitab ithbat al-imama:
Book on Affirming the Imamate 29
Select Bibliography 96
English Index 108
Arabic Index
Arabic Text
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=111203
Video: Interview with Dr Toby Mayer
Publication: Keys to the Arcana: Shahrastani’s Esoteric Commentary on the Qur’an
Editor: Dr Toby Mayer
http://iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=111735
Questions addressed in the interview:
1. What is the significance to scholarship of presenting Shahrastani’s Keys to the Arcana?
2. Who was Shahrastani?
3. What was the historical and intellectual context of his Qur’an commentary?
4. Is Keys to the Arcana distinguished by any specific interpretative methodology?
5. How does Shahrastani's commentary reflect Shi'i or, more specifically, Isma'ili influence?
6. Does Shahrastani have a distinctive concept of the Qur’an and how is this reflected in the details of his commentary?
7. What, if any, is the modern relevance of this text?
Publication: Keys to the Arcana: Shahrastani’s Esoteric Commentary on the Qur’an
Editor: Dr Toby Mayer
http://iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=111735
Questions addressed in the interview:
1. What is the significance to scholarship of presenting Shahrastani’s Keys to the Arcana?
2. Who was Shahrastani?
3. What was the historical and intellectual context of his Qur’an commentary?
4. Is Keys to the Arcana distinguished by any specific interpretative methodology?
5. How does Shahrastani's commentary reflect Shi'i or, more specifically, Isma'ili influence?
6. Does Shahrastani have a distinctive concept of the Qur’an and how is this reflected in the details of his commentary?
7. What, if any, is the modern relevance of this text?
Diversity and Pluralism in Islam: Historical and Contemporary Discourses amongst Muslims
Dr Zulfikar Hirji
I. B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, 2010
ISBN (Hardback): 978-1-84885-302-7
ISBN (Softback):
* Synopsis
* Contents
* Bibliography
Synopsis
Publication page on Google Books
For more than fourteen hundred years, Muslims have held multiple and diverging views about many aspects of their religious tradition including religious authority, ritual practice, political power, law and governance, civic life, and the form and content of individual and communal expressions. Muslims have regularly debated amongst themselves about these issues. Despite the diversity amongst Muslims and the plurality of understandings about Islam, Muslims are regularly portrayed as internally homogenous and monolithic. This book challenges such propositions by examining the ways in which Muslims regularly debate amongst themselves about matters of common concern, the processes by which they discursively construct notions of self, other and community, and the socio-cultural tools they employ in so doing.
The first chapter by Zulfikar Hirji introduces the main subject of the book and sets out some of the complementary and cross-cutting themes addressed in the volume. These include: (1) the paradigmatic umma; (2) the social construction of the internal other; and (3) the discourses and counter-discourses of debating Muslims. Roy Mottahedeh’s chapter examines the manner in which different Muslim thinkers such as al-Ghazali (d. 1111), Rumi (d. 1273) and Hafiz (d. 1389-1390) interpret the hadith traditions of the Prophet concerning sectarian divisions in Islam. The third chapter by Dominique-Sila Khan draws on extensive ethnographic and archival study of ‘threshold’ communities in India to point out the problems associated with defining Muslims in a highly pluralistic context; particularly as such definitions were informed by the colonial imagination and then carried forward to meet the needs of the Indian nationalist project. Patrice Brodeur’s case study of Muslims living in post-9/11 America provides a contrast to Khan’s study. Here, intra-Muslim plurality is articulated with reference to both local and global discourses about jostling definitions of the umma. The fifth chapter by James Allan surveys so-called Sunni, Shi‘a and Sufi art from the classical Islamic heritage to determine the extent to which Muslims marked out ‘self’ and ‘other’. The theme of how Muslims have constructed the internal other is explored in R. Kevin Jaques’s case study of classical biographical texts about Shafi‘i and Hanafi legal scholars. Jaques shows how madhab-based scholars used literary devices such as cross-referencing, rhetorical flourish, and ‘spin’ to build up and dismantle the reputations of their opponents. Roman Loimeier’s case study compares and contrasts the discursive strategies of successive generations of tariqa-based reformers in Senegal and Coastal Eastern Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries and shows how internal others exist within a multi-dimensional space-time context. The volume concludes with John Bowen’s study of Muslim discourses of pluralism in South-East Asia and Europe. Bowen shows how different local contexts generate different solutions to the issue of pluralism.
This volume emerged out of a series of seminars on ‘Muslim Pluralism’ hosted at The Institute of Ismaili Studies between 2002 and 2003. The seminar series and this volume were developed, in part, as a response to the events of 11 September, 2001.
September 2010
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=111835
Dr Zulfikar Hirji
I. B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, 2010
ISBN (Hardback): 978-1-84885-302-7
ISBN (Softback):
* Synopsis
* Contents
* Bibliography
Synopsis
Publication page on Google Books
For more than fourteen hundred years, Muslims have held multiple and diverging views about many aspects of their religious tradition including religious authority, ritual practice, political power, law and governance, civic life, and the form and content of individual and communal expressions. Muslims have regularly debated amongst themselves about these issues. Despite the diversity amongst Muslims and the plurality of understandings about Islam, Muslims are regularly portrayed as internally homogenous and monolithic. This book challenges such propositions by examining the ways in which Muslims regularly debate amongst themselves about matters of common concern, the processes by which they discursively construct notions of self, other and community, and the socio-cultural tools they employ in so doing.
The first chapter by Zulfikar Hirji introduces the main subject of the book and sets out some of the complementary and cross-cutting themes addressed in the volume. These include: (1) the paradigmatic umma; (2) the social construction of the internal other; and (3) the discourses and counter-discourses of debating Muslims. Roy Mottahedeh’s chapter examines the manner in which different Muslim thinkers such as al-Ghazali (d. 1111), Rumi (d. 1273) and Hafiz (d. 1389-1390) interpret the hadith traditions of the Prophet concerning sectarian divisions in Islam. The third chapter by Dominique-Sila Khan draws on extensive ethnographic and archival study of ‘threshold’ communities in India to point out the problems associated with defining Muslims in a highly pluralistic context; particularly as such definitions were informed by the colonial imagination and then carried forward to meet the needs of the Indian nationalist project. Patrice Brodeur’s case study of Muslims living in post-9/11 America provides a contrast to Khan’s study. Here, intra-Muslim plurality is articulated with reference to both local and global discourses about jostling definitions of the umma. The fifth chapter by James Allan surveys so-called Sunni, Shi‘a and Sufi art from the classical Islamic heritage to determine the extent to which Muslims marked out ‘self’ and ‘other’. The theme of how Muslims have constructed the internal other is explored in R. Kevin Jaques’s case study of classical biographical texts about Shafi‘i and Hanafi legal scholars. Jaques shows how madhab-based scholars used literary devices such as cross-referencing, rhetorical flourish, and ‘spin’ to build up and dismantle the reputations of their opponents. Roman Loimeier’s case study compares and contrasts the discursive strategies of successive generations of tariqa-based reformers in Senegal and Coastal Eastern Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries and shows how internal others exist within a multi-dimensional space-time context. The volume concludes with John Bowen’s study of Muslim discourses of pluralism in South-East Asia and Europe. Bowen shows how different local contexts generate different solutions to the issue of pluralism.
This volume emerged out of a series of seminars on ‘Muslim Pluralism’ hosted at The Institute of Ismaili Studies between 2002 and 2003. The seminar series and this volume were developed, in part, as a response to the events of 11 September, 2001.
September 2010
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=111835
Why IIS does not published books in other languages?
I appreciate that KMaherali for his efforts and time to put this informative material about the new publication from IIS, we all should thank KM but this information is good for English language readers not good for other languages readers who prefer to read in their own languages.
My concern and sympathy goes towards the readers who do not know English very well and those readers from other parts of the world who prefer to read books in their own national languages.
Are not they Ismaili? and only English readers is the only Ismailis? Why IIS does not publish books in other languages and just publishing one book after another in only in English language? from these books some books are not reliable and some books directly attack on Nizari Ismailis, it's great tradition and sources, for example let take Mr. Daftari's one book name "A SHORT HISTORY OF ISMAILIS" in this book he made many mistakes that is ok but in this books he attacked on our wonderful tradition ginans saying that Ginans are not reliables and trustable!!!! in my opinion this book is garbage any may be some more books who knows?
My concern and sympathy goes towards the readers who do not know English very well and those readers from other parts of the world who prefer to read books in their own national languages.
Are not they Ismaili? and only English readers is the only Ismailis? Why IIS does not publish books in other languages and just publishing one book after another in only in English language? from these books some books are not reliable and some books directly attack on Nizari Ismailis, it's great tradition and sources, for example let take Mr. Daftari's one book name "A SHORT HISTORY OF ISMAILIS" in this book he made many mistakes that is ok but in this books he attacked on our wonderful tradition ginans saying that Ginans are not reliables and trustable!!!! in my opinion this book is garbage any may be some more books who knows?
CHICAGO STUDIES ON THE MIDDLE EAST
CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Ismaili and Fatimid Studies in Honor of Paul E. Walker
Edited by Bruce D. Craig
Contents
Hidden Imams and Mahdis in Ismaili History by Farhad Daftary
Kawn al-'Alam: The cosmogony of the Isma'ili da'i Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Nasafi by Wilferd Madelung
Maqriziana XII. Evaluating the Sources for the Fatimid Period: Ibn al-Ma'mun al-Bata'ihi’s History and Its Use by al-Maqrizi (with a Critical Edition of His Résumé for the Years 501–515 A.H.) by Frédéric Bauden
Sources for al-Qadi al-Nu'man’s Works and Their Authenticity by Ismail K. Poonawala
Was Nasir-e Husraw a Great Poet and Only a Minor Philosopher? Some Critical Reflections on his Doctrine of the Soul by Daniel De Smet
A Shi'i-Mu'tazili Poem of al-Sahib b. 'Abbad (d. 385/995) by Maurice A. Pomerantz
An Illustration of the Caliph al-Hakim together with his Astronomer/Astrologer Ibn Yunus by David A. King
The Almohads and the Fatimids by Maribel Fierro
Church Building, Repair, and Destruction in Fatimid Egypt by Marlis J. Saleh
Urban Violence at Baghdad in the Rivalry between the Abbasid and Fatimid Caliphates by Abbas Hamdani
ISBN 978-0-9708199-6-3
Hardcover, $59.95
Available in bookstores, or contact:
Chicago Studies on the Middle East
Pick Hall 201
5828 University Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
Ismaili and Fatimid Studies may also be ordered online from
the Chicago Theological Seminary Bookstore:
http://www.semcoop.com
http://chicagostudiesonthemiddleeast.uc ... alker.html
CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Ismaili and Fatimid Studies in Honor of Paul E. Walker
Edited by Bruce D. Craig
Contents
Hidden Imams and Mahdis in Ismaili History by Farhad Daftary
Kawn al-'Alam: The cosmogony of the Isma'ili da'i Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Nasafi by Wilferd Madelung
Maqriziana XII. Evaluating the Sources for the Fatimid Period: Ibn al-Ma'mun al-Bata'ihi’s History and Its Use by al-Maqrizi (with a Critical Edition of His Résumé for the Years 501–515 A.H.) by Frédéric Bauden
Sources for al-Qadi al-Nu'man’s Works and Their Authenticity by Ismail K. Poonawala
Was Nasir-e Husraw a Great Poet and Only a Minor Philosopher? Some Critical Reflections on his Doctrine of the Soul by Daniel De Smet
A Shi'i-Mu'tazili Poem of al-Sahib b. 'Abbad (d. 385/995) by Maurice A. Pomerantz
An Illustration of the Caliph al-Hakim together with his Astronomer/Astrologer Ibn Yunus by David A. King
The Almohads and the Fatimids by Maribel Fierro
Church Building, Repair, and Destruction in Fatimid Egypt by Marlis J. Saleh
Urban Violence at Baghdad in the Rivalry between the Abbasid and Fatimid Caliphates by Abbas Hamdani
ISBN 978-0-9708199-6-3
Hardcover, $59.95
Available in bookstores, or contact:
Chicago Studies on the Middle East
Pick Hall 201
5828 University Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
Ismaili and Fatimid Studies may also be ordered online from
the Chicago Theological Seminary Bookstore:
http://www.semcoop.com
http://chicagostudiesonthemiddleeast.uc ... alker.html
Re: Why IIS does not published books in other languages?
There is The Ismaili Texts and Translations series in which the originals texts in Arabic and Persian are edited and published with translations. Below is the link to them...agakhani wrote: My concern and sympathy goes towards the readers who do not know English very well and those readers from other parts of the world who prefer to read books in their own national languages.
Are not they Ismaili? and only English readers is the only Ismailis? Why IIS does not publish books in other languages and just publishing one book after another in only in English language?
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=104893
And some of the books have been translated into other languages. Below is the link.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=104903
ONLY FIVE BOOKS IN GUJARATI AND URDU!!!!!
I knew that information before my above post and your reply, I checked the IIS website and catalog before, as per IIS catalog A HUGE TOTAL OF 5!!!!????? (ONLY FIVE) BOOKS, so far published in Gujarati and Urdu, in " 30 + YEARS" OF IIS history, in comparison of this 5 books hundreds (I do not have exact figure) books in English. French, Arabic and Persian and other languages published and this publication are still going on every other week. Of course some are from these books are really good and some books has big question mark on it??????.
Now think about the Ismaili population from Eastern & western countries (from, where we Ismailis actually spread around the world) my thinking is most Ismailis are residing in eastern countries than western countries and I believe that they definitely prefer to read in books in their own languages like Gujarati and Urdu rather then English, French, because they are not well educated and does not know very well English, French, Arabic or Persian languages.
In my opinion IIS should not ignore Eastern side Ismailis, matter of fact they are the original Ismailis and ofcourse population wise they are more than western side Ismailis. Therefore as per my thinking IIS needs to publish more books in their own languages too. there are many valuable Gujarati, Urdu and Khojki books which are out of print (like "NOORAN MUBIN", "KALAME IMAME MUBIN" OF MSM) for a long time these books definitely need to be reprint.
ALSO THERE ARE MANY UNPUBLISHED GINANS,GRANTHS AND FARMANS IN KHOJKI, PUNJBAI, SINDHI AND OTHER INDO LANGUAGES WHICH NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED BEFORE, IIS CAN COLLECT THESE VALUABLE LITERATURE AND START TO PUBLISH THIS INSTEAD OF PUBLISHING BOOKS IN ENGLISH AND OTHER LANGUAGES.
these literature may treasure of gold for some interested Ismailis, therefore IIS needs to give more attention in this matter RATHER THAN PUBLISHING other languages books every other week.
5 VERSES 100 + BOOKS ARE NOT SMART DECISION BY IIS.
If you give attention of my above explanation then you will find clear answer by your self and you definitely agree with me brother.
One humble suggestion,
Have you ever try to find out how many Ismailis reader from this website really read your this IIS catalog information?? (it may be helpful to some but not for all ) if you able to find answer of this question then I believe that you will definitely stop to post it here be honest with you Karim, I do not read this IIS catalog post and many other posts of yours.
Now think about the Ismaili population from Eastern & western countries (from, where we Ismailis actually spread around the world) my thinking is most Ismailis are residing in eastern countries than western countries and I believe that they definitely prefer to read in books in their own languages like Gujarati and Urdu rather then English, French, because they are not well educated and does not know very well English, French, Arabic or Persian languages.
In my opinion IIS should not ignore Eastern side Ismailis, matter of fact they are the original Ismailis and ofcourse population wise they are more than western side Ismailis. Therefore as per my thinking IIS needs to publish more books in their own languages too. there are many valuable Gujarati, Urdu and Khojki books which are out of print (like "NOORAN MUBIN", "KALAME IMAME MUBIN" OF MSM) for a long time these books definitely need to be reprint.
ALSO THERE ARE MANY UNPUBLISHED GINANS,GRANTHS AND FARMANS IN KHOJKI, PUNJBAI, SINDHI AND OTHER INDO LANGUAGES WHICH NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED BEFORE, IIS CAN COLLECT THESE VALUABLE LITERATURE AND START TO PUBLISH THIS INSTEAD OF PUBLISHING BOOKS IN ENGLISH AND OTHER LANGUAGES.
these literature may treasure of gold for some interested Ismailis, therefore IIS needs to give more attention in this matter RATHER THAN PUBLISHING other languages books every other week.
5 VERSES 100 + BOOKS ARE NOT SMART DECISION BY IIS.
If you give attention of my above explanation then you will find clear answer by your self and you definitely agree with me brother.
One humble suggestion,
Have you ever try to find out how many Ismailis reader from this website really read your this IIS catalog information?? (it may be helpful to some but not for all ) if you able to find answer of this question then I believe that you will definitely stop to post it here be honest with you Karim, I do not read this IIS catalog post and many other posts of yours.
TRUE
Code: Select all
5 VERSES 100 + BOOKS ARE NOT SMART DECISION BY IIS. Dam right!!ALSO THERE ARE MANY UNPUBLISHED GINANS,GRANTHS AND FARMANS IN KHOJKI, PUNJBAI, SINDHI AND OTHER INDO LANGUAGES WHICH NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED BEFORE, IIS CAN COLLECT THESE VALUABLE LITERATURE AND START TO PUBLISH THIS INSTEAD OF PUBLISHING BOOKS IN ENGLISH AND OTHER LANGUAGES.
On Logic: An Arabic critical edition and English translation of Epistles 10-14
Professor Carmela Baffioni
Oxford University Press in Association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, 2010
ISBN (Hardback): 978-0-19-958652-3
ISBN (Softback):
* Synopsis
* Contents
* Bibliography
Synopsis
Publication page on Google Books
Download Introduction (165 KB)
The Ikhwan al-Safa’ (Brethren of Purity), the anonymous adepts of a tenth-century esoteric fraternity based in Basra and Baghdad, hold an eminent position in the history of science and philosophy in Islam due to the wide reception and assimilation of their monumental encyclopaedia, the Rasa’il Ikhwan al-Safa’ (Epistles of the Brethren of Purity). This compendium contains fifty-two epistles offering synoptic accounts of the classical sciences and philosophies of the age; divided into four classificatory parts, it treats themes in mathematics, logic, natural philosophy, psychology, metaphysics, and theology, in addition to didactic fables. The Rasa’il constitutes a paradigmatic legacy in the canonisation of philosophy and the sciences in mediaeval Muslim civilisation, as well as having shown a permeating influence in Western culture.
The present volume is the second of this definitive series, consisting of the very first critical edition of the Rasa’il in its original Arabic, complete with the first fully annotated English translation. Prepared by Professor Carmela Baffioni, Epistles 10–14 comprise the foundations of logic, which remained a fundamental component in pedagogy until the twentieth century. The Ikhwan treat the Isagoge and the larger part of the Organon, both of which were circulating through the Islamic world at that time, as they set about detailing the ten categories of existents, the five predicables, and other such commonplaces of Aristotelian logic, including his seminal method of syllogistic inference. With the claim that logic is the noblest of man’s arts, and man the noblest of creatures, the Ikhwan cast Aristotelian tropes in a spiritual light.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=112035
Professor Carmela Baffioni
Oxford University Press in Association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, 2010
ISBN (Hardback): 978-0-19-958652-3
ISBN (Softback):
* Synopsis
* Contents
* Bibliography
Synopsis
Publication page on Google Books
Download Introduction (165 KB)
The Ikhwan al-Safa’ (Brethren of Purity), the anonymous adepts of a tenth-century esoteric fraternity based in Basra and Baghdad, hold an eminent position in the history of science and philosophy in Islam due to the wide reception and assimilation of their monumental encyclopaedia, the Rasa’il Ikhwan al-Safa’ (Epistles of the Brethren of Purity). This compendium contains fifty-two epistles offering synoptic accounts of the classical sciences and philosophies of the age; divided into four classificatory parts, it treats themes in mathematics, logic, natural philosophy, psychology, metaphysics, and theology, in addition to didactic fables. The Rasa’il constitutes a paradigmatic legacy in the canonisation of philosophy and the sciences in mediaeval Muslim civilisation, as well as having shown a permeating influence in Western culture.
The present volume is the second of this definitive series, consisting of the very first critical edition of the Rasa’il in its original Arabic, complete with the first fully annotated English translation. Prepared by Professor Carmela Baffioni, Epistles 10–14 comprise the foundations of logic, which remained a fundamental component in pedagogy until the twentieth century. The Ikhwan treat the Isagoge and the larger part of the Organon, both of which were circulating through the Islamic world at that time, as they set about detailing the ten categories of existents, the five predicables, and other such commonplaces of Aristotelian logic, including his seminal method of syllogistic inference. With the claim that logic is the noblest of man’s arts, and man the noblest of creatures, the Ikhwan cast Aristotelian tropes in a spiritual light.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=112035