A new Job has been posted by Malika Pallaeva in the The Institute of Ismaili Studies online community:
Consultant, Ismaili Heritage (IH) Project – India Sites, The Institute of Ismaili Studies
London, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Job Description and Person Specification
Job Title: Consultant, Ismaili Heritage (IH) Project – India Sites
Location: The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London
Reports to: Fayaz S Alibhai, Co-ordinator, Ismaili Heritage Project
Hours per week: 35
Contract type Consultancy
Length of contract Fixed term – 4 months (1 Sep 2019 – 31 Dec 2019), renewable if mutually agreed
Job Description: Brief Description of the Role
Recent PhD graduate, current PhD candidate or Master’s graduate with a background in history or anthropology, and Islamic Studies and Humanities, with a particular emphasis on the Ismaili heritage of India. The postholder will undertake research to create, as well as compile and collate content and material relating to the Ismaili heritage of India, for the Ismaili Heritage Project’s database. S/he will also make recommendations on the identification and preservation of this heritage, especially as it relates to sites, and work closely with other researchers and staff on the project
Main Duties and Responsibilities (or deliverables where self employed)
1. Review the project’s current lists of Ismaili heritage sites, identifying duplications, correcting errors, filling in gaps, and compiling new entries from existing research both within and outside of IIS, as well as inputting these results onto a database
2. Make ongoing contributions to the development of an annotated bibliography relating to Ismaili heritage, e.g. of historical studies, monument restoration, archaeological surveys, case studies of use, ethnographic research, etc
3. Identify and compile related resources such as books, research papers, articles, images and videos
4. Identify sites at particular risk and make recommendations for their preservation and/or reuse
5. Work closely with other researchers and staff on the project
6. Undertake any other work relevant to the project as identified by the Project Co-ordinator
Corporate Responsibilities
Quality Assurance
The role holder is required to participate in quality assurance procedures to maintain and develop standards of ‘best practice’ in all the areas of the department’s activities. S/he is also required to implement the outcomes of reviews and evaluations
Continuous Professional Development
The role holder is expected to maintain and improve the quality of his/her role through continuous professional development within the available time and resources.
Equality and diversity
The role holder is expected to commit to the principle of equality of opportunity for all staff and students and to providing an environment where respect is shown to all. The post holder is expected to familiarise himself/herself with the diversity policies of the IIS and required to uphold the principles and follow the procedures described.
Health, Safety and Environment
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that all activities of the IIS are managed so that the work environment is supportive of staff and students’ health, safety, dignity and well-being.
Data Protection
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that workplace responsibilities, within the team or department are carried out in compliance with the requirements of the current Data Protection Act and the Employment Practices Data Protection Code, especially concerning confidentiality, treatment of personal information and records management.
Cross-functional working
The role holder is expected to commit to the principle of cross-functional working and agree to working on projects or other work that may involve close working with other departments in the Institute, or be led by them.
Management and leadership
The role holder is expected to act as a leadership and managerial role model within the unit or department and to act as a mentor and coach in support of their team members, upholding corporate decisions, financial and non-financial, where necessary.
Section 2: Person Specification
A weighting figure should be given to each separate requirement according to its relative importance to the overall job:
Low Importance = 1
Medium Importance 2
High Importance = 3
Experience and qualifications required
Recent PhD graduate, current PhD candidate or Master’s graduate with a background in history, anthropology, cultural studies, and/or Islamic Studies and Humanities, with a particular emphasis on the Ismaili heritage of India. - 3
Familiarity with databases - 2
Working within an institution of higher learning - 2
Research data management - 3
Computer literacy and proficiency in programs such as Microsoft Office -2
Familiarity with cloud-based collaborative platforms, e.g. Dropbox, Slack, Trello and Drive - 3
Knowledge Requirements
Expert knowledge on any aspect of the history and culture of India - 3
Knowledge of the records, institutions and religious and related practices of Ismailis in India. - 3
Background in history, anthropology, cultural studies and/or Islamic Studies - 3
Fluency in at least one Indic language Knowledge and application of a variety of academic research methods Evidence of solid research and writing - 3
Main Skills and Abilities
Strong interpersonal skills - 3
Ability to work on own initiative - 3
Ability to collaborate with others and within academic teams - 3
Capacity to work within a diverse cultural and linguistic environment - 3
Ability to prioritise tasks and effectively manage one’s time and resources- 3
Personal attributes required
Passion for the subject - 3
View Job Details
The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Aga Khan Centre 10 Handyside Street • London, England N1C 4DN • 0207 756 2700
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THE IIS ACTIVITIES
Authoritative specialists in the modern history of Iran explore approaches to the Qur’an in new IIS publication
Persian culture has had a long-standing engagement with the Qur’an since early classical times, and this has been visible in various forms from their poetry, calligraphy to Qur’anic exegesis. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, technological advancements made it easier to disseminate information to a larger pool of intellectuals who occupied the middle ground between the traditional learned clerics and a nascent civil society. These intellectuals were able to create accessible discourses which helped to facilitate deeper conversations and enhanced engagement in even more arenas.
Approaches to the Qur’an in Contemporary Iran by Dr Alessandro Cancian, explores the importance of the Qur’an in the religious, intellectual, political and artistic discourses in modern and contemporary Iran, from the nineteenth century to the present. The publication was developed as a result of the Qur’anic Studies Colloquium held at the IIS in September 2013 and discussions at the Ninth Biennial Iranian Studies Conference in Istanbul in August 2012.
Touching upon different aspects of the impact, understanding and use of the Qur’an, the seventeen chapters included in this volume have been written by some of the most authoritative specialists in the modern history of Iran. Their contributions span a wide range of subjects and themes, covering varied ground from, the examination of the trends in Qur’anic exegesis that are currently prominent in Iran; Sufi mystical interpretations of the Qur’an; the concept of revelation as the basis of diverse political trends; approaches to ritual prayer by women in Iran; the use of Qur’anic themes in contemporary Iranian cinema; the Qur’an as a living scripture in specific intellectual and social circles, and case studies of individual intellectuals.
Reader in Islamic Studies at the University of Glasgow, Dr Lloyd Ridgeon, reviewed the book and commented:
“This essential work, composed of chapters authored by some of the world’s leading academics in Islamic and Iranian studies, provides a comprehensive analysis of how the Qur’an is received in modern Iran. The collection’s range of topics has been carefully considered, shedding light on modern hermeneutical problems, mystical ways of perceiving the sacred text, and its significance in modern cultural forms including cinema and music, among others. The chapters have been researched with meticulous care to detail. Approaches to the Qur’an in Contemporary Iran looks set to become a classic work.”
Approaches to the Qur’an in Contemporary Iran provides readers with two centuries of reflection on revelation and scripture in the Persian speaking world. The collection will provide academics working in the fields of intellectual and religious history of modern Iran and Qur’anic Studies with a comprehensive overview of the richness and plurality of Iran’s engagement with the Qur’an. It achieves this by bringing together different approaches from theology, mysticism, exegesis, reformism, cinema, music, and visual and popular culture.
To learn more or to read Dr Alessandro Cancian’s introduction to the book, visit the publications content.
******
Events
Moral Approaches to Bio Medical Issues
The rhetoric of pro-life and pro-choice have polarized the public understanding and response to biomedical issues. A much more nuanced approach to understanding is required before any deliberation can be made on these issues. This session will shed light on why and how we need to think about moral approaches to biomedical issues such as abortion and euthanasia. We will explore the approaches from the realm of rights, laws and customs, and compare these with the approaches within the moral realm. At the end of the session, we should be able to see how moral approaches are best suited for a civil society.
If you would like to attend this session in person please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/9mWXg87rG5KkC5e4A (link is external)
If you would like to join the event online please go to: https://zoom.us/j/572805393 (link is external)
Speaker(s)
Rafiq R. Ajani
Rafiq R. Ajani is coordinating the Constituency Studies Unit’s Muslim Biomedical Ethics project. He is a graduate of the IIS’s GPISH programme, as well as a recipient of the Doctoral Scholarship programme. His specialisation is in the area of moral philosophy and literature. He is also the module convener for the GPISH course on Law, Ethics and Society.
Persian culture has had a long-standing engagement with the Qur’an since early classical times, and this has been visible in various forms from their poetry, calligraphy to Qur’anic exegesis. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, technological advancements made it easier to disseminate information to a larger pool of intellectuals who occupied the middle ground between the traditional learned clerics and a nascent civil society. These intellectuals were able to create accessible discourses which helped to facilitate deeper conversations and enhanced engagement in even more arenas.
Approaches to the Qur’an in Contemporary Iran by Dr Alessandro Cancian, explores the importance of the Qur’an in the religious, intellectual, political and artistic discourses in modern and contemporary Iran, from the nineteenth century to the present. The publication was developed as a result of the Qur’anic Studies Colloquium held at the IIS in September 2013 and discussions at the Ninth Biennial Iranian Studies Conference in Istanbul in August 2012.
Touching upon different aspects of the impact, understanding and use of the Qur’an, the seventeen chapters included in this volume have been written by some of the most authoritative specialists in the modern history of Iran. Their contributions span a wide range of subjects and themes, covering varied ground from, the examination of the trends in Qur’anic exegesis that are currently prominent in Iran; Sufi mystical interpretations of the Qur’an; the concept of revelation as the basis of diverse political trends; approaches to ritual prayer by women in Iran; the use of Qur’anic themes in contemporary Iranian cinema; the Qur’an as a living scripture in specific intellectual and social circles, and case studies of individual intellectuals.
Reader in Islamic Studies at the University of Glasgow, Dr Lloyd Ridgeon, reviewed the book and commented:
“This essential work, composed of chapters authored by some of the world’s leading academics in Islamic and Iranian studies, provides a comprehensive analysis of how the Qur’an is received in modern Iran. The collection’s range of topics has been carefully considered, shedding light on modern hermeneutical problems, mystical ways of perceiving the sacred text, and its significance in modern cultural forms including cinema and music, among others. The chapters have been researched with meticulous care to detail. Approaches to the Qur’an in Contemporary Iran looks set to become a classic work.”
Approaches to the Qur’an in Contemporary Iran provides readers with two centuries of reflection on revelation and scripture in the Persian speaking world. The collection will provide academics working in the fields of intellectual and religious history of modern Iran and Qur’anic Studies with a comprehensive overview of the richness and plurality of Iran’s engagement with the Qur’an. It achieves this by bringing together different approaches from theology, mysticism, exegesis, reformism, cinema, music, and visual and popular culture.
To learn more or to read Dr Alessandro Cancian’s introduction to the book, visit the publications content.
******
Events
Moral Approaches to Bio Medical Issues
The rhetoric of pro-life and pro-choice have polarized the public understanding and response to biomedical issues. A much more nuanced approach to understanding is required before any deliberation can be made on these issues. This session will shed light on why and how we need to think about moral approaches to biomedical issues such as abortion and euthanasia. We will explore the approaches from the realm of rights, laws and customs, and compare these with the approaches within the moral realm. At the end of the session, we should be able to see how moral approaches are best suited for a civil society.
If you would like to attend this session in person please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/9mWXg87rG5KkC5e4A (link is external)
If you would like to join the event online please go to: https://zoom.us/j/572805393 (link is external)
Speaker(s)
Rafiq R. Ajani
Rafiq R. Ajani is coordinating the Constituency Studies Unit’s Muslim Biomedical Ethics project. He is a graduate of the IIS’s GPISH programme, as well as a recipient of the Doctoral Scholarship programme. His specialisation is in the area of moral philosophy and literature. He is also the module convener for the GPISH course on Law, Ethics and Society.
STEP Information Webinar
Cycle 13 of STEP: Secondary Teacher Education Programme begins in London, UK in September 2020.
An information webinar for Canadian prospective candidates is planned as follows. Registration is required.
Date:
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Time:
6:00pm PST
7:00pm MST
9:00pm EST
Speakers:
STEP Faculty in Canada
Register for the Webinar
Join the webinar to learn about:
The admissions requirements and process
The application requirements and process
The Requirements for ITREB Canada to support your application to the IIS
Other information directly related to Canadian prospective candidates
Are you a graduate who wants to develop your skills to become an inspiring teacher that can nurture and teach students the Institute’s Secondary Curriculum?
An undergraduate degree is required. A B. Ed or IB Teacher certification, French language fluency, Farsi language fluency are assets. IELTS is required if you are not a Canadian national.
For information and support, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
View Prospectus here.
The deadline for applications is Monday, October 21.
Cycle 13 of STEP: Secondary Teacher Education Programme begins in London, UK in September 2020.
An information webinar for Canadian prospective candidates is planned as follows. Registration is required.
Date:
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Time:
6:00pm PST
7:00pm MST
9:00pm EST
Speakers:
STEP Faculty in Canada
Register for the Webinar
Join the webinar to learn about:
The admissions requirements and process
The application requirements and process
The Requirements for ITREB Canada to support your application to the IIS
Other information directly related to Canadian prospective candidates
Are you a graduate who wants to develop your skills to become an inspiring teacher that can nurture and teach students the Institute’s Secondary Curriculum?
An undergraduate degree is required. A B. Ed or IB Teacher certification, French language fluency, Farsi language fluency are assets. IELTS is required if you are not a Canadian national.
For information and support, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
View Prospectus here.
The deadline for applications is Monday, October 21.
New book, Understanding Sharia, receives praise in popular and specialist press around the world
In recent times, there have been a number of misunderstandings and misconceptions around Sharia or Islamic law in both the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. Understanding Sharia: Islamic Law in a Globalised World is helping to bridge this knowledge gap and to make a positive contribution to the much-needed conversations on understanding the origins and evolution of sharia in the context of the history of the Muslim peoples. The authors, Raficq S. Abdulla and Mohamed M. Keshavjee, with a good degree of reason, clarity and understanding, have approached complex topics — from Islamic finance, human rights and corporal punishment, to FGM, crimes of honour, forced marriage, and issues associated with bio-medical ethics. A review by David Gardner, International Affairs Editor of the UK’s Financial Times described Abdulla and Keshavjee’s work as “rich and important” and “lucidly argued and accessibly written.”
The book takes readers on a journey from pre-Islamic Arabia to the present, pointing out that even though less than ten percent of the Qur’an contains verses of a strictly legal nature, there has been a body of law evolving over the course of centuries since the time of the Prophet. In her book review in the South African Mail and Guardian, Zubeida Jaffer, a respected journalist, author and activist wrote: “The book drew me in like I never expected. It allowed me to learn about the ethical underpinnings of sharia flowing from the Qur’an and the myriad of twists and turns the laws took in different countries over the past 1400 years since the birth of Islam. It also helped me understand the interplay between local customary law and Sharia and how adjustments were made to accommodate the good functioning of different societies.”
Throughout the book, the authors raise a number of relevant questions that require thought-provoking and pragmatic debates. One such debate is whether Muslims need to initiate a new approach to an understanding of law combined with ijtihad (reflection and contextualisation in legal matters) in order to fully appreciate and value Sharia’s wider remit in society today. Writing about the book in the ADR Institute of Canada's prestigious Canadian Arbitration and Mediation Journal, Vol. 28, No. 1, Max Blitt, QC, states: “The authors discuss Sharia and human rights and make the point that Islamic scholars working in Western academic institutions of higher learning are able to critique Western notions while developing a human rights discourse from an Islamic point of view which highlights the higher purpose of Sharia (maqasid)... Finally, the authors argue, that Sharia contains a degree of flexibility, supported by doctrines such as maslaha (public interest) maqasid (purpose), and darura (necessity) but emphasize that ongoing interpretation of texts lies at the heart of all religions as well as laws –secular and religious.”
As a purposeful, clear and accessible publication, Understanding Sharia: Islamic Law in a Globalised World, has resonated with a diverse range of audiences across the world. It has received positive reviews and commentary in influential, popular and specialist press, helping to generate conversations about difficult topics whilst situating sharia within the context of the history of the Muslim peoples, as well as within the interfaces between Muslim, Western and other countries today.
To learn more about the book or to read the international reviews in full, visit the publications page.
More...
https://iis.ac.uk/news/new-book-underst ... ound-world
In recent times, there have been a number of misunderstandings and misconceptions around Sharia or Islamic law in both the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. Understanding Sharia: Islamic Law in a Globalised World is helping to bridge this knowledge gap and to make a positive contribution to the much-needed conversations on understanding the origins and evolution of sharia in the context of the history of the Muslim peoples. The authors, Raficq S. Abdulla and Mohamed M. Keshavjee, with a good degree of reason, clarity and understanding, have approached complex topics — from Islamic finance, human rights and corporal punishment, to FGM, crimes of honour, forced marriage, and issues associated with bio-medical ethics. A review by David Gardner, International Affairs Editor of the UK’s Financial Times described Abdulla and Keshavjee’s work as “rich and important” and “lucidly argued and accessibly written.”
The book takes readers on a journey from pre-Islamic Arabia to the present, pointing out that even though less than ten percent of the Qur’an contains verses of a strictly legal nature, there has been a body of law evolving over the course of centuries since the time of the Prophet. In her book review in the South African Mail and Guardian, Zubeida Jaffer, a respected journalist, author and activist wrote: “The book drew me in like I never expected. It allowed me to learn about the ethical underpinnings of sharia flowing from the Qur’an and the myriad of twists and turns the laws took in different countries over the past 1400 years since the birth of Islam. It also helped me understand the interplay between local customary law and Sharia and how adjustments were made to accommodate the good functioning of different societies.”
Throughout the book, the authors raise a number of relevant questions that require thought-provoking and pragmatic debates. One such debate is whether Muslims need to initiate a new approach to an understanding of law combined with ijtihad (reflection and contextualisation in legal matters) in order to fully appreciate and value Sharia’s wider remit in society today. Writing about the book in the ADR Institute of Canada's prestigious Canadian Arbitration and Mediation Journal, Vol. 28, No. 1, Max Blitt, QC, states: “The authors discuss Sharia and human rights and make the point that Islamic scholars working in Western academic institutions of higher learning are able to critique Western notions while developing a human rights discourse from an Islamic point of view which highlights the higher purpose of Sharia (maqasid)... Finally, the authors argue, that Sharia contains a degree of flexibility, supported by doctrines such as maslaha (public interest) maqasid (purpose), and darura (necessity) but emphasize that ongoing interpretation of texts lies at the heart of all religions as well as laws –secular and religious.”
As a purposeful, clear and accessible publication, Understanding Sharia: Islamic Law in a Globalised World, has resonated with a diverse range of audiences across the world. It has received positive reviews and commentary in influential, popular and specialist press, helping to generate conversations about difficult topics whilst situating sharia within the context of the history of the Muslim peoples, as well as within the interfaces between Muslim, Western and other countries today.
To learn more about the book or to read the international reviews in full, visit the publications page.
More...
https://iis.ac.uk/news/new-book-underst ... ound-world
Video: Book Launch: The First Aga Khan
Highlights of the launch of The IIS' latest publication, The memoirs of Aga Khan I.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGP2doITxoc
Highlights of the launch of The IIS' latest publication, The memoirs of Aga Khan I.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGP2doITxoc
Events
International traditions of Ismailis and Sufis In Memory of WA Ivanow (1886-1970)
10th October 2019 to 11th October 2019
The House of Scientists
St Petersburg
Sankt-Peterburg
IOM RAS
Russian Federation
The Institute of Ismaili Studies and Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Oriental Manuscripts host conference in St Petersburg
Program details and more...
https://iis.ac.uk/events/international- ... -1886-1970
International traditions of Ismailis and Sufis In Memory of WA Ivanow (1886-1970)
10th October 2019 to 11th October 2019
The House of Scientists
St Petersburg
Sankt-Peterburg
IOM RAS
Russian Federation
The Institute of Ismaili Studies and Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Oriental Manuscripts host conference in St Petersburg
Program details and more...
https://iis.ac.uk/events/international- ... -1886-1970
Academic alliance leads to ground-breaking conference in memory of Wladimir A. Ivanow
Wladimir A. Ivanow (1886–1970), the celebrated Russian academic who paved the way for modern scholarship on Ismaili and Iranian linguistic Studies was the inspiration behind many of the papers presented at the flagship conference entitled Intellectual Traditions of Ismailis and Sufis, held at the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Oriental Manuscripts in St Petersburg, on 10 - 11 October 2019.
Since the 1930s, Ivanow was the moving force behind the modern progress in Ismaili studies. He devoted his attention to the study of Nizari Ismailis, and to date, his work continues to be the foundation for further studies in almost every major field of Ismailism. Ivanow’s recovery and analysis of previously unavailable Ismaili manuscripts was a major breakthrough in the study of this often-misrepresented Shi‘i Muslim community. He identified, recovered, edited, translated and assiduously studied a good portion of the extant literature related to the Nizari Ismailis.
It was therefore befitting that The Institute of Ismaili Studies partnered with the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts to host this academic conference in honour of Wladimir A. Ivanow. During the two day conference, both Russian and English speaking scholars examined aspects of Sufi and Ismaili traditions and the emergence of rich devotional, literary and artistic expressions as a result of the interactions of these traditions.
Dr Farhad Daftary, Co-Director of IIS, delivered the keynote address and spoke about the importance of the ground-breaking research conducted by Ivanow and its impact on modern day scholars. He remarked:
“Very few fields of Islamic studies have seen so much change in such a short period of time as Ismaili studies. The role of Ivanow was uniquely outstanding in terms of bringing about this change. Through his pioneering research and numerous contributions, the Nizari Ismailis of the Alamut period are no longer judged on the basis of mediaeval Crusader legends. Ivanow not only recovered, collected and published research on Ismaili manuscripts, but he also made these manuscripts available to other scholars, who were becoming interested in this new field of study and wanted to gain new knowledge. Ivanow can truly be regarded as the founder of modern Nizari Ismaili studies – a field that owes its genesis, to a very large extent, to his pioneering work."
In addition to Dr Daftary’s keynote address, a further three scholars from the IIS presented their papers at the conference, sparking positive discussions amongst the academics in attendance. Dr Hakim Elnazarov, Coordinator of the Central Asian Studies Unit at IIS, showcased his research on Sufism and Central Asian Ismailism. His paper traced the ritualistic aspects of the traditional practices of the Central Asian Ismailis back to the pre-Islamic period and how these rituals have taken on Islamic forms, Islamic beliefs and interpretations over time. Dr Janis Esots, Research Associate in IIS’s Shi‘i Studies Unit, presented his paper Wladimir Ivanow on the Relationship of Sufism and Ismailism: The Case of Laʿl Shahbāz Qalandar. Through his case study, Dr Esots explored Ivanow’s interest in Sufism and how he believed that many facets of Sufism could be explained through Ismaili influences. Dr Daryoush Mohammad Poor, Senior Research Associate in the Department of Academic Research and Publications at IIS, presented his work on Nizari Ismailis and Sufis before the Mongol Invasion. In this paper, he made a comparative assessment of the Nizari doctrine of qiyāmat alongside similar views of ʿAyn al-Quḍāt Hamadānī. A close examination of both texts revealed that the almost identical nature of these expositions made it difficult to recognise one from the other.
A number of other interesting research papers were also presented, by Aleksey Khismatulin, from the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, who discussed Devices of Anti-Shia and Anti-Ismaili Ideology in the Administrative Literature of Saljūqs, while Leila Dodykhudoeva from the Institute of Linguistics, presented her paper on the Confessional and Regional Aspects of Meaning of the Term ‘Pir’.
The conference culminated with a book launch of the Russian edition of Wladimir Ivanow’s memoirs entitled, Fifty Years in the East, edited by Dr Farhad Daftary. Fifty Years in the East is a translation and commentary on Ivanow’s memoirs written in 1968. This work, originally written in Russian, comprises of an autobiography and vivid accounts from his travels. The memoirs, written in Tehran during Ivanow’s final years, have been edited with substantial annotations by Dr Daftary. They reveal the circumstances under which modern Ismaili studies were initiated and an eyewitness account of life in several regions during the early decades of the twentieth century, before the rapid onset of modernisation. The memoirs include 60 illustrations of Ivanow’s associates and the places that he visited, as well as a comprehensive bibliography of 160 works by Wladimir A. Ivanow.
Alongside the conference and book launch, an exhibition of photographs related to the life and work of Ivanow was also curated for the delegates at the House of Nationalities in St. Petersburg. Learn more about Fifty Years in the East here.
https://iis.ac.uk/news/academic-allianc ... mir-ivanow
******
Sacred spaces come alive in new publication, Beyond the Mosque: Diverse Spaces of Muslim Worship
The second publication in the Institute’s new World of Islam series, Beyond the Mosque: Diverse Spaces of Muslim Worship, is a first person exploration of sacred spaces across the breadth of the Muslim world. The author, Rizwan Mawani, describes how his interactions with both well-known spaces of worship as well as those off-the-beaten-track have religious significance for their Muslim communities, from countries ranging from Senegal to China.
Part travelogue and part anthropological study, this book will appeal to readers interested in lived Islam and Muslim cultures, in travel and architecture, as well as those with an appreciation of the diversity of religious space and practice. In many people’s imagination, the mosque has become synonymous as the site of Muslim piety, just as the church is synonymous with Christianity and the synagogue with Judaism. Mawani, notes:
“Once upon a time, when people thought of Islam, its religious practice, their minds automatically associated Muslim spaces with domes and minarets. Now, architecture, like religious acts, provide avenues in which Muslim communities can give form to their values and beliefs, allowing them to express and articulate them through the spaces they build and use.”
This book broadens the Muslim religious landscape by re-inserting diverse spaces of Muslim worship such as the husayniyya, jamatkhana, khanaqah, and zawiya, among others, into our spectrum of Muslim religious spaces. Mawani introduces us to a variety of spaces, modest and elaborate: their distinct structures, the rituals practised within them, and the purposes they serve as community centres and markers of identity.
The book begins by exploring the mosque’s early history, its use and evolution during Islam’s formative years, moving on to regional and contemporary mosques and their architecture. The author extends his journey and shares his insights into Shi‘i sites of practice and explores spaces used by mystically-inclined and Sufi groups, as well as those who choose to define themselves outside the boundaries of Shi‘i and Sunni Islam. By using space as his entry point, readers are given a window into lesser known places of worship across several countries from Iran and Pakistan to Lebanon and Turkey, as well as contemporary examples from Muslim communities in Europe and North America.
The book highlights the diverse and shared ideals within Muslim communities across borders and buildings and helps readers to reflect on whether spaces of worship and ritual practices can be labelled as representative of Islam, or whether we should be considering a multiplicity of practices that speak to Islam’s regional cultures, gender, geography and traditions.
Beyond the Mosque, is an easy and engaging read with colourful photographs showcasing the plurality of Islam’s living traditions. Commenting on the accessibility of the book, Professor Robert Hillenbrand from St Andrews and Edinburgh Universities remarked:
“This book offers a compelling insight into Muslims’ worship in different kinds of buildings around the world. The author introduces readers to the basic historical, religious and architectural backgrounds, enlivened with eye-opening illustrations. Drawing upon vast first-hand experiences, he outlines in fluent, accessible prose the wonderful variety of sacred rituals and spaces that Islam espouses.”
The ethos of the World of Islam series is to help readers better understand and appreciate the multiple facets and subtle nuances of Islam, as a living faith with many diverse communities of interpretation and traditions, and Islam as a civilisation and of Muslim cultures. The more we understand the beliefs and customs of our global neighbours, as well as our collective past, the greater our chances are of living together harmoniously.
Discussing the ethos of the series, the General Editor, Dr Shainool Jiwa, commented:
“Through this series, we hope to engage and inspire general readership with informed narratives on diverse facets of Muslim life – their history and heritage, culture and beliefs, art, architecture and literature, to link the past and present, and develop an appreciation for the cosmopolitan world of Islam.”
Aimed at general readers, Beyond the Mosque: Diverse Spaces of Muslim Worship is available in paperback, e-book and audio book formats. To learn more about this book, visit the publications page. The next book in the series on Prophet Muhammad and prophecy, will be published in 2020.
https://iis.ac.uk/news/sacred-spaces-co ... im-worship
Wladimir A. Ivanow (1886–1970), the celebrated Russian academic who paved the way for modern scholarship on Ismaili and Iranian linguistic Studies was the inspiration behind many of the papers presented at the flagship conference entitled Intellectual Traditions of Ismailis and Sufis, held at the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Oriental Manuscripts in St Petersburg, on 10 - 11 October 2019.
Since the 1930s, Ivanow was the moving force behind the modern progress in Ismaili studies. He devoted his attention to the study of Nizari Ismailis, and to date, his work continues to be the foundation for further studies in almost every major field of Ismailism. Ivanow’s recovery and analysis of previously unavailable Ismaili manuscripts was a major breakthrough in the study of this often-misrepresented Shi‘i Muslim community. He identified, recovered, edited, translated and assiduously studied a good portion of the extant literature related to the Nizari Ismailis.
It was therefore befitting that The Institute of Ismaili Studies partnered with the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts to host this academic conference in honour of Wladimir A. Ivanow. During the two day conference, both Russian and English speaking scholars examined aspects of Sufi and Ismaili traditions and the emergence of rich devotional, literary and artistic expressions as a result of the interactions of these traditions.
Dr Farhad Daftary, Co-Director of IIS, delivered the keynote address and spoke about the importance of the ground-breaking research conducted by Ivanow and its impact on modern day scholars. He remarked:
“Very few fields of Islamic studies have seen so much change in such a short period of time as Ismaili studies. The role of Ivanow was uniquely outstanding in terms of bringing about this change. Through his pioneering research and numerous contributions, the Nizari Ismailis of the Alamut period are no longer judged on the basis of mediaeval Crusader legends. Ivanow not only recovered, collected and published research on Ismaili manuscripts, but he also made these manuscripts available to other scholars, who were becoming interested in this new field of study and wanted to gain new knowledge. Ivanow can truly be regarded as the founder of modern Nizari Ismaili studies – a field that owes its genesis, to a very large extent, to his pioneering work."
In addition to Dr Daftary’s keynote address, a further three scholars from the IIS presented their papers at the conference, sparking positive discussions amongst the academics in attendance. Dr Hakim Elnazarov, Coordinator of the Central Asian Studies Unit at IIS, showcased his research on Sufism and Central Asian Ismailism. His paper traced the ritualistic aspects of the traditional practices of the Central Asian Ismailis back to the pre-Islamic period and how these rituals have taken on Islamic forms, Islamic beliefs and interpretations over time. Dr Janis Esots, Research Associate in IIS’s Shi‘i Studies Unit, presented his paper Wladimir Ivanow on the Relationship of Sufism and Ismailism: The Case of Laʿl Shahbāz Qalandar. Through his case study, Dr Esots explored Ivanow’s interest in Sufism and how he believed that many facets of Sufism could be explained through Ismaili influences. Dr Daryoush Mohammad Poor, Senior Research Associate in the Department of Academic Research and Publications at IIS, presented his work on Nizari Ismailis and Sufis before the Mongol Invasion. In this paper, he made a comparative assessment of the Nizari doctrine of qiyāmat alongside similar views of ʿAyn al-Quḍāt Hamadānī. A close examination of both texts revealed that the almost identical nature of these expositions made it difficult to recognise one from the other.
A number of other interesting research papers were also presented, by Aleksey Khismatulin, from the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, who discussed Devices of Anti-Shia and Anti-Ismaili Ideology in the Administrative Literature of Saljūqs, while Leila Dodykhudoeva from the Institute of Linguistics, presented her paper on the Confessional and Regional Aspects of Meaning of the Term ‘Pir’.
The conference culminated with a book launch of the Russian edition of Wladimir Ivanow’s memoirs entitled, Fifty Years in the East, edited by Dr Farhad Daftary. Fifty Years in the East is a translation and commentary on Ivanow’s memoirs written in 1968. This work, originally written in Russian, comprises of an autobiography and vivid accounts from his travels. The memoirs, written in Tehran during Ivanow’s final years, have been edited with substantial annotations by Dr Daftary. They reveal the circumstances under which modern Ismaili studies were initiated and an eyewitness account of life in several regions during the early decades of the twentieth century, before the rapid onset of modernisation. The memoirs include 60 illustrations of Ivanow’s associates and the places that he visited, as well as a comprehensive bibliography of 160 works by Wladimir A. Ivanow.
Alongside the conference and book launch, an exhibition of photographs related to the life and work of Ivanow was also curated for the delegates at the House of Nationalities in St. Petersburg. Learn more about Fifty Years in the East here.
https://iis.ac.uk/news/academic-allianc ... mir-ivanow
******
Sacred spaces come alive in new publication, Beyond the Mosque: Diverse Spaces of Muslim Worship
The second publication in the Institute’s new World of Islam series, Beyond the Mosque: Diverse Spaces of Muslim Worship, is a first person exploration of sacred spaces across the breadth of the Muslim world. The author, Rizwan Mawani, describes how his interactions with both well-known spaces of worship as well as those off-the-beaten-track have religious significance for their Muslim communities, from countries ranging from Senegal to China.
Part travelogue and part anthropological study, this book will appeal to readers interested in lived Islam and Muslim cultures, in travel and architecture, as well as those with an appreciation of the diversity of religious space and practice. In many people’s imagination, the mosque has become synonymous as the site of Muslim piety, just as the church is synonymous with Christianity and the synagogue with Judaism. Mawani, notes:
“Once upon a time, when people thought of Islam, its religious practice, their minds automatically associated Muslim spaces with domes and minarets. Now, architecture, like religious acts, provide avenues in which Muslim communities can give form to their values and beliefs, allowing them to express and articulate them through the spaces they build and use.”
This book broadens the Muslim religious landscape by re-inserting diverse spaces of Muslim worship such as the husayniyya, jamatkhana, khanaqah, and zawiya, among others, into our spectrum of Muslim religious spaces. Mawani introduces us to a variety of spaces, modest and elaborate: their distinct structures, the rituals practised within them, and the purposes they serve as community centres and markers of identity.
The book begins by exploring the mosque’s early history, its use and evolution during Islam’s formative years, moving on to regional and contemporary mosques and their architecture. The author extends his journey and shares his insights into Shi‘i sites of practice and explores spaces used by mystically-inclined and Sufi groups, as well as those who choose to define themselves outside the boundaries of Shi‘i and Sunni Islam. By using space as his entry point, readers are given a window into lesser known places of worship across several countries from Iran and Pakistan to Lebanon and Turkey, as well as contemporary examples from Muslim communities in Europe and North America.
The book highlights the diverse and shared ideals within Muslim communities across borders and buildings and helps readers to reflect on whether spaces of worship and ritual practices can be labelled as representative of Islam, or whether we should be considering a multiplicity of practices that speak to Islam’s regional cultures, gender, geography and traditions.
Beyond the Mosque, is an easy and engaging read with colourful photographs showcasing the plurality of Islam’s living traditions. Commenting on the accessibility of the book, Professor Robert Hillenbrand from St Andrews and Edinburgh Universities remarked:
“This book offers a compelling insight into Muslims’ worship in different kinds of buildings around the world. The author introduces readers to the basic historical, religious and architectural backgrounds, enlivened with eye-opening illustrations. Drawing upon vast first-hand experiences, he outlines in fluent, accessible prose the wonderful variety of sacred rituals and spaces that Islam espouses.”
The ethos of the World of Islam series is to help readers better understand and appreciate the multiple facets and subtle nuances of Islam, as a living faith with many diverse communities of interpretation and traditions, and Islam as a civilisation and of Muslim cultures. The more we understand the beliefs and customs of our global neighbours, as well as our collective past, the greater our chances are of living together harmoniously.
Discussing the ethos of the series, the General Editor, Dr Shainool Jiwa, commented:
“Through this series, we hope to engage and inspire general readership with informed narratives on diverse facets of Muslim life – their history and heritage, culture and beliefs, art, architecture and literature, to link the past and present, and develop an appreciation for the cosmopolitan world of Islam.”
Aimed at general readers, Beyond the Mosque: Diverse Spaces of Muslim Worship is available in paperback, e-book and audio book formats. To learn more about this book, visit the publications page. The next book in the series on Prophet Muhammad and prophecy, will be published in 2020.
https://iis.ac.uk/news/sacred-spaces-co ... im-worship
New cohorts arriving at IIS will be awarded their MA by world renowned university SOAS
Dr Laila Halani, Head of the Department of Graduate Studies, described what the incoming students can look forward to over the next two years:
“The next two years at the IIS will be an intellectually stimulating and humbling journey which will open up new ways of thinking for our students on STEP and GPISH. The students will benefit from a ‘Connected Curriculum’ approach where faculty, involved in the construction of new knowledge, will make students co-constructionists by engaging students in their research through their teaching”
The Head of Graduate Studies also reminded us that:
“The validation of the MA for both programmes by SOAS University of London, the only higher education institution in Europe specialising in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East, recognises IIS’ own invaluable contributions in the field of Islamic Studies and cements a long standing relationship based on shared ethos and research interests”.
STEP prepares students to deliver the Institute’s Secondary Curriculum, which has been specifically developed for the religious and humanities education of Ismaili Muslim children worldwide. Graduates of STEP receive an MA in Muslim Societies and Civilisations, taught at IIS and awarded by SOAS University of London and a PGDip in Teaching and Reflective Practice, awarded by University College London. Having trained as secondary-level teachers, the graduates will go on to take up teaching positions with the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Boards (ITREBs) in their home countries.
New student Altaf Somani, from India, described his aspirations of studying at the IIS, and his first experiences as a STEP student:
“It has always been my ambition to serve the Imam of the Time and the Jamat. Also, it has been my endeavour to take secondary education beyond religious education, to help students develop a critical understanding of their faith and the contemporary world. So, what would be better than shaping the future of our next generation by being a STEP teacher? It is inexplicable how great a feeling it is to be studying at the Aga Khan Centre. , It is most beautifully built, and holds an intellectual institute with people of many different backgrounds and disciplines. One gets to experience pluralism in its real essence here.”
GPISH is a three-year graduate programme, the first two years can act as preparation for a research degree or a stepping stone to a variety of career opportunities. Past graduates have pursued careers in a wide range of fields, including academia, media, education and development. The new GPISH students will be the first cohort to have the first two years of the programme as an MA accredited by SOAS University of London. GPISH continues to be a cutting-edge programme in the field of Islamic Studies and Humanities, while remaining true to the original vision that guided its launch over 25 years ago.
Speaking about her motivation for joining GPISH, new student Anum Ameen Hossain, from the USA, remarked:
“When initially accepted into GPISH, I was extremely excited about the potential career opportunities post graduating as being an AKDN employee is an aspiration that I have eagerly been working towards for some time now. I was also enthusiastic about being able to explore London and to live on a new continent. Over the next few years I aspire to develop myself spiritually and professionally and contribute to the wellbeing of my community. Specifically, I want to decide what field I'd like to work in, and potentially pursue a PhD.”
During their first few weeks at the IIS new students have undertaken Arabic or Persian language courses, to either introduce them to the language or help them to improve their existing proficiency. As part of their introduction to the UK, new students visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canterbury Cathedral and its medieval town centre. The group also went to Leeds Castle, where they had the opportunity to explore the castle and its extensive grounds.
Applications for GPISH are currently open until 10 January 2020. To learn more, visit the graduate programmes page.
https://iis.ac.uk/news/new-cohorts-arri ... rsity-soas
Dr Laila Halani, Head of the Department of Graduate Studies, described what the incoming students can look forward to over the next two years:
“The next two years at the IIS will be an intellectually stimulating and humbling journey which will open up new ways of thinking for our students on STEP and GPISH. The students will benefit from a ‘Connected Curriculum’ approach where faculty, involved in the construction of new knowledge, will make students co-constructionists by engaging students in their research through their teaching”
The Head of Graduate Studies also reminded us that:
“The validation of the MA for both programmes by SOAS University of London, the only higher education institution in Europe specialising in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East, recognises IIS’ own invaluable contributions in the field of Islamic Studies and cements a long standing relationship based on shared ethos and research interests”.
STEP prepares students to deliver the Institute’s Secondary Curriculum, which has been specifically developed for the religious and humanities education of Ismaili Muslim children worldwide. Graduates of STEP receive an MA in Muslim Societies and Civilisations, taught at IIS and awarded by SOAS University of London and a PGDip in Teaching and Reflective Practice, awarded by University College London. Having trained as secondary-level teachers, the graduates will go on to take up teaching positions with the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Boards (ITREBs) in their home countries.
New student Altaf Somani, from India, described his aspirations of studying at the IIS, and his first experiences as a STEP student:
“It has always been my ambition to serve the Imam of the Time and the Jamat. Also, it has been my endeavour to take secondary education beyond religious education, to help students develop a critical understanding of their faith and the contemporary world. So, what would be better than shaping the future of our next generation by being a STEP teacher? It is inexplicable how great a feeling it is to be studying at the Aga Khan Centre. , It is most beautifully built, and holds an intellectual institute with people of many different backgrounds and disciplines. One gets to experience pluralism in its real essence here.”
GPISH is a three-year graduate programme, the first two years can act as preparation for a research degree or a stepping stone to a variety of career opportunities. Past graduates have pursued careers in a wide range of fields, including academia, media, education and development. The new GPISH students will be the first cohort to have the first two years of the programme as an MA accredited by SOAS University of London. GPISH continues to be a cutting-edge programme in the field of Islamic Studies and Humanities, while remaining true to the original vision that guided its launch over 25 years ago.
Speaking about her motivation for joining GPISH, new student Anum Ameen Hossain, from the USA, remarked:
“When initially accepted into GPISH, I was extremely excited about the potential career opportunities post graduating as being an AKDN employee is an aspiration that I have eagerly been working towards for some time now. I was also enthusiastic about being able to explore London and to live on a new continent. Over the next few years I aspire to develop myself spiritually and professionally and contribute to the wellbeing of my community. Specifically, I want to decide what field I'd like to work in, and potentially pursue a PhD.”
During their first few weeks at the IIS new students have undertaken Arabic or Persian language courses, to either introduce them to the language or help them to improve their existing proficiency. As part of their introduction to the UK, new students visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canterbury Cathedral and its medieval town centre. The group also went to Leeds Castle, where they had the opportunity to explore the castle and its extensive grounds.
Applications for GPISH are currently open until 10 January 2020. To learn more, visit the graduate programmes page.
https://iis.ac.uk/news/new-cohorts-arri ... rsity-soas
Event
Authority and Plurality in Muslim Legal Traditions: the Case of Ismaili Law
13th November 2019
Aga Khan Centre
10 Handyside Street
London
N1C 4DN
United Kingdom
Islamic law is often said to be very pluralistic due to its interpretational variations. At the level of sources, however, accounts of Islamic law have generally emphasized the reliance on a set of major ‘roots’ of law, with other lesser sources. This paper discusses on the case of Nizari Ismaili law in historical as well as contemporary terms, elaborating its authority structure, especially the concept of Imamat and role of the Imam, as well as using it to strengthen the case that plurality in Islamic law can and should be extended to a plurality of sources as well as of rules.
Speakers and registration at:
https://iis.ac.uk/events/authority-and- ... rce=Direct
Authority and Plurality in Muslim Legal Traditions: the Case of Ismaili Law
13th November 2019
Aga Khan Centre
10 Handyside Street
London
N1C 4DN
United Kingdom
Islamic law is often said to be very pluralistic due to its interpretational variations. At the level of sources, however, accounts of Islamic law have generally emphasized the reliance on a set of major ‘roots’ of law, with other lesser sources. This paper discusses on the case of Nizari Ismaili law in historical as well as contemporary terms, elaborating its authority structure, especially the concept of Imamat and role of the Imam, as well as using it to strengthen the case that plurality in Islamic law can and should be extended to a plurality of sources as well as of rules.
Speakers and registration at:
https://iis.ac.uk/events/authority-and- ... rce=Direct
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IIS make available Ismaili Muslim textual heritage for study
IIS confirm that they make available texts of Ismaili heritage (which include Farmans, the Ismaili constitution ginans and manuscripts.)
That is what Hazar Imam also says.
“The IIS seeks to preserve, catalogue, digitise and MAKE AVAILABLE for study, the valuable textual heritage of the Ismaili community. “
“The preservation and study of items that elucidate the heritage of the Ismaili communities has been an integral part of the Institute’s work since its inception.
The IIS seeks to preserve, catalogue, digitise and make available for study, the valuable textual heritage of the Ismaili community.
The Institute’s collection includes manuscripts, rare and special printed materials, coins, artefacts and archives, as well as photographs and audio-visual materials.”
However when IIS is requested to provide access to them, they do not do so. I have requested access as a scholar to study them.
https://iis.ac.uk/about-us
That is what Hazar Imam also says.
“The IIS seeks to preserve, catalogue, digitise and MAKE AVAILABLE for study, the valuable textual heritage of the Ismaili community. “
“The preservation and study of items that elucidate the heritage of the Ismaili communities has been an integral part of the Institute’s work since its inception.
The IIS seeks to preserve, catalogue, digitise and make available for study, the valuable textual heritage of the Ismaili community.
The Institute’s collection includes manuscripts, rare and special printed materials, coins, artefacts and archives, as well as photographs and audio-visual materials.”
However when IIS is requested to provide access to them, they do not do so. I have requested access as a scholar to study them.
https://iis.ac.uk/about-us
An insight into the lives of new IIS students
In September 2019, 40 new students joined The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) for post-graduate study, arriving from Canada, India, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and the USA. They have embarked on a journey that will expand their horizons, create lifelong friendships, and become part of a global network of alumni that share the unique experience of studying at the IIS. In this photo essay, we meet some of them to learn more about their first impressions and their individual and collective aspirations.
Embarking on a post-graduate degree in a city far from home can be a daunting experience. Students embarking on this journey at the IIS, are often coming to London for the first time, from all corners of the world.
So why have these students chosen to study on the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) or the Secondary Teachers Education Programme (STEP), so far from home? Here, we learn of the unique experiences that GPISH and STEP offer to students looking to forge a career with an education rooted in an understanding of Islam.
Details about each student:
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/insight ... s-students
In September 2019, 40 new students joined The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) for post-graduate study, arriving from Canada, India, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and the USA. They have embarked on a journey that will expand their horizons, create lifelong friendships, and become part of a global network of alumni that share the unique experience of studying at the IIS. In this photo essay, we meet some of them to learn more about their first impressions and their individual and collective aspirations.
Embarking on a post-graduate degree in a city far from home can be a daunting experience. Students embarking on this journey at the IIS, are often coming to London for the first time, from all corners of the world.
So why have these students chosen to study on the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) or the Secondary Teachers Education Programme (STEP), so far from home? Here, we learn of the unique experiences that GPISH and STEP offer to students looking to forge a career with an education rooted in an understanding of Islam.
Details about each student:
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/insight ... s-students
VIDEO: Audiobook Sample
Chapter 3: Iran's Husayniyyas & Takiyehs.
https://iis.ac.uk/video/audiobook-sample
Chapter 3: Iran's Husayniyyas & Takiyehs.
https://iis.ac.uk/video/audiobook-sample
Exhibition in honour of the late Wladimar A. Ivanow in St. Petersburg marks a new phase of progress in Ismaili studies
To mark the advancement of Ismaili studies in the Russian Federation, an exhibition in memory of the great Russian scholar of modern Ismaili studies, Wladimir A. Ivanow, was held in St. Petersburg, Russia, on 11 October 2019. Dr Farhad Daftary, Co-Director of IIS; Dr Stanislav Prozorov, Head of the Academic Activities at Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, and Alla Dydymova, Advisor to the Director of the House of Nationalities in St. Petersburg, formally inaugurated the exhibition.
The exhibition showcased the outstanding journey of Ivanow’s pursuit for knowledge and his exploration of people of the East, particularly their cultures, religions, architecture, and the advent of modernisation in traditional societies. Through his scholarship, Ivanow eloquently captured these developments, and strongly emphasised the value of Russian scholars studying the Muslim heritage of their Eastern nations.
The exhibition was a visual representation consisting of around 70 images with English and Russian captions that illustrated the life, travels and works of the Russian orientalist. The display included photographs of scholars from diverse backgrounds who influenced Ivanow’s own intellectual development; the places he visited; the sites he studied, and his own handwritten notes in Russian and Persian. The exhibition also presented images of the Aga Khans – as it was the Ismaili Imam, Sultan Mahomed Shah (Aga Khan III), who commissioned Ivanow in 1931 to study the Ismailis on the basis of their own literary heritage.
Representatives from other partner institutions highlighted the importance of celebrating Ivanow’s life and work. In her opening remarks, the Advisor to the Director of the House of Nationalities in St. Petersburg, Alla Dydymova, commented:
“Celebrating the life of the Russian orientalist in the House of Nationalities is timely and remarkable because St. Petersburg is home to various cultures and traditions and the merger of these cultures presents us with an enormous bouquet which we are proud to have in St. Petersburg.”
Andrey Frolov, Member of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and the Implementation of Migration Policy of St. Petersburg remarked:
“The atmosphere in St. Petersburg helped to create a scientific milieu which gave rise to many great scholars, such as Wladimir Ivanow. But now there is a reverse process, where the network of academic institutions, such as the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts are helping St. Petersburg to create dialogue and establish relations with external institutions and harmonise interethnic and inter-confessional relations in new conditions when people from different countries, including Central Asia choose St. Petersburg as their second home”.
Dr Stanislav Prozorov, Head of the Academic Activities at Institute of Oriental Manuscripts began his comments by thanking Dr Farhad Daftary, Co-Director of the IIS, and Dr Hakim Elnazarov, Coordinator of the Central Asian Studies Unit at the IIS for “their reverent and respectful attitude towards the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Russian orientalists.” He further added:
“The Asiatic Museum which was a predecessor of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts was established by the Imperial Russian Academy of Sciences to collect, study and propagate the culture and traditions of the people of the East. From the very beginning Russian academia carefully and attentively treated and studied anything which was related to the East. One of the founders of this tradition was Wladimir Alekseevich Ivanow.”
Dr Hakim Elnazarov elaborated on Ivanow’s interest in Eastern culture and traditions, highlighting that:
“Despite his 50 years abroad, Ivanow always remembered his homeland, maintained relations with Russian scholars, wrote his memoirs in Russian and wanted them to be published in Russia. His wish has finally been realised.”
Among other speakers, Davlat Khudonazarov, a renowned cinematographer, public figure and historian, spoke of the origins of the Ismaili Imamat’s relations with Russia, which date back to the early 20th century. He spoke about Imam Sultan Mohamed Shah’s visit to Russia in 1911, his appreciation and patronage of Russian culture and his close relations with Russian artists and the Russian royal family.
The exhibition has received interest from various audiences, from the academic community who are specialists in history or Islamic studies to young Ismaili students studying the IIS primary and secondary curriculum, who came with their parents and teachers to learn about Ivanow and his contributions to Ismaili studies.
Organised by The Institute of Ismaili Studies, the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, the Regional Public Organisation ‘Representatives of the Pamir Diaspora’ and the House of Nationalities in St. Petersburg - this partnership demonstrates the importance and the progress of Nizari Ismaili studies.
https://iis.ac.uk/news/exhibition-honou ... li-studies
To mark the advancement of Ismaili studies in the Russian Federation, an exhibition in memory of the great Russian scholar of modern Ismaili studies, Wladimir A. Ivanow, was held in St. Petersburg, Russia, on 11 October 2019. Dr Farhad Daftary, Co-Director of IIS; Dr Stanislav Prozorov, Head of the Academic Activities at Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, and Alla Dydymova, Advisor to the Director of the House of Nationalities in St. Petersburg, formally inaugurated the exhibition.
The exhibition showcased the outstanding journey of Ivanow’s pursuit for knowledge and his exploration of people of the East, particularly their cultures, religions, architecture, and the advent of modernisation in traditional societies. Through his scholarship, Ivanow eloquently captured these developments, and strongly emphasised the value of Russian scholars studying the Muslim heritage of their Eastern nations.
The exhibition was a visual representation consisting of around 70 images with English and Russian captions that illustrated the life, travels and works of the Russian orientalist. The display included photographs of scholars from diverse backgrounds who influenced Ivanow’s own intellectual development; the places he visited; the sites he studied, and his own handwritten notes in Russian and Persian. The exhibition also presented images of the Aga Khans – as it was the Ismaili Imam, Sultan Mahomed Shah (Aga Khan III), who commissioned Ivanow in 1931 to study the Ismailis on the basis of their own literary heritage.
Representatives from other partner institutions highlighted the importance of celebrating Ivanow’s life and work. In her opening remarks, the Advisor to the Director of the House of Nationalities in St. Petersburg, Alla Dydymova, commented:
“Celebrating the life of the Russian orientalist in the House of Nationalities is timely and remarkable because St. Petersburg is home to various cultures and traditions and the merger of these cultures presents us with an enormous bouquet which we are proud to have in St. Petersburg.”
Andrey Frolov, Member of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and the Implementation of Migration Policy of St. Petersburg remarked:
“The atmosphere in St. Petersburg helped to create a scientific milieu which gave rise to many great scholars, such as Wladimir Ivanow. But now there is a reverse process, where the network of academic institutions, such as the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts are helping St. Petersburg to create dialogue and establish relations with external institutions and harmonise interethnic and inter-confessional relations in new conditions when people from different countries, including Central Asia choose St. Petersburg as their second home”.
Dr Stanislav Prozorov, Head of the Academic Activities at Institute of Oriental Manuscripts began his comments by thanking Dr Farhad Daftary, Co-Director of the IIS, and Dr Hakim Elnazarov, Coordinator of the Central Asian Studies Unit at the IIS for “their reverent and respectful attitude towards the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Russian orientalists.” He further added:
“The Asiatic Museum which was a predecessor of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts was established by the Imperial Russian Academy of Sciences to collect, study and propagate the culture and traditions of the people of the East. From the very beginning Russian academia carefully and attentively treated and studied anything which was related to the East. One of the founders of this tradition was Wladimir Alekseevich Ivanow.”
Dr Hakim Elnazarov elaborated on Ivanow’s interest in Eastern culture and traditions, highlighting that:
“Despite his 50 years abroad, Ivanow always remembered his homeland, maintained relations with Russian scholars, wrote his memoirs in Russian and wanted them to be published in Russia. His wish has finally been realised.”
Among other speakers, Davlat Khudonazarov, a renowned cinematographer, public figure and historian, spoke of the origins of the Ismaili Imamat’s relations with Russia, which date back to the early 20th century. He spoke about Imam Sultan Mohamed Shah’s visit to Russia in 1911, his appreciation and patronage of Russian culture and his close relations with Russian artists and the Russian royal family.
The exhibition has received interest from various audiences, from the academic community who are specialists in history or Islamic studies to young Ismaili students studying the IIS primary and secondary curriculum, who came with their parents and teachers to learn about Ivanow and his contributions to Ismaili studies.
Organised by The Institute of Ismaili Studies, the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, the Regional Public Organisation ‘Representatives of the Pamir Diaspora’ and the House of Nationalities in St. Petersburg - this partnership demonstrates the importance and the progress of Nizari Ismaili studies.
https://iis.ac.uk/news/exhibition-honou ... li-studies
IIS now accepting applications for series of short courses
Applications are now open for a series of eight short courses offered by the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in 2020 as part of its continuing education programme.
The short courses, which are open to members of the Jamat with an undergraduate degree and proficiency in English, are designed to introduce participants to a social, cultural, and civilisational approach to the study of Islam and Muslim societies, with a particular focus on Ismaili contexts.
The courses offer participants an academically rigorous curriculum, accessible resources, and expert faculty members, drawn primarily from the IIS and, where relevant, from external academic institutions.
“This is a learning opportunity open to all members of the Jamat and is particularly relevant to leaders and professionals, teachers, educators, and waezeen working with Ismaili community institutions,” said Dr Farhad Daftary, co-director of the Institute of Ismaili Studies. “We are confident that participation in the IIS Short Courses will be a rewarding and enriching experience.”
Khalil Hashim, a strategy analyst from Dallas who participated in one of the short courses, acknowledged the benefits of an academic understanding of Islam.
“A lot of times we tend to bring our own biases in the way that we’ve been raised and what we’ve learned over time in our various professional and educational settings,” Hashim said. “The ability to step back and take a neutral approach allows you to remove bias from the conversation and I think that’s really helpful when you’re talking to other individuals who may not have the same understanding of our faith.”
Course subjects include Understanding Culture, Introduction to Islam, The Qur’an and its Interpretations, Shari‘a: Development of Fiqh and Ethics in Muslim Contexts, and Exploring Ismaili History.
Shazia Rahim, a teacher in Karachi, said of her experience with the course: “I was mainly interested in Ethics of Islam because that’s what we deal with in daily life. The topic was well-covered; it gave me the paradigms and frameworks to look at different situations and different perspectives.”
For more information, view the IIS Short Course Catalogue 2020:
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/ ... logue-2020
https://the.ismaili/news/iis-now-accept ... -173435533
Applications are now open for a series of eight short courses offered by the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in 2020 as part of its continuing education programme.
The short courses, which are open to members of the Jamat with an undergraduate degree and proficiency in English, are designed to introduce participants to a social, cultural, and civilisational approach to the study of Islam and Muslim societies, with a particular focus on Ismaili contexts.
The courses offer participants an academically rigorous curriculum, accessible resources, and expert faculty members, drawn primarily from the IIS and, where relevant, from external academic institutions.
“This is a learning opportunity open to all members of the Jamat and is particularly relevant to leaders and professionals, teachers, educators, and waezeen working with Ismaili community institutions,” said Dr Farhad Daftary, co-director of the Institute of Ismaili Studies. “We are confident that participation in the IIS Short Courses will be a rewarding and enriching experience.”
Khalil Hashim, a strategy analyst from Dallas who participated in one of the short courses, acknowledged the benefits of an academic understanding of Islam.
“A lot of times we tend to bring our own biases in the way that we’ve been raised and what we’ve learned over time in our various professional and educational settings,” Hashim said. “The ability to step back and take a neutral approach allows you to remove bias from the conversation and I think that’s really helpful when you’re talking to other individuals who may not have the same understanding of our faith.”
Course subjects include Understanding Culture, Introduction to Islam, The Qur’an and its Interpretations, Shari‘a: Development of Fiqh and Ethics in Muslim Contexts, and Exploring Ismaili History.
Shazia Rahim, a teacher in Karachi, said of her experience with the course: “I was mainly interested in Ethics of Islam because that’s what we deal with in daily life. The topic was well-covered; it gave me the paradigms and frameworks to look at different situations and different perspectives.”
For more information, view the IIS Short Course Catalogue 2020:
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/ ... logue-2020
https://the.ismaili/news/iis-now-accept ... -173435533
Events
PhD Seminar
29th November 2019 to 30th November 2019
Aga Khan Centre
The Institute of Ismaili Studies
King's Cross
N1C 4DN
United Kingdom
Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/phd-semi ... 3144933735
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased announce the second PhD Seminar.
Since 1997 the IIS has granted 48 Doctoral Scholarships. Out of these 33 of the recipients have already graduated. This seminar aims to bring together most of the IIS Doctoral Scholarship recipients who are still graduate students. The objective is three-fold:
- Presenting: allow the speakers to present their own work in its most up-to-date form;
- Mingling: a chance for all of them to discuss each other’s work and to engage with each other, thus forming a feeling of the IIS PhD “community”; and
- Connecting, in two ways: creating a space where the PhD students can hear about the IIS’s vision and current priorities; and giving a chance to talk about future career plans. To this effect, the Heads of departments and units have been invited to attend, present, and interact with the students.
To attend in person or view the live webcast, please register here
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/phd-semi ... 3144933735
Seminar Schedule and more...
https://iis.ac.uk/events/phd-seminar?utm_source=Direct
PhD Seminar
29th November 2019 to 30th November 2019
Aga Khan Centre
The Institute of Ismaili Studies
King's Cross
N1C 4DN
United Kingdom
Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/phd-semi ... 3144933735
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased announce the second PhD Seminar.
Since 1997 the IIS has granted 48 Doctoral Scholarships. Out of these 33 of the recipients have already graduated. This seminar aims to bring together most of the IIS Doctoral Scholarship recipients who are still graduate students. The objective is three-fold:
- Presenting: allow the speakers to present their own work in its most up-to-date form;
- Mingling: a chance for all of them to discuss each other’s work and to engage with each other, thus forming a feeling of the IIS PhD “community”; and
- Connecting, in two ways: creating a space where the PhD students can hear about the IIS’s vision and current priorities; and giving a chance to talk about future career plans. To this effect, the Heads of departments and units have been invited to attend, present, and interact with the students.
To attend in person or view the live webcast, please register here
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/phd-semi ... 3144933735
Seminar Schedule and more...
https://iis.ac.uk/events/phd-seminar?utm_source=Direct
Events
International Training Programme for Waezeen - English
27th November 2019
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased to announce the launch of recruitment for the International Training Programme for Waezeen for the year 2020-2022.
For Online Application: Click here
Application Deadline: Sunday, 29 December, 2019
More details will be available soon.
For application criteria and more..
https://iis.ac.uk/events/international- ... rce=Direct
International Training Programme for Waezeen - English
27th November 2019
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased to announce the launch of recruitment for the International Training Programme for Waezeen for the year 2020-2022.
For Online Application: Click here
Application Deadline: Sunday, 29 December, 2019
More details will be available soon.
For application criteria and more..
https://iis.ac.uk/events/international- ... rce=Direct
Event
Esoteric Cultures of Scripture Conference
17th December 2019 to 18th December 2019
The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Aga Khan Centre
London
N1C 4DN
United Kingdom
Download the Esoteric Cultures of Scripture Conference Programme here:
https://iis.ac.uk/sites/default/files/e ... ture_0.pdf
Esoteric Cultures of Scripture Conference
17th December 2019 to 18th December 2019
The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Aga Khan Centre
London
N1C 4DN
United Kingdom
Download the Esoteric Cultures of Scripture Conference Programme here:
https://iis.ac.uk/sites/default/files/e ... ture_0.pdf
Digital Education Officer- The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Digital Education Officer- The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Located in London, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Digital Education Officer
Salary £35,000 - £39,000 (dependant on experience)
Based London King’s Cross
The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in London, UK, seeks to recruit a Digital Education Officer to work in the Department of Curriculum Studies. The officer will work on a phased project, beginning with the conversion of existing curriculum materials into ebooks, incorporating in the next phase relevant links, multimedia resources and interactive pedagogy in the ebooks, and progressing towards the development of a Virtual Learning Environment on the Moodle platform, intended for use by teachers, students and parents. The curriculum materials produced by the IIS for the primary and secondary age-groups are based on the study of Islam and the Shia Ismaili tradition, approached from civilisational, humanistic and normative perspectives.
More...
https://iisalumni.org/job/Digital%20Edu ... er/12125#/
Digital Education Officer- The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Located in London, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Digital Education Officer
Salary £35,000 - £39,000 (dependant on experience)
Based London King’s Cross
The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in London, UK, seeks to recruit a Digital Education Officer to work in the Department of Curriculum Studies. The officer will work on a phased project, beginning with the conversion of existing curriculum materials into ebooks, incorporating in the next phase relevant links, multimedia resources and interactive pedagogy in the ebooks, and progressing towards the development of a Virtual Learning Environment on the Moodle platform, intended for use by teachers, students and parents. The curriculum materials produced by the IIS for the primary and secondary age-groups are based on the study of Islam and the Shia Ismaili tradition, approached from civilisational, humanistic and normative perspectives.
More...
https://iisalumni.org/job/Digital%20Edu ... er/12125#/
Programme Leader – GPISH
Salary £46,000 to £52,000 (dependent on experience)
Based London King’s Cross
The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) was established in 1977 to promote scholarship and learning about Muslim societies and to encourage a better understanding of their relationships with other cultures and faiths.
The Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities is a three-year postgraduate programme encouraging a perspective on the study of Islam which is not confined to its theological and religious aspects, but seeks to explore the relationship of religious ideas to broader dimensions of society and culture. The first two years are spent at The Institute of Ismaili Studies pursuing a Master’s in Islamic Studies and Humanities (awarded by SOAS University of London) while the third year is spent at an accredited UK university, studying for a Master’s degree of student’s choice. The programme includes intensive Arabic language training with language immersion in an Arabic speaking country, as well as educational field trips to Spain. The programme’s interdisciplinary approach seeks to avoid a division of pertinent disciplines – e.g. history, anthropology, political science, philosophical analysis, linguistic and literary criticism – in the study of Muslim societies, and promotes an approach in which the disciplines are intertwined at their roots.
The IIS invites applications for the role of GPISH Programme Leader. The successful applicant will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of all programmatic activities of GPISH within the IIS and liaise with partner institutions, including SOAS, ISMC (Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations), ITREBs (sister agencies in the field), AKDN (Aga Khan Development Network) agencies, as well as with other areas across and beyond the IIS. With a strong background in both academic and professional leadership – and holding a doctorate in a humanities or social sciences discipline with a specialisation in historical or contemporary aspects of Muslim societies or civilisations - the post holder will support the educational and human resource capacity building goals of GPISH. Holding an excellent record and reputation as a lecturer and researcher, the post holder will have a thorough understanding of the UK Higher Education (HE) system, strong communication skills in working with people at all levels in HE as well as within the community. The post holder will collaborate closely on shared initiatives and programmatic activities with the STEP Programme Leader and train and mentor existing and new staff, offering them requisite support structures.
Advanced qualifications such as a Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education; a course in Higher Education leadership, will constitute a distinct advantage. A background in Islamic Studies and Humanities is essential. Due to UK immigration regulations we can only accept applications from candidates who have a legal right to work in the UK.
Please apply online with CV and covering letter at www.iis.ac.uk (‘Job Vacancies’ link) where you can also download the job description and person specification.
https://iisalumni.org/job/Programme%20L ... SH/12205#/
Salary £46,000 to £52,000 (dependent on experience)
Based London King’s Cross
The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) was established in 1977 to promote scholarship and learning about Muslim societies and to encourage a better understanding of their relationships with other cultures and faiths.
The Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities is a three-year postgraduate programme encouraging a perspective on the study of Islam which is not confined to its theological and religious aspects, but seeks to explore the relationship of religious ideas to broader dimensions of society and culture. The first two years are spent at The Institute of Ismaili Studies pursuing a Master’s in Islamic Studies and Humanities (awarded by SOAS University of London) while the third year is spent at an accredited UK university, studying for a Master’s degree of student’s choice. The programme includes intensive Arabic language training with language immersion in an Arabic speaking country, as well as educational field trips to Spain. The programme’s interdisciplinary approach seeks to avoid a division of pertinent disciplines – e.g. history, anthropology, political science, philosophical analysis, linguistic and literary criticism – in the study of Muslim societies, and promotes an approach in which the disciplines are intertwined at their roots.
The IIS invites applications for the role of GPISH Programme Leader. The successful applicant will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of all programmatic activities of GPISH within the IIS and liaise with partner institutions, including SOAS, ISMC (Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations), ITREBs (sister agencies in the field), AKDN (Aga Khan Development Network) agencies, as well as with other areas across and beyond the IIS. With a strong background in both academic and professional leadership – and holding a doctorate in a humanities or social sciences discipline with a specialisation in historical or contemporary aspects of Muslim societies or civilisations - the post holder will support the educational and human resource capacity building goals of GPISH. Holding an excellent record and reputation as a lecturer and researcher, the post holder will have a thorough understanding of the UK Higher Education (HE) system, strong communication skills in working with people at all levels in HE as well as within the community. The post holder will collaborate closely on shared initiatives and programmatic activities with the STEP Programme Leader and train and mentor existing and new staff, offering them requisite support structures.
Advanced qualifications such as a Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education; a course in Higher Education leadership, will constitute a distinct advantage. A background in Islamic Studies and Humanities is essential. Due to UK immigration regulations we can only accept applications from candidates who have a legal right to work in the UK.
Please apply online with CV and covering letter at www.iis.ac.uk (‘Job Vacancies’ link) where you can also download the job description and person specification.
https://iisalumni.org/job/Programme%20L ... SH/12205#/
Events
The Central Asian Roots of Islamic Intellectual Traditions - Conference
24th February 2021
Call for Papers
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is delighted to invite proposals for individual papers, or whole panels, for its forthcoming international conference The Central Asian Roots of Islamic Intellectual Traditions. Papers and panels may be proposed by senior and junior scholars.
Important Dates
Conference Dates: 24 - 26 February 2021
Conference Venue: Aga Khan Centre, London, UK
Abstracts Submissions: 30 April 2020 (midnight GMT)
Acceptance Decisions: 30 June 2020
Conference details:
https://iis.ac.uk/events/central-asian- ... traditions
The Central Asian Roots of Islamic Intellectual Traditions - Conference
24th February 2021
Call for Papers
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is delighted to invite proposals for individual papers, or whole panels, for its forthcoming international conference The Central Asian Roots of Islamic Intellectual Traditions. Papers and panels may be proposed by senior and junior scholars.
Important Dates
Conference Dates: 24 - 26 February 2021
Conference Venue: Aga Khan Centre, London, UK
Abstracts Submissions: 30 April 2020 (midnight GMT)
Acceptance Decisions: 30 June 2020
Conference details:
https://iis.ac.uk/events/central-asian- ... traditions
New Online Event: Six Lessons/Tips to Achieve Personal Clarity and Vision in 2020
Here is What You'll Learn
Tip 1 Stepping Back and Looking at 2019 - Feb 17, 2020 13:00 GMT
Here you will have an opportunity to review 2019, the highs and lows and see how different emotions can have you in a cloud or fog and how others can give you greater clarity.
Tip 2 Learn how the Brain Works - Feb 18, 2020 13:00 GMT
In this session, you will have a taste of neuroscience and how different chemicals react based on emotions and your own self belief and by becoming more self aware you can have more Clarity.
Tip 3 Exercise on Purpose and Aspirations - Feb 19, 2020 13:00 GMT
This session will draw you to see beyond the clouds and build on your purpose and aspirations as a wish list for 2020 and beyond.
Tip 4 Learn how to Appreciate and Build on the Unique You - Feb 20, 2020 13:00 GMT
Learn how to appreciate and build on your experience and skills during your lifetime.
Tip 5 Aligning your Values - Feb 21, 2020 13:00 GMT
An exercise to look into your own values that are important to you and see how they can be aligned in 2020.
Tip 6 Shifting your Energy to Build your Purpose Statement for 2020 - Feb 22, 2020 13:00 GMT
Shifting your energy to Build Your Purpose Statement for 2020 with a formula
Registration and more..
https://clariscoaching.webinarninja.com ... 1/register
Here is What You'll Learn
Tip 1 Stepping Back and Looking at 2019 - Feb 17, 2020 13:00 GMT
Here you will have an opportunity to review 2019, the highs and lows and see how different emotions can have you in a cloud or fog and how others can give you greater clarity.
Tip 2 Learn how the Brain Works - Feb 18, 2020 13:00 GMT
In this session, you will have a taste of neuroscience and how different chemicals react based on emotions and your own self belief and by becoming more self aware you can have more Clarity.
Tip 3 Exercise on Purpose and Aspirations - Feb 19, 2020 13:00 GMT
This session will draw you to see beyond the clouds and build on your purpose and aspirations as a wish list for 2020 and beyond.
Tip 4 Learn how to Appreciate and Build on the Unique You - Feb 20, 2020 13:00 GMT
Learn how to appreciate and build on your experience and skills during your lifetime.
Tip 5 Aligning your Values - Feb 21, 2020 13:00 GMT
An exercise to look into your own values that are important to you and see how they can be aligned in 2020.
Tip 6 Shifting your Energy to Build your Purpose Statement for 2020 - Feb 22, 2020 13:00 GMT
Shifting your energy to Build Your Purpose Statement for 2020 with a formula
Registration and more..
https://clariscoaching.webinarninja.com ... 1/register
New Publication Explores Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World
In a well-known Sufi tale, a group of people are trying to describe an elephant in a dark room. Each of them touches a different part of the animal’s body and therefore their opinions differ: one touches the trunk and thinks that the elephant is like a water pipe, another touches the ear and imagines a fan-like animal, the third one touches the leg and is convinced that the elephant resembles a mighty column. Although each of them is right concerning one particular area of the elephant’s body, none of them can actually see the elephant as a whole. Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World: The Ismaili Thread, edited by Dr Orkhan Mir-Kasimov seeks to focus not only on the complex body of Islamic civilisations, but on the interactions and the links between different groups, in an attempt to better understand the whole.
In the introduction, Dr Orkhan Mir-Kasimov, speaks about the approach taken in this publication:
“The fundamental idea that informs the approach of this volume is that Islamic civilisation is not and has never been a monolith. In fact, it consists of various groups and movements, which, throughout the centuries, have enjoyed complex relationships with each other. These relationships have various aspects – social, political, commercial, spiritual, intellectual, artistic and so on – and every aspect gives us a specific point of view regarding the place of any given group within the whole.”
The intellectual history of the Ismaili traditions of Shi‘i Islam is the central thread around which the fabric of this book is woven. In spite of the impressive progress that Ismaili studies has made in the last few decades, no edited volume has previously systematically addressed the intellectual interactions between the Ismailis and other Islamic groups.
Most of the papers in this publication were originally delivered at the Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World: The Ismaili Thread conference at the IIS in October 2016. The book is divided into six thematic sections which bring together contributions from different disciplines and areas of Islamic studies, including polemical and doctrinal literature, law, mysticism, rituals and philosophy. Written by some of the foremost scholars in the field, the volume contains chapters which are accessible to readers with a minimal background in Islamic studies, as well as in-depth research papers. The book discusses most of the main Ismaili groups, such as pre-Fatimid Ismailis, Fatimid, Nizari and Tayyibi Ismailis, as well as lesser known and still largely under studied Ismaili traditions such as those associated with the mountain region of Badakhshan in Central Asia. Through the examination of a broad range of primary sources, the volume covers various historical periods and geographies. It contains chapters that address interfaith interactions and syncretism’s, particularly in the Indian subcontinent and in Yemen, alongside interactions reflected in the circulation of books in the Fatimid markets, and various literary and mythical traditions.
As part of the Shi‘i Heritage Series, Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World: The Ismaili Thread aims to provide a holistic and interdisciplinary perspective of the infinite richness, diversity, and interconnectedness of the intellectual traditions of Islam.
To learn more about the publication, visit the publications page here.
https://iis.ac.uk/publication/intellect ... amic-world
In a well-known Sufi tale, a group of people are trying to describe an elephant in a dark room. Each of them touches a different part of the animal’s body and therefore their opinions differ: one touches the trunk and thinks that the elephant is like a water pipe, another touches the ear and imagines a fan-like animal, the third one touches the leg and is convinced that the elephant resembles a mighty column. Although each of them is right concerning one particular area of the elephant’s body, none of them can actually see the elephant as a whole. Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World: The Ismaili Thread, edited by Dr Orkhan Mir-Kasimov seeks to focus not only on the complex body of Islamic civilisations, but on the interactions and the links between different groups, in an attempt to better understand the whole.
In the introduction, Dr Orkhan Mir-Kasimov, speaks about the approach taken in this publication:
“The fundamental idea that informs the approach of this volume is that Islamic civilisation is not and has never been a monolith. In fact, it consists of various groups and movements, which, throughout the centuries, have enjoyed complex relationships with each other. These relationships have various aspects – social, political, commercial, spiritual, intellectual, artistic and so on – and every aspect gives us a specific point of view regarding the place of any given group within the whole.”
The intellectual history of the Ismaili traditions of Shi‘i Islam is the central thread around which the fabric of this book is woven. In spite of the impressive progress that Ismaili studies has made in the last few decades, no edited volume has previously systematically addressed the intellectual interactions between the Ismailis and other Islamic groups.
Most of the papers in this publication were originally delivered at the Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World: The Ismaili Thread conference at the IIS in October 2016. The book is divided into six thematic sections which bring together contributions from different disciplines and areas of Islamic studies, including polemical and doctrinal literature, law, mysticism, rituals and philosophy. Written by some of the foremost scholars in the field, the volume contains chapters which are accessible to readers with a minimal background in Islamic studies, as well as in-depth research papers. The book discusses most of the main Ismaili groups, such as pre-Fatimid Ismailis, Fatimid, Nizari and Tayyibi Ismailis, as well as lesser known and still largely under studied Ismaili traditions such as those associated with the mountain region of Badakhshan in Central Asia. Through the examination of a broad range of primary sources, the volume covers various historical periods and geographies. It contains chapters that address interfaith interactions and syncretism’s, particularly in the Indian subcontinent and in Yemen, alongside interactions reflected in the circulation of books in the Fatimid markets, and various literary and mythical traditions.
As part of the Shi‘i Heritage Series, Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World: The Ismaili Thread aims to provide a holistic and interdisciplinary perspective of the infinite richness, diversity, and interconnectedness of the intellectual traditions of Islam.
To learn more about the publication, visit the publications page here.
https://iis.ac.uk/publication/intellect ... amic-world
IIS publication on Sharia receives award for outstanding academic title from the American Library Association
At the end of every year, Choice publishes a list of Outstanding Academic Titles that have been reviewed during the previous calendar year. This prestigious list reflects the best in scholarly titles reviewed by Choice and brings with it the extraordinary recognition of the academic library community.
In reviewing the publication for “Choice 2019 Outstanding Academic Title,” L. J. Alderink, Emeritus Professor, Concordia College, who was part of the awarding committee said of the publication:
“This collection appears at an opportune time, a time when the societies that produced Islamic jurisprudence have given way to secular, modern nation-states with their institutions, boundaries, passports, and, above all, coercive power. The book, as a whole, argues against the views that Shariʽa is a state function to regulate the behaviour of a populace or that Shariʽa is divine law that is uniform across Muslim societies.
In the introduction, Sajoo states that the theme that runs throughout the volume is that Shariʽa is ‘the good life as a daily pursuit … an ongoing human quest to grasp the substance of divine guidance in the conduct of devotional, social, and economic life, including how one relates to the natural environment.’ The contributors discuss, among other things, the foundations of Shariʽa, ethical theory and practice, spiritual refinement, gender equality, finance, bioethics, and Muslim societies in Ottoman Turkey, democratic Indonesia, and the West. Each essay includes helpful suggestions for further reading. This book opens the way to a new inquiry: Shariʽa as the linking of divine will and human good. It makes for excellent reading and thinking.”
More...
https://iis.ac.uk/news/iis-publication- ... ssociation
At the end of every year, Choice publishes a list of Outstanding Academic Titles that have been reviewed during the previous calendar year. This prestigious list reflects the best in scholarly titles reviewed by Choice and brings with it the extraordinary recognition of the academic library community.
In reviewing the publication for “Choice 2019 Outstanding Academic Title,” L. J. Alderink, Emeritus Professor, Concordia College, who was part of the awarding committee said of the publication:
“This collection appears at an opportune time, a time when the societies that produced Islamic jurisprudence have given way to secular, modern nation-states with their institutions, boundaries, passports, and, above all, coercive power. The book, as a whole, argues against the views that Shariʽa is a state function to regulate the behaviour of a populace or that Shariʽa is divine law that is uniform across Muslim societies.
In the introduction, Sajoo states that the theme that runs throughout the volume is that Shariʽa is ‘the good life as a daily pursuit … an ongoing human quest to grasp the substance of divine guidance in the conduct of devotional, social, and economic life, including how one relates to the natural environment.’ The contributors discuss, among other things, the foundations of Shariʽa, ethical theory and practice, spiritual refinement, gender equality, finance, bioethics, and Muslim societies in Ottoman Turkey, democratic Indonesia, and the West. Each essay includes helpful suggestions for further reading. This book opens the way to a new inquiry: Shariʽa as the linking of divine will and human good. It makes for excellent reading and thinking.”
More...
https://iis.ac.uk/news/iis-publication- ... ssociation
New Leadership Elected for Alumni Chapter Groups 2020 - 2021
The IIS Alumni Association is pleased to announce the appointment of its elected leadership for the Asian, European and North American Chapter Groups. Established in 2005, the Alumni Association aims to strengthen the relationship between the Institute and its graduates by supporting the personal, academic and career development of the alumni as well as working with them to maximise the impact of their knowledge and skills.
Each year, the association conducts elections for Presidents and Secretaries of the three Regional Chapter Groups. These office bearers are responsible for the activities of the association in a given region, which include annual meetings. The final elected candidates from this year’s elections to lead the Chapter Groups for a one-year term ending September 2021 are as follows:
Asian Chapter Group
President: Sarah Juma (STEP 2014)
Secretary: Hina Amirali Mawani (STEP 2017)
European Chapter Group
President: Nazneen Lakhani (WTEP 1994)
Secretary: Saima Khakwani (GPISH 2018)
North American Chapter Group
President: Zahra Somani (STEP 2010)
Secretary: Sadiq Maredia ( STEP 2010)
The Alumni Relations Unit looks forward to working with the newly elected leaders. A virtual meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Alumni Association is scheduled for early next month where plans for the new term will be discussed.
https://www.iis.ac.uk/news/new-leadersh ... -2020-2021
The IIS Alumni Association is pleased to announce the appointment of its elected leadership for the Asian, European and North American Chapter Groups. Established in 2005, the Alumni Association aims to strengthen the relationship between the Institute and its graduates by supporting the personal, academic and career development of the alumni as well as working with them to maximise the impact of their knowledge and skills.
Each year, the association conducts elections for Presidents and Secretaries of the three Regional Chapter Groups. These office bearers are responsible for the activities of the association in a given region, which include annual meetings. The final elected candidates from this year’s elections to lead the Chapter Groups for a one-year term ending September 2021 are as follows:
Asian Chapter Group
President: Sarah Juma (STEP 2014)
Secretary: Hina Amirali Mawani (STEP 2017)
European Chapter Group
President: Nazneen Lakhani (WTEP 1994)
Secretary: Saima Khakwani (GPISH 2018)
North American Chapter Group
President: Zahra Somani (STEP 2010)
Secretary: Sadiq Maredia ( STEP 2010)
The Alumni Relations Unit looks forward to working with the newly elected leaders. A virtual meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Alumni Association is scheduled for early next month where plans for the new term will be discussed.
https://www.iis.ac.uk/news/new-leadersh ... -2020-2021
Events
The Revival of Twelver Shi’i Tafsir in Early Modern and Modern Times: Three Case Studies
25th November 2020
Islamic History and Thought Lecture Series
According to the doctrine of early Imami Shi’ism, the authority to interpret the Qur’an belongs exclusively to Ali and his descendants, the Imams. Consequently, most of the Tafsirs written in Twelver Imami circles after the Occultation of the twelfth Imam are essentially comprised of traditions attributed to the Imams. Yet, an impressive revival of the Imami Tafsir can be observed in the Ilkhanid period, and even more so during the Safavid era in Iran, in the context of interfacing between Imami Shiism, Sufism and philosophy. The lecture will present three case studies in order to illustrate the evolution of Imami Quranic exegesis in the early modern and modern eras, in its coherence and diversity: al-Muhit al-azam by Sayyid Haydar Amuli; Tafsir Sharif Lahiji, alias Qutubb al-Din Ashkevari; and Mirat al-anwar by Abu l-Hasan al-Isfahani. Rather than three separated trends, these works reflect different ways of combining Shii esotericism, mysticism and rationalism within the framework of Quranic exegesis.
Date: 25 November 2020
Time: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm GMT
Location: Online (Zoom)
Q&A: At any time during the lecture, attendees can submit questions to the speaker through the Q&A option at the bottom of the control panel. As time allows, the speaker will address as many questions as they can during the Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
Recording: Please note that the session will be recorded and published on the IIS website.
https://www.iis.ac.uk/events/revival-tw ... se-studies
The Revival of Twelver Shi’i Tafsir in Early Modern and Modern Times: Three Case Studies
25th November 2020
Islamic History and Thought Lecture Series
According to the doctrine of early Imami Shi’ism, the authority to interpret the Qur’an belongs exclusively to Ali and his descendants, the Imams. Consequently, most of the Tafsirs written in Twelver Imami circles after the Occultation of the twelfth Imam are essentially comprised of traditions attributed to the Imams. Yet, an impressive revival of the Imami Tafsir can be observed in the Ilkhanid period, and even more so during the Safavid era in Iran, in the context of interfacing between Imami Shiism, Sufism and philosophy. The lecture will present three case studies in order to illustrate the evolution of Imami Quranic exegesis in the early modern and modern eras, in its coherence and diversity: al-Muhit al-azam by Sayyid Haydar Amuli; Tafsir Sharif Lahiji, alias Qutubb al-Din Ashkevari; and Mirat al-anwar by Abu l-Hasan al-Isfahani. Rather than three separated trends, these works reflect different ways of combining Shii esotericism, mysticism and rationalism within the framework of Quranic exegesis.
Date: 25 November 2020
Time: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm GMT
Location: Online (Zoom)
Q&A: At any time during the lecture, attendees can submit questions to the speaker through the Q&A option at the bottom of the control panel. As time allows, the speaker will address as many questions as they can during the Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
Recording: Please note that the session will be recorded and published on the IIS website.
https://www.iis.ac.uk/events/revival-tw ... se-studies
The Prophet Muhammad: Islam and the Divine Message Book Talk
Video:
https://www.iis.ac.uk/video/prophet-muh ... -book-talk
Listen to author Dr Stephen Burge in conversation with Dr Shainool Jiwa, Senior Research Fellow at IIS, in this book launch event which took place in October 2020 at the Ismaili Centre, London.
Find out more about The Prophet Muhammad: Islam and the Divine Message https://www.iis.ac.uk/publication/proph ... ne-message, and the wider World of Islam https://www.iis.ac.uk/series/world-of-islam series.
*******
Aga Khan Library Highlights Collections on History Day 2020
On Thursday 19 November the Aga Khan Library will take part in History Day, which connects students and researchers with information professionals from libraries, archives and research organisations across the UK. This year’s event also coincides with the Being Human festival, the UK’s national festival of humanities.
The event is a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the Library among scholars of Islamic and Shia studies, as well as researchers of contemporary Muslim societies and communities. To this end, Dr Walid Ghali, the Head of the Aga Khan Library, and other librarians feature in a short film that highlights the Library’s various collections, which contain over 50,000 volumes.
Librarian Shah Hussain outlines the flagship Ismaili collection, one of the largest and finest of its kind anywhere in the world, and its broad coverage of modern and medieval Ismaili history, theology, philosophy, art and architecture, and devotional literature (ginans).
He also emphasises the Library’s significant collections related to Islamic mysticism and Shi‘a Islam, as well as the history, art and architecture of Iran, Central Asia and South Asia.
Librarian Waseem Farooq describes the Library’s unique Ottoman collection, which features 500 titles ranging in subject from language and literature to history and religion.
Pedro Sanchez Rodriguez, the Digital Resources Librarian, describes the importance of the project to digitise the Library’s rare and special collections, and highlights significant texts that will be digitised next year, including a complete canon of medicine from 1527, the holograph manuscripts of Mohammed Abdu and further Ottoman materials.
LEARN MORE
You can browse the Library’s online catalogue here https://www.agakhancentre.org.uk/aga-kh ... ry-london/.
Students and researchers interested in taking part in History Day can register for free here.
https://www.iis.ac.uk/news/aga-khan-lib ... y-day-2020
Video:
https://www.iis.ac.uk/video/prophet-muh ... -book-talk
Listen to author Dr Stephen Burge in conversation with Dr Shainool Jiwa, Senior Research Fellow at IIS, in this book launch event which took place in October 2020 at the Ismaili Centre, London.
Find out more about The Prophet Muhammad: Islam and the Divine Message https://www.iis.ac.uk/publication/proph ... ne-message, and the wider World of Islam https://www.iis.ac.uk/series/world-of-islam series.
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Aga Khan Library Highlights Collections on History Day 2020
On Thursday 19 November the Aga Khan Library will take part in History Day, which connects students and researchers with information professionals from libraries, archives and research organisations across the UK. This year’s event also coincides with the Being Human festival, the UK’s national festival of humanities.
The event is a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the Library among scholars of Islamic and Shia studies, as well as researchers of contemporary Muslim societies and communities. To this end, Dr Walid Ghali, the Head of the Aga Khan Library, and other librarians feature in a short film that highlights the Library’s various collections, which contain over 50,000 volumes.
Librarian Shah Hussain outlines the flagship Ismaili collection, one of the largest and finest of its kind anywhere in the world, and its broad coverage of modern and medieval Ismaili history, theology, philosophy, art and architecture, and devotional literature (ginans).
He also emphasises the Library’s significant collections related to Islamic mysticism and Shi‘a Islam, as well as the history, art and architecture of Iran, Central Asia and South Asia.
Librarian Waseem Farooq describes the Library’s unique Ottoman collection, which features 500 titles ranging in subject from language and literature to history and religion.
Pedro Sanchez Rodriguez, the Digital Resources Librarian, describes the importance of the project to digitise the Library’s rare and special collections, and highlights significant texts that will be digitised next year, including a complete canon of medicine from 1527, the holograph manuscripts of Mohammed Abdu and further Ottoman materials.
LEARN MORE
You can browse the Library’s online catalogue here https://www.agakhancentre.org.uk/aga-kh ... ry-london/.
Students and researchers interested in taking part in History Day can register for free here.
https://www.iis.ac.uk/news/aga-khan-lib ... y-day-2020
Events
Islamic Traditions in 'Greater Khurasan’: Ismailis, Sufis and Sunnis
24th February 2021 to 27th February 2021
Important Dates
Conference Dates: 24 - 27 February 2021
Conference venue: Online via Zoom
The goal of this international conference is to explore a variety of manifestations of Islamic culture over a vast geographical area situated in the easternmost part of the Islamic world, including contemporary Central Asia, Afghanistan, north-eastern Iran, the Xinjiang region of western China and northern and western Pakistan. We have chosen to use the medieval geographic term ‘Greater Khurāsān’ to refer to this area.
The conference covers cultural and intellectual expressions of Islam in its philosophical, theological, mystical and artistic interpretations, as well as in its political and legal theories, linguistic aspects, social practices and rituals, some of which are unique to various locations within ‘Greater Khurasan’. It is hoped that this conference will contribute to deepening current understanding of the role played by this region in Islamic history.
The following themes will be explored during the conference:
1) Global Khurāsān: Central Asia in the Islamic World and Beyond
2) Philosophical and Theological Debates related to Ismaili Doctrines
3) Rituals
4) Law, Political Theories and Social Transformations
5) Sufism and Sufi Literature [two panels]
6) Sufi–Ismaili Interactions, the Arts and Material Culture
7) The Persian Language as a Cultural Vehicle
The contributors include: Eyad Abuali, Belal Abu-Alabbas, Snejana Atanova, Daniel Beben, Philipp Bruckmayr, Dagikhudo Dagiev, Devin DeWeese, Leila Dodykhudoeva, Maxime Delpierre, Janis Esots, Abdulmamad Iloliev, Benjamin Gatling, Fârès Gillon, Chorshanbe Goibnazarov, Jo-Ann Gross, Tatiana Korneeva, Otambek Mastibekov, Toby Mayer, Shin Nomoto, Nourmamadcho Nourmamadchoev, Alexandre Papas, Aslisho Qurboniev, Yuri Stoyanov, Paul Walker, Thierry Zarcone.
The conference will be followed by the publication of an edited volume.
The full conference programme and registration link will be coming soon. For any queries about the conference please contact Dr Dagikhudo Dagiev.
Cover image: Magok-i-Attari mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan by Nassima Chahboun (CC BY-SA 4.0)
https://www.iis.ac.uk/events/islamic-tr ... r-khurasan
Islamic Traditions in 'Greater Khurasan’: Ismailis, Sufis and Sunnis
24th February 2021 to 27th February 2021
Important Dates
Conference Dates: 24 - 27 February 2021
Conference venue: Online via Zoom
The goal of this international conference is to explore a variety of manifestations of Islamic culture over a vast geographical area situated in the easternmost part of the Islamic world, including contemporary Central Asia, Afghanistan, north-eastern Iran, the Xinjiang region of western China and northern and western Pakistan. We have chosen to use the medieval geographic term ‘Greater Khurāsān’ to refer to this area.
The conference covers cultural and intellectual expressions of Islam in its philosophical, theological, mystical and artistic interpretations, as well as in its political and legal theories, linguistic aspects, social practices and rituals, some of which are unique to various locations within ‘Greater Khurasan’. It is hoped that this conference will contribute to deepening current understanding of the role played by this region in Islamic history.
The following themes will be explored during the conference:
1) Global Khurāsān: Central Asia in the Islamic World and Beyond
2) Philosophical and Theological Debates related to Ismaili Doctrines
3) Rituals
4) Law, Political Theories and Social Transformations
5) Sufism and Sufi Literature [two panels]
6) Sufi–Ismaili Interactions, the Arts and Material Culture
7) The Persian Language as a Cultural Vehicle
The contributors include: Eyad Abuali, Belal Abu-Alabbas, Snejana Atanova, Daniel Beben, Philipp Bruckmayr, Dagikhudo Dagiev, Devin DeWeese, Leila Dodykhudoeva, Maxime Delpierre, Janis Esots, Abdulmamad Iloliev, Benjamin Gatling, Fârès Gillon, Chorshanbe Goibnazarov, Jo-Ann Gross, Tatiana Korneeva, Otambek Mastibekov, Toby Mayer, Shin Nomoto, Nourmamadcho Nourmamadchoev, Alexandre Papas, Aslisho Qurboniev, Yuri Stoyanov, Paul Walker, Thierry Zarcone.
The conference will be followed by the publication of an edited volume.
The full conference programme and registration link will be coming soon. For any queries about the conference please contact Dr Dagikhudo Dagiev.
Cover image: Magok-i-Attari mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan by Nassima Chahboun (CC BY-SA 4.0)
https://www.iis.ac.uk/events/islamic-tr ... r-khurasan
Mawlana Hazar Imam appoints new IIS Board of Governors
On 13 December 2020, the Board of Governors of The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) will pass on the reins to new members, after overseeing a ground-breaking period of development for the Institute.
Over the past 25 years, the Board has overseen the growth and deepening of the Institute’s various education, research, and publications programmes, as well as the expansion of their reach to Jamati and academic audiences across the world. The IIS now plays an instrumental role in the Jamat’s education, through the curriculum for children and adolescents, its two MA programmes, and its Continuing Education initiatives.
Serving a global Jamat
One of the founding tenets of the Institute is to ensure that everything that it does benefits the Jamat directly or indirectly, and one way it does this is by equipping Jamati youth with the knowledge and skills to become leaders, teachers, and change-makers in their own communities. The IIS now has over 650 graduates, many of whom are serving Jamati Institutions in professional and voluntary capacities. Around 35% of the Institute’s own staff are alumni from IIS programmes and, in an exciting development, a number of the new Board members are also IIS graduates.
The Board has also helped to consolidate the Institute’s work in research, publications, and manuscripts, which has positioned the IIS as a critical reference in the field of Ismaili studies and more recently as a pioneer in Shi‘i and Qur’anic Studies.
retiring BoG
The retiring Board of Governors have served the IIS for the past 25 years. From left to right: Mr Naguib Kheraj, Dr Mohamed Keshavjee, Dr Shafik Sachedina, Dr Aziz Esmail, Mr Zauhar Meghji, Professor Afzal Ahmed.
The retiring Board of Governors have served the IIS for the past 25 years. From left to right: Mr Naguib Kheraj, Dr Mohamed Keshavjee, Dr Shafik Sachedina, Dr Aziz Esmail, Mr Zauhar Meghji, Professor Afzal Ahmed.
PHOTO: IIS
This has been reinforced by the simultaneous growth in the Institute’s collections of books, manuscripts, and other rare materials; its collection of Ismaili manuscripts is now the largest of its kind in the world.
No less significantly, with the generous support of Mawlana Hazar Imam and Jamati donors, the Board has secured a level of financial and institutional stability that will enable the IIS to continue to build on this strong foundation at its new permanent home in the inspiring surroundings of the Aga Khan Centre in London.
Invaluable contributions
Two figures who have been instrumental to this development are Dr Aziz Esmail and Shams Vellani, who both retire this year. Appointed by Hazar Imam as the first Dean of the IIS (1988-1999) and subsequently to the Board of Governors, Dr Esmail has been central to the development of the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings of the Institute’s work in all its aspects.
His broad thinking was the impetus behind the establishment of the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) in 1994.
Mr Vellani has played a crucial role in the strategic direction and growth of the IIS from its inception. Joining in 1976 as its Executive Officer and member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors and then in 1988-2020, as Director of Special Projects and permanent guest of the Board of Governors, he has been a pre-eminent figure in institution-building and the nurturing of partnerships that underpin the work of the Institute.
Both Mr Vellani and Dr Esmail also played an important role in the development of the curriculum, providing intellectual and philosophical oversight, and have made significant contributions to the strength, reach, and impact the IIS enjoys today.
Diverse new Board
Given this stable platform for its future development, the Chairman of the Board, Mawlana Hazar Imam, felt that now was the right time to make new appointments to the Board of Governors of the IIS.
The new appointments made by Hazar Imam internationalise the make-up of the Board and enhance the diversity among its members, including improving the gender balance. They come from a mix of academic and commercial backgrounds and include, for the first time, alumni of IIS graduate programmes.
The new Board will officially take up their responsibilities in mid-December, ready to both navigate the IIS through the continuing challenges of the pandemic and steward the Institute through the next stage of its evolution as a higher education and academic research institute that is able to respond to and serve the diverse needs of a globalised Jamat.
--
To view more information and bios of the new Board of Governors, visit the IIS website https://www.iis.ac.uk/about-us/board-governors.
MHI remains the Chairman of the Board.
https://the.ismaili/global/news/institu ... -governors
On 13 December 2020, the Board of Governors of The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) will pass on the reins to new members, after overseeing a ground-breaking period of development for the Institute.
Over the past 25 years, the Board has overseen the growth and deepening of the Institute’s various education, research, and publications programmes, as well as the expansion of their reach to Jamati and academic audiences across the world. The IIS now plays an instrumental role in the Jamat’s education, through the curriculum for children and adolescents, its two MA programmes, and its Continuing Education initiatives.
Serving a global Jamat
One of the founding tenets of the Institute is to ensure that everything that it does benefits the Jamat directly or indirectly, and one way it does this is by equipping Jamati youth with the knowledge and skills to become leaders, teachers, and change-makers in their own communities. The IIS now has over 650 graduates, many of whom are serving Jamati Institutions in professional and voluntary capacities. Around 35% of the Institute’s own staff are alumni from IIS programmes and, in an exciting development, a number of the new Board members are also IIS graduates.
The Board has also helped to consolidate the Institute’s work in research, publications, and manuscripts, which has positioned the IIS as a critical reference in the field of Ismaili studies and more recently as a pioneer in Shi‘i and Qur’anic Studies.
retiring BoG
The retiring Board of Governors have served the IIS for the past 25 years. From left to right: Mr Naguib Kheraj, Dr Mohamed Keshavjee, Dr Shafik Sachedina, Dr Aziz Esmail, Mr Zauhar Meghji, Professor Afzal Ahmed.
The retiring Board of Governors have served the IIS for the past 25 years. From left to right: Mr Naguib Kheraj, Dr Mohamed Keshavjee, Dr Shafik Sachedina, Dr Aziz Esmail, Mr Zauhar Meghji, Professor Afzal Ahmed.
PHOTO: IIS
This has been reinforced by the simultaneous growth in the Institute’s collections of books, manuscripts, and other rare materials; its collection of Ismaili manuscripts is now the largest of its kind in the world.
No less significantly, with the generous support of Mawlana Hazar Imam and Jamati donors, the Board has secured a level of financial and institutional stability that will enable the IIS to continue to build on this strong foundation at its new permanent home in the inspiring surroundings of the Aga Khan Centre in London.
Invaluable contributions
Two figures who have been instrumental to this development are Dr Aziz Esmail and Shams Vellani, who both retire this year. Appointed by Hazar Imam as the first Dean of the IIS (1988-1999) and subsequently to the Board of Governors, Dr Esmail has been central to the development of the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings of the Institute’s work in all its aspects.
His broad thinking was the impetus behind the establishment of the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) in 1994.
Mr Vellani has played a crucial role in the strategic direction and growth of the IIS from its inception. Joining in 1976 as its Executive Officer and member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors and then in 1988-2020, as Director of Special Projects and permanent guest of the Board of Governors, he has been a pre-eminent figure in institution-building and the nurturing of partnerships that underpin the work of the Institute.
Both Mr Vellani and Dr Esmail also played an important role in the development of the curriculum, providing intellectual and philosophical oversight, and have made significant contributions to the strength, reach, and impact the IIS enjoys today.
Diverse new Board
Given this stable platform for its future development, the Chairman of the Board, Mawlana Hazar Imam, felt that now was the right time to make new appointments to the Board of Governors of the IIS.
The new appointments made by Hazar Imam internationalise the make-up of the Board and enhance the diversity among its members, including improving the gender balance. They come from a mix of academic and commercial backgrounds and include, for the first time, alumni of IIS graduate programmes.
The new Board will officially take up their responsibilities in mid-December, ready to both navigate the IIS through the continuing challenges of the pandemic and steward the Institute through the next stage of its evolution as a higher education and academic research institute that is able to respond to and serve the diverse needs of a globalised Jamat.
--
To view more information and bios of the new Board of Governors, visit the IIS website https://www.iis.ac.uk/about-us/board-governors.
MHI remains the Chairman of the Board.
https://the.ismaili/global/news/institu ... -governors
GPISH Students Deliver Field Research Presentations
On Tuesday 24th and Friday 27th November third-year students on the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) presented their field research papers to an audience of academics, students and staff.
Although the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic posed a particular challenge this year, with research necessarily being largely desk-based and presentations delivered via Zoom, students successfully harnessed their skills in research and technology to develop thought-provoking projects in a diverse range of topics in the social sciences and humanities.
In their first two years, GPISH students are enrolled on a Master’s level course in Islamic studies and humanities at the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in London. The course encourages an inter-disciplinary approach to Islamic history and thought, and particular attention is given to issues of modernity that arise as Muslims seek to relate their heritage to contemporary circumstances. The programme aims to prepare students for a Master’s degree, primarily at a UK university, in their third year and the field research component is a core part of this preparation.
Topics this year reflected the broad scope of the GPISH programme, as well as its engagement with contemporary discourse, exploring issues related to identity, conflict, displacement, authority, technology, development, history, philosophy, literature and art, among other things. The presentations prompted keen interest and debate from the academics and students in the audience, including exciting ideas for expanded and new research projects in the future.
Reflecting on the field research projects, GPISH Programme Leader Dr Alex Henley said "The GPISH class of 2021 gave fascinating research presentations to a Zoom audience of IIS faculty and students, having completed their projects this summer under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Originally planned as field research trips to various locations across four continents, these projects had to be adapted at short notice to a world without travel. The students’ resilience and skills were pushed further than any previous GPISH cohort, and all ten of them came up with imaginative solutions and managed to complete interesting and original projects that engaged seriously with issues facing Muslims in various parts of the world. Although the students could not get out into the field this summer – at least not physically – they have proven their mettle in the key skills that make a successful field researcher: creativity, adaptability, and calm under pressure."
The titles of the students' projects can be found below.
STUDENT
PROJECT TITLE
Saher Ashiq
The Migration of Nizari Ismailis from India to Pakistan after the Partition in 1947: An Analysis
Lubna bin Zayyad
How do Khaleeji youth explore their Arab-Muslim identity through the use of visual and digital arts?
Uzair Ibrahim
Negotiating Decontextualisation, Power and Meaning: Curating Islamic Art in the United Kingdom
Abdul Wahid Khan
How do Nasir-I Khusraw's poetry and philosophy depict the relationship between humans and nature?
Imran Khan
What are the perceptions regarding knowledge based authority in Cyberspace among members of the Ismaili community in the West? (UK and USA). A case study of the Ismaili Gnosis Project
Shaheera Pesnani
A Case Study of Syrian Refugees and the Preservation of their Intangible Cultural Heritage in Berlin, Germany
Nazra Nazim Ranmall
Ismaili Identity in Tanzania: Exploring Racial Identity through Youth Narratives in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Shafaat Saleem
Secular policy reforms and identity reformation in the public spheres of modern Turkey: Headscarf controversy and its impact on the Turkish society
Nishat Taranum
Exploring the role of professional development centres in the capacity building of teachers in remote areas. The case student of Professional Development Centre North (PDCN) Gilgit-Baltistan
Mahek Salim Virani
What is the role of Mediation as a form of conflict resolution and transitional justice? A case study of Syria (2011-present)
https://www.iis.ac.uk/news/gpish-studen ... tions-2020
On Tuesday 24th and Friday 27th November third-year students on the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) presented their field research papers to an audience of academics, students and staff.
Although the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic posed a particular challenge this year, with research necessarily being largely desk-based and presentations delivered via Zoom, students successfully harnessed their skills in research and technology to develop thought-provoking projects in a diverse range of topics in the social sciences and humanities.
In their first two years, GPISH students are enrolled on a Master’s level course in Islamic studies and humanities at the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in London. The course encourages an inter-disciplinary approach to Islamic history and thought, and particular attention is given to issues of modernity that arise as Muslims seek to relate their heritage to contemporary circumstances. The programme aims to prepare students for a Master’s degree, primarily at a UK university, in their third year and the field research component is a core part of this preparation.
Topics this year reflected the broad scope of the GPISH programme, as well as its engagement with contemporary discourse, exploring issues related to identity, conflict, displacement, authority, technology, development, history, philosophy, literature and art, among other things. The presentations prompted keen interest and debate from the academics and students in the audience, including exciting ideas for expanded and new research projects in the future.
Reflecting on the field research projects, GPISH Programme Leader Dr Alex Henley said "The GPISH class of 2021 gave fascinating research presentations to a Zoom audience of IIS faculty and students, having completed their projects this summer under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Originally planned as field research trips to various locations across four continents, these projects had to be adapted at short notice to a world without travel. The students’ resilience and skills were pushed further than any previous GPISH cohort, and all ten of them came up with imaginative solutions and managed to complete interesting and original projects that engaged seriously with issues facing Muslims in various parts of the world. Although the students could not get out into the field this summer – at least not physically – they have proven their mettle in the key skills that make a successful field researcher: creativity, adaptability, and calm under pressure."
The titles of the students' projects can be found below.
STUDENT
PROJECT TITLE
Saher Ashiq
The Migration of Nizari Ismailis from India to Pakistan after the Partition in 1947: An Analysis
Lubna bin Zayyad
How do Khaleeji youth explore their Arab-Muslim identity through the use of visual and digital arts?
Uzair Ibrahim
Negotiating Decontextualisation, Power and Meaning: Curating Islamic Art in the United Kingdom
Abdul Wahid Khan
How do Nasir-I Khusraw's poetry and philosophy depict the relationship between humans and nature?
Imran Khan
What are the perceptions regarding knowledge based authority in Cyberspace among members of the Ismaili community in the West? (UK and USA). A case study of the Ismaili Gnosis Project
Shaheera Pesnani
A Case Study of Syrian Refugees and the Preservation of their Intangible Cultural Heritage in Berlin, Germany
Nazra Nazim Ranmall
Ismaili Identity in Tanzania: Exploring Racial Identity through Youth Narratives in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Shafaat Saleem
Secular policy reforms and identity reformation in the public spheres of modern Turkey: Headscarf controversy and its impact on the Turkish society
Nishat Taranum
Exploring the role of professional development centres in the capacity building of teachers in remote areas. The case student of Professional Development Centre North (PDCN) Gilgit-Baltistan
Mahek Salim Virani
What is the role of Mediation as a form of conflict resolution and transitional justice? A case study of Syria (2011-present)
https://www.iis.ac.uk/news/gpish-studen ... tions-2020
Interview with Dr Shafik Sachedina, Head of the Department of Jamati Institutions
The Institute of Ismaili Studies aims to contribute to the academic study of the diversity of Islam as a faith and as a civilisation, by addressing intellectual and practical issues both historically and in the present context.
Following the recent appointment by Mawlana Hazar Imam of a new Board of Governors of The Institute of Ismaili Studies, Dr Shafik Sachedina reflects back on the history, the ongoing impact, and planned future development of the Institute.
On 13 December 2020, the members of the Board of Governors of The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) handed over the reins of governance to newly appointed members, after 25 years of dedicated and thoughtful leadership. To mark this significant moment in the IIS’s history, Salima Bhatia, Head of Communications and Development, sat down with Dr Shafik Sachedina, a long-serving member of the outgoing board and Head of the Department of Jamati Institutions at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat, to reflect on the Institute’s remarkable development and impact over the years.
SB: Thank you for speaking with me, Vazir Shafik Sachedina. Before I ask you about the Institute’s growth and the many facets of its work, I would like to go back to the beginning. Could you give us an insight into the origins of the IIS?
SS: The 1975 Ismailia Association Conference in Paris was a landmark event. It was there that the decision to establish the IIS in London was made by Mawlana Hazar Imam following a consultation process with leaders of the global Jamat. Another critical decision made at that conference was an agreement to develop one centralised religious education curriculum for the global Jamat, to be situated within the broader context of Muslim civilisations. This decision was the seed of a core aspect of the IIS’s work, which would later blossom: the development of the curriculum for the primary and secondary levels, in 10 languages, and the training of members of the Jamat to teach it through the Secondary Teacher Education Programme (STEP).
These were prescient decisions made by the Imam-of-the-Time, at a period when the Jamat had begun to move to the West. Remember that this was the era, in the mid-seventies, before the Cold War had ended, before the Iranian Revolution and its impact on the Muslim world, before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and before Jamats from different traditions encountered each other in large numbers.
How did that vision develop in the early years of the IIS?
I am aware that, since day one, Mawlana Hazar Imam remained closely and personally involved in even the minutest aspects of the growth of this infant entity. In the first decade, from the IIS’s location in a small suite of offices in Holborn, the groundwork for its further expansion was undertaken by a core group comprising Diwan Sir Eboo Pirbhai, Vazir Anil Ishani and Vazir Amir Bhatia, assisted administratively by Shams Vellani as the newly recruited IIS Executive Officer, and Eqbal Rupani, who was coordinating the roll-out of the work streams emanating from the Paris Conference. On the academic front, three key individuals joined the Institute subsequently, and their contribution cannot be overstated: Professor Azim Nanji, Dr Aziz Esmail, and Dr Farhad Daftary, who provided consistent academic and intellectual leadership. They, along with many other leaders and scholars at the Institute, have driven the highest standards in our research and thinking, and diligently ensured that our outputs remained true to the values of the Imamat and the Jamat. This is no small achievement. Mr Vellani and Dr Esmail will retire at the end of this year, while Dr Daftary continues to lead the Institute in his capacity as the Co-Director.
Our 15-year programme strategy approved in 2011 captures the IIS’s mission, vision, and strategy developed by these key figures and others in those early years. The plan is based on five thematic areas deriving from guidance given by Mawlana Hazar Imam over the years: development of a resource and archival base; research and scholarship; production of teaching and educational materials; human resource development for the Jamat; and building institutional capacity and partnerships.
The directions that Mawlana Hazar Imam indicated at the time of approving the strategy are worth sharing today. He emphasised the importance of ensuring the quality of all our work. He endorsed the recommendation that the Jamat be viewed as the primary constituency of the IIS. What this means in practice is that everything that the Institute does must benefit the Jamat — directly or indirectly. The IIS is a research academic institution, yes, but it is one with empathy and responsibility for a community of faith, and it is the reference point for academic and human resource development matters for the ITREBs around the world. However, I wish to underline that in matters of the practice of the faith, our rituals, rites and practices, it is the Imam-of-the-Time, and only the Imam-of-the-Time, that has the authority to make decisions.
hazar imam iis
I would like to hear a bit more detail about each of these areas. Could you tell us about the IIS’s development of a resource base and its rich collections now found in the Ismaili Special Collections and the Aga Khan Library, London?
Every community has a history and memory, and there is a need for this heritage to be preserved, studied, and communicated. I believe that part of the Imam’s vision in founding the Institute was to ensure the preservation of our community’s heritage and the creation of human, intellectual and cultural resources, from our past and present, and for our future. Much of the IIS’s effort is dedicated to the preservation and analysis of manuscripts, artefacts, and memorabilia held in the special collections. The collection catalogues enable scholars and students from across the world to access the collection, or to study them in London, thereby contributing to the scholarship of Ismaili history, philosophy, and practices.
We now have the largest collection of Ismaili manuscripts in the world, and we have a unique collection of coins from our history, including the Fatimid and Alamut periods. This is a major endowment of knowledge of our traditions and heritage. Hazar Imam has made available his own manuscripts and artefacts to the Institute, and the IIS’s own collections have been enriched through the generosity of numerous donors, both Ismaili and non-Ismaili. In recent years, Hazar Imam has encouraged us to expedite the analyses of our collections — our Khojki manuscripts and those from Gorno-Badakhshan. Manuscript analysis feeds into the publications of critical editions and translations of key source materials in the Text and Translations Series, an important project that opens up these essential texts to inform scholarship and share with the Jamat.
In 2014, the libraries of the IIS and the Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations were merged, which later formed the Aga Khan Library, London. The library is a serene, inspiring space set over two floors at the Aga Khan Centre, a perfect setting for the thoughtful study of both institutes’ collections.
That leads me to my next question. Could you say more about the scope of IIS’s research and scholarship programmes?
The IIS seeks in particular to promote research in hitherto marginalised areas of the study of Islam and its multiplicity of interpretations, while also accentuating the plurality of the heritages that Muslim communities enfold. Doctoral scholarships in these areas, including the intellectual and literary expressions of Shi‘i Islam in general, and its Ismaili tradition in particular, have become a key vehicle in delivering on the Institute’s research mandate.
The Institute has made significant strides in developing Ismaili Studies as an academic field in its own right, and rebalancing the Shi‘i and Ismaili components as important aspects of Islamic scholarship internationally. The IIS has also catalysed and contributed to the nascent field of Fatimid studies, in which there has been significant progress in recent years. Many of our publications now feature on reading lists in Islamic Studies departments the world over, facilitating pluralism and diversity in the field, while deepening understanding of the history and culture of Ismailis and other Shi‘i communities. Dr Daftary’s rigorous research, scholarship, and academic work have contributed greatly to the Institute’s international reputation and positioning.
Our other key areas of research are Quranic Studies, Central Asian Studies, Constituency Studies and, more recently, South Asian Studies. Quranic Studies aims to promote scholarship on the plurality of interpretations inspired by the Quran. The Central Asian Studies Unit examines the history, culture, and traditions of the Ismaili and wider Shi‘i communities within the broader context of Muslim societies in Central Asia. The newly-established South Asian Studies Unit will similarly look at history and traditions in the Indian subcontinent. Constituency Studies aims to explore the history, oral history, and traditions of Ismaili communities and their heterogeneous contemporary realities, thereby informing the educational programmes of the IIS.
What has been the IIS’s role in producing teaching and educational materials, and how has it helped to realise that vision of a centralised religious education curriculum for the global Jamat?
This is a core part of the IIS’s vision: it is vital that knowledge from our research programmes also informs the development of our educational materials and teaching programmes.
A decision was made to set up an Education Unit in 1982 and to sponsor staff on a curriculum writing course since we did not have trained curriculum writers at the time. The Pre-school series in English was published in 1983, followed by the Talim primary books between 1993 and 1998. The conceptual framework of the secondary curriculum was approved a few years later, in 2004. These curricula have been developed — and continue to be developed — under the guidance and direction of Mawlana Hazar Imam.
Specialist scholars were tasked with developing scholarly narratives for the secondary curriculum, which were then converted into student readers by the curriculum department. Dr Esmail and Mr Vellani played an important role in developing the secondary curriculum, meticulously reviewing the scholarly narratives and student readers to ensure their quality. The academic rigour of our research programmes similarly forms the backbone of the production of our curricula materials and our graduate studies programme.
More recently, a conceptual framework for Early Childhood Development (ECD) was approved by the Board in 2018. This framework will now form the moral and ethical component in a holistic ECD curriculum that is being developed by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Last year, a curriculum digitisation policy with three phases was also approved. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic caused us to expedite the first phase of the policy with the launch of eBooks. I am very pleased to say that ITREB educators can now access the curriculum modules in English and several other languages on a bespoke and secure digital platform.
Could you tell us more about the Institute’s role in developing the skills and knowledge of the Jamat and equipping them to serve their communities?
This side of the Institute’s work falls into two broad categories: graduate studies and Jamati education programmes. The IIS invests heavily in the quality of graduate studies with the aim of developing future leaders, teachers, and intellectuals able to bring about positive change in their own societies.
Our Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) encourages an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Islamic history and thought, and has opened up diverse career opportunities to its graduates around the world over the years. STEP launched in 2007 in response to the Imam’s wish to professionalise secondary teaching.
We now have over 650 graduates, many of whom are serving Jamati Institutions in professional and voluntary capacities, working for the AKDN, as well as other academic, civil society, and development organisations. Approximately 35% of the Institute’s current staff, many of whom hold senior positions, are also alumni of IIS programmes.
We also run education programmes for the Jamat, such as the ITREB Members’ Training Programme, Waezeen and Primary Teacher Educator training, and the newly-introduced programme of short courses, which forge connections and align the thinking between the IIS and ITREBs. With the guidance of Mawlana Hazar Imam, we have sought to deepen our understanding of the diverse needs of the ITREBs across the globe and ask how we can better support them to strengthen capacity.
Could you tell us more about the IIS’s work building institutional capacity and partnerships over the years?
The blessings, guidance, personal interest, time, and involvement of Mawlana Hazar Imam has guided the Institute to the success it has achieved. The IIS has also benefited from the contributions of many others over the years, our governors, staff, students, volunteers, and partners, and it is difficult to do justice to this wealth of support. Each and every one has had a role to play in making the Institute what it is today.
Crucially, with the generous support of Mawlana Hazar Imam and donors in the Jamat, the Institute has secured a level of financial and organisational stability through the establishment of a significant endowment to underwrite its future. This will enable it to continue to build on its strong foundations in the future and develop its work in the fields of Islamic studies and religious education.
Having relocated its offices several times over the years, the Institute’s move to its new permanent home at the Aga Khan Centre in London in 2018 was a milestone in this respect. The new building is a truly inspiring space, with state-of-the art teaching facilities, the extensive Aga Khan Library, and spaces for thoughtful reflection in its courtyards and rooftop gardens, which are influenced by a variety of landscapes in the Muslim world. It’s an ideal setting for the exploration and expansion of knowledge that is at the heart of what the IIS does.
The IIS’s partnerships with the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS) and the University College London, Institute of Education (UCL IoE) are also very important for our graduate programmes, which they accredit. Not only do they enable students of the Institute to receive MA degrees, the agreements formalise long-standing relationships with SOAS and UCL, which both share the IIS’s aims of promoting outstanding scholarship and endowing the next generation of teachers with knowledge and skills.
Finally, what are the areas of the IIS’s work that you are particularly excited about at the moment? What are your hopes for the Institute and the scope of its work in the future?
One positive consequence in what has been a difficult year with the Covid-19 pandemic has been an acceleration in the growth of our digital teaching and learning capacity, which was already under way before the virus took hold. Many of our courses have moved online, or are employing blended virtual and face-to-face learning, which has actually enabled us to develop virtual teaching skills and broaden our reach across the global Jamat. Although we hope to return to more in-person contact next year with our programmes, we are also excited by the potential of this expansion in online learning.
The Aga Khan Library is also digitising its manuscripts and rare books, so that these treasures can be studied — with the help of new technologies — by scholars from all parts of the globe. We also hope to make more items from the Ismaili collections, such as Khojki manuscripts, available online. Likewise, as I mentioned earlier, we have launched a series of eBooks of some of our selected publications. Another future aspiration for the Institute is achieving Taught Degree Awarding Powers, which would be a major turning point for the Institute and strengthen its position even further if it is accredited to become a degree granting institution. I am confident that the IIS’s commitment in this respect will help us work towards achieving this goal.
To be successful today, there is a need to develop knowledge-based societies, where intellectual capital and the ability to conceptualise and translate knowledge as a shared resource is a key asset. The IIS is invested in this effort, as it has been for over 40 years, as it continues to deepen and broaden its research programmes and grow its educational programmes. These seek to develop tools for students of all ages to better understand their heritage and the history of Muslim societies, and to relate this understanding to their contemporary, lived reality.
I would like to say how proud we are that among the new Board of Governors appointments we now have several IIS alumni. From the sound foundations which have been built, we can look forward to an exciting future as the new board, under the guidance of Mawlana Hazar Imam, steward the continued development of our programmes and publications in the digital age.
As this interview concludes, my final word is that there is no way that we can adequately express the gratitude that not only we at the IIS but also the entire Jamat owe to our beloved Mawlana Hazar Imam. It is he who, since 1975, has driven our agenda with vision and energy, pushing us constantly and showing us new avenues and pathways that have led this institution to its present position, where it ranks among the pantheon of earlier historic and legendary centres of learning and knowledge that our Imams have inspired, such as Al Azhar.
iis jubilee pubs
Left: Professor Azim Nanji and Dr Farhad Daftary present to Mawlana Hazar Imam a selection of IIS books published to coincide with the Golden Jubilee in 2008. Right: Hazar Imam in conversation with Lord Ahmad, Mayor Sadiq Khan, HRH The Prince of Wales, and Head Librarian of the Aga Khan Library, Dr Walid Ghali at the inauguration of the Aga Khan Centre during the Diamond Jubilee in 2018.
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/global/news/institu ... stitutions
The Institute of Ismaili Studies aims to contribute to the academic study of the diversity of Islam as a faith and as a civilisation, by addressing intellectual and practical issues both historically and in the present context.
Following the recent appointment by Mawlana Hazar Imam of a new Board of Governors of The Institute of Ismaili Studies, Dr Shafik Sachedina reflects back on the history, the ongoing impact, and planned future development of the Institute.
On 13 December 2020, the members of the Board of Governors of The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) handed over the reins of governance to newly appointed members, after 25 years of dedicated and thoughtful leadership. To mark this significant moment in the IIS’s history, Salima Bhatia, Head of Communications and Development, sat down with Dr Shafik Sachedina, a long-serving member of the outgoing board and Head of the Department of Jamati Institutions at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat, to reflect on the Institute’s remarkable development and impact over the years.
SB: Thank you for speaking with me, Vazir Shafik Sachedina. Before I ask you about the Institute’s growth and the many facets of its work, I would like to go back to the beginning. Could you give us an insight into the origins of the IIS?
SS: The 1975 Ismailia Association Conference in Paris was a landmark event. It was there that the decision to establish the IIS in London was made by Mawlana Hazar Imam following a consultation process with leaders of the global Jamat. Another critical decision made at that conference was an agreement to develop one centralised religious education curriculum for the global Jamat, to be situated within the broader context of Muslim civilisations. This decision was the seed of a core aspect of the IIS’s work, which would later blossom: the development of the curriculum for the primary and secondary levels, in 10 languages, and the training of members of the Jamat to teach it through the Secondary Teacher Education Programme (STEP).
These were prescient decisions made by the Imam-of-the-Time, at a period when the Jamat had begun to move to the West. Remember that this was the era, in the mid-seventies, before the Cold War had ended, before the Iranian Revolution and its impact on the Muslim world, before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and before Jamats from different traditions encountered each other in large numbers.
How did that vision develop in the early years of the IIS?
I am aware that, since day one, Mawlana Hazar Imam remained closely and personally involved in even the minutest aspects of the growth of this infant entity. In the first decade, from the IIS’s location in a small suite of offices in Holborn, the groundwork for its further expansion was undertaken by a core group comprising Diwan Sir Eboo Pirbhai, Vazir Anil Ishani and Vazir Amir Bhatia, assisted administratively by Shams Vellani as the newly recruited IIS Executive Officer, and Eqbal Rupani, who was coordinating the roll-out of the work streams emanating from the Paris Conference. On the academic front, three key individuals joined the Institute subsequently, and their contribution cannot be overstated: Professor Azim Nanji, Dr Aziz Esmail, and Dr Farhad Daftary, who provided consistent academic and intellectual leadership. They, along with many other leaders and scholars at the Institute, have driven the highest standards in our research and thinking, and diligently ensured that our outputs remained true to the values of the Imamat and the Jamat. This is no small achievement. Mr Vellani and Dr Esmail will retire at the end of this year, while Dr Daftary continues to lead the Institute in his capacity as the Co-Director.
Our 15-year programme strategy approved in 2011 captures the IIS’s mission, vision, and strategy developed by these key figures and others in those early years. The plan is based on five thematic areas deriving from guidance given by Mawlana Hazar Imam over the years: development of a resource and archival base; research and scholarship; production of teaching and educational materials; human resource development for the Jamat; and building institutional capacity and partnerships.
The directions that Mawlana Hazar Imam indicated at the time of approving the strategy are worth sharing today. He emphasised the importance of ensuring the quality of all our work. He endorsed the recommendation that the Jamat be viewed as the primary constituency of the IIS. What this means in practice is that everything that the Institute does must benefit the Jamat — directly or indirectly. The IIS is a research academic institution, yes, but it is one with empathy and responsibility for a community of faith, and it is the reference point for academic and human resource development matters for the ITREBs around the world. However, I wish to underline that in matters of the practice of the faith, our rituals, rites and practices, it is the Imam-of-the-Time, and only the Imam-of-the-Time, that has the authority to make decisions.
hazar imam iis
I would like to hear a bit more detail about each of these areas. Could you tell us about the IIS’s development of a resource base and its rich collections now found in the Ismaili Special Collections and the Aga Khan Library, London?
Every community has a history and memory, and there is a need for this heritage to be preserved, studied, and communicated. I believe that part of the Imam’s vision in founding the Institute was to ensure the preservation of our community’s heritage and the creation of human, intellectual and cultural resources, from our past and present, and for our future. Much of the IIS’s effort is dedicated to the preservation and analysis of manuscripts, artefacts, and memorabilia held in the special collections. The collection catalogues enable scholars and students from across the world to access the collection, or to study them in London, thereby contributing to the scholarship of Ismaili history, philosophy, and practices.
We now have the largest collection of Ismaili manuscripts in the world, and we have a unique collection of coins from our history, including the Fatimid and Alamut periods. This is a major endowment of knowledge of our traditions and heritage. Hazar Imam has made available his own manuscripts and artefacts to the Institute, and the IIS’s own collections have been enriched through the generosity of numerous donors, both Ismaili and non-Ismaili. In recent years, Hazar Imam has encouraged us to expedite the analyses of our collections — our Khojki manuscripts and those from Gorno-Badakhshan. Manuscript analysis feeds into the publications of critical editions and translations of key source materials in the Text and Translations Series, an important project that opens up these essential texts to inform scholarship and share with the Jamat.
In 2014, the libraries of the IIS and the Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations were merged, which later formed the Aga Khan Library, London. The library is a serene, inspiring space set over two floors at the Aga Khan Centre, a perfect setting for the thoughtful study of both institutes’ collections.
That leads me to my next question. Could you say more about the scope of IIS’s research and scholarship programmes?
The IIS seeks in particular to promote research in hitherto marginalised areas of the study of Islam and its multiplicity of interpretations, while also accentuating the plurality of the heritages that Muslim communities enfold. Doctoral scholarships in these areas, including the intellectual and literary expressions of Shi‘i Islam in general, and its Ismaili tradition in particular, have become a key vehicle in delivering on the Institute’s research mandate.
The Institute has made significant strides in developing Ismaili Studies as an academic field in its own right, and rebalancing the Shi‘i and Ismaili components as important aspects of Islamic scholarship internationally. The IIS has also catalysed and contributed to the nascent field of Fatimid studies, in which there has been significant progress in recent years. Many of our publications now feature on reading lists in Islamic Studies departments the world over, facilitating pluralism and diversity in the field, while deepening understanding of the history and culture of Ismailis and other Shi‘i communities. Dr Daftary’s rigorous research, scholarship, and academic work have contributed greatly to the Institute’s international reputation and positioning.
Our other key areas of research are Quranic Studies, Central Asian Studies, Constituency Studies and, more recently, South Asian Studies. Quranic Studies aims to promote scholarship on the plurality of interpretations inspired by the Quran. The Central Asian Studies Unit examines the history, culture, and traditions of the Ismaili and wider Shi‘i communities within the broader context of Muslim societies in Central Asia. The newly-established South Asian Studies Unit will similarly look at history and traditions in the Indian subcontinent. Constituency Studies aims to explore the history, oral history, and traditions of Ismaili communities and their heterogeneous contemporary realities, thereby informing the educational programmes of the IIS.
What has been the IIS’s role in producing teaching and educational materials, and how has it helped to realise that vision of a centralised religious education curriculum for the global Jamat?
This is a core part of the IIS’s vision: it is vital that knowledge from our research programmes also informs the development of our educational materials and teaching programmes.
A decision was made to set up an Education Unit in 1982 and to sponsor staff on a curriculum writing course since we did not have trained curriculum writers at the time. The Pre-school series in English was published in 1983, followed by the Talim primary books between 1993 and 1998. The conceptual framework of the secondary curriculum was approved a few years later, in 2004. These curricula have been developed — and continue to be developed — under the guidance and direction of Mawlana Hazar Imam.
Specialist scholars were tasked with developing scholarly narratives for the secondary curriculum, which were then converted into student readers by the curriculum department. Dr Esmail and Mr Vellani played an important role in developing the secondary curriculum, meticulously reviewing the scholarly narratives and student readers to ensure their quality. The academic rigour of our research programmes similarly forms the backbone of the production of our curricula materials and our graduate studies programme.
More recently, a conceptual framework for Early Childhood Development (ECD) was approved by the Board in 2018. This framework will now form the moral and ethical component in a holistic ECD curriculum that is being developed by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Last year, a curriculum digitisation policy with three phases was also approved. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic caused us to expedite the first phase of the policy with the launch of eBooks. I am very pleased to say that ITREB educators can now access the curriculum modules in English and several other languages on a bespoke and secure digital platform.
Could you tell us more about the Institute’s role in developing the skills and knowledge of the Jamat and equipping them to serve their communities?
This side of the Institute’s work falls into two broad categories: graduate studies and Jamati education programmes. The IIS invests heavily in the quality of graduate studies with the aim of developing future leaders, teachers, and intellectuals able to bring about positive change in their own societies.
Our Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) encourages an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Islamic history and thought, and has opened up diverse career opportunities to its graduates around the world over the years. STEP launched in 2007 in response to the Imam’s wish to professionalise secondary teaching.
We now have over 650 graduates, many of whom are serving Jamati Institutions in professional and voluntary capacities, working for the AKDN, as well as other academic, civil society, and development organisations. Approximately 35% of the Institute’s current staff, many of whom hold senior positions, are also alumni of IIS programmes.
We also run education programmes for the Jamat, such as the ITREB Members’ Training Programme, Waezeen and Primary Teacher Educator training, and the newly-introduced programme of short courses, which forge connections and align the thinking between the IIS and ITREBs. With the guidance of Mawlana Hazar Imam, we have sought to deepen our understanding of the diverse needs of the ITREBs across the globe and ask how we can better support them to strengthen capacity.
Could you tell us more about the IIS’s work building institutional capacity and partnerships over the years?
The blessings, guidance, personal interest, time, and involvement of Mawlana Hazar Imam has guided the Institute to the success it has achieved. The IIS has also benefited from the contributions of many others over the years, our governors, staff, students, volunteers, and partners, and it is difficult to do justice to this wealth of support. Each and every one has had a role to play in making the Institute what it is today.
Crucially, with the generous support of Mawlana Hazar Imam and donors in the Jamat, the Institute has secured a level of financial and organisational stability through the establishment of a significant endowment to underwrite its future. This will enable it to continue to build on its strong foundations in the future and develop its work in the fields of Islamic studies and religious education.
Having relocated its offices several times over the years, the Institute’s move to its new permanent home at the Aga Khan Centre in London in 2018 was a milestone in this respect. The new building is a truly inspiring space, with state-of-the art teaching facilities, the extensive Aga Khan Library, and spaces for thoughtful reflection in its courtyards and rooftop gardens, which are influenced by a variety of landscapes in the Muslim world. It’s an ideal setting for the exploration and expansion of knowledge that is at the heart of what the IIS does.
The IIS’s partnerships with the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS) and the University College London, Institute of Education (UCL IoE) are also very important for our graduate programmes, which they accredit. Not only do they enable students of the Institute to receive MA degrees, the agreements formalise long-standing relationships with SOAS and UCL, which both share the IIS’s aims of promoting outstanding scholarship and endowing the next generation of teachers with knowledge and skills.
Finally, what are the areas of the IIS’s work that you are particularly excited about at the moment? What are your hopes for the Institute and the scope of its work in the future?
One positive consequence in what has been a difficult year with the Covid-19 pandemic has been an acceleration in the growth of our digital teaching and learning capacity, which was already under way before the virus took hold. Many of our courses have moved online, or are employing blended virtual and face-to-face learning, which has actually enabled us to develop virtual teaching skills and broaden our reach across the global Jamat. Although we hope to return to more in-person contact next year with our programmes, we are also excited by the potential of this expansion in online learning.
The Aga Khan Library is also digitising its manuscripts and rare books, so that these treasures can be studied — with the help of new technologies — by scholars from all parts of the globe. We also hope to make more items from the Ismaili collections, such as Khojki manuscripts, available online. Likewise, as I mentioned earlier, we have launched a series of eBooks of some of our selected publications. Another future aspiration for the Institute is achieving Taught Degree Awarding Powers, which would be a major turning point for the Institute and strengthen its position even further if it is accredited to become a degree granting institution. I am confident that the IIS’s commitment in this respect will help us work towards achieving this goal.
To be successful today, there is a need to develop knowledge-based societies, where intellectual capital and the ability to conceptualise and translate knowledge as a shared resource is a key asset. The IIS is invested in this effort, as it has been for over 40 years, as it continues to deepen and broaden its research programmes and grow its educational programmes. These seek to develop tools for students of all ages to better understand their heritage and the history of Muslim societies, and to relate this understanding to their contemporary, lived reality.
I would like to say how proud we are that among the new Board of Governors appointments we now have several IIS alumni. From the sound foundations which have been built, we can look forward to an exciting future as the new board, under the guidance of Mawlana Hazar Imam, steward the continued development of our programmes and publications in the digital age.
As this interview concludes, my final word is that there is no way that we can adequately express the gratitude that not only we at the IIS but also the entire Jamat owe to our beloved Mawlana Hazar Imam. It is he who, since 1975, has driven our agenda with vision and energy, pushing us constantly and showing us new avenues and pathways that have led this institution to its present position, where it ranks among the pantheon of earlier historic and legendary centres of learning and knowledge that our Imams have inspired, such as Al Azhar.
iis jubilee pubs
Left: Professor Azim Nanji and Dr Farhad Daftary present to Mawlana Hazar Imam a selection of IIS books published to coincide with the Golden Jubilee in 2008. Right: Hazar Imam in conversation with Lord Ahmad, Mayor Sadiq Khan, HRH The Prince of Wales, and Head Librarian of the Aga Khan Library, Dr Walid Ghali at the inauguration of the Aga Khan Centre during the Diamond Jubilee in 2018.
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/global/news/institu ... stitutions