Ismaili History and Intellectual Traditions
Routledge
The Ismailis represent an important Shi士i Muslim community with rich intellectual and literary traditions. The complex history of the Ismailis dates back to the second/eighth century when they separated from other Shi士i groups under the leadership of their own imams. Soon afterwards, the Ismailis organised a dynamic, revolutionary movement, known as the 诲补士飞补 or mission, for uprooting the Sunni regime of the Abbasids and establishing a new Shi士i caliphate headed by the Ismaili imam. By the end of the third/ninth century, the Ismaili 诲补士颈蝉, operating secretly on behalf of the movement, were active in almost every region of the Muslim world, from Central Asia and Persia to Yemen, Egypt and the Maghrib.
This book brings together a collection of the best works from Farhad Daftary, one of the foremost authorities in the field. The studies cover a range of specialised topics related to Ismaili history, historiography, institutions, theology, law and philosophy, amongst other intellectual traditions elaborated by the Ismailis. The collation of these invaluable studies into one book will be of great interest to the Ismaili community as well as to anyone studying Islam in general, or Shi士i Islam in particular.
Introduction
I. Shi士i Communities in History
II. The Study of the Ismailis: Phases and Issues
III. Ismaili History and Literary Traditions
IV. Idris 士Imad al-Din and Medieval Ismaili Historiography
V. A Major Schism in the Early Isma士ili Movement
VI. The Ismaili 诲补士飞补 under the Fatimids
VII. The Concept of 岣箩箩补 in Ismaili Thought
VIII. Cyclical Time and Sacred History in Medieval Ismaili Thought
IX. 'Ali in Classical Ismaili Theology
X. Al-Q膩岣嵞� al-Nu士man, Ism膩士墨l墨 Law and Im膩m墨 Shi士ism
XI. The Iranian School of Philosophical Ismailism
XII. The Medieval Ism膩士墨l墨s of the Iranian Lands
XIII. The 'Order of the Assassins': J. von Hammer and the Orientalist Misrepresentations of the Nizari Ismailis
XIV. Ismaili鈥揝eljuq Relations: Conflict and Stalemate
XV. Sin膩n and the Niz膩r墨 Ismailis of Syria
XVI. Hidden Imams and Mahdis in Ismaili History
XVII. Religious Identity, Dissimulation and Assimilation: The Ismaili Experience
Farhad Daftary is currently Director and Head of the Department of Academic 榴莲视频官方 and Publications at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London. An authority in Ismaili studies, he has written more than 200 articles and encyclopaedia entries and 20 acclaimed books which have been translated into numerous languages.