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Dear Donors and Friends of The Institute of Ismaili Studies,By a
happy coincidence, our recent
publications bring the total numberof books published by the
Institute to just over 50, in time for the
commemoration of Mawlana Hazar Imams GoldenJubilee. This half a
century has proved transformationalin the modern history of the
Ismailis at many levels. Therevival of Ismaili scholarship by the
Institute is one suchfacet. Its roots in history go back over a
thousand yearsto the Fatimids and perhaps further back to the rise
ofearly Shii intellectual history, marking a long standingtradition
of promoting knowledge and learning. Ourpublications attempt to
encompass this rich heritageand to bring about a critical balance
in the study ofMuslim scholarship as a whole. The critical acclaim
withwhich the IIS publications have been received and
theirincreasing use particularly in academic institutions and
circles globally is already beginning to redress thebalance.
Among our most ambitious undertakings during theJubilee Year
will be the Secondary Teacher EducationProgramme (STEP). The launch
of this new course, in collaboration with the Institute of
Education of theUniversity of London, seeks to address the
question,within the Jamat and elsewhere, of how to educateteachers
about the richness and diversity of the Muslimworld so as to
educate children and youth about acosmopolitan heritage that is
also part of the history ofthe world.
All of these initiatives including the Institutescumulative
achievements, are an integral part of themany milestones that will
be celebrated as part of theGolden Jubilee. They represent not only
a foundationbut a promise of theopportunities thatlie ahead.
Message from the Director
IIS UPDATEM A R C H 2 0 0 7
One of many significant milestones: In 1975, Mawlana Hazar Imam
met with Ismaili scholars and leaders of the Jamat where adecision
was taken to establish an academic institution for Ismaili
studies.
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December 2006 saw a flurry ofactivity surrounding thelaunch of
the Secondary TeacherEducation Programme (STEP)pilot, both in
London and abroad.Collaborative presentations detailingprogramme
specifics were given byIIS staff and national ITREB-STEPTeams in
the five pilot regions:India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Canadaand the
USA. The response fromthe Jamat, institutional leadershipand
prospective candidates was veryencouraging, with interest in
theprogramme being solicited fromacross a wide spectrum of
well-qualified candidates.
STEP is a pioneering educationalcollaboration between two
well-respected, specialist institutions:the Institute of Education
(IOE),University of London, and TheInstitute of Ismaili Studies
(IIS).Graduates will be awarded two masters degrees by
theUniversity of London: a Master ofTeaching (MTeach) and a Master
ofArts in Education (MuslimSocieties and Civilisations). The IOE
will ensure thatappropriate and adequatestandards of practices
andregulations are followed at all timeswhilst the IIS will ensure
that theprogramme content remainsrelevant to the Jamat.
Thecollaboration involves an initialagreement stretching three
yearsbetween the two institutions toservice two cohorts of
approximatelyforty participants each, drawn fromthe pilot
regions.
Within this long-standingtradition of promoting knowledgeand
learning, says Professor AzimNanji, the IIS Director, the IISlooks
forward with greatanticipation to partnering with theUniversity of
London to developteachers who are able to make themultifaceted and
excitingSecondary Curriculum (developedby the IIS) accessible to
youngpeople globally. It represents achallenging opportunity for
futureteachers to develop professionalteaching skills within a
frameworkthat links their heritage to the besttools and methods
available in anacademic environment ofexcellence.
Professor Geoff Whitty, Directorof the Institution of
Educationoffers supporting sentiments:Links between our Institutes
canonly go from strength to strengthover the coming years. I
amconfident that the launch of thisnew course will lead to
furtherdiscussions about how we caneducate prospective teachers
aboutthe richness and diversity of theMuslim world, to educate
childrenabout heritages that are part of ourworld today.
The London based phase of theprogramme extends over twoacademic
years. Upon successfulcompletion, graduates will take upposts as
full-time, professional
Department of Education
Launch of the Secondary Teacher Education Programme
1979 1981
A religious education classroom, India
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secondary teachers employed bytheir national ITREBs. The
firstcohort will commence studies inLondon in the autumn of
2007,graduate in the summer of 2009,and commence teaching in
theautumn of 2009. The secondcohort will begin studies in theautumn
of 2008, graduate in thesummer of 2010, and commenceteaching in the
autumn of 2010.Recruitment of the cohorts will beentirely merit
based and willcomply with the entry requirementsof the IOE.
Initially, national ITREBs in thefive pilot countries are
expected toact as sponsoring institutions andwill ensure, through a
robust STEPmarketing process, that a qualifiedpool of individuals
are madeavailable for recruitment from theirregions. STEP graduates
will bedeployed in the following cities:Toronto and Vancouver
(Canada),Houston (USA), Mumbai (India),Karachi (Pakistan), and
Khorog(Tajikistan). Their professionalentitlement will also include
a welldesigned compensation package.
Working with and alongside thegrass-roots community
andsupporting institutions and leaders,and with dedicated
ITREB-STEPcountry teams is crucial if we are toensure a
self-renewing programmethat re-vitalises existing
religiouseducation systems, says Dr MunirVellani, the Project
Director ofSTEP at the IIS. Currently we haveexcellent country STEP
teams ofdedicated leaders working veryhard to ensure that their
respective
pilot region will be set up with theright kinds of pastoral
systems andreligious education infrastructure.
The two-year programme, basedin London, is designed to helpSTEP
participants graduallydevelop a knowledge base ofprofessional
teaching practices,modes of enquiry, core subject-matter, and the
skills and attributesof reflective practitioners throughguided
in-field practicumexperiences. At a time when therecruitment and
retention ofexcellent teachers are key issuesinfluencing young
students accessto religious education, thepossibility of
award-bearingprofessional learning is a realincentive for relevant
communitystakeholders within religiouseducation settings to support
the teachers practically andprofessionally.
Further details on thisprogramme may be found on theIIS website
(www.iis.ac.uk) underGraduate Studies.
The IOE will ensure that appropriate and adequate
standards of practices and regulations are followed
at all times whilst the IIS will ensure that the
programme content remains relevant to the Jamat.
1983
in collaboration with
Students in discussion in the IIS library
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Department of Graduate Studies
Talking to our Students
1983 1984 1985
The Department of GraduateStudies (DGS) is currentlypreparing to
receive a new cohortof students for the GraduateProgramme in
Islamic Studies and
Humanities (2007-2008). Thecompetitive scholarship for
theGraduate Programme supportsstudents through three years
ofpost-graduate work, two of which
are based at the IIS. To bestcommunicate the experience of
theprogramme, the DGS interviewedseveral existing students about
theirexperiences and aspirations:
Its here I have learnt that most questions do not require an
answer but deconstruction of theassumptions on which they stand.
Here, reading is not merely an act of identifying letters
andcomprehending them, but an art of intellectually engaging with
each single word that the author haschosen to carve on the page.
The study of religion, history, art, culture and literature is
helping me seethings in a wider perspective and studying with the
diverse group of Ismailis is fostering my ability toengage with
diversity.
After the course, I would like to be what Mawlana Hazar Imam
calls, an agent of change by taking up,Insha-Allah, a position of
leadership in the Aga Khan Academies. During my study at the
Institute, andeven after that through the continuing relationship
with the Institute, I would like to ensure that I am wellplaced to
contribute within the community and beyond. I am especially looking
forward to contributingin some way to the upcoming Aga Khan
Academy, in my home country, India.
Laila is currently completing her first year of the programme at
the IIS.
Overtime, religion has begun to play an increasingly greater
role in the lives of Muslims in post-Sovietrepublics. As a result
of this, I have experienced a growing interest in the teaching and
study of Islamwithin Central Asia. It is for this reason that I
chose to study at the IIS where I have been able to studyIslam from
a range of perspectives. For me personally, the shift from a Soviet
to a Western style educationsystem was both challenging and
exciting. As an Ismaili, it gives me a great sense of happiness to
be ableto systematically study the history and doctrines of my
community. Having the opportunity to interact withmy fellow
classmates from different parts of the world has also proved
tremendously useful. Of all themodules pertaining to Islamic
Studies and Humanities, those that I have found most interesting
havebeen the ones related to development and civil society. This
has led me to the decision that I would liketo undertake a Masters
degree in Development and Modern Society, with special reference to
CentralAsia, during my final year of the programme.
Palla is currently completing his second year of the programme
at the IIS.
The past two years have been amongst the most challenging and
memorable ones. At the IIS, I learntnot only from the professors
and the text books but also from my fellow class mates who
represented fivecountries and had as varied experiences as the
countries they represented. Through them, I came tounderstand the
lives of Muslims in post soviet societies, what it means to live in
a post conflict society, whatit means to live in Iran or grow up as
a child of the revolution.
Whilst the programmes interdisciplinary approach exposed me to
different dimensions of learningabout Islam art, literature,
history, philosophy it simultaneously challenged my perceptions,
mypreconceived notions and my prejudices. These topics and issues
which we discussed and raised in theclassrooms of the IIS, today
form the basis of my advanced education in Law and Diplomacy. For
today asI sit in seminars discussing the issues of democracy,
nation building, the rise of Islamist movements andterrorism, I
realise that I can bring to these discussions a sense of
understanding, of sensitivity and analysisthat I would not have
been able to provide two years ago.
Farrukh is currently completing her third year of the programme
at Fletcher School, Tufts University.
Laila KadiwalClass of 2009
Palla PallaevClass of 2008
Farrukh LalaniClass of 2007
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In 2006, the IIS launched itsAlumni Internship Programme,an
entirely new initiative of the IIS.The objectives of the
programmewere to create attractiveopportunities for IIS alumni
thatwould assist them with theirprofessional development and,where
appropriate, facilitate theirreturn and reintegration into
theirsocieties. The programme was opento all alumni who had
graduatedfrom one of the Institutes fourhuman resource
developmentprogrammes. In total, sixteeninternship opportunities
wereestablished within twelve Jamati andImamat Institutions in
Canada,India, Pakistan, Tajikistan and theUK, ranging from two to
twelvemonths in duration.
The internship opportunitiescreated ranged from
administrativeand HR-related positions to roles inresearch and
religious education.Agencies participating in theprogramme included
the Aga KhanFoundation, Aga KhanDevelopment Network
(Tajikistan),Aga Khan Humanities Project forCentral Asia,
Department of Jamati Institutions (Tajikistan),FOCUS International
CoordinatingCommittee, ITREB Tajikistan,ITREB UK and the IIS. In
additionto these, opportunities were alsoidentified amongst
externalagencies and institutions such as OXFAM.
The programme aims to givepractical experience to ourgraduates
in fields that are ofinterest and relevance to them.
Participating agencies have alsobenefited from our
graduatesacademic backgrounds and theircritical thinking abilities.
A total offifteen alumni participated in theinternship programme in
2006. Aspart of the programme, all of themparticipated in a
comprehensiveevaluation strategy to ensure thatthe programme
remains effectivefor all beneficiaries.
In her post-internship evaluation,one IIS alumna stated, I was
ableto speak to several people involvedin different parts of the
AKDN as a
result of this internship, and thatwas very useful. Also, simply
byvirtue of being in Ottawa, I madecontact with people in
thegovernment of Canada which led tome getting my current
positionwith the Department of ForeignAffairs and International
Trade.One agency described their intern as
fantasticperformedadmirably and would be keen tohave another IIS
intern work withthem in 2007.
The IIS hopes to offer moreinternship opportunities in 2007.
Alumni Relations
The Alumni Internship Programme
1990 1994
IIS Alumnus Zafar Aligulov discussing his internship with
Latofat Zahurova,AKDN Tajikistan.
The programme aims to give practical experience
to our graduates in fields that are of interest
and relevance to them.
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One of the foundational goalsof the IIS has been to serve
theglobal Jamat by developingacademic and curricular materialsfor
religious formation as well asnurturing and harnessingcompetent
human resources forITREBs and other Jamati institutions.The
Department of CommunityRelations (DCR) contributes to
theintellectual growth of the Jamatthrough a range of
programmaticinterventions, research initiatives aswell as by
developing and facilitatingthe dissemination of relevantreading
materials to key Jamaticonstituencies. The programmaticinitiatives
of the Departmentinclude a range of globalworkshops aimed at
leadership,educators and broader audienceswithin the Jamat. In
addition tothese workshops, the Instituteendeavours to remain
intellectuallyengaged with these groups throughthe distribution of
a select range ofIIS and other publications. Asummary of the
mainprogrammatic initiatives in 2006and their objectives are
presentedbelow.
Leadership
Through the LeadershipOrientation Programmes (LOP),the Institute
seeks to engage withthe senior leadership of the Jamat,in order to
foster anticipatorythinking around current andforeseeable issues
and to share theintellectual perspectives andresearch outcomes of
the IIS. Open
dialogue with the senior leadershipin each region also forms
part ofthe programme and assists bothparties in understanding the
keyissues and challenges that theleadership face, enabling them
todevelop appropriate frameworks,principles and discourse to
respondto these issues. The IIS iscommitted to providing
suchprogrammes regionally, servicingthe needs of senior
Jamatileadership which include IsmailiNational Councils, ITREBs,
CentralInstitutions and the AKDN. During2006, three such programmes
wereheld in Asia, East Africa & Europefor leadership
representing 12 Jamatsaround the world.
Educators
The IIS also seeks to foster theintellectual development of
thoseindividuals involved in the religiouseducation and formation
of theJamat, through a range of
workshops aimed specifically atITREB academic personnel,
CoreCurriculum writers and waezeen.
The ITREB Personnel Workshopencourages participants to
reviewtheir thinking and broaden theirapproaches to dealing with
issuesimpacting the Jamat. In turn, theworkshop assists in the
developmentof meaningful and purposiveframeworks that can be used
toaddress these issues. In May, a week-long workshop was held at
TheInstitute of Ismaili Studies in Londonfor 32 participants from
19 countries.
The Waezeen Workshop aims todiscuss the intellectual trends
andchallenges that impact the Jamatand the Ummah at large. It
bringstogether waezeen from around theworld to assist them in
facilitatingthe Jamats understanding andapproaches to such
challenges. InNovember, this seven day workshoptook place in Dubai
and wasattended by 37 waezeen from 11 countries.
Department of Community Relations
A year in review
19961995
Participants, faculty and staff at the 2006 Leadership
Orientation Programme forAsia in Mumbai, India.
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Jamat
Whilst all our programmes servicethe Jamat through
buildingleadership capacity and educationalresources, the Summer
Programmeon Islam is targetted directly at theJamat. This
residential programme isaimed at providing a social, culturaland
civilisational introduction toIslam, situating the Shia
Ismailitariqah within the larger context ofthe intellectual and
historicaldevelopment of Islam. Theprogramme encourages
criticalthinking, reflection and discussionon important
contemporary issuesand themes of relevance to Islamand its Shia
Ismaili tariqah. Thecontent of the programme focuseson specific
themes and case studieswhich enable participants todeliberate upon
aspects of Muslimhistory, cultures, faith, practices,and
particularly the issuesassociated with tradition, authorityand
modernity. Previously, thisprogramme has been held at theUniversity
of Cambridge, but inAugust 2006 the programme washeld at McGill
University inMontreal, Canada for the first time.Based at the
McGill InternationalExecutive Institute, and with thesupport of
ITREB Canada and theInstitute of Islamic Studies atMcGill, the
programme attracted arecord number of applications. Intotal 38
participants from 10countries were selected to attendthe programme.
Further details onthis programme may be found onthe IIS website
(www.iis.ac.uk).
1998 1998 1999
Over the last 12 years, the IISProject Tajikistan has
beencollaborating with ITREC Tajikistanto deliver Summer Youth
Camps toIsmaili youth in Russia andTajikistan. To date
approximately15,000 individuals have participatedin these camps
which cater for thereligious and cultural formation ofyouth and
young adults from theages of 12 to 25 years.
Each camp acts as a continuationof the Talim programme and
aimsto engage with participants in amore open and interactive
format.In particular, the camp settingallows for participants from
remotevillages and centres to share theirexperiences with others in
arelaxed and informative context.
The initial phase of theprogramme started in 1995 when120
participants attended Urdugoh-eSaodat (Camp Happiness) at acampsite
in Porsheniev in thevicinity of Khorog. Since then, atotal of five
youth camps have beeninitiated throughout Gorno-Badakhshan. In
addition to theyouth camps, three camps cateringto young adults
aged from 18 to 25years have also been developed.These camps cater
for secondary
school and university graduates, andare held in June and
Septembereach year.
Outside of Badakhshan, a SummerYouth Camp has also been
developedin Qaratogh Valley, a region north ofDushanbe. This
month-long campcomprises two sessions and catersfor Ismaili youth
aged from 14 to 17years. The IIS hopes to address thegrowing demand
in Dushanbe byinitiating an additional campsession in the near
future.
During 2006, Project Tajikistanfacilitated two camps in
Tver,Russia to cater for 60 youth, agedfrom 12 to 17 years.
Topicsaddressed during each camp covera range of relevant topics
includingChange & Continuity in ModernSociety, Diversity &
Pluralism, HealthySociety (impact of undesirablehabits) and Work
& Ethics of theAKDN, among others. In additionto morning
lectures, participantsalso have the opportunity to takepart in
discussions, plays andexcursions as well as other sportsand art
related activities. Eachcamp is administered by trainedcounsellors
whose role is to guideand facilitate the various lecturesand
activities.
Project Tajikistan
Summer Youth Camps in Russia and Tajikistan
Participants and faculty at the 2006 Summer Youth Camp for the
Russian Jamatheld in Moscow, Russia
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The Institute of Ismaili Studiesreceived a major gift of rareand
important manuscripts in2006, through the generosity ofProfessor
Abbas Hamdani ofMilwaukee, Wisconsin. The SayyidiMuhammad Ali
HamdaniCollection of Ismaili and othermanuscripts, which has been
in theHamdani family for severalgenerations, represents one of
themost significant collections ofIsmaili writings in private
hands. Ithas long been famous amongscholars, many of whom havedrawn
on its holdings in thepreparation of editions of Ismailitexts. The
Institute of IsmailiStudies is honoured andprofoundly grateful to
serve as thefuture home of this pricelessheritage.
The Hamdani Collectioncontains some 300 manuscripts and rare
imprints in Arabic,Persian, Urdu, and Gujarati. TheIsmaili
manuscripts are mostlyauthored by dais from the pre-Fatimid period
onwards. Alsoincluded are original works byTayyibi Ismaili scholars
of the 20thcentury. The collection containsrare manuscripts of
seminal Ismailiworks on philosophy, such as theRahat al-aql of
al-Kirmani (theoldest surviving manuscript of thistext), law, such
as the Daaim al-Islam of al-Qadi al-Numan, and history, such as the
Iftitah al-Dawa, also by al-Qadi al-Numan,and volumes of the Uyun
al-Akhbarand Nuzhat al-Akhbar of Idris Imad al-Din.
There are also many works ofimportance for Islamic history
ingeneral, such as a catalogue ofAbbasid decrees to their
governorsin Egypt before the establishmentof the Fatimid state, and
works onsubjects as varied as astronomy,mathematics and medicine.
Amongother titles of interest, the Nahj al-Balagha is represented
by a 300-year-old copy written by a womancalligrapher. There are
alsopoignant curiosities, such as themanuscript of al-Hamidis Kanz
al-
Walad which Muhammad AliHamdani copied out in a secretscript so
that he could bring itsafely along with him on thepilgrimage.
A certain number of thesemanuscripts were first brought toSurat
from Yemen in the 18thcentury by Shaykh Ali ibn Said ofthe Yaburi
clan, a leading alim whodied in 1798. He was anaccomplished
calligrapher and thecollection contains manuscripts inhis hand. His
son Ibrahim and his
Library
The Sayyidi Muhammad Ali Hamdani Collection
2000 2000 2001 2001
Manuscript of Abu Yaqub al-Sijistanis Kitab al-yanabi
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grand-son Fayd Allah continued tocollect and preserve
preciousmanuscripts, as did MuhammadAli Hamdani, the latters son
andamong the foremost scholars of theTayyibi dawa in his time.
Thecollection thus has a fascinatingprovenance, attested by the
manyseals and signatures of ProfessorHamdanis distinguished
forebears.
Professor Abbas Hamdani wasborn in Surat and received his
B.A.(Hons) and his L.L.B. fromBombay University, after which
heobtained his Ph.D. from theUniversity of London. Afterteaching in
Karachi and in Cairo,he joined the faculty of theUniversity of
Wisconsin where, formore than thirty years, he taughtand carried
out fundamental andinfluential research on Ismailihistory before
becoming ProfessorEmeritus in 2001. He has beenrecognised for his
scholarship bymany awards and fellowships andhas lectured at
universities world-wide. The author of more than fiftypublications,
he is currently writinga study of the Rasail Ikhwan al-Safa.His
daughter Sumaiya Hamdani is aprofessor at George MasonUniversity
where she continues thedistinguished family tradition.
The Library of The Institute ofIsmaili Studies will preserve all
ofthe manuscripts in the HamdaniCollection, using microfilm
anddigital technologies. A catalogue ofthe holdings will be
published bythe Institute in due course, whichwill make the
collection available toresearchers world-wide.
2002
Colophon page from Hamid al-DinKirmanis Taubih al-Hadi
Title page of Abu Hatim al-RazisAlam al nubuwwah
Right:Sayyidi Fayd Allah
Hamdani
Far right:Prof. Abbas
Hamdani andfamily
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Justice and Remembrance: Introducing the Spirituality of Imam
Ali
Imam Ali b. Abi Talib, son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet,
first Shii Imam and fourthcaliph of the nascent Muslim community,
was described by the Prophet as the gate to the cityof knowledge.
Indeed, Imam Ali is arguably the single most important spiritual
andintellectual authority in Islam after the Prophet himself: to
speak of Imam Ali is to speak ofthe quintessential spirituality of
Islam. Despite his immense importance in the elaboration ofthe
intellectual, ethical, spiritual, legal and political traditions of
Islam, there is a lamentabledearth of literature in Western
languages on his life and thought. This work, the first inEnglish
to seriously engage with his worldview, introduces some of the most
salient intellectualand moral principles proper to the spirituality
for which Imam Ali is chiefly renowned in Islam.
The present work consists of three parts. The first introduces
the person of Imam Ali andhis spirituality in a general manner,
with a particular focus on the spiritual and ethical concomitants
of the intellectin his teachings. The second evaluates Imam Alis
sacred conception of justice, using his famous letter to Malik
al-Ashtar as the point of departure. The third addresses the theme
of spiritual realization through the remembrance ofGod, dhikruLlah,
the central mystical practice of the Sufis. In this chapter the
intimate connection between ImamAlis teachings and later Sufi
doctrines is explored. The present exposition is not only an
important introduction tothe thought of one of the seminal figures
of the Islamic faith, it is also a valuable and most timely
elucidation of thespirituality underlying ethical discourse and
practice in Islam.
Founding the Fatimid State: The Rise of an Early Islamic
Empire
This book is the most important primary source on the emergence
of the Fatimid state inthe early years of the tenth century. Its
author, al-Qadi al-Numan, was an official historian ofthe Fatimids
and an eminent exponent of Ismaili jurisprudence, as well as being
perhaps themost prolific and versatile of all the Fatimid
thinkers.
The Iftitah al-Dawa is al-Numans major historical work, and
records in detail thebackground to the establishment of the Fatimid
state, first in the Yemen and then in NorthAfrica. It is based on
official archival and biographical documents that were accessible
to theauthor at the time, and which have not survived. It is thus a
highly significant source on the
religious, social and political conditions which prevailed when
theFatimids began to consolidate their rule. In charting the
circumstancesin which the Fatimid state came into being, this book
will be of majorinterest and value to students of early medieval
history and Islamic studies.
Attar and the Persian Sufi Tradition: The Art of Spiritual
Flight
Farid al-Din Attar (d. 1221) was the principal Muslim religious
poet of the second half ofthe twelfth century. Best known for his
masterpiece Mantiq al-tayr, or The Conference of Birds, hisverse is
still considered to be the finest example of Sufi love poetry in
the Persian languageafter that of Rumi. Distinguished by their
provocative and radical theology of love, many linesof Attars epics
and lyrics are cited independently of their poems as maxims in
their own right.These pithy, paradoxical statements are still known
by heart and sung by minstrels throughout
Department of Academic Research and Publications
Publications since last Update
2003 2003
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2003 2004 2006 2007
Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and wherever Persian is spoken or
understood, such as in the lands of the Indo-PakistaniSubcontinent.
Designed to complement The Ocean of the Soul, the classic study of
Attar by Hellmut Ritter, this volumeoffers the most comprehensive
survey of Attar's literary works to date, and situates his poetry
and prose within thewider context of the Persian Sufi tradition.
The essays in the volume are grouped in three sections, and
featurecontributions by sixteen scholars from North America, Europe
and Iran, which illustrate, from a variety of criticalperspectives,
the full range of Attar's monumental achievement. They show how and
why Attar's poetical works, aswell as his mystical doctrines, came
to wield such tremendous and formative influence over the whole of
the PersianSufism tradition.
Between Revolution and State: The Path to Fatimid Statehood
This book examines the most important writings of a
tenth-century Muslim theologian andjurist who was one of the most
original thinkers of his period. It argues that al-Qadi al-Numans
works constituted new and vital genres in Ismaili Shii literature,
a developmentnecessitated by the Fatimids transition from
revolutionary movement to statehood, and bytheir desire to
establish their authority as the Shii alternative to the Sunni
Abbasid caliphate.
Already famous in the Fatimid era, al-Numan left a legacy which
includes a formalisedschool of law, an early record of the Fatimid
achievement in his historical and biographicalworks, new
interpretations of Ismaili doctrine explored in his legal and
esoteric writings andthe formulation of a ceremonial language in
his work on court protocol. Between Revolution andState explores
all of these literary genres in depth and presents a sophisticated
and readableanalysis of one of the seminal figures of Islamic and
Ismaili history.
Sufi Hermeneutics: The Quran Commentary of Rashid al-Din
Maybudi
This book examines the Sufi approach to Quranic interpretation
as exemplified in atwelfth-century Persian Quran commentary, Rashid
al-Din Maybudis Kashf al-asrar (Unveilingof Mysteries). Written
during one of the most exciting, formative periods in Sufisms
history,the commentary manifests the doctrines and the poetic
language of love mysticism, whichwere to become essential elements
in the later literature of Sufism. Dr Keeler analysesMaybudis
approach to the Quran, examines the mystical doctrines of the Kashf
al-asrar andshows how Maybudi conveys these teachings through his
mystical interpretations of the storiesof the prophets Abraham,
Moses and Joseph.
Forthcoming Publications
Degrees of Excellence: A Fatimid Treatise onLeadership in
IslamTranslated by Arzina R Lalani
Lights to Illuminate the Proof of the ImamateTranslated by Paul
E Walker
Arts of the City Victorious: The Art andArchitecture of the
Fatimid DynastyBy Jonathan Bloom
A Modern History of the IsmailisBy Farhad Daftary
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Dr P. AmandaHarris joinedthe Institute ofIsmaili Studies asHead
of HumanResource Servicesat the beginning
of 2007. Dr Harris has beenworking in the field of
HumanResources for over 20 years, initiallystarting corporate life
as anOccupational Psychologist. Morerecently she has been working
as
Chief Executive of a UK-wide mentalhealth charity. Originally
fromCounty Durham, Dr Harris now livesin Brighton, UK.
Dr Harris main interests lie in organisational change
andevidence-based decision-making. Inher spare time, Dr
Harrisundertakes lectures for MBAstudents on public policy issues
andalso engages in voluntary work forthe National Institute for
Healthand Clinical Excellence (NIHCE).
In particular her voluntary workwith the NIHCE provides
anopportunity for her to engage inanother of her interests,
structuralequation modelling using data fromlarge randomised
controlled trials.
Ms Rana AliakbarDesign & Production OfficerDepartment of
Education
Ms Nadia HolmesEditorDepartment of Academic Research and
Publications
New Appointments
If you have feedback or would like to update your contact
details, please email us at [email protected].
We gratefully acknowledge all individuals who have contributed
to the production of this Update.
Published by the Department of Operations, Finance and
Development. Designed by the Design and Production Unit.
The Institute of Ismaili Studies, 42-44 Grosvenor Gardens,
London, SW1W 0EB, United KingdomTelephone: +44 (0) 20 7881 6000
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7881 6040 Website: www.iis.ac.uk
1979 Library established at the IIS as a central repository and
resourcefor Ismaili Studies.
1981 Members of the Institutes Board of Governors, staff,
faculty andfirst batch of students in the Library for a
picture.
1983 First class of 42 students receive certificates from His
Highness theAga Khan on 7th July 1983 at Logan Hall, University
ofLondon Institute of Education.
1983 First publication of the IIS: a translation of Henry
Corbin'sCyclical Time and Ismaili Gnosis.
1984 First collection catalogue is published, highlighting
ArabicManuscripts in the Institutes library.
1985 First preschool materials in the Ta'lim series, a programme
ofreligious and cultural education, are published.
1990 The first comprehensive study of the community in modern
times,The Ismailis, is published through Cambridge University
Press.
1994 First intake of 13 students in the new Graduate Programme
inIslamic Studies and Humanities.
1995 Project Tajikistan established. Annual Seminars in
Tajikistan begin.
1996 First book in the Ismaili Heritage Series is published: Abu
Yaqubal-Sijistani: Intellectual Missionary.
1998 KK Aziz signs copies of his Selected Speeches and Writings
of Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah.
1998 First publication in the Occasional Paper Series: The
Poetics ofReligious Experience.
1999 Expressions of the Pamir: Culture and Heritage of the
Ismailis ofTajikistan begins an international tour.
2000 Ismaili Texts and Translations Series launches with
firstpublication: The Advent of the Fatimids.
2000 The Institute of Ismaili Studies website goes live
(www.iis.ac.uk).
2001 Civil Society in the Muslim World Seminar Series
2001 Quranic Studies Unit formed.
2002 Central Asian Studies Unit formed.
2003 The Institute Commemorates its 25th Anniversary.
2003 IIS convenes three-day international conference on Nasir
Khusrawin Tajikistan.
2003 IIS convenes a conference in London on Word of God, Art
ofMan: The Quran and its Creative Expressions Colloquium.
2004 The Institutes first book in the Quranic Studies Series:
ModernMuslim Intellectuals and the Quran.
2006 IIS launches new website dedicated to its Alumni.
2007 IIS Launches Secondary Teacher Education Programme.
In April 1975 Mawlana Hazar Imam chaired a four-dayconference in
which leaders of the Jamat and several Ismailischolars engaged in
the fields of Islamic Studies or related areaswere brought together
in Paris. This historic meeting had on itsagenda many items that
would have far-reaching consequencesfor the Jamat across the world.
One of these was theestablishment of an academic institution,
international inscope, charged with carrying out research on
religious andcultural issues pertaining to Islam. Among the
importantpurposes of this research was that of assisting the Jamat
to gaina more informed and discerning knowledge of their
traditionsand to equip them to address their concerns in a
changingworld.
Almost two and a half years later, in August 1977, TheInstitute
of Ismaili Studies opened its first offices in a series of
small suites in Central London. In addition to the
ExecutiveOfficer and Board of Governors chaired by Mawlana
HazarImam, the Institute soon hired academic and support staff
andbegan to tackle some of the themes that were raised at the
ParisConference.
From its modest beginnings in the late 1970s, The Instituteof
Ismaili Studies has developed into a vibrant centre oflearning,
addressing not only the needs of the internationalIsmaili
community, but also contributing to and participating inthe
contemporary debates of the Muslim world at large.
As the global Jamat prepares to celebrate Mawlana Hazar Imams
Golden Jubilee, we would like to take theopportunity to reflect on
some of the significant events in the history of the IIS that were
made possible through the Imams leadership.
The IIS - Significant Milestones