A Modern History of the Ismailis: Continuity and Change in a Muslim Community

by Farhad Daftary

I.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili StudiesThe Ismailis have enjoyed a long, eventful and complex history dating back to the 8th century CE and originating in the Shi'i tradition of Islam. During the medieval period, Ismailis of different regions - especially in central Asia, south Asia, Iran and Syria - developed and elaborated their own distinctive literary and intellectual traditions, which have made an outstanding contribution to the culture of Islam as a whole. At the same time, the Ismailis in the Middle Ages split into two main groups who followed different spiritual leaders. The bulk of the Ismailis came to have a line of imams now represented by the Aga Khans, while a smaller group - known in south Asia as the Bohras - developed their own type of leadership.This collection is the first scholarly attempt to survey the modern history of both Ismaili groupings since the middle of the 19th century. It covers a variety of topical issues and themes, such as the modernising policies of the Aga Khans, and also includes original studies of regional developments in Ismaili communities worldwide.The contributors focus too on how the Ismailis as a religious community have responded to the twin challenges of modernity and emigration to the West. "A Modern History of the Ismailis" will be welcomed as the most complete assessment yet published of the recent trajectory of this fascinating and influential Shi'i community.

Genres: History

532 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2009

About the author

Farhad Daftary (born 1938) (Persian: فرهاد دفترى‎) is co-director and head of the Department of Academic Research and Publications at the Institute of Ismaili Studies.
Daftary received his Ph.D. in 1971 from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a consulting editor of the Encyclopaedia Iranica, co-editor (with W. Madelung) of the Encyclopaedia Islamica, and the general editor of the Ismaili Heritage Series and the Ismaili Texts and Translations Series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farhad_D...

Reviews

[Rukhsar (rukhsandbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is certainly not an introductory text and is rather complex. Though I’m glad I read it, I think I’ll have to revisit it at a later date. Also, although I know there have been fights, battles, and wars often in the name of religion, I did not enjoy reading about it.
There is much unknown about Ismaili history and what is known is very complicated, especially in regards to timeline, leadership, and authority. This is fascinating as it explains many of the divisions in Islam but it also made me question far too many things.
Overall, the content of many of the chapters is not boring per say, however, the writing style of some of the authors is odd or stilted and thus made those select chapters difficult to get through. I also felt like the book overused the word diaspora.

[Harith Alrashid · Rating 4 out of 5]

مرجع مهم فيمايتعلق بالتوزع الجغرافي للطائفة الإسماعيلية بشقيها النزارية والبهرة وكيف وصلوا الى هذه البلاد وواقعهم الان ومجهودات زعيمهم الاغا خان في الحفاظ على الطائفة وتطويرها

[Harith Alrashid · Rating 4 out of 5]

مرجع مهم فيمايتعلق بالتوزع الجغرافي للطائفة الإسماعيلية بشقيها النزارية والبهرة وكيف وصلوا الى هذه البلاد وواقعهم الان ومجهودات زعيمهم الاغا خان في الحفاظ على الطائفة وتطويرها