Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Isma`ilis and Isma`ili studies Farhad Daftary; Part I. The Classical Phase: 2. The Fatimids and the Qarmatis of Bahrayn Wilferd Madelung; 3. The cosmology of the pre-Fatimid Isma'iliyya Heinz Halm; 4. Abu Ya'qub al-Sijistani and the seven faculties of the intellect Wilfred Madelung; 5. The Isma'ili oath of allegiance ('ahd) and the 'sessions of wisdom' (majalis al-hikma) in Fatimid times Heinz Halm; 6. Al-Qadi al-Nu`man and Isma`ili jurisprudence Ismail K. Poonawala; 7. A critique of Paul Casanova's dating of the Rasa'il Ikhwan al-Safa' Abbas Hamdani; 8. Portraits of self and others: Isma`ili perspectives on the history of religions Azim A. Nanji; 9. An Isma`ili version of the heresiography of the seventy-two erring sects Paul E. Walker; Part II. The Nizari Phase: 10. Hasan-i Sabbah and the origins of the Nizari Isma'ili movement Farhad Daftary; 11. The power struggle between the Saljuqs and the Isma'ilis of Alamut, 487–518/1094–1124: The Saljuq perspective Carole Hillenbrand; 12. The Isma'ilis of Quhistan and the Maliks of Nimruz or Sistan C. Edmund Bosworth; 13. The philosopher/vizier: Khwaja Nasir al-Din al-Tusi and the Isma`ilis Hamid Dabashi; 14. 'Sometimes by the sword, sometimes by the dagger': the role of the Isma'ilis in Mamluk-Mongol relations in the 8th/14th century Charles Melville; 15. The Isma'ili ginans: reflections on authority and authorship Ali S. Asani; 16. The Nuqtawi movement of Mahmud Pisikhani and his Persian cycle of mystical-materialism Abbas Amanat.

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This volume presents scholarship on Isma`ili history and thought from leading authorities in the field.

Reviews

'... an extremely useful collection which deserves a place in the library of any individual or institute concerned with the study of Islam and of Islamic history.' Peter Jackson, Journal of Semitic Studies 'Daftary is an indefatigable scholar and editor who has succeeded within a short period of time to revive and expand Isma'ili studies as a legitimate variant of the wider Islamic tradition. This book is a living and eloquent testimony to his ongoing endeavours.' History '... an indispensable volume for any Islamic history collection ... absorbing and scholarly collection of essays ...'. Bulletin of the School of Oriental & African Studies