A Short History of the Ismailis: Traditions of a Muslim Community (Islamic Surveys) - Softcover

Farhad Daftary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0748606874 ISBN 13: 9780748606870

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 1998

Synopsis

Despite being of the key Shi'i Muslim communities, the Ismailis have generally been studied primarily on the basis of the accounts of their enemies, such as Sunni polemicists and the Crusader chroniclers. This introduction to Ismaili history takes account of recently recovered Ismaili texts. It covers the main developments in the major phases of Ismaili history, from the early formative period, through the Fatimid golden age and the Alamut and post-Alamut periods, to more recent history, and gives a critical analysis of the available source materials.

About this title

About the Author:

Farhad Daftary, Co-Director and Head of Department of Academic Research and Publications at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London is the author of several books, including The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines and The Assassin Legends: Myths of the Isma'ilis.

Review:

The author is to be congratulated on a text that compresses a great deal of authoritative information and yet remains very readable. The author focuses on major themes and developments, as well as the historical background from which they arose. His writing is succinct and lucid, making use of primary and secondary sources, in which he shows a remarkable range of scholarship...Daftary's book provides an excellent overview of the history of the Ismailiyya from its inception to the present. Its particular focus is the sect's history, but its doctrines also receive ample treatment. The reader is introduced both to the primary sources and to the scholarly literature- eloquent proof of the author's great erudition. The chapters of the book complement one another to form a fascinating tale that is readable and fluent; at the same time they stand as independent units, any of which can be read on its own. Daftary deserves high prase for this exemplary project, which will be eminently useful for both scholars and students The author is to be congratulated on a text that compresses a great deal of authoritative information and yet remains very readable. The author focuses on major themes and developments, as well as the historical background from which they arose. His writing is succinct and lucid, making use of primary and secondary sources, in which he shows a remarkable range of scholarship...Daftary's book provides an excellent overview of the history of the Ismailiyya from its inception to the present. Its particular focus is the sect's history, but its doctrines also receive ample treatment. The reader is introduced both to the primary sources and to the scholarly literature- eloquent proof of the author's great erudition. The chapters of the book complement one another to form a fascinating tale that is readable and fluent; at the same time they stand as independent units, any of which can be read on its own. Daftary deserves high prase for this exemplary project, which will be eminently useful for both scholars and students

About this edition

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0748606874
• ISBN 13: 9780748606870
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256