Customer Reviews

The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines

5 star:		(3)
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This is an unprecedented work of scholarly insight, a must have for anyone interested in Isma'ilism although you never really read this sort of work from cover to cover, it's useful to dip in, on every issue.

The history covers the development of Shiism...right through to Ismailism to the modern day...that's 1400yrs of development and history not too mention all the branchs and movemnets that split off and their current status.

I can't praise this book enough. One issue though is regarding the modern Bohra's (Mustalian Tayyibi's), I would recommend Jonah Blanks "Mullahs on the Mainframe" to understand them in the modern period; as Daftary used too much information from the Bohra reformers in regards to that branch of the Isma'ilis...however an excellent work all round. if you haven't dipped in here you are missing out.

This is an excellent work on the Ismailis--one of the primary branches of Shia Islam, that is nearly unknown to the other Muslims, let alone the rest of the world. The world is very very detailed and thus requires meticulous and detailed reading. However, the rewards are tremendous. The author has written other works on the Ismailis, but this one that is seemingly based on his doctoral dissertation, is the most detailed and systematic.

I most highly recommend this book, realizing how detailed and systematic it is, but also for its very affordable price. It is must.

The only thing that is desired for improvement is a detailed and accurate count of Ismailis AND their specific location in various countries in the Old World. Some of this is available in the author's other (and far less detailed) works, but not in this one.

The most detailed book on Isma'ilis - the best unbiased, factual and complete book on Isma'ilis out there.