A Short History of the Ismailis: Traditions of a Muslim Community [Paperback]

Farhad Daftary (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1998

A major Shi'i Muslim community with a long and eventful history, the Ismailis were until recently studied primarily on the basis of the accounts of their enemies, including the Sunni polemicists and the Crusader chroniclers. As a result, a host of legends were disseminated on the teachings and practices of the Ismailis. The study of Ismailism began to be revolutionized from the 1930s, with the recovery of a large number of Ismaili texts preserved in private collections. A Short History of the Ismailis brings together the results of modern scholarship on the highlights of Ismaili history and doctrines within the broader contexts of Islamic history and Shi'i thought. Critically examining the Ismaili historiography and other types of relevant source materials, this book covers the main developments in all the major phases of Ismaili history, including the early formative period, the Fatimid and Ismaili golden age, and the Alamut and post-Alamut periods. It also examines the major schisms among the Islmailis as well as their more recent history.

Editorial Reviews

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 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Farhad Daftary, 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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Markus Wiener Pub (July 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558761942
• ISBN-13: 978-1558761940
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,647,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #96 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Shi'ism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Primer on Isma'ili Shi'ism, July 6, 2008

By 

C. A. (Bloomington, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Short History of the Ismailis: Traditions of a Muslim Community (Paperback)

A masterful primer from the doyen of Isma'ili studies today. One of the best books available.

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, by a worthy Scholor, August 25, 2001

By 

toby h greer (Surry, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Short History of the Ismailis: Traditions of a Muslim Community (Paperback)

Farhad Daftary is a noted international scholor, who has reseached many publications with such noted institutions as Oxford and Cambridge, this Book is a great testment to scholorship, and as such is objective throughout, mixing Glory with Disaster and even controversy, this is recommended for those who want a true picture of ismailis and their beliefs, instead of some of the bias and emtional conjecture that is also available.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good work of an historian, but ..., September 3, 2007

By 

xul "xul010" (milky way galaxy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Short History of the Ismailis: Traditions of a Muslim Community (Paperback)

If one knows it, one cannot fail to compare this book to Dr. Momen's introduction to Twelver Shi'ism:

An Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi`ism

that sets the standards in works of this kind. F. Daftary's book does not meet the standard in several respects, e.g.:

- missing comparison of Ismaili jurisprudence to for example the Twelver Shi'ite and Maliki schools

- missing tables showing the synchronicity of political and theological developments

- missing maps of regions other than Persia - Iraq (e.g. the Fatimide caliphate)

The author's perspective of an exoteric historian leads him to mistaken explanations of some Ismaili doctrines, e.g. the cyclical nature of time. He tends to relegate the ulama (theologians) to a role of ideological support for those holding political power. The outer (zahiri) perspective contrasts with the balanced view of the Ismailis, e.g. as exhibited in the epistles of the Brethren of Purity.

In spite of many historic details, F. Daftary fails to explain or demonstrate what the essential specificity of Ismaili Shi'ite Islam is or purports to be.