News story -- Below are MP3 extracts of selected tracks from the forthcoming CD Expressions of the Pamir: Music and Song which accompanied the multi-dimensional cultural programme presenting the heritage, arts, culture, history, aspirations and everyday life of the Ismaili Muslims of Tajikistan. The exhibition and musical concert toured twelve cities in North America in 1999, and is scheduled to tour Europe ...
News story -- Abstract of Professor Arkoun's Keynote Address at the "Orientalism Reconsidered" Conference The presentation took place before the start of an international symposium entitled "Orientalism Reconsidered", at which both Professors Said and Arkoun gave keynote addresses. Professor Tim Niblock, Head of Exeter University's Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, said: "It gives us huge pleasure to be able to demonstrate ...
News story -- "At a time when attention about the Muslim world is focussed on images of violence and conflict," said Professor Nanji, "the larger, cultural world of Muslim contributions to art, architecture, music and design, tends very often to be overlooked." By examining the rich artistic heritage of Islam, the presentation illustrated the aesthetic dimension of the Muslim quest for beauty ...
News story -- Muslim societies have enquired increasingly into what socially and religiously relevant civic ideas mean within their own highly diverse contexts. Certainly the evolving phases of what in our time is called globalisation are felt and conceived rather differently across the world. The interest and focus by Muslims on issues relevant to civil society reflect, in part, the perceived absence ...
News story -- Over the past six years, the seminars have addressed a variety of themes relevant to contemporary society in the country and have brought together scholars from Tajikistan and the IIS, engendering a space for dialogue on topics of common interest and concern. Map of Tajikistan from The Times Atlas of the World, by permission of UNEP GRID-Arendal. This year's ...
News story -- The gathering was hosted by Dr George Carey who, during his term as the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury, has made interfaith relations a significant aspect of his work. The seminar addressed topics of common concern to the faith communities and facilitated open discussion amongst its delegates. It is hoped that the presentations and resultant discussions will help set the ...
News story -- Forthcoming seminars in this series will include: Dr Iftikhar Malik on identity politics in Pakistan; Dr Ziba Mir-Hosseini on gender in post-revolutionary Iran; and Professor Abdou Filali-Ansari and Dr Norani Othman on the prospects for civil society in the Maghreb and Southeast Asia respectively. Details of those and other future sessions appear on the Seminars, Conferences, Public Lectures pages, ...
News story -- Dr Niyozov's thesis, entitled "Understanding Teaching in Post-Soviet, Rural, Mountainous Tajikistan: Case Studies of Teachers' Life and Work" examined the continuities and changes in teachers' practices across the Soviet and post-Soviet periods in the Autonomous Province of Badakhshan, Tajikistan. Through qualitative life-history case studies, Dr Niyozov explores how five Tajik teachers in three different regions understand and improve their ...
News story -- Extracts of Dr Amyn B Sajoo's Introductory Remarks to the Civil Society Seminar Series Dr Ziba Mir-Hosseini's presentation, "Debating Women" began the proceedings by discussing her recent fieldwork in Iran. She examined gender participation in the public sphere through the publications of women's magazines and journals and how this particular media form has become a forum for discussing ideas ...
News story -- "Expressions of the Pamir" includes a performance by 25 professional artistes of music, song and dance reflecting traditions of mountain peoples of Central Asia presented for the first time ever in Europe. It also includes an exhibition of artefacts highlighting various aspects of the region's material culture ranging from art, textiles, costumes, photographs and even a traditional yurt (tent). ...
News story -- In his seminar, Farhang Jahanpour examined the construction and presentation of Islam as a monolithic entity by many contemporary commentators. He argued that Islam has engendered a pluralist discourse, from the beginning of its history - philosophically, politically and theologically - and that contemporary representations of Islam as solely a political force were problematic. He continued his presentation by ...
News story -- As part of this year's conference, the Institute-organised panel entitled "New Directions in Ismaili Studies" showcased pioneering approaches and subject areas in the study of Islam and Ismailism. The Institute also contributed three papers to other sessions: "Egypt in Historical Perspective" and "Shi'i Historiography and Philosophy". As part of the proceedings, Dr Alice C Hunsberger's monograph, Nasir Khusraw, The ...
News story -- IIS contributors photographed at the conferenceThis year's conference, organised by the Society for Iranian Studies with support from the Association for the study of Persianate Societies and the Roshan Cultural Institute, included 50 panels and round-table sessions including more than 150 presentations as well as book and art exhibits and a film festival. International in appeal, the conference attracted ...
News story -- Further Reading and Resource Materials Comparing approaches to jurisprudence and the discourses concerning pluralism amongst Muslims in Indonesia and France, Dr Bowen cited the different intellectual and political histories that inform current debates in both countries. In the case of Indonesia, Dr Bowen argued for an evolution of legal practice that accepts local differences amongst local and world-wide legal ...
News story -- On the evening of September 11, 2000, a special session introducing and launching the Hungarian version of the book was organized in conjunction with the 20th Congress. Prof József Laszlovszky, Head of the Department of Medieval Studies at the Central European University in Hungary began the session with a talk about the importance of The Assassin Legends in the ...
News story -- The Institute of Ismaili Studies participated in the 35th Annual Meeting of the Middle Eastern Studies Association of North America (MESA), a leading international academic organisation promoting research on the Middle East and the Muslim world. This year's conference, held from November 17-20, 2001 in San Francisco, California, provided a forum for over 500 presentations and roundtables as well ...
News story -- Based on a series of lectures given at the Institute in May 1999, Beauty and Islam explores aesthetics in classical Islamic thought in the context of contemporary theories. Valérie Gonzalez offers new perspectives on Islamic art and architecture with examples ranging from the Qur'an and the geometry of the Alhambra to the works of present-day artists and philosophers. Tracing ...
News story -- In his presentation, Professor Kalayçioglu explored the relationship of civic movements in Turkey with the State apparatus. He illustrated that Turkey's low membership in voluntary organisations may be partly explained by a culture that is deeply distrustful in interpersonal terms, leading to a fragmented civil society with low citizen participation. He observed that the State tends not to combat ...
News story -- Professor Afzal Ahmed's opening lecture entitled The Mutual Influence of Learning and the Development of Mathematical Thinking in the Arab Civilisation during 900-1200 AD focused on reviewing both the nature of mathematics as well as the processes of their teaching and learning. His presentation drew on examples from Arabic scientific thinking between the years of 900-1200 CE. In order ...
News story -- Further Reading and Resource Materials Brodeur, Patrice. "Introduction to the Guidelines for an Inter-faith Celebration", Journal of Ecumenical Studies 34:4 (Fall 1997), 551-572. ---- "Contemporary Arabic Muslim Writings on Religions Other than Islam: A Framework for Enquiry", Muslim Perceptions of Other Religions: A Historical Survey, ed. Jacques Waardenburg (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999), 240-249. ---- "The Changing Nature of ...
News story -- The Fatimids and their Traditions of Learningby Heinz Halm offers a comprehensive account of Fatimid intellectual life. Translated from German in 1997, it is the second monograph in the Institute's Ismaili Heritage Series and explores the culture and patronage of teaching and learning in the Fatimid capital of Cairo, whose prosperity and fame attracted scholars, scientists, poets and artists ...
News story -- Amongst examples of such a discourse are the Grameen Bank Housing Project in Bangladesh - a co-operative non-governmental association that first began a loan programme, without collateral, for the rural poor to help them initiate income-generating schemes; the Kampung Improvement Programme - an urban self-help community planning programme in Indonesia and the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in the ...
News story -- The Ruby of Badakhshan, the third publication in the Ismaili Heritage Series, is the first comprehensive study on Nasir Khusraw to appear in English. Based on his travels, and drawing extensively from his philosophical and poetic writings, many of which have been translated for the first time, The Ruby of Badakhshan adds significant knowledge to the field of Ismaili ...
News story -- The inaugural seminar, "Locating Civil Society: Secular and Religious Spaces", by Professor Mohammed Arkoun began the wide-ranging series on November 29, 2000. Future speakers in the series will include Drs Shirin Akiner and Olivier Roy on Central Asia, Professor Azim Nanji, who will discuss ethical dimensions of civil society, and Dr Aziz Esmail who will explore its philosophical aspects. ...
News story -- Like other Ismaili Muslim communities, the Ismailis of Tajikistan have inherited a distinct social and cultural heritage as well as religious traditions that are shaped, to a large extent, by geographical conditions and historical circumstances. The "Expressions of the Pamir" programme aims to provide insight into the culture and heritage of the Ismaili Muslims in Tajikistan, who like other ...
News story -- (Pictures courtesy of Fayaz Alibhai & Sharmina Mawani) One of the important components of study for students of the Institute's Graduate Programme is a foundation in Classical Arabic to be able to study the Holy Qur'an and other historical texts. This year an intensive Arabic summer programme was developed to offer IIS students an opportunity to improve their competence ...
News story -- View video clip of Professor Azim Nanji on the IIS at MESA [RealPlayer: 823KB ] The IIS is involved in a number of activities at this year's annual MESA meeting. Most prominent amongst these is the panel presentation, "Representations of Ismailism", which explores ways in which "Ismailism" has been constructed, understood, and presented in academic and historical contexts. This ...
News story -- The Fatimid Epoch is one of the most brilliant and extraordinary periods of Muslim Egypt. The creative vitality of the Fatimid period of history is expressed in monuments of astounding variety and beauty as well as many exquisite objects made from a range of materials from textiles, to rock crystal, wood and ceramic. Today, Fatimid artefacts are found in ...
News story -- Link to BBC Programme Invoking the Qur'anic verses that describe paradise (jannah) as a garden, Professor Nanji likened experiencing a garden to a 'spiritual balm' for the soul. At another level, gardens are also rich with esoteric symbolism not just because of the Qur'anic references but also because of the way a garden organizes space to appeal to both ...
News story -- Dr. Cortese completed her first degree in Oriental Studies at the University of Naples, following this with a doctorate on the eschatological doctrines of the Persian Ismailis from their origins to the 9th/15th century. Delia Cortese is currently a Lecturer in Religious Studies at Middlesex University and is undertaking a further catalogue for the Institute Library of the Zahid ...
News story -- This was the fifth annual seminar organised by the IIS to engender a dialogue on topics of common interest between Tajik scholars and those from abroad. The year 2000 has been officially declared the "Year of Peace & Reconciliation" in Tajikistan and, as such, examining the relationship between ethical issues and contemporary social problems was seen as an appropriate ...
Publication -- This work is the culmination of more than 20 expeditions (spanning the past 40 years) made by Peter Willey to the castles that were inhabited by Nizari Ismailis from 1090 CE until the Mongol invasion in1256 CE. The discovery and investigation of these long abandoned medieval Ismaili castles throughout the course of these expeditions gives a new perspective and understanding ...
Academic Article -- Keywords da 'i, da 'wa, al-da 'wa al-hadiya, Al-da 'wa al Jadida, Al-da 'wa al Qadima, Nizari, Mustalis Qiyama, Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Nasafi, Al-Sijistani, Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani, Fatimids, Nasir-i Khusraw, Hasan-i Sabbah, Alamut, Khurasan, Transoxania, Qaramita, Samanids, Buyids, Seljuqs, al-Mu'ayyad fi'l-Din al-Shirazi, Badakhshan, Rudbar, Quhistan, Anjudan, Hasan 'aladhikrihi'l-salam, Qiyama Download PDF version of article (411 KB) Table of contentsEmergence ...
Academic Article -- Download PDF version of article (160 KB) Table of contents IntroductionPart I Unity, Identity and the SelfBinding a ClothThe Metaphysics of OnenessThe I-ness of GodThe EphemeralGod is TranscendentGrasping RelativityGod is ImmanentGod Knows HimselfThe Necessity of Human DiversityThe Imperative of DialogueTrue TawhidThe Face of GodSpiritual Foundations for Tolerance, CourtesyPart II The Universal Meaning of 'Islam'The Absolute ReligionFitra - Primordial PurityMoses ...
Academic Article -- Download PDF version of the article (67 KB) Key words Fatimids, Fatimid art, Fatimid architecture There were several occasions over the past decade for scholars with different specialities to interpret rather than describe the historical and cultural phenomenon of the Fatimids. At the time of the great colloquium celebrating Cairo's first millennium, the late Gustav von Grunebaum, Professor Bernard ...
Academic Article -- Download the Article in PDF format (212 KB) Keywords Ismaili, Greek Philosophy, Creation, al-Sijistani, AmrThe earliest Ismaili thinkers were, like nearly all Muslim theologians and philosophers, confronted unavoidably with the problem of explaining how God created the universe. Apparently less concerned with public opinion and possible censure, they wrote freely although unorthodoxly on the subject. Most often they followed ...
Encyclopaedia Articles -- Download PDF version of this article The foremost Ismaili jurist and founder of Fatimid Ismaili jurisprudence, Abu Hanifa al-Nu'man b. Muhammad al-Tamimi, better known as al-Qadi al-Nu'man, was born around 290 AH/ 903 CE into a learned family in Qayrawan, in North Africa. Very little is known about his family, childhood and education. His father Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad b. ...
Encyclopaedia Articles -- Download PDF version of article. The celebrated Persian Sufi poet, Sa'd al-Din Mahmud Ibn 'Abd al-Karim Yahya Shabistari (d. after 1340 CE) was born in the last half of the thirteenth century at Shabistar, a small village northwest of Tabriz, located a few miles inland from Lake Urumiya in present-day province of eastern Adharbayjan in Iran. Almost nothing is ...
Encyclopaedia Articles -- Key words: Ishraq, "science of lights", al-Suhrawardi , Avicenna, Aleppo,nur al-anwar, asalaal-mahiyya, al-nur al-mudabbir, presential knowledge (al-'ilm al-huduri), Islamic thought, Sufi tradition,dhikr, Plato, Hermes, Empedokles, Pythagoras, Neoplatonic. Download PDF version of article (72 KB) Derived from "illumination," a conventional translation of the Arabic term ishraq (lit. radiance, shining of the rising sun), "illuminationism" refers to the doctrine of the ...
