News story -- In honour of the late Professor Annemarie Schimmel, IIS held its annual memorial lecture on 29 April, entitled Paradise Found: ʿAyn al-Quḍāt on Qur'anic Origins delivered by Professor Mohammed Rustom, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Carleton University. Given the importance of ʿAyn al-Quḍāt Hamadānī (d. 525/1131), there is relatively little scholarship on him that is entirely reliable, and ...

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News story -- On 11 April, author Ali Lakhani gave audiences at the Ismaili Centre, London, fresh insights into his latest book Faith and Ethics: The Vision of the Ismaili Imamat. He was joined by Mahmood Ahmed, Chairman of Aga Khan Foundation UK, for an on-stage conversation where they explored the significance and correlation between faith and ethics. In his introduction, Mahmood ...

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News story -- Many of us are curious about other cultures with a hunger for experiencing the "out of the ordinary", and we satisfy this desire in different ways. For some this may involve physically travelling to other parts of the world, whilst for others it may involve turning to literature to transport our hearts and minds more figuratively. The annual ZEE ...

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News story -- Islam an Illustrated Journey is a Diamond Jubilee publication produced by Azimuth Editions in conjunction with The Institute of Ismaili Studies. The book is a timely reminder of Islam's rich legacy and pluralistic heritage and takes readers on a visual journey through Islam's rich 1400 year history. On 3 November 2018, the first book launch was held at Ismaili ...

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News story -- On 29 October, the Shi'i Studies Unit at The Institute of Ismaili Studies in collaboration with the Law, Authority and Learning in Imami Shi'ite Islam (LAWALISI) Project from the University of Exeter held an interactive workshop at the Aga Khan Centre, entitled, Hadith, Law and Theology in Early Shiʿite Islam. Speaking about this unique collaboration with the LAWALISI Project, ...

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News story -- On 15 October, Dr Farhad Daftary and Dr Shainool Jiwa participated in a book launch for The Fatimid Caliphate: Diversity of Traditions at the University of Edinburgh, where Professor Carole Hillenbrand (Professor Emerita at University of Edinburgh and Professor of Islamic History at University of St Andrews) led a conversation with the two editors. Attended by scholars, researchers and ...

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News story -- This publication provides an analysis of Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani's thought and sheds new light on the many layers of allusion which characterise his writings. Through a translation and analytical commentary of the eighth chapter of his Kitab al-Riyad, (The Book of 'Gardens'),Salvation and Destiny in Islam provides an in-depth study of how al-Kirmani harmonised his views with those of ...

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News story -- Understanding Sharia: Islamic Law in a Globalised World, by Raficq Abdulla and Mohamed Keshavjee, is a new publication which describes how sharia developed in the context of Muslim history, with all the vicissitudes that any law is subject to. Consisting of 13 chapters, the book includes a discourse on topical and pertinent issues such as human rights and corporal ...

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News story -- On 26 June, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales inaugurated the Aga Khan Centre in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan. Among the guests were the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and United Nations, Lord Ahmad. To mark this historic occasion, His Highness the Aga Khan was joined ...

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News story -- The graduation ceremony for the ninth cohort of the Institute's Secondary Teacher Education Programme (STEP) was held on 7 April 2018 at The Ismaili Centre, London. Thirty-six students from Canada, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uganda and the United States of America graduated at the ceremony with a double Master's degree: an MA in Education (Muslim Societies and Civilisations) ...

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News story -- Why is the shari'a -- the mention of which stirs up problematic images in many parts of the world -- understood in the ways that it is today? For Muslims and non-Muslims alike, much is read into this term, often with scant regard for its historical, cultural or theological underpinnings. The Shari'a: History, Ethics and Law explores many of ...

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News story -- Third-year students of the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) presented their field research projects to staff and students at the IIS. These annual presentations provide students with an opportunity to share their experiences and findings as well as exchange ideas and receive feedback. The field research project - which is a mandatory requirement for GPISH - ...

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News story -- The Ismaili Special Collections Unit (ISCU) organised a first of its kind symposium entitled Before the Printed Word: Texts, Scribes and Transmissions on the manuscripts housed at The Institute of Ismaili Studies. The symposium attracted over twenty scholars from around the world. Many of the papers presented at the symposium were the result of ongoing endeavours by the IIS ...

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News story -- The IIS is delighted to announce the release of the first book in the World of Islam series - in print, e-book and audiobook formats. This new series has been created for a general, non-academic, audience in order to provide engaging introductions to historical, cultural, social and religious topics that explore the rich diversity of Islam. Aimed at Muslim ...

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News story -- The Institute of Ismaili Studies participated in the Annual Conference of the Middle Eastern Studies Association of North America (MESA), a leading international academic organisation promoting research on the Muslim world. Held in Washington, USA, from 18th to 21st November 2017, the conference brought together over 3000 international scholars, educators and those interested in the study of the history, ...

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News story -- On 25 November 1977, His Highness the Aga Khan officially inaugurated The Institute of Ismaili Studies. To mark this momentous anniversary, the Board of Governors hosted a celebration for staff, visiting faculty and students on Friday 24 November, with Prince Rahim Aga Khan in attendance. The event celebrated the role of the people who have contributed to developing an ...

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News story -- November 2017 sees the 40th anniversary of the formal inauguration of The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. To mark this important milestone, which falls during His Highness the Aga Khan's Diamond Jubilee year, the Institute hosted a commemorative lecture at the Ismaili Centre, London, UK. Four short talks explored themes integral to the Institute's work: heritage, knowledge, peopleand the ...

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News story -- "We have made from water every living thing." (Holy Qur'an 21:30) For the first time, this year's North American Chapter Group (NACG) meeting was held at an international location - Al-Akhawayn University's campus nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountains in Ifrane, Morocco. The meeting coincided with the World Sacred Music Festival in Fez, which had Water and the Sacred ...

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News story -- The Asian Chapter Group (ACG) of the IIS Alumni Association held its annual meeting on the theme of 'Arts and Architecture in South East Asia' in Kuala Lumpur from 11th to 14th May 2017. Seeking inspiration from the rich historical discourse of arts and architecture in Muslim societies, the meeting aimed to create empathy towards, and foster better understanding ...

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News story -- On 8-9 June, the University of Oxford in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation and the Global Centre for Pluralism, held the Oxford Symposium for Comparative and International Education, entitled, Re-Examining the Mission of Education and the Meaning of Learning in an Uncertain World. Delegates from 150 countries were invited to debate and respond to some of the challenges ...

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News story -- In May 2017, the Institute underwent a one-day monitoring review visit by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). The purpose of the QAA is to safeguard standards for all Higher Education institutions in the UK, which includes Alternative Providers such as the IIS. The monitoring visit assesses the Institute's continuing management of academic standards and the quality of its provision, ...

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News story -- 5 June 2017 marked a symbolic milestone in the construction of our new academic building in King's Cross, as the final piece was laid to the outer structure of the building in a 'topping out' ceremony. 'Topping out' is a builders' rite traditionally held when the last beam (or its equivalent) is placed atop a structure during its construction. ...

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News story -- The graduation ceremony for the eighth cohort of the Institute's Secondary Teacher Education Programme (STEP) was held on 1 April 2017 at The Ismaili Centre, London. Sixteen students from Canada, India, Pakistan, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States of America graduated at the ceremony with a double Master's degree: an MA in Education (Muslim Societies and Civilisations) ...

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News story -- The North American Chapter Group of the IIS Alumni Association held its three-day annual general meeting in San Diego, California, from 19-22 December 2016. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss topics that are particularly relevant in the current national as well as global climate. It was also a space for alumni to come together to discuss activities they ...

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News story -- Video Highlights of the conference Video discussions with Scholars The Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World: The Ismaili Thread conference brought together an international team of over thirty leading scholars who presented to an audience of researchers, professionals, and students. Through the study of interactions between Ismailis and non-Ismaili Shi'i and Sunni currents, the conference situated Ismaili thought within ...

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News story -- Between 3rd and 7th September, the Asian Chapter Group of the IIS Alumni Association convened at the Ismaili Centre, Dubai, for their annual reunion, and a lively exploration of the poetry of the Persian Ismaili poet-philosopher, Nasir-i Khusraw. A highlight of the seminar was the presence of Dr Alice Hunsberger, an expert on Persian literature and author of Nasir-i ...

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News story -- The IIS recently welcomed new students onto the Secondary Teacher Education Programme (STEP) and the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH). Arriving from across the globe, twenty-six students joined STEP from Canada, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania and the USA, whilst twelve students from India, Norway, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and the USA began GPISH. Dr Laila Halani, Head ...

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News story -- The IIS is pleased to announce the publication of The Spirit and the Letter: Approaches to the Esoteric Interpretation of the Qur'an, edited by Annabel Keeler and Sajjad Rizvi. This publication is the fifteenth volume in the Qur'anic Studies Series. This volume is the first to focus specifically on esoteric interpretation as a phenomenon in the field of Qur'anic ...

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News story -- Dr Al-Karim Datoo presented a paper entitled Self-identity and Communal Identity in a Diaspora at the 8th Global Meeting of the Diasporas Research Stream, held at Mansfield College, University of Oxford. The conference aimed to explore and understand the contemporary experiences of communities living outside of their home land, how they have evolved over time, and the impact on ...

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News story -- Thirty-one participants from Canada, India, Pakistan, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States of America attended the fourteenth Summer Programme on Islam, which was held at the Ismaili Centre, London, from 14 - 20 July. The participants came from a diverse range of professional backgrounds including education, government, journalism, judiciary, medicine, media and non-governmental organisations. The Summer ...

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News story -- Dr Walid Ghali presented a paper entitled To print or not to print. Is that still the question? at the 38th Annual Conference of the Middle East Librarians Committee (MELCom), which was held at Leiden University in The Netherlands. The paper explored the various possibilities that led to the delay in the launch of the printing press during the ...

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News story -- In April 2016, the Institute underwent a three-day review visit by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). The purpose of the QAA is to safeguard standards for all Higher Education institutions in the UK, which include Alternative Providers such as the IIS. The Higher Education Review (HER) is an in-depth review which examines every aspect of the Institute's work that ...

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