Tag Archives: IIS

The latest IIS publication, Towards a Shi‘i Mediterranean Empire: Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo, explores the reign of the fourth Fatimid Imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz li-din Allah (r. 953-975 CE), based on the only complete history of the Fatimids written … Continue reading →

The Khujand State University in collaboration with The Institute of Ismaili Studies recently organised a book launch of Nasirian Ethics by Nasir ad-din Tusi, a celebrated 13th century Muslim scholar. The publication represents the first edition of the Nasirian Ethics … Continue reading →

The Board of the Institute of Ismaili Studies has announced the appointment of two Co-Directors, Dr Farhad Daftary and Professor Karim H Karim. They have assumed overall joint responsibility for leadership and management of the IIS. Their combined scholarship, skills … Continue reading →

    Shi‘i Studies Lecture Series   Al-Hasan b. Musa al-Nawbakhti, Shi‘i Mutakallim or Philosopher    by Professor Wilferd Madelung Senior Research Fellow, IIS & Professor Emeritus, University of Oxford   Tuesday 15 September 2009   2.30pm   Multipurpose Room  … Continue reading →

The ninth annual Summer Programme on Islam was held in the historic surroundings of Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge. Thirty-six participants from thirteen countries (Afghanistan, Angola, Canada, France, India, Iran, Kenya, Pakistan, Portugal, Syria, Tajikistan, UK and USA) participated … Continue reading →

Dr Omar Alí-de-Unzaga, Academic Co-ordinator of Qur’anic Studies, was recently interviewed for ‘Belief in a Golden Age’, a two-part series broadcast on the BBC World Service’s Heart and Soul programme. The series focused on Baghdad during its high point in … Continue reading →

The Ikhwan al-Safa’ and their Rasa’il: An Introductionpublished by The Institute of Ismaili Studies, in association with Oxford University Press, was launched in Nairobi and Mombasa in June 2009. The events in Kenya, which marked the first worldwide launch of … Continue reading →

With the publication of A Companion to the Muslim World, the IIS in association with I.B. Tauris (London), inaugurates a new series of publications on vital themes in Muslim civilisations. What distinguishes the ‘Muslim Heritage Series’ is not only the … Continue reading →

The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased to announce the publication of Keys to the Arcana: Shahrastani’s Esoteric Commentary on the Qur’an, translated by Toby Mayer. This book, published in association with Oxford University Press, is part of the IIS’ … Continue reading →

The Institute of Ismaili Studies is delighted to welcome Nuha Al-Sha‘ar and Stephen Burge as Research Associates in the Qur’anic Studies Unit. Both new starters joined in June 2009. They are in the final year of their doctorate research, which … Continue reading →

An important Shi‘i Ismaili scholar and writer of the early 5th/11th century, Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Naysaburi flourished during the reigns of Fatimid imam-caliphs al-‘Aziz (AH 365/975-386/996 CE) and al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (AH 386/996-411/1021 CE). Very little information about his personal … Continue reading →

Professor Omid Safi of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, delivered the third lecture in the ‘Talking Ethics’ series at the IIS on 19 June 2009. What the Sufi tradition brings to the practice of Muslim ethics, Professor Safi … Continue reading →

Reza Masoudi Nejad gave a presentation on The Spatial Genealogy of the Ashura Ritual: an introduction on spatial evolution of Shi’i rituals at The Institute of Ismaili Studies on 2 June 2009. He has recently completed his PhD at The … Continue reading →

The leading international authority on medieval Ismaili castles and fortresses, Peter Willey, died peacefully at his home near Pewsey in Wiltshire on 23 April 2009 at the age of 86 years. He is best known for his knowledge of the … Continue reading →

Professor John Schoeberlein gave a lecture on the Conceptual Challenges for the Study of Post-Soviet Islam at the IIS on 7 May 2009. Professor Schoeberlein is currently the Director for the Program on Central Asia and the Caucasus at Harvard … Continue reading →