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2008 -Anthology of Ismaili Literature A Shii Vision of Islam [853] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- realpaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....cccccccccccccccccoooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllpppaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiidddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar.comm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.realpatidar.com/library Page 1 of 375 [email protected] Real Patidar Library This book/literature/article/material may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub‐licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The library does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The library shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.realpatidar.com About Real Patidar books Real Patidar’s mission is to organize the information on Satpanth religion, which is a Nizari Ismaili sect of Shia branch of Islam, and to make it universally accessible and useful. Real Patidar Books helps readers discover the material on Satpanth online while helping authors and researchers in their studies. You can know more by visiting http://www.realpatidar.com 2008 -Anthology of Ismaili Literature A Shii Vision of Islam [853] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- realpaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....cccccccccccccccccoooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllpppaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiidddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar.comm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.realpatidar.com/library Page 1 of 375 [email protected] 2008 -Anthology of Ismaili Literature A Shii Vision of Islam [853] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An Anthology of Ismaili Literature realpatidar.com realpatidar.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.realpatidar.com/library Page 2 of 375 [email protected] 2008 -Anthology of Ismaili Literature A Shii Vision of Islam [853] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- realpatidar.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.realpatidar.com/library Page 3 of 375 [email protected] 2008 -Anthology of Ismaili Literature A Shii Vision of Islam [853] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- an anthology of ismaili literature a shi i vision of islam ʿ 8 edited by hermann landolt, samira sheikh & kutub kassam realpatidar.com I.B.Tauris Publishers london • new york in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies london ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.realpatidar.com/library Page 4 of 375 [email protected] 2008 -Anthology of Ismaili Literature A Shii Vision of Islam [853] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- realpatidar.com Published in 2008 by I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd 6 Salem Rd, London w2 4bu 175 Fifth Avenue, New York ny 10010 www.ibtauris.com in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies 42–44 Grosvenor Gardens, London sw1w 0eb www.iis.ac.uk In the United States of America and in Canada distributed by St Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York ny 10010 Copyright © Islamic Publications Ltd, 2008 All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or any part thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. isbn 978 1 84511 794 8 A full cip r e c o r d f o r t h i s b o o k i s a v a i l a b l e f r o m t h e B r i t i s h L i b r a r yy realpatidar.com A full cip record for this book is available from the Library of Congress Library of Congress catalog card: available Typeset in Minion Tra for The Institute of Ismaili Studies Printed and bound in Great Britain by TJ International Ltd, Padstow, Cornwall ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.realpatidar.com/library Page 5 of 375 [email protected] 2008 -Anthology of Ismaili Literature A Shii Vision of Islam [853] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- realpatidar.com The Institute of Ismaili Studies The Institute of Ismaili Studies was established in 1977 to promote scholarship and learning on Islam, in the historical as well as contemporary contexts, and a better understanding of its relationship with other societies and faiths. The Institute’s programmes encourage a perspective which is not confined to the theological and religious heritage of Islam, but seeks to explore the relationship of religious ideas to broader dimensions of society and culture. The programmes thus encourage an interdisciplinary approach to the materials of Islamic history and thought. Particular attention is also given to issues of modernity that arise as Muslims seek to relate their heritage to contemporary circumstances. Within the Islamic tradition, the Institute’s programmes promote research on those areas which have, to date, received relatively little attention from scholars. These include the intellectual and literary expressions of Shi‘ism in general, and Ismailism in particular. In the context of Islamic societies, the Institute’s programmes are informed by the full range and diversity of cultures in which Islam is practised today, from the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Africa to the industrialized societies of the West, thus taking into consideration the variety of contexts which shape the ideals, beliefs and practices of the faith. These objectives are realized through concrete programmes and activities organ- ized and implemented by various departments of the Institute. The Institute also collaborates periodically, on a programme-specific basis, with other institutions of learning in the United Kingdom and abroad. The Institute’s academic and research publications fall into a number of inter- related categories: 1. Occasional papers or essays addressing broad themes of the relationship between realpatidar.com religiioonn aanndd ssoocciieettyy, wwiitthh ssppeecciiaall rreeffeerreennccee ttoo IIssllaamm. 2. Monographs exploring specific aspects of Islamic faith and culture, or the contributions of individual Muslim thinkers or writers. 3. Editions or translations of significant primary or secondary texts. 4. Translations of poetic or literary texts which illustrate the rich heritage of v ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.realpatidar.com/library Page 6 of 375 [email protected] 2008 -Anthology of Ismaili Literature A Shii Vision of Islam [853] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vi an anthology of ismaili literature spiritual, devotional and symbolic expressions in Muslim history. 5. Works on Ismaili history and thought, and the relationship of the Ismailis to otheeerrr tttrrraaadddiiitttiiiooonnnsss,,, cccooommunities and schools of thought in Islam. 6. Proceedings of conferences and seminars sponsored by the Institute. 7. Bibliographical works and catalogues which document manuscripts, printed texts and other source materials. This book falls into category four listed above. In facilitating these and other publications, the Institute’s sole aim is to encourage original research and analysis of relevant issues. While every effort is made to ensure that the publications are of a high academic standard, there is naturally bound to be a diversity of views, ideas and interpretations. As such, the opinions expressed in these publications must be understood as belonging to their authors alone. realpatidar.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.realpatidar.com/library Page 7 of 375 [email protected] 2008 -Anthology of Ismaili Literature A Shii Vision of Islam [853] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contents realpatidar.com List of Plates xi Foreword Azim Nanji xiii Preface and Acknowledgements xv Contributors xvii List of Reprinted Works xxi List of Abbreviations xxv Ismaili History and Literary Traditions Farhad Daftary 1 PART ONE: HISTORY AND MEMOIR Introduction Samira Sheikh 33 1. Ibn al-Haytham: Kitāb al-munāẓarāt 35 Ibn al-Haytham meets the dāʿī Abū ʿAbd Allāh 35 The Proof of the Excellence and Purity of Imam ʿAlī 37 Ibn al-Haytham Takes the Oath of Allegiance 40 The dāʿīs of the Kutāma 41 2. Jaʿfar b. ʿAlī: Sīrat al-ḥājib Jaʿfar 44 An Incident from al-Mahdī’s Journey to North Africa 44 al-Mahdī Greets his Troops 46 3. al-Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān: Iftitāḥ al-daʿwa 49 al-Mahdī’s Coming from Sijilmāsa and his Arrival in Ifrīqiya 49 Early Decrees of al-Mahdī 52 Eulogy of al-Mahdī 55 The Administrative System of al-Mahdī 56 4. Idrīs ʿImād al-Dīn: ʿUyūn al-akhbār 59 On the Nurturing of the Imams 59 Unnddeerr tthhee GGuuiiddaannccee ooff tthhee IImmaamm:: aall-QQāāḍḍīī aall-NNuuʿmmāānn’ss CCoommppoossiittiioooonnnsssa lpat666id222ar.com 5. al-Muʾayyad fi’l-Dīn al-Shīrāzī: Sīrat al-Muʾayyad 67 Fleeing from Shīrāz to Ahwāz 67 6. Nāṣir-i Khusraw: Safar-nāma 71 A Description of the City of Old Cairo 71 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.realpatidar.com/library Page 8 of 375 [email protected]