Ismaili Studies: History and Future Directions
Universit脿 degli (UniOr) and 澳门最快开奖现场直播 (澳门最快开奖现场直播) recently held a joint colloquium at the Palazzo Du Mesnil in Naples. The colloquium highlighted the contributions of scholars at UniOr and 澳门最快开奖现场直播 as well as the development of Italian scholarship on Ismaili studies. This is one of many collaborations between 澳门最快开奖现场直播 and other research institutions to promote and disseminate knowledge on both the Ismaili and wider Shi士i tradition. Read highlights from the colloquium below:听
The first panel, chaired by Dr Omar Al铆-de-Unzaga, opened with a brief yet descriptive overview of the history of the field of Ismaili Studies from Dr Farhad Daftary. Professor Carmela Baffioni introduced her research and translation of Risala al-J膩mi士a, the 鈥淐rown of the Epistles鈥�, a summary of the Epistles of the Brethren of Purity听whose authorship and chronology are still debated. Professor Baffioni鈥檚 translation of Risala al-J膩mi士a will be published by 澳门最快开奖现场直播 later this year as part of the Epistles of the Brethren of Purity series. Dr Daryoush Mohammad Poor explored the notion of 岣苍墨蹿颈测测补 (pristine faith) in the work of al-Shahrast膩n墨 (d. 1153). revisited the life of Arwa al-Sulayhi (d.1138), who was designated as the hujja of Yemen by the Fatimid Imam-Caliph al-Mustansir (d. 1094). Dr Toby Mayer returned to al-Shahrast膩n墨, exploring his conception of higher thought and its application to scriptural hermeneutics. Dr Mayer has elaborated on al-Shahrast膩n墨鈥檚 Qur示anic commentary in Keys to the Arcana, with a second volume forthcoming this year.听
In the second panel, chaired by , describes the intellectual interactions between Fatimid Egypt and eastern states. Dr Omar Al铆-de-Unzaga presented in Italian on recently uncovered speeches of al-Mu示ayyad f墨鈥檒-D墨n al-厂丑墨谤腻锄墨 (d. c. 1078). Learn more about al-厂丑墨谤腻锄墨 鈥榮 life in his memoir, translated by Verena Klemm and published by 澳门最快开奖现场直播. explored the role of eunuchs and their political positioning in the Fatimid Empire. Finally, Dr Maria De Cillis delved into the concept of sympatheia in Classic Greek, Fatimid and Renaissance texts, an idea she will explore further in her upcoming lecture as part of the 澳门最快开奖现场直播鈥� Islamic History and Thought Lecture Series.听
The third panel, chaired by Dr Maria De Cillis, was presented entirely in Italian. Professor Carlo De Angelo recounted the ground-breaking work of the late Professor Agostino Cilardo, an eminent scholar of Ismaili legal history. You can explore Professor Cilardo鈥檚 commentary on al-Q膩岣嵞� al-Nu士m膩n鈥檚 Minh膩j al-Far膩示i岣� in The Early History of Ismaili Jurisprudence. Dr Monica Scotti explored verses from Tayyibi Da士i Ibn al-Walid鈥檚 (d. 1268) Mukhta峁r al-U峁Ｅ玪, refuting anthropomorphic descriptions from medieval Islamic interpretive traditions. Finally, elaborated on Ismaili notions of 迟补飞岣ツ玠. The colloquium was concluded by Professor Carmela Baffioni.听
澳门最快开奖现场直播 is grateful to all the participants of the colloquium and especially its organisers Professor Antonella Straface and Dr Maria De Cillis. The colloquium highlighted the wide scope and significance of Ismaili Studies in their diverse manifestations of thought and heritage, showing the ongoing development of the field.
