The Shi’i Ismaili Muslims of Central Asia have a complex political history. This open access book is the first English-language study of the Ismaili Muslims in this region, based on analysis of the Russian, Soviet and post-Soviet scholarship about them. It sheds new light on their history and heritage, and also shows how the Ismailis of Central Asia have been understood and presented in the academic literature.
Divided into three parts, the first covers the spread of the Ismaili da’wa (mission) throughout Central Asia – known as Khurasan – from the 3rd/9th century until modern times. This part examines the prominent poet and da’i Nasir-i Khusraw, who played an instrumental role in the expansion and development of Ismailism in Badakhshan in the eleventh century and reveals the impact of his religio-philosophical legacy in the life of the contemporary community.
More about the book here.
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Discussants:
Dr. Nourmamadcho Nourmamadchoev (The Institute of Ismaili Studies)
Dr. Otambek Mastibekov (The Institute of Ismaili Studies)
Moderator: Dr. Nodira Kholmatova (University of Amsterdam)
Ismailimail 