What some describe as a clash of civilisations in our modern world is, in my view, a clash of ignorances. This is why education about religious and cultural heritage is so critically important – and why we will continue to invest in these institutions. We deeply believe that scholarship, publication and instruction – of high quality and generous breadth – can provide important pathways toward a more pluralistic and peaceful world. His Highness the Aga Khan Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London, UK 3 July 2008 2 3 Motif on the window of the student halls of residence in King’s Cross. Image credit: Hufton + Crow. Welcome The Institute of Ismaili Studies adopts a civilisational approach towards exploring the plurality of our contemporary world and its complex relationships with the intellectual and cultural traditions related to Muslim societies. It reaffirms the historical continuity of the Islamic tradition of seeking knowledge and learning that encompasses a wide breadth of fields, ranging from academic disciplines in the humanities and social sciences to more normative fields of study such as Islamic theology, jurisprudence and the study of the Qur’an and its commentaries (tafsir) through the ages. Building on the strength of its established research and publications programmes, the Institute maintains its reputation as the premier reference point for Ismaili studies, whilst increasingly becoming a pioneer for scholarship in Shi‘i and Qur’anic studies. The IIS also responds to the educational and learning needs of an increasingly dynamic and globalised Ismaili community by developing and producing early childhood, primary and secondary curricula, whilst training future scholars, teachers and leaders. A set of two rock crystals and two gold seals of Imam Hasan ‘Ali Shah, Aga Khan I, from the IIS’ special Our library is the leading resource centre for academia as well collections. Image credit: Rahim Kara. It is with great pleasure and distinct pride as the Ismaili community, with growing collections of unique that I welcome you to The Institute of materials related to Muslim culture and Ismaili studies. Ismaili Studies (IIS). Our special collections seek to preserve, archive, catalogue and digitise the valuable textual heritage and artefacts of the Since its inception in London in 1977, The Institute of Ismaili Ismaili community. Studies has been contributing to the building of knowledge The Institute is fortunate to be establishing its new permanent and learning on Islam, in its historical as well as contemporary Philosophical Statement 06 premises at a bespoke state-of-the-art education and research contexts. More specifically, the Institute’s programmes seek to facility, located in the heart of London’s ‘Knowledge Quarter’, promote research on those areas which have, to date, received in King’s Cross. The Knowledge Quarter brings together academic, Research 08 relatively little attention from scholars. These include the cultural, research, scientific and media organisations to generate intellectual and literary heritage of Shi‘i Islam in general, and the potential for knowledge sharing, and for creating greater Publications 10 Ismailism in particular. access to the scholarship of partner institutions. The Institute’s intellectual roots can be traced back eleven Scholarships and Fellowships 12 In looking to the future, the IIS aspires towards continuing to centuries to the time of the ruling Fatimid imam-caliphs. adopt approaches to learning and knowledge production that The Fatimid dynasty patronised learning and the arts, founding Library 15 engender attitudes of openness and dialogue towards scholarship libraries and academic institutions such as Al-Azhar (considered and understanding. Ismaili Special Collections 16 to be the first Muslim university) and Dar al-‘Ilm (House of Knowledge) in Cairo, also extending hospitality and patronage Dr Farhad Daftary, Graduate Education 20 to scholars from all religious traditions and cultural backgrounds. Co-Director of The Institute of Ismaili Studies Curriculum Development 23 Continuing Education and Professional Development 24 4 5 The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) was Islamic history is thus studied with an eye to such resonances it may though of special significance due to the decisive role in Muslim offer, directly or indirectly, to an analytic understanding of current history of the Qur’anic revelation, are otherwise only a part of the A portion of the Institute’s publications, research established in 1977 with the objective of realities and purposes in Muslim societies. Current realities, on ancient as well as modern Islamic world. Accordingly, the Institute’s activities and graduate courses are devoted, to the promoting scholarship and learning on Muslim their part, stand to gain from attention to their relationship, where programmes, while devoting due attention to research in Qur’anic extent that is viable, to studies in the more general cultures and societies, historical as well as appropriate, to the continued influence of traditions intrinsic to the studies and instruction in the Arabic language, include the study fields of Islam and comparative religion, as well as contemporary, and encouraging a better intellectual and cultural history of Islam. of such areas beyond the Arabic-speaking world as it may be such aspects of the humanities as have a relevance equipped, at any given time to undertake, and in so far as it is to the study of these fields. understanding of their relationship with ...the scope of the classical Islamic civilisation included of interest to its constituencies. other societies and faiths. but was not confined to theological and religio-legal A portion of the Institute’s publications, research activities and traditions. The totality of these traditions is liable to be neglected graduate courses are devoted, to the extent that is viable, to The Institute’s founding aim was defined by a basic and continuing in narrowly religious approaches to Islam that are apt to studies in the more general fields of Islam and comparative re-assessment of existing scholarly endeavours in this field. As part The second principle guiding the Institute’s programmes rests on miss both the breadth and plurality present in the classical religion, as well as such aspects of the humanities as have a of this aim, the Institute seeks to draw on the most effective tools the fact that the scope of the classical Islamic civilisation included Islamic world. relevance to the study of these fields. Moreover, all four of the developed, over at least the past century, in modern academic but was not confined to theological and religio-legal traditions. areas hereby entailed – Ismaili, Shi‘i, generally Islamic and (where scholarship on Islam. Simultaneously, in actively seeking to bring the These traditions, though important, evolved alongside philosophical, The above principles are obviously general. However, the practical feasible) comparative religion and culture – will draw on such fruits of such scholarship to bear on the conditions and aspirations literary and more general artistic components. The totality of these capacities of an academic institution are inevitably limited in disciplinary approaches, e.g. history, linguistics, philosophy, literary of Muslim societies today (including, in particular, present-day Ismaili traditions is liable to be neglected in narrowly religious approaches scope. The IIS’ programmes are largely defined by the needs and criticism and social sciences, as are likely to contribute to the communities) the Institute’s programmes reflect an additional, to Islam that are apt to miss both the breadth and plurality present purposes, so far as they draw on scholarship in Islam and related perspectives outlined above. in the classical Islamic world. The Institute’s programmes are fields, of the Ismaili communities domiciled in various parts of normative purposiveness, though one wholly open and attuned to In particular, it is expected that the field of ethics, which straddles designed in an acknowledgement of these features, that is, the the world today. For this reason a good part of the research the principles of objective inquiry and research, which are essential the modern divide between religious and secular cultures as well manifoldness and pluralism of the classical Islamic world which, and publication activities of the Institute, and in particular of to a modern academic institution. as the humanities and social sciences presents special challenges suitably understood, remain of continued interest and relevance its educational publications and programmes, are at present today due to developments in modern technologies; and which by This overarching objective implies certain general principles meant to Muslim societies today focused on the Ismaili jamats (communities); and, secondarily, definition represents the normative aspiration, in human societies, to guide the Institute’s scholarly programmes of research, teaching, on the complex of Shi‘i traditions within Islam, of which the Corresponding to this encompassing scope is the fact that the for material and spiritual well-being, will feature importantly in the and academic and educational publications. First, it favours an Ismaili traditions are a part. This special focus of the Institute’s Muslim world has historically comprised (and continues to do so) Institute’s programmes of research, teaching and publication. inter-connected study of past and