Call for Papers: Fatimid Sicily – History, Memory, and Legacy

A call for papers for an international conference exploring the history and legacy of Fatimid rule in Sicily. Scholars are invited to submit abstracts examining new sources, material evidence, and emerging research approaches.

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Medieval map of Fatimid Sicily and Mediterranean sea routes from the Book of Curiosities manuscript

MENACASEA 2026: Music, dance and spirituality in Muslim contexts

The Institute of Ismaili Studies and MENACASEA invite scholars and artists to a three-day symposium examining music, dance and spirituality across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Islamic Southeast Asia.

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Stylised illustration of dancers in colourful clothing performing expressive movement in a theatrical composition for MENACASEA

Elemental: Ismaili Perspectives on Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Ether

Join us for a two-day conference exploring philosophical, literary and lived expressions of the elements across Ismaili traditions and their relevance to contemporary environmental thought.

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Illustrated folio from an Urdu commentary on Rumi’s Mathnawi depicting figures in a garden scene, early 19th century manuscript.

International Women’s Day: An Oral History of Faith and Strength-Naseem Bhaloo

On International Women’s Day, the IIS Oral History Project presents the lifestory of Naseem Bhaloo of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Read her story

Farhad Daftary Doctoral Scholarship Applications Open

Applications are now open for the Farhad Daftary Doctoral Scholarship Programme, supporting doctoral research in Islamic Studies across IIS core research areas.

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Farhad Daftary Doctoral Scholarship. Group of students sitting outdoors.

About us

The Institute of Ismaili Studies, established in 1977, is a higher education, research and teaching institution dedicated to high-quality scholarship and education on Islam and Muslim societies, with a particular focus on Ismaili and broader Shiʿi studies, encompassing their historical and geographical contexts.

Graduate studies

We currently offer two graduate programmes that attract students from Ismaili communities worldwide.

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Short Courses

Our Short Courses introduce participants to social, cultural, and civilisational approaches to the study of Islam and Muslim societies, with a particular focus on Ismaili contexts.

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Scholarship and Fellowship

The Institute offers several scholarship and fellowship programmes to suitable candidates with a focus on Islamic studies or other areas of interest to IIS.

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Discover our research

Research at IIS seeks to contribute to the field of Islamic studies in general, with a particular focus on Shiʿi and Ismaili studies.

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Explore our publications

The Institute of Ismaili Studies publishes works by its own scholars as well as from the academic community outside the Institute.

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Heritage

Sources of Modern Ismaili History

In this video, Dr Karim Javan introduces two unpublished works that shed new light on modern Ismaili history and the early decades of the Imamat in India.

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Handwritten notes in a notebook - Sources of Modern Ismaili History

Podcast

The Fatimid Caliphate on The Voice for History

Dr Shainool Jiwa joins The Voice for History podcast to examine the rise, governance and legacy of the Fatimid Caliphate and its significance in medieval history.

Listen to the Podcast