Fatimid Sicily: History, Memory, and Legacy

Explore the history and enduring legacy of Fatimid rule in Sicily at this two-day international conference, bringing together leading scholars to uncover new perspectives on the island’s place in the medieval Mediterranean.

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

MENACASEA 2026 Symposium Music, Dance and Spirituality in Muslim Contexts

Explore the intersections of music, dance and spirituality in Muslim contexts at MENACASEA 2026. Bringing together scholars, artists and practitioners, this three-day symposium examines the rich traditions, meanings and expressions of performance across Muslim societies.

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

Nostalgia and memory in South Asian Muslim writing

IIS Research Associate Dr Zehra Kazmi gave an online lecture on how Indo-Muslim literary traditions use nostalgia to question politics and imagine community. Watch the recording.

Dr Zehra Kazmi, arms folded, standing in front of a wall decorated with a blue and olive calligraphic pattern.

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.

Students gathered outdoors, laughing together while reading a book.

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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Library study space at The Institute of Ismaili Studies for Dissertation Writing Scholarship Applicants

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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Podcast

The Voices of History: Leaders of My Community

In this episode of The Voices of History, veteran teachers from Ismaili communities answer what inspired them to become teachers.

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Silhouette of a teacher at a blackboard reading 'Teachers are leaders', with pupils seated outdoors beneath a tree.

Video

How historians reconstruct and understand the past

In this first episode of the Questions and Reflections series, Dr Hasan Al-Khoee explains the difference between the past and history, and how historians use fragments of surviving evidence, such as early Islamic texts, to understand what happened.

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Dr Hasan Al-Khoee speaking to camera with a lapel microphone, seated outdoors in front of a flowering garden.

Video

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

Watch recordings of Ismaili perspectives on the elements from Elemental, the two-day IIS conference on earth, water, air, fire and ether. Keynotes, panels and case studies are available online.

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Elemental conference participants group photograph at the Aga Khan Centre during the Elemental conference

Podcast

Voices of IIS with Dr Gurdofarid Miskinzoda

Dr Gurdofarid Miskinzoda reflects on her journey from a village in Tajikistan to IIS, the place of Shiʿi studies in the field, and why her scholarship and life cannot be separated.

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