This conference will begin at 9.00 GMT. Please note that registration for the conference and concert are separate. Please register for both if you plan to attend.
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Recent developments in Ismaili studies have addressed various misconceptions surrounding the history, cultures, and beliefs of the Ismailis and have set a high standard for research. Although a respectable number of publications exist in connection with the Alamut period (1090–1256), further enquiry into this fascinating and important juncture in Ismaili history is required.
One of the key aspects of the Nizari Ismaili tradition is the emphasis on spiritual resurrection (qiyāma) as a counterpart to and a perfection of ritual law (sharīʿa). The historical declaration of qiyāma during the Imamate of Ḥasan II in 559/1164 and the post-qiyāma period have caused much controversy yet received little critical attention based on primary sources. The event itself was originally depicted and narrated through the writings of adversaries of the Nizaris, with the first indications in the chronicles written during the Mongol invasion after the collapse of the Alamut state. It was only much later, with the emergence of primary sources from the Alamut period, that more light was shed on the dynamics of the event.
This conference is intended to explore the various historical and doctrinal aspects of this exceptional event in Ismaili history, not just with respect to Nizari beliefs but in the much broader context of the interactions of Ismailis with various other Muslim communities sharing similar beliefs, including Sufis and some philosophers.
Papers in this one-day conference will address the historical and political circumstances of the declaration of resurrection as an event, messianism, eschatology and esoteric (bāṭinī) approaches to faith. Our aim is to reflect the broadest possible expression on these subjects and to create a space for open and critical deliberation and dialogue, drawing on unpublished and recently published material from the Alamut era and earlier periods of Ismaili history.
The concluding event of the conference will be a live performance of classical Iranian music with Behdad Babaei on setar, Madjid Khaladj on tonbak and Vahid Taremi on shurangiz. The concert celebrates pieces composed by the late Maestro Parviz Meshkatian (1955–2009) and includes improvised pieces performed by Behdad Babaei accompanied by Madjid Khaladj and Vahid Taremi.
Please note due to the technical nature of the performance, admittance will not be permitted after the doors close. The concert will also not be streamed online.
Registration is required for the concert. Spaces are limited and conference participants are encouraged to register on time using the links below. There will be no admission without registration.
Register to attend in person:
Register to attend the conference online:
Please note filming and photography may take place during the event, and be used across our website, newsletters and social media accounts. These could include broad shots of the audience and lecture theatre, speakers during the talk, and of audience members participating in Q&A.
Views expressed in this lecture are those of the presenting scholars, not necessarily of IIS, the Ismaili community or its leadership. Promotion of this conference is not an explicit endorsement of the ideas presented.
