Muhammad b. Zayn al-'Abidin b. Karabala'i Dawud (b. ca. 1266/1850; d. 1342/1923), foremost Persian Nizari Ismaili author and poet of modern times, who is referred to as Haji Akhund in the Persian Nizari community. Feda'i was born in Dezbad/Dizbad or Dezbad-i Bala (Razmara,Farhang IX, p. 180), an Ismaili village in the mountains between Mashhad and Nishapur in northern Khurasan.
Co-Director and Head of the Department of Academic Research and Publications
An authority in Shi'i studies, with special reference to its Ismaili tradition, Dr. Daftary has published and lectured widely in these fields of Islamic studies. In 2011 a Festschrift entitled Fortresses of the Intellect was produced to honour Dr. Daftary by a number of his colleagues and peers.