Ismaili Studies: A Summary Review

Keywords: Ismaili Studies, Islamic Studies, Ismailiyya, Ismailis, Heresiography, Assassins, Assassin Legends, Shi'i Studies, Historiography, History, Nizaris.

Abstract: In the course of their long and complex history dating to the formative period of Islam, the Ismailis have often been accused of various heretical teachings and practices and a multitude of myths and misconceptions circulated about them. This is mainly because the Ismailis were, until the middle of the 20th century, studied and evaluated almost exclusively on the basis of the evidence collected or often fabricated by their enemies. It was only from the mid-20th century onwards that studies based on Ismaili sources came to dominate the field, leading to a much less biased understanding of the Ismailiyya.