Ismailis in Iran History and Traditions
The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Forthcoming December 2024
From the arrival of Hasan-i Sabbah at Alamut to the departure of Imam Hasan Ali Shah, Aga Khan I, to India, Ismailis of Iran retraces the nearly thousand-year-long history of the Nizari Ismailis in Iran.
Drawing from recent academic research and communal memory, Shayesteh Ghofrani explores the Assassin legends surrounding the Ismaili da‘i Hasan-i Sabbah and his legendary stronghold of Alamut in the Alburz mountains. She contrasts historical literature with contemporary research to provide insight into the circumstances of the time. The author touches upon the rich tradition of qasidas and ghazals which have become integral to Ismaili practice in Iran and around the world, infused with the influences of mystic-poets such as Attar, Sa‘di, Hafiz, Shams-i Tabrizi, and Rumi. Finally, Ghofrani follows the historical thread to the present time, showing how Ismaili traditions are reflected in both the practices and the structure of the Ismaili community today. Ismailis in Iran is a refreshing reflection on the lived experience of Iranian Ismailis.
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Introduction
- Revisiting Alamut
- Ismailis and the Sufi Tariqas of Iran
- Literary Expressions and Spiritual Gatherings
- Ismailis in Iran Today
Conclusion
Dr Shayesteh Ghofrani has a PhD from the University of Exeter in the UK. She is interested in conceptual developments in Islamic history and specializes in the formative period of Shi‘i and Sufi Islam. She has served as a post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS), Department of Academic Research and Publications (DARP). She is the author of the book Walāya in the Formative Period of Shi‘ism and Sufism: A Comparative Analysis (Routledge, 2023).