Central Asian Ismailis: An Annotated Bibliography of Russian, Tajik and Other Sources

Description

The Shi’iIsmaili Muslims of Central Asia have a complex political history. This open access book is the first English-language study of the Ismaili Muslims in this region, based on analysis of the Russian, Soviet and post-Soviet scholarship about them. It sheds new light on their history and heritage, and also shows how the Ismailis of Central Asia have been understood and presented in the academic literature. Divided into three parts, the first covers the spread of the Ismaili da’wa (mission) throughout Central Asia – known as Khurasan – from the 3rd/9th century until modern times. This part examines the prominent poet da’iNasir-iKhusraw, who played an instrumental role in the expansion and development of Ismailism in Badakhshan in the eleventh century and reveals the impact of his religio-philosophical legacy in the life of the contemporary community. The second part examines the initial interest in Ismaili Studies engendered by Russian imperial rule. It also shows how approaches to the study of Ismailism were affected by 70 years of Communist atheist rule and the demise of the Communist political and ideological system. The third part presents an annotated bibliography of books, articles, and published and unpublished materials, including documents and oral materials on the history, thought and practices of the Ismailis of Central Asia, most of which has not been hitherto easily accessible to Western scholarship. The comprehensive survey and rich bibliography aims to illuminate the history and historiography of the Ismailis in Central Asia and facilitate further study on the subject by experts around the world. Cover Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page The Institute of Ismaili Studies Ismaili Heritage Series Dedication Contents Preface Acknowledgements Abbreviations Note on Transliteration Illustrations Maps and Tables 1 Ismaili History in Central Asia Early Ismaili History in Central Asia Toponyms of Badakhshān/Pamir The Ismaili Dawa in Central Asia Nāir-i Khusraw and the Ismailis of Badakhshān The Badakhshānī Ismailis during the Alamūt period Taqiyya and the Ismailis in the Post-Alamūt Era The Hudūd al-Dīn in the Context of Central Asia Pīr and Pīrship in Central Asia The Political History of Badakhshān The Russian Revolution and the Panjebhai Movement The Ismaili Community in the Soviet Era The Ismaili Community in the Post-Soviet Era 2 Ismaili Studies by Russian, Soviet and Post-Soviet Scholars The Ismailis under Russian and Soviet Rule The Ismailis in Soviet Studies Review of the Literature on the Ismailis in Soviet Scholarship Manuscripts Discovered in Badakhshān Review of the Literature on the Ismailis in Post-Soviet Studies Outline of the Activities and Projects Conducted by the Manuscript Office Post-Soviet Scholarship on the Ismailis 3 Bibliography of Works by Imperial Russian, Soviet and Post-Soviet Scholars1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z References Index