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Farhard Daftary, A Modern History of Ismailis: Continuity and Change in a Muslim Community. London 2011: I. B. Tauris, in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies, pp. 400. ISBN 1-8451-1717-4, 978-1-8451-1717-7. £35.00
On page 12, Ferhard Daftary writes, "the studies collected in this volume represent a modest first attempt at piecing together a history of the Ismailis during approximately the last two centuries." Indeed, the volume fills the urgent need for an authoritative, informative, and comprehensive source on the Ismaili community in contemporary times. The great majority of the contributors are Ismaili scholars and writers, a fact that only increases the volume's credibility and its contribution to research, given that Ismailis, like other heterodox communities, were, as Daftary aptly puts it, "misrepresented with a variety of myths and legends circulating about their teaching and practices."
The volume is divided into four main parts. The first three are devoted to the Nizari Ismailis' political history and social development, and the conceptual changes that have shaped their life in modern times; the fourth part is concerned with the Bohra-Tayyibi Ismailis (the Gujarati word Bohra refers to a man who is honest or trustworthy in his dealings and social relationships, p. 331). The volume begins with Daftary's comprehensive historical survey of the Ismailis from the early seventh century to recent times. It is logically, and thoughtfully, arranged by chronology and theme, although the fourth article in Part III, touching on the Canadian Ismaili community, does not seem to fit clearly within the contextual and thematic structure of the discussion of the Aga Khan's philanthropic activities and gender policies. The volume contains a complete and useful index, an informative glossary, and a selected bibliography.
Dick Douwes's article on the Syrian Ismailis is sufficiently informative and insightful; it deals with the community's social and political history during the 19th and 20th centuries. The Ismailis' migration from the Mediterranean mountains to the inland plains and the recognition of Aga Khan III as imam are suggested as two key foundational processes in the community's life (p. 19). The discussion of the long historical conflict between the Ismailis and Alawites is also enriching and thoughtful, demonstrating that any "sectarian interpretation" should be made carefully, given the solid fact that disputes between the...