In this second part in our series about Shia Islam, we explore the esoteric Isma'ilis, their history and Neoplatonist-influenced theology.

Thanks to Dr. Khalil Andani for the help. Check out his channel here:
   / @khalilandani  

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Music by Filip Holm

Sources/Recomended Reading:

Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (1994). "The Divine Guide in Early Shi'ism: The Sources of Esotericism in Islam". Translated by David Streight. State University of New York Press.

Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (2011). "The Spirituality of Shi'i Islam: Beliefs and Practices". I.B. Tauris.

Andani, Khalil (Forthcoming). "The Moden Resurrection of Nizari Ismaili Islam: The Reforms of the Aga Khans". In "The Oxford Handbook of Islamic Reform" (ed. Emad Hamdeh & Natana Delong-Bas). Forthcoming.

Badakhchani, S. Jalal (Edited and Translated by) (2005). "The Paradise of Submission: A Medieval Treatise on Ismaili Thought". A New Persian Edition and English Translation of Tusi's Rawda-yi Taslim". The Institute of Isma'ili Studies. I.B. Tauris.

Daftary, Farhad (2007). "The Isma'ilis: Their history and doctrines". Cambridge University Press.

Haider, Najam (2014). "Shi'i Islam: An Introduction". Cambridge University Press.

Ormsby, Eric (Translated by) (2012). "Between Reason and Revelation: Twin wisdoms reconciled". An annotated English translation of Nasir-i Khusraw's Kitab-i Jami al-hikmatayn. The Institute of Isma'ili Studies. I.B. Tauris.

Virani, Shafique N. (2020). "Hierohistory in Qadi l-Nu'man's Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation (Asas al-Taw'il): the Birth of Jesus". In "Studies in Islamic Historiography (Edited by Sami G. Massoud). Brill.

A good source for Isma'ilism is also Isma'ili Gnosis: https://ismailignosis.com/

#Islam #ismaili #esoteric

00:00 Intro
02:49 Imamate & the origins of shi'ism
11:07 The Fatimid Empire
19:22 Isma'ili theology
30:50 Prophecy/Revelation
36:05 Esotericism & Ta'wil
46:48 Isma'ili Law & Jurisprudence
52:00 The Nizari Isma'ilis
56:19 The Aga Khan(s) & Contemporary Isma'ilism
1:00:48 Concluding words