A modern history of the Ismailis : continuity and change in a Muslim community / edited by Farhad Daftary.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 365-379) and index.

Introduction / Farhad Daftary -- Modern history of the Nizari Ismailis of Syria / Dick Douwes -- Nizari Ismailis of Central Asia in modern times / Hakim Elnazarov and Sultonbek Aksakolov -- Nizari Ismailis of China in modern times / Amier Saidula -- From Satpanthi to Ismaili Muslim: the articulation of Ismaili Khoja identity in South Asia / Ali S. Asani -- Socio-legal formation of the Nizari Ismailis of East Africa, 1800-1950 / Zulfikar Hirji -- Communities of tradition and the modernizing of education in South Asia: the contribution of Aga Khan III / Shiraz Thobani -- Aga Khan development network and institutions / Malise Ruthven -- Caring for the built environment / Stefano Bianca -- Gender policies of Aga Khan III and Aga Khan IV / Zayn R. Kassam -- At the interstices of tradition, modernity and postmodernity: Ismaili engagements with contemporary Canadian society / Karim H. Karim -- History of the Daʼudi Bohra Tayyibis in modern times: the daʻis, the daʻwat and the community / Saifiyah Qutbuddin -- Daʼudi Bohra Tayyibis: ideology, literature, learning and social practice ; Brief note on other Tayyibi communities: Sulaymanis and ʻAlavis / Tahera Qutbuddin.

The Ismailis have enjoyed a long, eventful and complex history dating back to the 8th century CE and originating in the Imami Shi'i tradition of Islam. The Ismailis of different regions developed and elaborated their own distinctive literary and intellectual traditions, making outstanding contributions to Islamic thought and culture. In the Middle Ages, the Ismailis split into two main communities who followed different Imams or spiritual leaders. The bulk of the Ismailis, the Nizaris, came to have a line of Imams represented in modern times by the Aga Khans, while the Tayyibi Ismailis-known in South Asia as the Bohras-came to be led by da'is (vicegerents of their concealed Imams).

This collection of studies is the first scholarly attempt to survey the modern history of both Ismaili branches since the middle of the 19th century. For the Nizari Ismailis it covers a variety of topical issues and themes, including the modern history of their communities in Syria, Central Asia, South Asia and East Africa, as well as their migration to the West. The Aga Khans' modernizing, education and gender policies are also discussed, as well as the Aga Khan Development Network and approaches to the built environment. A separate part is devoted to the modern history of the Tayyibi Bohras and developments within this community. --Book Jacket.