Multimedia

The Central Asian Studies Unit at IIS presents 15 short videos on the Ismailis of Central Asia and Afghanistan. Dr Hakim Elnazarov and Dr Yahia Baiza explore their histories, rituals, manuscripts, oral traditions, and languages.

Dr Stephen Burge explores why there are so many different translations of the Qur’an, how to select a translation that closely reflects the original meaning, and the role of Arabic in understanding the Qur’anic text.

In this episode of The Voices of History, veteran teachers from Ismaili communities answer what inspired them to become teachers. These stories span Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, Iran, and Syria, and more than six decades in the classroom.

Dr Hasan Al-Khoee explains the difference between the past and history, and how historians use fragments of surviving evidence, such as early Islamic texts, to understand what happened.

This set of studies covers the iconic citadel of Masyaf in Syria in the form of a short guidebook, sandwiched between two comprehensive and complementary websites on the wider built heritage of Syria.

These readings focus on Historic Cairo’s Khalifa District, compare Cairene and Damascene ritual practices in commemorating Imam Husayn, and finish with an Egyptian website compiling and highlighting multiple aspects of Egyptian architecture, past and present.

Read up on how light impacts the study of heritage, ranging from the evolution of mosque lamps, the ‘daylighting’ of water, and the representation and manifestation of light in a variety of sacred spaces across religious traditions.

These studies span an impressive database dedicated to Cairo, the city of Surt in Libya, and shrines linked to the Prophet Muhammad, Imam Ali, and their descendants. Altogether, they illustrate the different ways in which the historical memory of Muslims in different cultures, contexts, and times can be understood and preserved.

Watch recordings of Ismaili perspectives on the elements from Elemental, the two-day IIS conference on earth, water, air, fire and ether. Keynotes, panels and case studies are available online.

Dr Gurdofarid Miskinzoda reflects on her journey from a village in Tajikistan to IIS, the place of Shiʿi studies in the field, and why her scholarship and life cannot be separated.

Watch the recording as Dr Kumail Rajani examines the textual sources behind al-Qadi al-Numan's Fatimid law writings. He traces links from Kitab al-Idah to the Daaim al-Islam.

Watch the virtual launch of Contemporary Trends in Sharia, where Dr Fatima Dhanani discusses the book chapter by chapter with authors Dr Hadi Enayat and Dr Mohamed Keshavjee.