This episode of Voices of IIS features Dr Farhad Daftary, one of the foremost authorities in Shiʿi and Ismaili studies and Director Emeritus of The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS). In this reflective conversation, he traces his intellectual journey from early family influences and formative encounters with historical archives to becoming one of the most influential scholars of Ismaili history.
The episode explores the development of Ismaili studies as an academic discipline, the research and writing behind his landmark publications, and his reflections for emerging scholars. It also offers insight into the scholarly legacy that continues to shape research on Islamic history, Shiʿi thought, and the Ismaili tradition.
Topics discussed in this episode
- Dr Daftary’s scholarly journey and academic legacy
- Early family influences and personal connection to Ismaili history
- Discovering modern Ismaili scholarship through Vladimir Ivanov
- From economics to historical research after the Iranian Revolution
- Writing The Ismāʿīlīs: Their History and Doctrines
- The growth of Ismaili studies as an academic discipline
- The role of IIS in advancing research and manuscript scholarship
- Advice for young researchers on consistency and perseverance
- Foundational reference works in Shiʿi and Ismaili studies
- New research on Hasan-i Sabbah and the Encyclopaedia of the IsmailisAdherents of a branch of Shi’i Islam that considers Ismail, the eldest son of the Shi’i Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq (d. 765), as his successor.
