Early Philosophical Shiism: The Isma'ili Neoplatonism of Abu Ya'qub Al-SijistaniThe Ismailis, among whom are the followers of the Aga Khan, rose to prominence during the fourth Islamic/tenth Christian century. They developed a remarkably successful intellectual programme to sustain and support their political activities, promoting demands of Islamic doctrine together with the then newly imported sciences from abroad. The high watermark of this intellectual movement is best illustrated in the writings of the Ismaili theoretician Abu Ya´qub al-Sijistani. Using both published and manuscript writings of al-Sijistani that have hitherto been largely hidden, forgotten or ignored, Dr Paul Walker reveals the scholar's major contribution to the development of philosophical Shiism. He analyses his role in the Ismaili mission (da'wa) of that time and critically assesses the major themes in his combination of philosophy and religious doctrine. |
Contents
Religious and philosophical resources | 25 |
Ismaili predecessors | 46 |
ALSIJISTĀNIS UNIVERSE | 67 |
A cosmic anthropology | 107 |
Prophecy the deputy of intellect | 114 |
Interpretation and its institution | 124 |
Salvation and the womb of history | 134 |
THE USE AND CONTROL OF REASON | 145 |
Other editions - View all
Early Philosophical Shiism: The Isma'ili Neoplatonism of Abu Ya'qub Al-Sijistani Paul E. Walker No preview available - 1993 |
Early Philosophical Shiism: The Isma'ili Neoplatonism of Abu Ya'qub al-Sijistani Paul E. Walker No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
Abū Ḥātim Abū Ya'qūb al-Bustī al-Fārābī al-Iftikhar al-Kindi al-Kirmānī al-Maqālīd al-Marwazi al-Nasafi al-nubuwa al-Rāzī al-Sijistānī al-Yanābi Alī Arabic authority caliph chapter cites concept context creation da'is da'wa divine early Ismaili elements eternal evidence example existence Fatimid ghayba God's Greek Hamdani Hātim hierarchy human Ibid ideas Iftikhar imam important individual intellect interpretation iqlid Islamic Islamic philosophy Ismā'īl Ismaili Ismaili da'wa Ismaili doctrine Ismaili thought Ismaili writers issues Ithbāt Kashf Khurasan Kitāb knowledge later lawgiving prophet Longer Theologia Maḥṣul mankind Maqalid material meaning Messiah metempsychosis Muḥammad Muslim nature Neoplatonic Neoplatonists Nusra Originator perfect philosophical physical world Plotinus position problem Proclus prophecy Pseudo-Ammonius Qarmatian qiyama Qur'an rational reality realm religion religious resurrection revelation Riyāḍ salvation scripture Shajara shari'a Shiah Shiism Shiite soul speaker-prophets specific spiritual Stern Sullam surviving ta'wil tawhid teaching temporal things third/ninth tradition transcendence treatises truth ultimate wași word writings Yanābi