Women鈥檚 History Month calls for highlighting the many ways in which remarkable women enhance our world and lives. This article spotlights a few contemporary women scholars whose research and publications have contributed significantly to understanding the听Shia听Ismaili Muslim community. The impact of their studies has shaped how others view the Ismaili community and how members of the community see themselves. Their findings shed light on various aspects of the the Ismaili Muslim community under the guidance of their听Imam-of-the-Time. This theme emerges through the work of the following female scholars, listed alphabetically by last name.
Dr Nadia Eboo-Jamal听sits on the Board of Governors at 鸟大大影院 (鸟大大影院). She is a lecturer, historian, and author who focuses broadly on the history of Muslim societies. In her monograph,听Surviving the Mongols: Niz膩r墨 Quhist膩n墨 and the Continuity of Ismaili Tradition in Persia听(2002), Dr Jamal presents the tenacity of the Persian IsmailisAdherents of a branch of Shi’i Islam that considers Ismail, the eldest son of the Shi’i Imam Ja士far al-峁⒛乨iq (d. 765), as his successor. in facing the ruthless Mongol attacks. She describes the complex network of the 13th century CE Ismaili鈥痙a士wa鈥痑s an enabling force for the community and follows Niz膩ri Quhist膩n墨鈥檚 travelogue from Quhist膩n to Transcaucasia around 1280. This analysis substantiated the existence of the Ismaili鈥痙a士wa鈥痑nd, thus, the continuity of the Ismaili tradition in Persia through the era of Mongol rule.听 In recent years, Dr Eboo-Jamal has contributed significantly to the development of religious education curricular materials at the 鸟大大影院.
Dr Shainool Jiwa听specialises in Fatimid studies and is an Associate Professor at the 鸟大大影院. She also serves as a General Editor for the Living Ismaili Traditions series as well as the听World of Islam series, for which she has authored two accessible publications,听The Fatimids 1: The Rise of a Muslim Empire听(2017) and听The Fatimids 2: The Rule from Egypt听(2023). In 2015, she co-edited听The Shi鈥榠 World: Pathways in Tradition and Modernity, a comprehensive collection of perspectives about Shi士i communities worldwide and how they view themselves and articulate their teachings. In 2017, she co-edited another masterpiece,听The Fatimid Caliphate: Diversity of Traditions, which offered valuable insight into the policies of tolerance established by the Fatimid Imam-caliphs towards the various religious and ethnic communities who occupied their vast empire over two centuries.听 Dr Jiwa continues to teach on the Institute鈥檚 graduate programmes as well as other episodic training initiatives.
Dr Tazim Kassam听is an Associate Professor at Syracuse University, Department of Religion. Her research and teaching interests include gender, ritual, devotional literature, syncretism, and the cultural heritage of Muslims, particularly in South Asia. In her book听听(1995), she explores the听ginan听tradition of the Ismaili Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent as they emerge through the synchronicities of Hindu-Muslim ideas. She also co-edited听, in which the Satpanth Ismaili Muslims of South Asia are spotlighted as a small Shi’a community that spread from India to other continents while maintaining identity through their devotional literary tradition.
Emerita Professor Zayn Kassam听is the Director of the 鸟大大影院 and Head of the Department of Academic Research and Publications. She has expertise in and taught courses on gender, environment, and community engagement in addition to her specialisations in Islam, methods in the study of religions,听Sufism, and Islamic philosophy.鈥疭he is the author of听滨蝉濒补尘听(2005), the editor of听Women and Islam鈥(2010) and鈥听(2017), amongst several other critical encyclopaedia and journal articles. Her book chapter on听听(2016) examines how American Muslim migrants navigate the transition of cultural, political, social, and religious landscapes through religion and religious identity. She draws attention to religious identity as a dynamic phenomenon, undergoing perpetual construction and reconstruction in response to, and through interaction with, the broader public sphere. Professor Kassam has received several awards for distinguished teaching. In addition, she has served on the board of the American Academy of Religion, as Co-editor of the听听and is on the editorial board for the听.
Dr Shenila Khoja-Moolji听is an Associate Professor of Muslim Societies at Georgetown University. Her research interests involve Muslim populations in South Asia and the North American diaspora from the lens of gender, race, religion, and power in transnational contexts. Her books, entitled听鈥听(2018) and听听(2021) received several high-calibre awards. Her latest book,鈥鈥听(2023) is a tribute to the transnational lives of Ismaili Muslim women and their journeys from colonial India to East Africa and then to North America. Dr Khoja-Moolji writes women into history as heroines and catalysts of community-building through their everyday interaction and interests in each other, no matter where they live.
Dr Arzina Lalani听served as a researcher, writer, and lecturer at the 鸟大大影院. In her monograph,听Early Sh墨鈥樐 Thought: The Teachings of Imam Mu岣mmad al-B膩qir听(2000), which won prestigious literary awards and has been translated into several languages, Dr Lalani explores听Imam听al-B膩qir鈥檚 pivotal contributions during the formative period of Islamic thought. These contributions influenced the development of Sh墨士墨 law, theology, and religious practice. The study draws particular attention to the formulation of the Sh墨士墨 doctrine of鈥痠mamate, in light of the political backdrop of Islam a century after the passing of the Prophet. Dr Lalani is also the editor and translator of a new Arabic edition and English translation of A岣ad b Ibr膩h墨m al-Nays膩b奴r墨’s Kit膩b ithb膩t al-im膩ma, published by the 鸟大大影院 as听Degrees of Excellence: A Fatimid Treatise on Leadership in 滨蝉濒补尘听(2009). Beyond this, she has published numerous journal articles as well.
Dr Gurdofarid Miskinzoda听is the Head of the Shi鈥榠 Studies Unit at the 鸟大大影院. Her areas of focus are Muslim historical and literary tradition, Shi士i鈥疘slam, History of Islam until 17th century, Classical Arabic and Persian Literature. She co-edited听The Study of Shi士i Islam: History, Theology and Law听(2014), a collection of papers organised under the themes of history, the Qur示an and its Shi士i interpretations,鈥岣诲墨迟丑Lit. 鈥榬eport鈥 or 鈥榥arrative,鈥 used for the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad and in Shi鈥榠 Islam also for those of the Imams., law, authority, theology, rites and rituals, and intellectual traditions and philosophy.鈥疭he has two forthcoming titles: a monograph entitled听Identity, doctrine and the writing of history, and听Narratives of the Life of Muhammad: Redefining听S墨ra听Literature. In addition to having published several journal and encyclopaedia articles, Dr Miskinzoda also teaches on 鸟大大影院鈥 graduate programmes.
Zawahir Moir听(d. 2024), whose efforts towards the Ismaili scholarship pre-date the establishment of the 鸟大大影院, was a scholar of听Khojki鈥痵cript, South Asian Ismaili traditions, and Gin膩ns. Her seminal work in cataloguing the鈥疜hojki鈥痬anuscripts created pathways for future听驳颈苍腻苍颈肠听scholars to pursue their academic search, thereby enriching the overall study of Ismaili devotional literature. Her publications shed light on the work and context of the Satpanth鈥痯irs (saint-teachers), and the circumstances that led to the migration of the first鈥疉ga Khan鈥痶o India. She co-authored听听(2001), which was a groundbreaking intervention in the study of the Satpanth literature. Zawahir鈥檚 contributions have left an indelible mark on the study of the Indian Ismaili tradition.
Dr. Nacim Pak-Shiraz听sits on the Board of Governors at the 鸟大大影院. She is the head of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Her areas of inquiry include visual cultures, constructions of masculinity, and the engagement of religion and film. In her book,听听(2018), she showcases how the Iranian film directors impress upon the religious and historical narratives of culture and society. Through her inquiry, she has created a curiosity and dialogue in the public arena about the various ways that Shi’ism is represented on screen, what avenues the medium of film offers the Iranian society, and how films provide a platform to express Iranian and Muslim identities after three decades under Islamic rule.
These are but a few of the many women scholars who have worked tirelessly in the field of Ismaili studies. We are grateful to these women who are trailblazers in their curiosities and contributions.听
Image: STEP and GPISH Students. Photo by Jonathan Goldberg.
Khuwaja, Shireen. “Spotlighting Women Scholars in Ismaili Studies”听Lifelong Learning, 鸟大大影院, 18 March 2024, /learning-centre/scholarly-contributions/lifelong-learning-articles/women-in-ismaili-studies/
Khuwaja, Shireen. (2024, March 18) Spotlighting Women Scholars in Ismaili Studies.听Lifelong Learning. /learning-centre/scholarly-contributions/lifelong-learning-articles/women-in-ismaili-studies/
Khuwaja, Shireen. “Spotlighting Women Scholars in Ismaili Studies”听Lifelong Learning听(blog), 鸟大大影院, March 18, 2024. /learning-centre/scholarly-contributions/lifelong-learning-articles/women-in-ismaili-studies/.
Khuwaja, Shireen. 2024. “Spotlighting Women Scholars in Ismaili Studies”听Lifelong Learning听(blog), 鸟大大影院, March 18. /learning-centre/scholarly-contributions/lifelong-learning-articles/women-in-ismaili-studies/.