New Book Releases from the IIS

Are you looking for something fascinating to read? The Literature Centres in each Jamatkhana are full of exciting and informational publications from the Institute of Ismaili Studies. 

Three new IIS publications are now available at Literature Centres:

1. Experiences of the Jamatkhana

Delving into the captivating story of Ismaili communities in the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Aliaa Remtilla offers a compelling social narrative as seen through the lens of her own family. Across these lands, Jamatkhanas evolved as sacred spaces of piety, practice and social gathering, reflecting the aspirations and communal spirit of the Ismaili Jamat. As the Ismaili diaspora spread, Jamatkhanas remained essential focal points in new lands, providing strength, succour and solace in changing times.

2. The Ismaili Imams: A Biographical History

This book is the first collection of pithy biographies of each of the Ismaili Imams, from the seminal Imams of early Shi‘i Islam, through to those of the first ‘period of concealment’ when their public identities remained hidden, to the Imam-caliphs of the illustrious Fatimid dynasty, and those of the Alamut period, popularised in history through the so-called Assassin legends, up to the Aga Khans of the modern period. The Ismaili Imams mines the rich scholarship of the developing field of Ismaili Studies, providing a simple and clear resource for the general reader, as well as a handy reference guide for scholars.

3: Ismaili Festivals

In this unique and personal account, Shiraz Kabani takes us on a journey of celebration and self-reflection. Relating accounts of festivals from his own lived experience as an Ismaili, the author shares some of his most compelling memories, questions and insights. We learn about his days as an inquisitive schoolboy in Pakistan, as well as his more recent experiences as a well-travelled alwaez, including late-night contemplative drives across Texas on Laylat al-Qadr, and vibrant Imamat Day festivities in the heart of London. Through these lively stories and reflections, Ismaili Festivals presents a novel approach to these auspicious occasions and their traditions, highlighting just how powerful they are in uniting and reaffirming the identity of the diverse global Jamat.