Samuel Stern and early Ismā‘īlism

• Published in: Journal of modern Jewish studies Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 469 - 481
• Main Author: Daftary, Farhad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Ltd 01-11-2021
• Subjects: Cosmology; Islamic studies; Religious history; Scholars; Shia Islam
• ISSN: 1472-5886; 1472-5894
• DOI: 10.1080/14725886.2021.1984838

The pre-Fāṭimid or early period in Ismāʿīlī history is one of the most obscure major phases in the entire history of Ismāʿīlism. This is mainly because we do not have any reliable sources written by the Ismāʿīlīs of that period, and our knowledge of that phase is primarily based on non- Ismāʿīlī sources. As a result, many aspects of early Ismāʿīlism have continue to be shrouded in mystery, causing differences of opinion among the scholars in the field. Using a wide range of sources, including new ones, Samuel Stern was perhaps the earliest modern scholar who correctly identified the nature of early Ismāʿīlism and its evolution from the middle of the second/eight century to the foundation of the Fāṭimid caliphate in North Africa in 297/909. This article focuses on Stern's original views on the opening phase of Ismāʿīlism as well as the circumstances leading to the division of the early Ismāʿīlis into the loyal Ismāʿīlīs and the dissident Qarmaṭīs. Stern also shed light on the cosmological doctrine propounded by the early Ismāʿīlīs.