This lecture will discuss the contents and context ofThe Book of Interim Times and Planetary Conjunctionsas well as the state of current scholarship on it. While engagement with astrology and other occult sciences was popular during the era of Fatimid flourishing, there are few surviving texts that document the Fatimid engagement with these philosophical trends.The Book of Interim Times and Planetary Conjunctions, popularly attributed to Jafar b. Mansur al-Yaman, represents one such confluence of the assertion of the necessity of the Fatimidimamatebolstered through engagement with the occult sciences. This engagement demonstrates both an awareness of the utility of the occult sciences as a political toolas astrology was used by the Abbasid caliphateand a creative re-interpretation of how the occult sciences could be appropriated into the existing metaphysics of Ismaili theology and philosophy.
In its capacity as a political tool, astrology is used to directly confront theAbbasidsMajor Muslim dynasty of Sunni caliphs that ruled in Baghdad (750-1258)., the primary political rival of theFatimidsat the time of the texts writing; as a metaphysical framework, it presents a new system of symbols to be understood through the lens ofzahir泭硃紳餃泭莉硃廜虹紳, affirming theimamas the divine conduit through the language of the zodiac. Further, the text demonstrates an engagement with Fatimid history uncommon in philosophical texts of its day, calling into question the sharp scholarly division betweendawlaA state or dynasty. Also used to refer to the domain of politics (siyasa).泭硃紳餃泭餃硃w硃.
Date:9 June 2022 Time:2.00 pm 4.00 pm GMT Location:Online (Zoom)
Q&A:At any time during the lecture, attendees can submit questions to the speaker through the Q&A option at the bottom of the control panel. As time allows, the speaker will address as many questions as they can during the Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
Recording:Please note that the session will be recorded and published on the 敁珗曄部 website, and on the 敁珗曄部 YouTube channel.
嗨勳莽釵喝莽莽硃紳喧莽:泭嗨娶泭幛璽娶癡莽泭勞勳梭梭棗紳(The Institute of Ismaili Studies, UK),(University of Oregon),(University of Amsterdam)
Speaker
Alex Matthews
Alex Matthews is a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Her work focuses on Fa廜虹mid history, Ismaili philosophical thought, and the occult sciences in medieval Islamic society.
