Womens 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泭Shia泭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泭Imam-of-the-Time. This theme emerges through the work of the following female scholars, listed alphabetically by last name.
Dr Nadia Eboo-Jamal泭sits on the Board of Governors at The Institute of Ismaili Studies (敁珗曄部). She is a lecturer, historian, and author who focuses broadly on the history of Muslim societies. In her monograph,泭Surviving the Mongols: Nizr蘋 Quhistn蘋 and the Continuity of Ismaili Tradition in Persia泭(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尪far al-廜〢diq (d. 765), as his successor. in facing the ruthless Mongol attacks. She describes the complex network of the 13th century CE Ismaili留a尪wa畝s an enabling force for the community and follows Nizri Quhistn蘋s travelogue from Quhistn to Transcaucasia around 1280. This analysis substantiated the existence of the Ismaili留a尪wa畝nd, thus, the continuity of the Ismaili tradition in Persia through the era of Mongol rule.泭 In recent years, Dr Eboo-Jamal has contributed significantly to the development of religious education curricular materials at the 敁珗曄部.
Dr Shainool Jiwa泭specialises in Fatimid studies and is an Associate Professor at the 敁珗曄部. She also serves as a General Editor for the Living Ismaili Traditions series as well as the泭World of Islam series, for which she has authored two accessible publications,泭The Fatimids 1: The Rise of a Muslim Empire泭(2017) and泭The Fatimids 2: The Rule from Egypt泭(2023). In 2015, she co-edited泭The Shii World: Pathways in Tradition and Modernity, a comprehensive collection of perspectives about Shi尪i communities worldwide and how they view themselves and articulate their teachings. In 2017, she co-edited another masterpiece,泭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.泭 Dr Jiwa continues to teach on the Institutes graduate programmes as well as other episodic training initiatives.
Dr Tazim Kassam泭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泭泭(1995), she explores the泭ginan泭tradition of the Ismaili Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent as they emerge through the synchronicities of Hindu-Muslim ideas. She also co-edited泭, 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泭is the Director of the 敁珗曄部 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,泭Sufism, and Islamic philosophy.特he is the author of泭梆莽梭硃鳥泭(2005), the editor of泭Women and Islam(2010) and泭(2017), amongst several other critical encyclopaedia and journal articles. Her book chapter on泭泭(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泭泭and is on the editorial board for the泭.
Dr Shenila Khoja-Moolji泭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泭泭(2018) and泭泭(2021) received several high-calibre awards. Her latest book,泭(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泭served as a researcher, writer, and lecturer at the 敁珗曄部. In her monograph,泭Early Sh蘋蘋 Thought: The Teachings of Imam Mu廎仟mmad al-Bqir泭(2000), which won prestigious literary awards and has been translated into several languages, Dr Lalani explores泭Imam泭al-Bqirs pivotal contributions during the formative period of Islamic thought. These contributions influenced the development of Sh蘋尪蘋 law, theology, and religious practice. The study draws particular attention to the formulation of the Sh蘋尪蘋 doctrine of疳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廎叮ad b Ibrh蘋m al-Naysb贖r蘋’s Kitb ithbt al-imma, published by the 敁珗曄部 as泭Degrees of Excellence: A Fatimid Treatise on Leadership in 梆莽梭硃鳥泭(2009). Beyond this, she has published numerous journal articles as well.
Dr Gurdofarid Miskinzoda泭is the Head of the Shii Studies Unit at the 敁珗曄部. Her areas of focus are Muslim historical and literary tradition, Shi尪i涅slam, History of Islam until 17th century, Classical Arabic and Persian Literature. She co-edited泭The Study of Shi尪i Islam: History, Theology and Law泭(2014), a collection of papers organised under the themes of history, the Qur尨an and its Shi尪i interpretations,廎仟餃蘋喧堯Lit. report or narrative, used for the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad and in Shii Islam also for those of the Imams., law, authority, theology, rites and rituals, and intellectual traditions and philosophy.特he has two forthcoming titles: a monograph entitled泭Identity, doctrine and the writing of history, and泭Narratives of the Life of Muhammad: Redefining泭S蘋ra泭Literature. In addition to having published several journal and encyclopaedia articles, Dr Miskinzoda also teaches on 敁珗曄部 graduate programmes.
Zawahir Moir泭(d. 2024), whose efforts towards the Ismaili scholarship pre-date the establishment of the 敁珗曄部, was a scholar of泭Khojki盎cript, South Asian Ismaili traditions, and Ginns. Her seminal work in cataloguing the涔hojki痂anuscripts created pathways for future泭眶勳紳櫻紳勳釵泭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皰irs (saint-teachers), and the circumstances that led to the migration of the first涉ga Khan眩o India. She co-authored泭泭(2001), which was a groundbreaking intervention in the study of the Satpanth literature. Zawahirs contributions have left an indelible mark on the study of the Indian Ismaili tradition.
Dr. Nacim Pak-Shiraz泭sits on the Board of Governors at the 敁珗曄部. 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,泭泭(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.泭
Image: STEP and GPISH Students. Photo by Jonathan Goldberg.
Khuwaja, Shireen. “Spotlighting Women Scholars in Ismaili Studies”泭Lifelong Learning, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, 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.泭Lifelong Learning. /learning-centre/scholarly-contributions/lifelong-learning-articles/women-in-ismaili-studies/
Khuwaja, Shireen. “Spotlighting Women Scholars in Ismaili Studies”泭Lifelong Learning泭(blog), The Institute of Ismaili Studies, March 18, 2024. /learning-centre/scholarly-contributions/lifelong-learning-articles/women-in-ismaili-studies/.
Khuwaja, Shireen. 2024. “Spotlighting Women Scholars in Ismaili Studies”泭Lifelong Learning泭(blog), The Institute of Ismaili Studies, March 18. /learning-centre/scholarly-contributions/lifelong-learning-articles/women-in-ismaili-studies/.
