By MALIK MERCHANT

What arguably should have been among the first publications to be published by the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in London was ultimately published in October 2020, 43 years after its founding on December 13, 1977. The book, The Ismaili Imams: A Biographical History, has now reached literature counters in Ismaili Jamatkhanas across Canada in larger quantities than the first stock that arrived in the midst of Covid-19, when the book quickly sold out. The long awaited book, in my humble opinion, should find a place in every Ismaili home and should be read by the youth and professionals in the Jamat.

Simerg is pleased to collaborate with the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board (ITREB) for Canada to facilitate the sale and distribution of the The Ismaili Imams by mail to Ismailis in Canada who live remotely or who do not have easy access to Jamatkhana literature counters. The book will be sold at the same price as at literature counters, but postage, packing and shipping costs will be added. See details below.

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The Ismaili Imams: A Biographical History has been authored by Farhad Daftary, a pre-eminent authority on Ismaili Studies, and author and editor of dozens of books and articles on Ismaili history and literature. Dr Daftary, who joined the IIS in 1988, became the head of its Department of Academic Research and Publications, and went on to become its co-director upon the departure of Dr Azim Nanji. Daftary finally stepped down from his management roles in 2022, and was succeeded as IIS director by Professor Zayn Kassam in January 2023.

On January 18, 2023, Dr Daftary was honoured in the presence of Prince Rahim at a special reception held in London. During the event, Prince Rahim announced that Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, had decided to acknowledge Dr Daftary’s contributions to the Institute by attaching his name to PhD Scholarships awarded by IIS. Prince Rahim also recognized Dr Daftary’s central role not only as a leader, but as the IIS’s most respected and productive scholar and author.

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The Ismaili Imams is the first collection of biographies of all 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, up to the Aga Khans of the modern period. The Ismaili Imams draws from the rich scholarship of the developing field of Ismaili Studies, providing a simple and clear resource for both the Ismailis themselves and for general readers, ensuring accessibility for all. This extensively illustrated book offers a snapshot of the lives, events, and legacies of all 49 Ismaili Imams, and through them, the Ismaili community’s storied past.

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The 260 page richly illustrated hardback volume features the 49 Ismaili Imams through the following nine sections: 1. The Ismaili Imamat in History; 2. The Early Imams (from Hazrat ‘Ali to Imam Muhammad b. Isma’il); 3. The Concealed Imams (Imam Wafi Ahmad to Imam Radi al-Din ‘Abd Allah); 4. The Early Fatimid Imam-Caliphs (from Imam al-Mahdi to Imam Nizar); 5. The Imams at Alamut (from Imam al-Hadi to Imam Rukn al-Din Khurshah); 6. The Early Imams after Alamut (Imam Shams al-Din Muhammad to Imam Muhammad b. Islam Shah); 7. The Imam of the Anjudan Period (Imam Mustansir bi’llah to Imam Khalil Allah ‘Ali); 8. The Imams in the Eighteenth Century (Imam Shah Nizar to Imam Shah Khalil Allah); and 9. The Imams in the Modern Age (Imam Shah Hasan ‘Ali Shah, Aga Khan I, to Mawlana Shah Karim al-Husayni, Aga Khan IV). The book ends with a four page glossary, select bibliography, and an index. The full contents page is available on the IIS website HERE.

How to Purchase The Ismaili Imams: A Biographical History from Simerg

SOLD OUT: We do not have any more copies of the book in stock. Please check the availability of Ismaili Imams at the Jamatkhana literature counters in your respective countries, or buy it from Amazon.ca or Amazon.com.

• Simerg is pleased to facilitate the distribution of The Ismaili Imams: A Biographical History in conjunction with ITREB Canada, to Ismaili addresses in Canada. Ismaili individuals and families who live remotely or who do not have access to the book at their own Jamatkhana literature counters, should take advantage of this offer before the book is completely sold out.
• The book will be sold at the same cost price as at Ismaili Jamatkhana literature counters across Canada. However, postage, package and handling charges amounting to a total of C$25.00 will be added to the book’s COST PRICE of C$23.00, for a total payment price of C$48.00. Note that each shipment will be nicely packaged and sent via Canada Post’s expedited parcel post. A tracking number will be provided to track the shipment.
• To order/reserve the book, please write to Malik Merchant of Simerg, Barakah and Simergphotos at mmerchant@simerg.com. Please provide your full name, phone number and address where you can be reached. Simerg will contact you within 48 hours to verify your address and provide you with payment details. Please note that payments will only be accepted via Interac E-transfer or by cheque. The book will be shipped out immediately upon receipt of the payment.
• Each individual/family will be able to order a maximum of 2 copies.

Over the past 14 years, Simerg has had the privilege and honour to support Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s books such as Animal Voyage, Diving Into Wildlife and The Living Sea. We are happy to collaborate with ITREB Canada in this new endeavour and look forward to serving members of the Ismaili community in this joint initiative. Ismaili readers should note that the book is available for purchase through online booksellers like Amazon, albeit at a higher price.

Date posted: February 17, 2024.
Last updated: August 16, 2025.

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