Simerg’s introduction of “Books by Ismaili Authors” continues with Boustan Hirji’s translation of Sijistani’s “Al-Risalah al Bahirah.” We follow the same Q/A format as our earlier presentations of books, which are listed chronologically below. We encourage Ismaili authors worldwide to participate in this series, regardless of when their books were published. See details of the series HERE and submit your responses to Simerg’s editor, Malik, at mmerchant@simerg.com.
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Simerg’s Interview with Ismaili Scholar Dr. Boustan Hirji
“Al-Risalah al Bahirah is such a profound, fathomless space of intellectual ideas and crucial for understanding the depth of the Ismaili tradition, that I would hope that it makes for interesting reading for both Ismailis and anyone curious about syncretic traditions that have an impact on our current lives and societies” — Boustan Hirji
Simerg: What is behind the name and title of the book?
Boustan Hirji: The book’s title is a translation of the title given to the treatise by al-Sijistani himself.
Simerg: Why would you want me or my family to read the book, and what will we learn from it?
Boustan: This treatise in particular makes for a very interesting reading because Sijistani writes on the subject of Resurrection from a wider perspective on the history of ideas yet stays focused on the Isma’ili point of view. He is an original thinker who draws from the Buddhist, Hindu, and Hellenistic traditions and yet is uniquely representative of the Badakshani Ismaili tradition.
Simerg: What inspired you to write the book?
Boustan: My Professor and thesis supervisor at McGill University, Dr Hermann Landolt, shared this manuscript with me when I spent some days with him and his family in Pany, Switzerland. It is a manuscript that is very dear to his heart, and I am indebted to him for introducing me to the world of Sijistani. Ever since then, Sijistani has been my constant companion, a treasure waiting to be revealed.
Interview continues below
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Print Edition
Thanks to the pioneering and lifelong studies by Paul Walker, we are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about the Fatimid daՙi and philosopher Abu Yaՙqub al-Sijistani. Based on two manuscripts, Dr. Boustan Hirji has prepared an English translation and critical edition of the Arabic text of Yaqub al-Sijistani’s al-Risalah al-Bahirah (‘The Epistle on the Radiance‘). The book is free of charge in print and PDF through an email request to olduvai.publications@gmail.com. The free distribution has been made possible by a generous donor. Kindly note that only limited copies of the print edition are available.
Electronic Edition (PDF)
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Simerg: How can I purchase the book, and what are its available formats?
Boustan: The book is available in paperback and ebook (pdf) formats.
(We are pleased to inform our readers that both versions of Dr. Boustan Hirji’s book are free due to a generous donation. Please write to Dr. Mohamed Alibhai at olduvai.publications@gmail.com for more details about obtaining the book. Note that the availability of the print edition is limited — Ed.)
Simerg: How did you find a publisher for the book?
Boustan: My friend and fellow Sijistani scholar, Dr. Mohamed Alibhai, is a publisher, and he was keen to publish it. He was my editor, my Socrates, my friend and my taskmaster!
Simerg: Which was your first book, and how many have you written?
Boustan: This is my first book in the academic field of Ismaili philosophy. The first edition of the manuscript al-Risalah al Bahirah, its translation and Introduction to it was originally published by the Tehran branch of McGill University. Earlier, I had published a book on Gender stories in Syria, Egypt and Bangladesh. It is available from Amazon under the title Sands Under a Relentless Sun.
Simerg: How long did it take you to write the book — from start to finish?
Boustan: The current work has accompanied me on a long journey as I lived my tumultuous life! I kept re-reading, rethinking passages and ideas, until I agreed to have it published. Al-Risalah al Bahirah is such a profound, fathomless space of intellectual ideas and crucial for understanding the depth of the Ismaili tradition that I would hope that it makes for interesting reading for both Ismailis and anyone curious about syncretic traditions that have an impact on our current lives and societies.
Date posted: April 3, 2024.
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About the Author
Boustan Hirji was born and grew up in Bangladesh and attended the convent-run Holy Cross School and Holy Cross College until she was 18. She completed a Bachelor of Arts at St. Mary’s at Notre Dame, cum laude, majoring in Political Sociology.
Boustan obtained a Master of Theological Studies at The School of Theology (a Methodist Seminary) Boston University. Her thesis compared the Exodus and the Hijrah.
She then proceeded to join an MA-PhD programme at the Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University. The MA was in Islamic Theology (Kalam). The PhD was in Ismaili philosophy, focusing on al-Sijistani. Her doctoral dissertation (upon which her book is based) was recommended by the external examiner, Dr. Abbas Hamdani, for the university’s Dean’s List.
Boustan Hirji was appointed to teach in the joint programme of McGill University and The Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, England in the 1980s. After this, Dr. Hirji taught in the Religious Studies department of McGill University.
She was given The Alumni Award of the Year in 2016, for Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Skills by the School of Theology, Boston University, USA.
Until she retired in 2020, she taught in the Liberal Arts Honours Programme at Dawson College, Montreal, Canada.
Calling all Ismaili Authors
We encourage Ismaili writers to introduce their books in a similar format as has been done in the post above. Please also see the series launch article and submit your responses to Malik at mmerchant@simerg.com. All submissions will be acknowledged. If a writer has published multiple books, each book will be highlighted in a separate article, and not combined with other books into one post. All writers should include a brief profile with a portrait photo.
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Links to the Ismaili Authors’ Series (in chronological sequence, oldest article first)
- “Justice Bertha Wilson Pushes the Boundaries of Humanity” by Shamas Nanji (featured on February 10, 2021, series start date)
- “Little One, You Are The Universe” by Zeni Shariff (February 25, 2021)
- “Memoirs of a Muhindi” by Mansoor Ladha (March 6, 2021, and see also 15 and 21 by the same author)
- “To Be One With God: Seven Journeys to the Meaning of Life” by Shafeen Ali (March 25, 2021)
- “Invisible Birthmarks” by Alnasir Rajan (April 13, 2021)
- “IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE – Portrait of a ‘Cowboy’ Judge” by Azmina Suleman (April 28, 2021)
- “RSVP Rice and Stew Very Plenty” by Nazlin Rahemtulla (May 28, 2021)
- “Coughdrops” by Nargis Fazal (June 12, 2021)
- “The Roots and the Trees” by Nizar Sultan (June 25, 2021)
- “Faith and Ethics: The Vision of the Ismaili Imamat” by M. Ali Lakhani (July 4, 2021)
- “Nairobi Days by Shelina_Shariff Zia (July 21, 2021)
- “Shine Brighter” by Shairoz Lakhani (December 8, 2021)
- “This is My Life” by Naznin Rahemtulla Hébert (February 26, 2022)
- “Humanizing Medicine – Making Health Tangible” by Dr. Azim Jiwani (March 9, 2022)
- “A Portrait in Pluralism: Aga Khan’s Shia Ismaili Muslims” by Mansoor Ladha (June 8, 2022, and see also 3 and 21 by the same author)
- “Malaria Memoirs: My Life Journey as a Public Health Doctor in Tanzania” by Dr Zul Premji (June 30, 2022)
- “Monkey Tales and Other Short Stories” by Mahmoud Hirji (September 10, 2022)
- “Bloom! A Story of Diversity and Understanding” by Shamim Murji (October 27, 2022)
- “Cooking with Mom” by Rozina Ramji (November 7, 2022)
- “SPARK: Journey from Success to Significance” by Azim Jamal (July 17, 2023)
- Off the Cuff by Mansoor Ladha (August 3, 2023, and see also 3 and 15 by the same author)
- Mehndi Boy by Zain Bandali (November 18, 2023)
- All the Russ Without the Fuss by Reeshma Haji (March 2, 2024)
- al-Risalah al-Bahirah (The Epistle on the Radiance) by Abu Ya’qub al-Sijistani, translated by Boustan Hirji (April 3, 2024)
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