Farhad Daftary is a leading scholar in the field of Ismaili studies. His work deeply delves into Ismaili history, philosophy, and culture, illuminating the intricate aspects of this branch of Islam. Daftary is dedicated to academic research and publications, contributing to a broader understanding of Ismaili heritage. His efforts in editing and publishing key works make his contribution to the field immense.
This comprehensive history delves into the Isma'ili community, exploring their beliefs, practices, and significant contributions throughout history. The second edition offers updated insights and scholarly analysis, reflecting recent research and developments within the Isma'ili tradition. It serves as an essential resource for understanding the complexities of Isma'ili identity and their role in broader historical contexts.
For hundreds of years Westerners have been fascinated by stories of the Assassins, their mysterious leader and their remote mountain stronghold at Alamut in Northern Iran. The legends first emerged in the 12th and 13th centuries, when Crusaders in Syria came into contact with the Nazari Isma'ilis, one of the communities of Shi'ite Islam who, at the behest of their leader Hassan Sabaa (mythologized as the "Old Man of the Mountain"), engaged in dangerous missions to kill their enemies. Elaborated over the years, the tales culminated in Marco Polo's claim that the "Old Man" controlled the behaviour of his self-sacrificing devotees through the use of hashish and a secret garden of paradise. So influential were these tales that the word "assassin" entered European languages as a common noun meaning "murderer". Daftary traces the origins and early development of the legends - as well as investigating the historical context in which they were fabricated and transmitted. As such, this book reveals an extraordinary programme of propaganda rooted in the medieval Muslim world and medieval Europe's ignorance of this world.This book also provides the first English translation of French orientalist Silvestre de Sacy's famous 19th-century "Memoir" on the Assassins.
Educated in Iran, Europe and the United States, Dr Farhad Daftary received his doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley in 1971. He has held different academic positions, and since 1988 he has been affiliated with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, where he is Co-Director and Head of Department of Academic Research and Publications.