KALAM-I-PIR, A Treatise on Ismaili Doctrine

also (wrongly called Haft-Babi Shah Sayyid Nasir.) Edited in original Persian, and translated into English by W. Ivanow. Bombay. (pp. Introduction, ixviii, Translation 113, Indexes 115-146, Persian translation117)

The sectarians who regard this work as most sacred consider it to be the word of their Pir, Nasiri Khusraw. Internal evidence shows that this cannot be true, and the author remains unknown. The doctrine set forth is that of the Nizari school and the author is very conversant with his subject, although the opening account of the conversion of Nasir Khusraw is rejected by the editor as purely fictitious. In a useful introduction the editor deals fully with the question of authorship, manuscripts and an outline of the teaching. In an addendum, he is able to record the finding of a copy of the original version of the Kalami-Pir, although it was too late to alter the present edition. This fact, however, fortunately finds record in this work so that the reader is enabled by supplementary notes to know the difference between the two. It is worthy of note that the edition here translated includes almost everything in the original, only two short passages being omitted, while much material has been added.

The significance of the work is found in the rather full account it gives of the Nizari system of teaching. Philosophical matters are avoided. The first part is taken up with controversial matters and sometimes the treatment is acrimonious, while the second part deals with the basic doctrines of the Isma'ili sect, dogmatically treated. In his discussion of these topics the editor has listed the following headings : God and Creation; Religion; Prophethood (Nubuwwat); Imamat; Hududi Din, The System of Ethics; and Salvation and Future Life. The treatment by the author is not well organised, and it is difficult to be sure what is really the teaching of the Nizari School and what is only the eclectic value.

To a large extent the text is composed of quotations from other works both Isma'ili and Ithan'ashri, and often it is impossible to identify the source from which a quotation is made.

As here presented with text, indexes for names of persons, geographical and ethnical names, books referred to, technical terms, and quotations from the Quran and Hadith, the edition is extremely useful.

JOHN N. HOLLISTER