Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

The Ismailis, among whom are the followers of the Aga Khan, rose to prominence during the 4th Islamic/10th Christian century and developed a remarkably successful intellectual program to sustain and support their political activities. Their most important intellectual theoretician was Abu Ya`qub al-Sijistani and Dr. Paul Walker presents the first book-length study of his ideas and teachings. Using published and manuscript writings, the author analyzes al-Sijistani's Neoplatonic interpretations of science and religion.

Contents: PART 1: AL-SIJISTANI'S HERITAGE; 1: The Ismaili message and its philosophers; 2: Religious and philosophical resources; 3: Ismaili predecessors; PART 2:AL-SIJISTANI'S UNIVERSE; 4. Introduction: categories and terms; 5. A theology of unqualified transcendence; 6. Creation as command; 7. Intellect, the sum of existent being; 8. Descending and ascending soul; 9. Nature and the physical realm; 10. A cosmic anthropology; 11. Prophecy, the deputy of intellect; 12. Interpretation and its institution; 13. Salvation and the womb of history; EPILOGUE: THE USE AND CONTROL OF REASON

Walker, Paul E.
Early Philosophical Shiism
The Ismaili Neoplatonism of Abu Ya`qub al-Sijistani