Ismaili Manuscripts from Yemen
How did the Ismāʿīlī works,1 written by their duʿāt (pl. of dāʿī, i.e. missionaries) in different countries, at distinct times, under diverse circumstances, come to be preserved in Yemen having completely disappeared from their country of origin?2 The answer to this intriguing question can be found in Ismāʿīlī history. The Ismāʿīlīs are historically associated with Yemen, as expounded by the Ismāʿīlī Yemenī dāʿī Idrīs ʿImād al-Dīn, a historian of the daʿwa3 and a prolific author, who died in 872/1468 in Shibām (Kawkabān).4 The following account is culled from his two major historical works.
News & Events
- Dr Engineer in Afghanistan for talks on Islam
- Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer was invited by Afghanistan Islamic Research Academy for one week from 1st July to 7th July 2011 to deliver lectures on Islam and participate in a conference on Islam and Narcotics. In Afghanistan today tens of thousands of people, including thousands of women, are addicted to drugs. more
Features
- Traditional architecture: House form of Bohras in Gujarat
- The history of architecture in India reflects a rich and diversified legacy, not only through the classical examples but also in the display of a rich heritage of vernacular traditions of building. These are spread in several regional environments in the form of a variety of settlement patterns, institutions and dwelling types. more
Islamic perspective
- Role of women in Karbala
- These days we find lot of restrictions on women. In many cases they cannot even venture out of homes and are required to restrict themselves to household chores. Very few Muslim women have public roles, much less participating in tumultuous events of our times. And all this is being done in the name of Islam. However, if we cast a glance on early history of Islam we find women taking part in various events along with men. The Prophet (PBUH) had four daughters from Bibi Khadija and brought them up as model women participating in Islamic revolution. more
Bohras and Reform
- Canadian Senate foils Sayedna's plans - Part 2
- In 1992 Sayedna's attempt to become the sole owner of Bohra community's property in Canada (Bill S-13) was defeated by the Canadian Senate. Here we re-produce a petition sent by a Canadian progressive Bohra to Senator Corbin urging him to argue against Bill S-13. more
- Fighting on
- At the KC College public meeting (last month), they came with black masks. On Saturday (March 4, 2000), at the Kalina campus, though their faces were uncovered, they refused to give their full names. Yet, it is their steadfastness that keeps the Bohra Reformist movement alive. more
Multimedia
- Interviews and talks
- Few people understand what the reform movement is about. They think reformists are against the Dai. This is not true. Check out a series of long-ranging interviews and talks to understand why reformists are fighting and what they are fighting for. more
Your story
- How can we stop Kothar’s juggernaut?
- I was born in 1939 in a Dawoodi Bohra family. Having been brought up in a traditional Bohra household and later having migrated to North America I ensured that my children were raised in the same tradition. I taught them to read, write and recite Arabic, how to perform wudhu and offer prayers, explained Islam and its sects down to what we are as Dawoodi Bohras. more