Command and Creation: A Shi'i Cosmological Treatise: A Persian edition and English translation of Muhammad al-Shahrastani's Majlis-i maktub

The Majlis-i maktub is a Persian work by Muhammad al-Shahrastani, a prominent Persian theologian and heresiographer, that explores the theme of creation and command, providing an esoteric cosmological narrative. It discusses themes such as the evolution of religious law, the relation between free will and predestination, the interplay between the exoteric and esoteric aspects of faith, and the role and function of the Shi?i Imams in the cosmological narrative. Daryoush Mohammad Poors comparative study of this treatise and Nizari Ismaili literature from the Alamut period reveals the massive impact of al-Shahrastani's thought on the doctrines of Nizari Ismailis.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 25 February 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Muhammad al-Shahrastani (1086–1153), a renowned Persian theologian and heresiographer, left behind a vast literary legacy. Among his remarkable works, the Majlis-i maktub stands out as his sole known composition in Persian. Originally delivered as a sermon in Khwarazm, Central Asia, this profound treatise explores the themes of creation and command, weaving an intricate cosmological narrative that intertwines faith, revelation, prophecy, and the spiritual authority of the Household of the Prophet. The Majlis-i maktub delves into profound discussions, including the evolution of religious law (shariat) and its ultimate culmination in the qiyamat (resurrection), the intricate relationship between free will and predestination, the interplay between the exoteric and esoteric aspects of faith, and the crucial role and function of the Shi?i Imams within the cosmological narrative. This treatise, considered the most comprehensive expression of al-Shahrastani's thought, undeniably reveals his Ismaili inclination, which has traditionally been perceived as Shafii-Ashari. Through a comparative study of this treatise and the extensive corpus of Nizari Ismaili literature from the Alamut period (1090–1256), Daryoush Mohammad Poors has unveiled the profound impact of al-Shahrastani's ideas on every facet of Nizari Ismaili doctrines.

Weight: 452g
Dimension: 222 x 147 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780755602964