Visiting Speaker - Prof Ismail Poonawala, University of California

Al-Qadi al-Nuʿman (d. 363/974) was the most prolific Ismaili author. He entered the service of al-Mahdi in 313/925, and thereafter successively served the first four Fatimid caliph-imams in different capacities. His growing position reached its apogee in the time of the fourth caliph-imam al-Muʿizz li-Din Allah.  He was not simply the founding member of this influential family of distinguished judges, but he, his sons, and grandsons, one after the other held the office of chief judge in the Fatimid empire for approximately a century. Indeed, a remarkable achievement in the annals of Islamic history. The presentation considers an overview of modern scholarship on this eminent jurist and historical importance of his works among the Ismailis. It will conclude with specific remarks on the chronology of his approximately 36 works which helps us to better understand the author’s works and his intellectual development. Furthermore, the chronology will assist scholars of Ismaili studies in distinguishing between the authentic works of al-Qadi al-Nuʿman and spurious works attributed to him.

Professor Ismail Poonawala is a distinguished scholar in the field of Arab and Islamic Studies with an experience of more than half a century. He has to his credit dozens of articles, critical editions of classical texts, translations and monographs. Poonawala has worked in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (NELC) of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for over 30 years. His Biobibliography of Ismāʿīlī Literature has culminated in the emergence of modern Ismaili Studies.