{"product_id":"9781845111458","title":"Degrees of Excellence A Fatimid Treatise on Leadership in Islam","description":"\u003ch3\u003eIsmaili Texts and Translations\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch1\u003eDegrees of Excellence\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eA Fatimid Treatise on Leadership in Islam\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eArzina R. Lalani\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003eReligion \/ Islam \/ History\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eI.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of the most distinguished scholars of his time, Ahmad b. Ibrahim al-Naysaburi lived during the height of Fatimid rule in Egypt. He came from Nishapur, the centre of the Ismaili da'wa in Khurasan, a thriving centre of learning particularly noted for its use of rationalistic philosophy. Several important works are accredited to him, but it is the \"Kitab ithbat al-imama\" which is of particular significance for the development of philosophy in medieval Islamic thought. In this work, presented here in a new edition and translation, al-Naysaburi allows us to understand not only the significance of his own thought, but also the beliefs of his age. Rather than basing his assertions exclusively on the authority of the Qur'an and hadith, he applies rational tools to explain his theology, providing a philosophical affirmation of the imamate by presenting a range of arguments, foremost amongst which is the theory of the 'degrees of excellence'. \"Degrees of Excellence\" offers the first book-length study of this hitherto unknown scholar of the early 5th\/11th century.\u003cbr\u003eThis invaluable source of Fatimid historiography will prove essential reading for students of Islamic history, philosophy and theology. It will also serve as a useful reference for modern Shi'i communities of all persuasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eArzina R. Lalani received her doctorate from the Department of Arabic and MIddle Eastern Studies, University of Edinburgh. She is currently a Research Associate at The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. A specialist in medieval Arabic literature and Shi'i thought, she is the author of 'Early Shi'i Thought: The Teachings of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir' (2000) which won prestigious literary awards and has been translated into several languages.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15 January 2010\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eI.B. Tauris\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9781845111458\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHardback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e272\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10.56\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51369064235148,"sku":"9781845111458","price":54.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/getimage_4f40cfea-6881-4d84-966e-844ff9de95c8.jpg?v=1783877790","url":"https:\/\/lateknightbooks.com\/products\/9781845111458","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}