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Journal of Islamic Studies Advance Access originally published online on March 18, 2008
Journal of Islamic Studies 2008 19(2):178-195; doi:10.1093/jis/etn001
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© The Author (2008). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Satan's Seven Specious Arguments: al-Shahrastani's Kitab al-Milal wa-l-nihal in an Ismalhringili Context

Adam R. Gaiser

Florida State University

E-mail: agaiser{at}fsu.edu


  Abstract

In light of recent evidence that indicates al-Shahrastani's adherence to Nizari Ismalhringilism, this article highlights certain structural and thematic characteristics of al-Shahrastani's Kitab al-Milal wa-l-nihal by comparing it to earlier (especially fourth/tenth-century) Khurasani Ismalhringili heresiographies such as Abu Tammam's Kitab al-Shajara and al-Razi's Kitab al-Zina. Shared features of these works include the avoidance of specifically Ismalhringili language in the body of the work, utilization of neo-Platonic symbolism and language, and (for al-Shahrastani and Abu Tammam) use of Satan (or satans) as the origin of sectarian differences among humankind. An awareness of these features will better allow scholars to contextualize al-Shahrastani's work in relation to other heresiographies, and may point to the existence of a Khurasani Ismalhringili ‘school’ of heresiography. At the very least, the similarities show the influence of Abu Tammam's work on al-Shahrastani. An awareness of al-Shahrastani's Ismalhringili inspired methodology in his Kitab al-Milal, in turn, challenges the prevalent scholarly view of al-Shahrastani as an objective cataloguer of sectarian divisions.


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