Farhad Daftary

Farhad Daftary's books examine Ismaili history, Shi'i thought, intellectual traditions, institutions, and the narratives through which communities are represented. The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines follows changes in belief, authority, and organization across a long historical arc.

Ismaili History and Intellectual Traditions places doctrine beside philosophy, literature, and practices of interpretation. A History of Shi'i Islam broadens the frame to consider how political developments and doctrinal distinctions shape one another. Across this work, sources and inherited stories are treated critically rather than as interchangeable evidence. Myths, polemics, and later retellings are examined in context, allowing the reader to see not only what an account claims but also how historical knowledge is assembled, challenged, and revised.