04840cam a22006738i 4500 ocn958625709 OCoLC 20200709060442.0 m d cr ||||||||||| 160916s2016 scu ob 001 0 eng 2016042971 DLC eng rda pn DLC OCLCO N$T OCLCO IDEBK P@U OCLCO YDX CCO OCLCF OCLCO COCUF VLB OTZ OCLCQ OCLCO OCLCQ VTS JSTOR 960277797 960711597 9781611176797 (electronic bk.) 1611176794 (electronic bk.) 9781611176780 (hardback) 1611176786 (hardback) 1221955 (N$T) (OCoLC)958625709 (OCoLC)960277797 (OCoLC)960711597 22573/ctv6vqw04 JSTOR pcc BP195.I8 REL 037000 bisacsh REL 000000 bisacsh 297.8/22 23 REL000000 REL037000 bisacsh MAIN Hollenberg, David, author. Beyond the Quran : early Ismaili taʼwil and the secrets of the prophets / David Hollenberg. 1610 Columbia, South Carolina : University of South Carolina Press, 2016. 1 online resource text txt rdacontent computer n rdamedia online resource nc rdacarrier "Ismailism, one of the three major branches of Shiism, is best known for taʼwil, an esoteric, allegorizing scriptural exegesis. Beyond the Qurʼan: Early Ismaili taʼwil and the Secrets of the Prophets is the first book-length study of this interpretive genre. Analyzing sources composed by tenth-century Ismaili missionaries in light of social-science theories of cognition and sectarianism, David Hollenberg argues that the missionaries used taʼwil to instill in acolytes a set of symbolic patterns, forms, and "logics." This shared symbolic world bound the community together as it created a gulf between community members and those outside the movement. Hollenberg thus situates taʼwil socially, as an interpretive practice that sustained a community of believers. An important aspect of taʼwil is its unconventional objects of interpretation. Ismaili missionaries mixed Qurʼanic exegesis with interpretation of Torah, Gospels, Greek philosophy, and symbols such as the Christian Cross and Eucharist, as well as Jewish festivals. Previously scholars have speculated that this extra- Qurʼanic taʼwil was intended to convert Jews and Christians to Ismailism. Hollenberg, departing from this view, argues that such interpretations were, like Ismaili interpretations of the Qurʼan, intended for an Ismaili audience, many of whom converted to the movement from other branches of Shiism. Hollenberg argues that through exegesis of these unconventional sources, the missionaries demonstrated that their imam alone could strip the external husk from all manner of sources and show the initiates reality in its pure, unmediated form, an imaginal world to which they alone had access. They also fulfilled the promise that their imam would teach them the secrets behind all religions, a sign that the initial stage of the end of days had commenced. Beyond the Qurʼan contributes to our understanding of early Ismaili doctrine, Fatimid rhetoric, and, more broadly, the use of esoteric literatures in the history of religion"-- Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references and index. Print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed. Master record variable field(s) change: 072 Qurʼan Criticism, interpretation, etc. History. Qurʼan. fast (OCoLC)fst01842877 Ismailites History. RELIGION General. bisacsh RELIGION Islam General. bisacsh Ismailites. fast (OCoLC)fst00980134 RELIGION / General bisacsh Electronic books. Criticism, interpretation, etc. fast (OCoLC)fst01411635 History. fast (OCoLC)fst01411628 Print version: Hollenberg, David. Beyond the Quran. Columbia, South Carolina : University of South Carolina Press, 2016 9781611176780 (DLC) 2016028744 EBSCOhost http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1221955 EBSCOhost http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&AN=1221955 EBSCOhost EBSC 1221955 ProQuest MyiLibrary Digital eBook Collection IDEB cis36115276 Project MUSE MUSE muse53957 YBP Library Services YANK 13108626 92 N$T 56799 56799