The writings of Fatimid Ismaili intellectuals emphasize the importance of understanding the world and faith by maintaining a proper balance between their exterior, physical, literal, and apparent forms (their ẓāhir) and their esoteric, spiritual, symbolic, and intellectual realities (their bāṭin). The process used by the luminaries of this Mediterranean Muslim empire to evince the latter from the former is known as taʾwīl, or symbolic interpretation. This article analyzes the concept of taʾwīl, focussing on its Ismaili form; introduces the Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation (Asas at-taʾwīl) of Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān, one of the preeminent authors of works of this genre; analyzes the concept of sacred biography, hierohistory and the spiritual hierarchy (ḥudūd al-dīn) as elaborated in this text; and then translates a portion of the Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation about the birth of Jesus (Qur. 3:42–48) as an example of this esoteric approach to sacred history.
Key words: Jesus, taʾwīl (symbolic interpretation), Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān, Fatimids
DOI: 10.22250/2072-8662-2026-2-56-72
About the author
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Shafique N. Virani – Distinguished Professor of Islamic Studies at the Department of Religious Studies, University of Toronto, Canada; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |