Book dossier

Songs of wisdom and circles of dance

by Tazim R. Kassam

Coursing through cultures and time, tuneful verse has given moving expression to the human longing for the divine. As poetry strung on sweet melodies, hymns bear testimony to the religious life of the devout, and to the inspiring teachings of minstrels and saints. Such is the ginan tradition of the Satpanth Ismailis, Indian successors of the Fatimid and Nizari Ismaili sect of the Shiah Muslims. Traditionally recited during daily ritual prayers, ginans have been revered for generations among the Satpanth Ismailis as sacred compositions. This work offers for the first time an extensive translation of hymns attributed to the Ismaili saint-composer, Pir Shams (ca. 13th century), who is at once one of the most pivotal and yet most enigmatic figures of this literary tradition.