‘Islamic Research Association’ in colonial Bombay and the making of modern Isma’ilism

Abstract

This paper will attempt to situate the establishment of the IRA to understand how not just scholars from the two competing Ismaili communities, but also from the majority Sunni community came together to make it a successful research body. The IRA also serves to offer an interesting model of Isma’ili modernism as important scholars who furthered the study of Isma’ili history and theology established fraternal ties with prominent Sunni scholars like Syed Sulaiman Nadvi and others. Moreover, Islamic scholars from foreign shores too were made members of the IRA.