The complete original Arabic text of Dā‘im al-Islām (edited by A.A.A. Fyzee) is available in PDF format through academic repositories. Non-Arabic speakers would need fluency in classical Arabic.
Many universities—Harvard, SOAS, McGill, Aligarh Muslim University—hold copies. Use WorldCat to find a library near you that offers digital lending.
The title literally translates to "The Pillars of Islam." However, unlike the well-known five pillars in Sunni Islam, the Ismaili framework, as expounded by Qadi al-Nu’man, includes both outward (zahir) and inward (batin) dimensions. Daim Al-islam English Pdf
Unlike many legal texts that rely on analogical reasoning (qiyas) or consensus (ijma), Daim al-Islam strictly references the sayings and practices of the Imams from the lineage of the Prophet through Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatima al-Zahra. It is considered the Hadith collection of the Ismaili tradition, parallel to Al-Kafi in Twelver Shi’ism or Sahih al-Bukhari in Sunnism.
In the landscape of Islamic legal history, the formulation of a distinct school of jurisprudence (madhhab) is often the marker of a community’s theological maturation. For the Ismaili Shi‘i tradition, this maturation was achieved under the auspices of the Fatimid Caliphate (909–1171 CE). The crowning achievement of this legal codification is Da‘a’im al-Islam (The Pillars of Islam), authored by the prolific jurist al-Qadi Abu Hanifa al-Nu‘man ibn Muhammad (d. 974 CE). The complete original Arabic text of Dā‘im al-Islām
While Ismaili thought is frequently characterized by its esoteric philosophy (hikmah), Da‘a’im al-Islam provides the necessary exoteric framework. It stands as the mother text of the Musta‘li Ismaili tradition, specifically followed by the Dawoodi Bohra community. In the contemporary era, the availability of Da‘a’im al-Islam in English—often disseminated digitally via PDF—has bridged the gap between classical Fatimid scholarship and a modern, globalized laity.
This is the most frequently asked question. Why is there no English PDF for the second volume? The title literally translates to "The Pillars of Islam
Several volumes have been translated into English by Western and Ismaili scholars, particularly under the supervision of the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in London. These are often available as PDFs through academic libraries or platforms like Academia.edu (uploaded by researchers). Key translated volumes include:
Note: These are copyrighted publications (Oxford University Press for the IIS). Free PDFs found online may be unauthorized copies. For legitimate access, check academic databases or purchase the e-book.