About

Ismaili qasida is a form of devotional poetry cultivated among Ismailis of Persian heritage, rooted in the wider Persian literary and musical tradition of religious verse. Emerging within a milieu where music and recited poetry have long been integral to Muslim piety, Qasidas articulate love, praise, and supplication towards God and the Imam through highly crafted poetic language and melodic performance. Over centuries of Ismaili presence in Persia, especially during periods of close interaction with Sufi communities, Qasidas have absorbed shared symbols and terminology, resulting in a rich corpus that reflects both distinctive Ismaili theology and broader currents of Persian mystical expression.

The purpose of this website is to digitally document the oral tradition of Ismaili qasidas and to make this heritage accessible to performers, scholars, and the wider community.