al-Qadi an-Nu'man al-Maghribi (d. 363 AH) is one of the most prominent Ismaili scholars who authored numerous works across various branches of Islamic sciences and played a significant role in consolidating the Fatimid rule. Recently, a comprehensive study entitled "The Historical Evolution of Qadi Nu’man’s Works," written by the noted contemporary Ismaili researcher Ismail Poonawala, has been published. This work attempts to reveal the development and transformation of Qadi Nu’man’s ideas across various phases of his life, his intellectual zenith during the reign of al-Mu'izz al-Fatimi (d. 365 AH), and the shift in the themes of his writings following the composition of the Daa’im (The Pillars of Islam). The present article aims to critically analyze the content, structure, and sources of this study using a descriptive-analytical method.
Overall, the author’s rich background in Ismaili studies, use of primary sources, and familiarity with unpublished manuscripts of Qadi Nu’man’s works are among the strengths of this study. On the other hand, mistakes in dating some works, mistranslations of certain Arabic phrases into English, excessive and unwarranted repetitions, digressions from the main topic, and lengthy quotations from sources are significant shortcomings of this study.