for the technical discussions, the endless support and the friendship. Thanks to Jessie, Guixia, Dan, Roger and Maran who are sharing my same experience at Siemens AG. Last but not least, I would like to thank my family. In Italy: my mother, my father, my brothers and all my relatives in Saccolongo. In Germany: my wife Corinna to whom this thesis is dedicated.

This article explores the influence of local concepts of matrilineal kinship and descent through women in the construction of a modern Sufi silsila (an authorized ‘chain’ of spiritual and genealogical ancestry) in Sri Lanka. Makkattar Vappa, a popular Sufi shaykh in the Tamil-speaking eastern region of the island, asserts hereditary maulana (sayyid) status as a member of the Prophet’s household...

The article presents a part of Russian translation (with an introduction and commentaries) the important treatise: Dalil al-mutahayyirin (A Guide for Perplexed) by Sayyid Kazim Rashti, one founders Shaykhi school. work is dated 1842. made from Arabic original two Persian translations treatise.

this article studies sir walter scott’s use of the family-as-nation trope in ivanhoe and anne of geierstein. the importance of this trope in his figuration of nationhood is discerned by carrying out a close reading of the texts and placing them in their historical context, which primarily consists of a comparison with edmund burke and maria edgeworth. consequently, his position is revealed as b...