The Shii World

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The Shi'i World

Author : Farhad Daftary
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 0857729675
Total Pages : 310 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (577 download)

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Book Synopsis The Shi'i World by : Farhad Daftary

Download or read book The Shi'i World written by Farhad Daftary and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-09-25 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I.B.Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies The world's 200 million Shi'i Muslims express their faith in a multiplicity of ways, united by reverence for the ahl al-bayt, the family of the Prophet. In embracing a pluralistic ethic, fourteen centuries of Shi'i Islam have given rise to diverse traditions and practices across varied geographic and cultural landscapes. The Shi'i World is a comprehensive work authored by leading scholars from assorted disciplines, to provide a better understanding of how Shi'i communities view themselves and articulate their teachings. The topics range from Shi'i Islam's historical and conceptual foundations, formative figures and intellectual, legal and moral traditions, to its devotional practices, art and architecture, literature, music and cinema, as well as expressions and experiences of modernity. The book thus provides a panoramic perspective of the richly textured narratives that have shaped the social and moral universe of Shi'i Muslims around the globe.This fourth volume in the Muslim Heritage Series will appeal to specialists and general readers alike, as a timely resource on the prevailing complexities not only of the 'Muslim world', but also of the dynamic Shi'i diasporas of Europe and North America.

The Study of Shi'i Islam

Author : Gurdofarid Miskinzoda
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 0857735292
Total Pages : 640 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (577 download)

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Book Synopsis The Study of Shi'i Islam by : Gurdofarid Miskinzoda

Download or read book The Study of Shi'i Islam written by Gurdofarid Miskinzoda and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2014-01-08 with total page 640 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Shi'i Islam, with its rich and extensive history, has played a crucial role in the evolution of Islam as both a major world religion and civilization. The prolific achievements of Shi?i theologians, philosophers and others are testament to the spiritual and intellectual wealth of this community. Yet Shi?i studies has unjustly remained a long-neglected field, despite the important contribution that Shi'ism has made to Islamic traditions. Only in recent decades, partially spurred by global interest in political events of the Middle East, have scholars made some significant contributions in this area. The Study of Shi'i Islam presents papers originally delivered at the first international colloquium dedicated exclusively to Shi'i studies, held in 2010 at The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. Within the book are eight sections, namely, history, the Qur'an and its Shi'i interpretations, hadith, law, authority, theology, rites and rituals, and intellectual traditions and philosophy. Each section begins with an introduction contextualizing the aspects of studying Shi'i Islam particular to its theme, before going on to address topics such as the state of the field, methodology and tools, and the primary issues with which contemporary scholars of Shi'i studies are dealing. The scope and depth here covered makes this book of especial interest to researchers and students alike within the field of Islamic studies. The volume benefits from the diverse expertise of nearly 30 world-class scholars, including Mohammad-Ali Amir-Moezzi, Meir M. Bar-Asher, Farhad Daftary, Daniel De Smet, Gerald R. Hawting, Nader El-Bizri, Etan Kohlberg, Wilferd Madelung, Andrew Newman, Ismail K. Poonawala, Sabine Schmidtke and Paul E. Walker.

Shi'i Islam

Author : Najam Haider
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1107031435
Total Pages : 267 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (7 download)

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Book Synopsis Shi'i Islam by : Najam Haider

Download or read book Shi'i Islam written by Najam Haider and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2014-08-11 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the development of Shi'i Islam through the lenses of belief, narrative, and memory.

What is Shi'i Islam?

Author : Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1351604864
Total Pages : 224 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (516 download)

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Book Synopsis What is Shi'i Islam? by : Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi

Download or read book What is Shi'i Islam? written by Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-05-08 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For the public at large Shi’ism often implies a host of confused representations, suggesting more often than not obscurantism, intolerance, political violence and other ignominies running hot or cold in response to world events. In fact for many people, Shi’ism stands for "radical Islam", or – worse – "Islamic terrorism". In some respects, nothing is more familiar than Shi’ism, and yet nothing is more misunderstood. For some twenty years the media have increased their coverage of the phenomenon. Never, or only rarely, do they formulate the question we ask here: what is Shi’ism? What is this belief that inspires millions of people dispersed throughout the world? This book provides a broad based introduction to Shi’i Islam. It examines what the Shi’i believe, how they see themselves and how they view the world. It includes a thorough examination of doctrine, philosophy, the Shi’i approach to the Qur’an and the historical evolution of Shi’ism as a branch of Islam. Too often, and too quickly, the conclusion is drawn that Shi’ism is a marginal heretical sect, fundamentally alien to the deeper truth of the great religion of Islam, thrust by historical accident onto the political stage. Shi’ism either speaks the truth of Islam, meaning that it is a truth of terror, or it is entirely foreign to Islam and, therefore, merits outright rejection, as Islamic fundamentalists and some individuals repeatedly claim. This book intends to explain why such common misunderstandings of Shi’ism have taken root. Written in an accessible format and providing a thorough overview of Shi’ism, this book will be an essential text for students and scholars of Islamic Studies or Iranian Studies.

A History of Shi'i Islam

Author : Farhad Daftary
Publisher : I.B. Tauris
ISBN 13 : 9781780768410
Total Pages : 336 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (684 download)

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Book Synopsis A History of Shi'i Islam by : Farhad Daftary

Download or read book A History of Shi'i Islam written by Farhad Daftary and published by I.B. Tauris. This book was released on 2014-02-27 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I.B.Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies Shi'i Muslims have played a crucial role, proportionally greater than their relative size, in furthering the civilizational achievements of Islam. Indeed, the Shi'i scholars and literati of various branches and regions, including scientists, philosophers, theologians, jurists and poets, have made seminal contributions to Islamic thought and culture. There have also been numerous Shi'i dynasties, families or individual rulers who patronized scholars, poets and artists as well as various institutions of learning in Islam. In spite of its significance, however, Shi'i Islam has received little scholarly attention in the West, and when it has been discussed, whether in general or in terms of some of its subdivisions, it has normally been treated marginally as a 'sect' or a 'heterodoxy'. The present book draws on the scattered findings of modern scholarship in the field, attempting to explain the formative era of Shi'i Islam, when a multitude of Muslim groups and schools of thought were elaborating their doctrinal positions. Subsequent chapters are devoted to the history of the Ithna'asharis, or Twelvers, the Ismailis, the Zaydis and the Nusayris (now more commonly known in Syria as the Alawis), the four communities that account for almost the entirety of the Shi'i Muslim population of the world. The result is a comprehensive survey of Shi'i Islam that will serve as an accessible work of reference for academics in both Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, as well as the broader field of the History of Religions, and also more general, non-specialist readers.

Shi'a Minorities in the Contemporary World

Author : Scharbrodt Oliver Scharbrodt
Publisher : Edinburgh University Press
ISBN 13 : 1474430406
Total Pages : 391 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (744 download)

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Book Synopsis Shi'a Minorities in the Contemporary World by : Scharbrodt Oliver Scharbrodt

Download or read book Shi'a Minorities in the Contemporary World written by Scharbrodt Oliver Scharbrodt and published by Edinburgh University Press. This book was released on 2020-06-18 with total page 391 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Global migrations flows in the 20th century have seen the emergence of Muslim diaspora and minority communities in Europe, North America and other parts of the world. While there is a growing body of research on Muslim minorities in various regional contexts, the particular experiences of Shi'a Muslim minorities across the globe has only received scant attention.This book offers new comparative perspectives of Shi'a minorities outside of the so-called 'Muslim heartland' (the Middle East, North Africa, Central and South Asia). It includes contributions on Shi'a minority communities in Europe, North and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia that emerged out of migration from the Middle East and South Asia in the 20th and 21st centuries in particular. As a 'minority within a minority', Shi'a Muslims face the double challenge of maintaining as Islamic as well as a particular Shi'a identity in terms of communal activities and practices, public perception and recognition.

The Clash of Ideas in World Politics

Author : John M. Owen IV
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 140083676X
Total Pages : 349 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (8 download)

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Book Synopsis The Clash of Ideas in World Politics by : John M. Owen IV

Download or read book The Clash of Ideas in World Politics written by John M. Owen IV and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2010-07-19 with total page 349 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Some blame the violence and unrest in the Muslim world on Islam itself, arguing that the religion and its history is inherently bloody. Others blame the United States, arguing that American attempts to spread democracy by force have destabilized the region, and that these efforts are somehow radical or unique. Challenging these views, The Clash of Ideas in World Politics reveals how the Muslim world is in the throes of an ideological struggle that extends far beyond the Middle East, and how struggles like it have been a recurring feature of international relations since the dawn of the modern European state. John Owen examines more than two hundred cases of forcible regime promotion over the past five centuries, offering the first systematic study of this common state practice. He looks at conflicts between Catholicism and Protestantism between 1520 and the 1680s; republicanism and monarchy between 1770 and 1850; and communism, fascism, and liberal democracy from 1917 until the late 1980s. He shows how regime promotion can follow regime unrest in the eventual target state or a war involving a great power, and how this can provoke elites across states to polarize according to ideology. Owen traces how conflicts arise and ultimately fade as one ideology wins favor with more elites in more countries, and he demonstrates how the struggle between secularism and Islamism in Muslim countries today reflects broader transnational trends in world history.

Shi'i Islam and Identity

Author : Lloyd Ridgeon
Publisher : I.B. Tauris
ISBN 13 : 9781848856493
Total Pages : 248 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (564 download)

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Book Synopsis Shi'i Islam and Identity by : Lloyd Ridgeon

Download or read book Shi'i Islam and Identity written by Lloyd Ridgeon and published by I.B. Tauris. This book was released on 2012-10-23 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the Civil War in Lebanon to the Iranian Revolution of 1978-79, from the dismantling of the Ba'athist regime in Iraq to the virtual splintering of the country; and from the chaos in Afghanistan to the victimisation of the Hazaras by the Taliban. Shi'i communities around the world have suffered from wars, revolutions and hostility. These problems, in different ways, have all involved a configuration of complicated events, a heritage of historical factors and interntional power politics that defy simplistic explanations. Here, Lloyd Ridgeon brings together an investigation of the nature of contemporary Shi'ism. He and his collaborators here focus on the creation of identities- showing the diversity of thought within the Shi'i world. They demonstrate the transnational nature of Shi'i networs and the forces of tradition and modernity influencing current developments in Shi'i identity both in the Middle East and in the West. This volume looks at both the attempts of authorities to construct a cohesive Shi'i identity (by using, for example, Iranian school books as an indicator of sanctioned facets of what it means to be Iranian) as well as the ways in which identity is created and developed by minority groups in the Diaspora. It also offers an analysis of the Hazaras of Afghanistan- so often overlooked when attempts to understand Afghanistan are made. It is this ethnic minority, which was so marginalised and victimised under the Taliban that offers an example of the trend of the rise of Islamism amongst the Shi'a. Moreover, by looking further afield to the Shi'a of Senegal, and asking the question of whether the Alevis of Turkey comprise part of the global Shi'i community, this book emphasizes the ways in which traditional patterns of social organisation are being transformed. Shi'i Islam and Identity highlights these global networks, and shows that it is inaccurate to speak of a 'Shi'i Crescnt'; rather, Shi'i worlds range from Senegal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq, to Turkey, Albania and to European capitals such as London and Berlin. This book is thus of interest to those looking at modern religion and its contemporary forms, as well as those researching Shi'ism more specifically.

America's Role in the World

Author : Phillip Margulies
Publisher : Infobase Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1438117426
Total Pages : 369 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (381 download)

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Book Synopsis America's Role in the World by : Phillip Margulies

Download or read book America's Role in the World written by Phillip Margulies and published by Infobase Publishing. This book was released on 2009 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examines the detailed history of American foreign policy and America's debate over the direction its foreign policy should take in the future.

Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World

Author : Orkhan Mir-Kasimov
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1838604871
Total Pages : 529 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (386 download)

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Book Synopsis Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World by : Orkhan Mir-Kasimov

Download or read book Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World written by Orkhan Mir-Kasimov and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2019-11-14 with total page 529 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies How has the Ismaili branch of Shi'i Islam interacted with other Islamic communities throughout history? The groups and movements that make up Islamic civilisation are diverse and varied yet, while scholarship has analysed many branches of Islam in isolation, the exchanges and mutual influences between them has not been sufficiently recognised. This book traces the interactions between Ismaili intellectual thought and the philosophies of other Islamic groups to shed light on the complex and interwoven nature of Islamic civilisation. Based on a broad range of primary sources from the early medieval to the late nineteenth century, the book brings together different disciplines within Islamic Studies to cover polemical and doctrinal literature, law, mysticism, rituals and philosophy. The main Ismaili groups, such as the Fatimids, Nizaris and Tayyibis, are represented, as well as lesser known traditions such as that associated with the mountain region of Badakhshan in Central Asia. Religious syncretism, particularly in the Indian subcontinent and in Yemen, is considered alongside cultural interactions as reflected in the circulation of books in Fatimid markets, and various literary and mythical traditions, some still little explored. The chapters include contributions from leading experts in the field shed new light on the close and complex relationships very different Islamic groups and movements have enjoyed throughout the centuries.

Shi’i Sectarianism in the Middle East

Author : Elisheva Machlis
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1786739518
Total Pages : 328 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (867 download)

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Book Synopsis Shi’i Sectarianism in the Middle East by : Elisheva Machlis

Download or read book Shi’i Sectarianism in the Middle East written by Elisheva Machlis and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2014-09-17 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The eruption of violent sectarianism in Iraq following the US invasion in 2003 brought the question of Sunni-Shi'i relations in the country to the forefront of the international public agenda. It also strengthened the popular belief that contemporary Shi'ism is inherently sectarian. Yet several decades earlier, Ayatollah Khomeini had declared an Islamic revolution and downplayed its Shi'i origins and links. So what is the true orientation of Shi'i Islam in the contemporary era and how did modernisation alter its sectarian affiliation? This book contends that early Shi'i reformist thought set the foundations for a more universal-oriented Shi'ism. Prominent reformists in the first half of the twentieth century from the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf in Iraq and from the Shi'i centres in Southern Lebanon played a significant role in the renewal of Shi'ism and laid the groundwork for its reinvention in the modern era. Exploring this shift towards a more ecumenical perception of Islam, Elisheva Machlis here provides a fresh perspective on inter-sectarian relations in contemporary Iraq and illuminates the intellectual roots of the Islamic revolution, by examining networks of Shi'i scholars such as Mu?ammad ?usayn K?shif al-Ghi??' and Mu?sin al-Am?n al-'?mil?, operating within a more globalised Muslim world. Drawing on the experiences of early Shi'i reformists, such as 'Abd al-?usayn Sharaf al-D?n al-M?saw? in Lebanon and Mu?ammad Jaw?d Mughniyya in Damascus, this book gives new insight on the future of inter-Muslim relations at a time of growing inter-sectarian contention, from the Iran-Iraq war to the post-2003 Sunni-Shi'i conflict in Iraq and al-Qa'ida's anti-Shi'i message, taking into account questions of theology, historiography, jurisprudence and politics which all played a vital role in the transition to the contemporary era. The author here analyses the broad scholarly connections between Iran, Iraq and Lebanon in the twentieth century, while debating paramount questions of leadership, identity and group membership in the development of modern Shi'ism. Examining the relationship between intellectual thought and socio-political development in the region, this book provides a new perspective concerning the future of an increasingly globalised Muslim world and will prove essential reading for students and specialists.

Roman Catholics and Shi'i Muslims

Author : James A. Bill
Publisher : Univ of North Carolina Press
ISBN 13 : 9780807854990
Total Pages : 214 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (549 download)

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Book Synopsis Roman Catholics and Shi'i Muslims by : James A. Bill

Download or read book Roman Catholics and Shi'i Muslims written by James A. Bill and published by Univ of North Carolina Press. This book was released on 2003-08-01 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This timely work explores two influential religious traditions that might seem to have little in common: Twelver Shi'i Islam and Roman Catholicism. With the worldwide rise of religious fundamentalism, it is imperative that religious movements such as Chri

Shi'i Cosmopolitanisms in Africa

Author : Mara A. Leichtman
Publisher : Indiana University Press
ISBN 13 : 0253016053
Total Pages : 316 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (53 download)

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Book Synopsis Shi'i Cosmopolitanisms in Africa by : Mara A. Leichtman

Download or read book Shi'i Cosmopolitanisms in Africa written by Mara A. Leichtman and published by Indiana University Press. This book was released on 2015-08-27 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mara A. Leichtman offers an in-depth study of Shi'i Islam in two very different communities in Senegal: the well-established Lebanese diaspora and Senegalese "converts" from Sunni to Shi'i Islam of recent decades. Sharing a minority religious status in a predominantly Sunni Muslim country, each group is cosmopolitan in its own way. Leichtman provides new insights into the everyday lives of Shi'i Muslims in Africa and the dynamics of local and global Islam. She explores the influence of Hizbullah and Islamic reformist movements, and offers a corrective to prevailing views of Sunni-Shi'i hostility, demonstrating that religious coexistence is possible in a context such as Senegal.

Social Formations in the Medieval World

Author : Rakesh Kumar
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 1040027601
Total Pages : 216 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (4 download)

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Book Synopsis Social Formations in the Medieval World by : Rakesh Kumar

Download or read book Social Formations in the Medieval World written by Rakesh Kumar and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2024-06-07 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book encapsulates a period of history of human progress by highlighting crucial social, economic, and cultural dynamics. It presents recent historiography and new analytical tools used to analyse multi-dimensional themes involved in social formation. This is a reader-friendly book with simple and lucid language and fulfils the pressing needs of students studying the paper ‘Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of Ancient and Medieval World’ at various universities across the world. The summary, keywords, and representative questions at the end of each chapter would assist in revision and better understanding of the issues dealt therein. A detailed chapter-end reference would enable and motivate the readers to engage in further studies for better understanding of the themes. This book will be of interest to students, researchers, and academics in the area of history—ancient and medieval world history in particular and anthropology. It will also be an interesting read for general readers interested in knowing about the ancient and medieval world.

The Caliph and the Imam

Author : Toby Matthiesen
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 019252920X
Total Pages : 961 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (925 download)

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Book Synopsis The Caliph and the Imam by : Toby Matthiesen

Download or read book The Caliph and the Imam written by Toby Matthiesen and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2023-02-07 with total page 961 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The authoritative account of the sectarian division that for centuries has shaped events in the Middle East and the Islamic world. In 632, soon after the prophet Muhammad died, a struggle broke out among his followers as to who would succeed him. The majority argued that the new leader of Islam should be elected by the community's elite. Others believed only members of Muhammad's family could lead. This dispute over who should guide Muslims, the appointed Caliph or the bloodline Imam, marks the origin of the Sunni-Shii split in Islam. Toby Matthiesen explores this hugely significant division from its origins to the present day. Moving chronologically, his book sheds light on the many ways that it has shaped the Islamic world, outlining how over the centuries Sunnism and Shiism became Islams two main branches, particularly after the Muslim Empires embraced sectarian identity. It reveals how colonial rule institutionalised divisions between Sunnism and Shiism both on the Indian subcontinent and in the greater Middle East, giving rise to pan-Islamic resistance and Sunni and Shii revivalism. It then focuses on the fall-out from the 1979 revolution in Iran and the US-led military intervention in Iraq. As Matthiesen shows, however, though Sunnism and Shiism have had a long and antagonistic history, most Muslims have led lives characterised by confessional ambiguity and peaceful co-existence. Tensions arise when sectarian identity becomes linked to politics. Based on a synthesis of decades of scholarship in numerous languages, The Caliph and the Imam will become the standard text for readers looking for a deeper understanding of contemporary sectarian conflict and its historical roots.

The Shi‘a in Modern South Asia

Author : Justin Jones
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 110710890X
Total Pages : 219 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (71 download)

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Book Synopsis The Shi‘a in Modern South Asia by : Justin Jones

Download or read book The Shi‘a in Modern South Asia written by Justin Jones and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2015-05-14 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ""Explores various Shi'i communities across South Asia, revealing the many forms of Shi'i religion within this important region, and examining the responses of these communities to the many transformations of the modern world"--Provided by publisher"--

DISCOVERING SHI‘I ISLAM

Author : Mohammad Ali Shomali
Publisher : Risalat International Institute
ISBN 13 : 1838077960
Total Pages : 91 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (38 download)

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Book Synopsis DISCOVERING SHI‘I ISLAM by : Mohammad Ali Shomali

Download or read book DISCOVERING SHI‘I ISLAM written by Mohammad Ali Shomali and published by Risalat International Institute . This book was released on with total page 91 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The present work is a summarized version of Shi‘i Islam: Origins, Faith and Practices (2003, ICAS Press) by the same author. This shorter version aims to briefly address main issues related to Islam in general, and Shi‘i Islam in particular. These two works represent a modest attempt to fill some of the gaps that exist in the field of Islamic studies in general, and Shi‘i studies in particular. Though simply and clearly written, they are outcomes of more than twenty years of involvement in Islamic studies, and based to some extent on two series of lectures about Shi‘i Islam delivered to English-speaking audiences: a first set of some fifty lectures delivered at Jami‘at al-Zahra (a prominent Islamic seminary for women) in Qum, Iran in 1995 and 1996, and a second set of some thirty lectures delivered at the Manchester Islamic Institute and the Shi‘a Welfare Centre in Manchester, England in 1998 and 1999. The first chapter begins by expounding both the literal and technical meanings of the term “Shi‘a”, and references are made to statements of famous scholars in this regard. Then it proceeds to study the origins of Shi‘i Islam and how it became established. The second chapter studies the sources of Shi‘i thought, i.e. the Qur’an, the Sunnah, reason and consensus. Discussing 6 the status of the Qur’an, the chapter goes on to establish that the Shi‘a like other Muslims believe that the Qur’an which is present today is an embodiment of divine revelation to the Prophet Muhammad. The chapter continues by explaining the second most important source, i.e. the Sunnah, which includes the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an itself asks Muslims to take the Prophet as their role model, to refer to him to judge and settle their conflicts, and speaks of the Prophet as the one who recites, teaches and explains the Qur’an. In this chapter there is also a discussion about the household of the Prophet (Ahlul Bayt) and their role in presenting the Sunnah. Then there follows a discussion about the importance of reason and its role in understanding Islamic beliefs, values and practical laws. Finally there is a discussion about legal consensus and how it is viewed with respect to the Sunnah in the Shi‘i teachings. The third chapter studies fundamental doctrines of the Shi‘i faith. Along with Unity of God, prophethood and resurrection which constitute the principles of religion for Islam and other divine religions, some important additional doctrines such as divine justice and imamate are studied. These doctrines may partly be shared by other Muslims, but the Shi‘a are those who believe in all of them. The fourth chapter is a very brief account of Shi‘i practices along with brief references to the objectives and principles underlying them. These practices are in principle shared by all Muslims, though there may be some differences in particulars among different Islamic schools. The fifth and final chapter is a short discussion about the Shi‘a world today. This chapter starts with a brief account of 7 the latest statistics about the present Muslim and Shi‘i population of the world. There is also a breakdown of religious affiliations of some countries with a long history of Shi‘i presence. Although there are no accurate and approved statistics on the current Shi‘a population in the world, efforts have been made here to collect the best available.