An introduction to Shiʻi Islam : the history and doctrines of Twelver Shiʻism

This book is a general introduction to Shi'i Islam-specifically to Twelver Shi'ism, to which the majority of Shi'is belong today. It deals with the history and development of this important religion, giving an account of Shi'i doctrines and focusing in particular on those areas in which it differs from Sunni Islam. "Momen's book fills an important gap in the general literature in English on Twelver Shi'ism, and should be carefully studied by anyone who wants to know more about what is happening in the Middle East today....This is a fine work which deserves the widest possible readership."-Malise Ruthven, The Middle East "An extremely useful reference source on the establishment and evolution of the Shi'ite branch of the Islamic religion."-Cecil V. Crabb, Jr., Perspective "An unpretentious style, interpretive clarity and . . . sound judgment characterize Momen's writings. The various aspects of Twelver Shi'ism are carefully distinguished to satisfy both the general reader and the aspiring student."-Norman Calder, Times Literary Supplement "Specialist and nonspecialist alike will benefit from its lucid exposition of both elite and popular Shi'ism. Especially valuable is the way the work presents modern critical scholarship on Shi'i history alongside the orthodox history, which still has great influence on the religion's self-understanding."-Mel Piehl, Library Journal Moojan Momen has written extensively on Iran and Middle East religion Frontispiece......Page 1 Contents......Page 4 List of Illustrations......Page 5 Foreword......Page 6 Preface......Page 7 A Note on Transliteration, Pronunciation and Technical Terms......Page 8 Glossary......Page 10 1. An Outline of the Life of Muhammad and the Early History of Islam......Page 12 2. The Question of the Succession to Muhammad......Page 17 The Events at the Saqifa......Page 21 The Imamate of 'Ali......Page 23 Hasan, the Second Imam......Page 25 Husayn, the Third Imam......Page 26 'Ali, Zaynu'l-'Abidin, the Fourth Imam......Page 29 Muhammad al-Baqir, the Fifth Imam......Page 30 Musa al-Kazim, the Seventh Imam......Page 31 'Ali ar-Rida, the Eighth Imam......Page 32 'Ali al-Hadi, the Tenth Imam......Page 33 EARLY DIVISIONS AMONG THE SHI'IS......Page 34 2. The Kaysaniyya......Page 35 3. The Zaydiyya......Page 36 5. The Mughiriyya......Page 37 8. The Baqiriyya......Page 38 12. The Isma'iliyya or Sab'iyya......Page 39 16. The Ahmadiyya......Page 40 c. The Muhammadiyya......Page 41 4. Early History of Shi'i Islam, AD 632-1000......Page 42 The First Four Caliphs and the Umayyad Dynasty (AD 632-750)......Page 43 The Ghulat......Page 44 Other Shi'i Groups......Page 46 The 'Abbasid Period (132/750-334/945)......Page 47 Political Developments......Page 49 Doctrinal Developments and the Ulama......Page 50 Geographical Spread......Page 53 Political Developments......Page 55 The Popular Religion......Page 56 Political Developments......Page 57 The Ulama......Page 59 Geographical Spread......Page 60 Sufism and the Popular Religion......Page 61 Political Developments under Shah Isma'il......Page 64 Shah Isma'il's Religious Policy......Page 65 Shah Tahmasp......Page 66 Shah 'Abbas I......Page 67 Shah Sulayman......Page 68 The Ulama of the Late Safavid Period......Page 69 The Usuli-Akhbari Division......Page 70 Shi'ism in the Arab World......Page 71 Shi'ism in India......Page 72 Geographical Spread......Page 73 Political Developments......Page 74 The Ulama......Page 75 Shi'ism in other lands......Page 76 The Ulama during the Reigns of Fath 'Ali Shah and Muhammad Shah......Page 77 The Ulama during the Reigns of Nasiru'd-Din and Muzaffaru'd-Din Shahs......Page 81 Shi'ism in Arab Lands......Page 83 Shi'ism in India......Page 84 The Continuity of the Imamate......Page 85 The Station of the Imams......Page 86 A. The Conferment of the Imamate by Designation or Covenant......Page 88 A. Knowledge ('Ilm)......Page 89 The Necessity of Recognising the Imam......Page 90 Rational Proofs for the Imamate......Page 91 8. The Twelfth Imam, His Occultation and Return......Page 92 The Lesser Occultation......Page 93 The Doctrine of Occultation......Page 94 Signs of the Return of the Imam Mahdi......Page 95 Consequences of the Occultation of the Twelfth Imam......Page 97 The Traditions (Hadith)......Page 98 Independent Investigation and Blind Imitation......Page 99 5. 'Adl (Divine Justice)......Page 100 4. The One-Fifth Tax (Khums)......Page 101 3. Visiting Shi'i Shrines (Ziyarat)......Page 102 7. Inheritance......Page 103 The Development of the Principles of Jurisprudence (Usul al-Fiqh)......Page 104 The Evolution of the Role of the Ulama......Page 106 The Ulama's Attitude Towards Political Authority......Page 107 The Theoretical Basis to the Ulama's Authority......Page 130 Other Sources of the Ulama's Authority and Social Prestige......Page 131 Education of the Ulama......Page 132 The Hierarchy of the Ulama......Page 133 The Finances of the Ulama......Page 135 Sufism......Page 136 Philosophy, Hikma and 'Irfan......Page 140 12. Schools within Twelver Shi'ism......Page 142 The Akhbari School......Page 143 The Shaykhi School......Page 144 The Babi Movement and the Baha'i Religion......Page 147 The Personal Religious Outlook......Page 148 The Pattern of Religious Life......Page 150 Religious Gatherings......Page 151 The Role and Position of Women......Page 154 The Religious Leadership......Page 155 The Constitutional Movement......Page 156 Muhammad Rida Shah......Page 157 Religious Developments in the 1960s and 1970s......Page 159 Iraq......Page 162 Lebanon......Page 164 Turkey......Page 166 Bahrain......Page 168 Kuwait......Page 169 India and Pakistan......Page 170 Africa......Page 171 The Shi'i World......Page 172 The 1979 Revolution......Page 173 After the Revolution......Page 176 Developments in Shi'ism since the Revolution......Page 180 Appendix I. A Chronology of Political and Religious Events in Shi'i History......Page 182 Appendix II. Shi'i Dynasties......Page 184 Appendix III. Biographies of Prominent Ulama......Page 187 Notes......Page 194 Select Bibliography......Page 204 Index......Page 213 Annotation This book is a general introduction to Shi'i Islam-specifically to Twelver Shi'ism, to which the majority of Shi'is belong today. It deals with the history and development of this important religion, giving an account of Shi'i doctrines and focusing in particular on those areas in which it differs from Sunni Islam

This book is a general introduction to Shi'i Islam-specifically to Twelver Shi'ism, to which the majority of Shi'is belong today. It deals with the history and development of this important religion, giving an account of Shi'i doctrines and focusing in particular on those areas in which it differs from Sunni Islam.