The Caliph and the Imam : the making of Sunnism and Shiism

The authoritative account of Islam's schism 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. Most Muslims argued that the leader of Islam should be elected by the community's elite and rule as Caliph . They would later become the Sunnis. Others―who would become known as the Shia―believed that Muhammad had designated his cousin and son-in-law Ali as his successor, and that henceforth Ali's offspring should lead as Imams . This dispute over who should guide Muslims, the Caliph or the 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 Islam's two main branches, and how Muslim Empires embraced specific sectarian identities. Focussing on connections between the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East, it reveals how colonial rule and the modern state institutionalised sectarian divisions and at the same time led 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. Illuminates With Clarity And Insight A Centuries-old Sectarian Division That Continues To Shape Events In The Middle East And Around The World. In 632, Soon After The Prophet Muhammad Died, Fights Broke Out Among His Followers As To Who Would Succeed Him. A Small Number Of Muslims -- Who Would Become Known As The Shia -- Believed Only Members Of Muhammad's Family Should Lead. The Majority, However -- The Sunnis -- Insisted That The Leader Should Be Elected By The Community's Elite. This Initial Dispute Marks The Origin Of The Sunni-shia Split In Islam. In The Caliph And The Imam Middle East Scholar And Expert Toby Matthiesen Explores This Hugely Significant Division From Its Origins To The Present Day. Moving Chronologically, Matthiesen Sheds Light On How This Initial Divide Has Shaped And Continues To Influence Current Events In The Middle And Near East. His Book Spans From The 7th Century To The Present, And In Particular Focuses On One Of The Key Moments In The Conflict--the Saudi-iranian Divide, The Source Of So Much Conflict In The Middle East. Matthiesen Emphasizes The Period After The 1979 Iranian Revolution, Which Precipitated The First Recent Hot War In The Rivalry, Between Iran And Iraq, And He Reflects On Sunni And Shia Jihadists And Their Influence On The Political Landscape Of The World Today. Detailed, Thorough, And Illuminating, The Caliph And The Imam Will Become The Standard Text For Readers Looking For Greater Understanding Of The Region's Contemporary Conflicts And Their Historical Roots. Cover 1 THE CALIPH AND THE IMAM: The Making of Sunnism and Shiism 4 Dedication 5 Acknowledgements 6 Contents 10 List of Plates 12 List of Maps 14 Note on Spelling and Transliterations 16 Prologue: From Karbala to Damascus 36 PART I: The Formation of Sunnism and Shiism, 632–1500 46 1: After the Prophet 50 2: Sunni Reassertion and the Crusades 92 3: Polemics and Confessional Ambiguity 109 PART II: The Shaping of Muslim Empires, 1500–1800 136 4: The Age of Confessionalisation 140 5: Muslim Dynasties on the Indian Subcontinent 172 6: Reform and Reinvention in the Eighteenth Century 197 PART III: Empire and the State, 1800–1979 222 7: British India and Orientalism 226 8: Ottoman Reorganisation and European Intervention 256 9: The Mandates 276 10: The Muslim Response 305 PART IV: Revolution and Rivalry, 1979– 348 11: The Religion of Martyrdom 352 12: Export and Containment of Revolution 362 13: Regime Change 389 14: The Arab Uprisings 419 Conclusion: Every Place is Karbala 450 Endnotes 458 Prologue 458 Chapter 1 467 Chapter 2 501 Chapter 3 514 Chapter 4 536 Chapter 5 564 Chapter 6 581 Chapter 7 596 Chapter 8 619 Chapter 9 638 Chapter 10 659 Chapter 11 689 Chapter 12 695 Chapter 13 718 Chapter 14 738 Conclusion 763 Bibliography 766 Interviews 766 Journals 767 Websites 767 Unpublished PhDs 769 Unpublished Masters 774 Reports 774 Bibliography Entries 776 Encyclopedia Entries 776 Books and Articles 782 News Sources 933 Think Tank Publications 935 Index 936 "The authoritative account of Islam's schism 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. Most Muslims argued that the leader of Islam should be elected by the community's elite and rule as Caliph. They would later become the Sunnis. Others--who would become known as the Shia--believed that Muhammad had designated his cousin and son-in-law Ali as his successor, and that henceforth Ali's offspring should lead as Imams. This dispute over who should guide Muslims, the Caliph or the 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."--Dust jacket flap