The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran : Rural Revolt and Local Zoroastrianism

This Learned And Engaging Study Casts New Light On The Nature Of Religion In Pre-islamic Iran And On The Persistence Of Iranian Religious Beliefs Both Outside And Inside Islam After The Arab Conquest-- Patricia Crone's Latest Book Is About The Iranian Response To The Muslim Penetration Of The Iranian Countryside, The Revolts Subsequently Triggered There, And The Religious Communities That These Revolts Revealed. The Book Also Describes A Complex Of Religious Ideas That, However Varied In Space And Unstable Over Time, Has Demonstrated A Remarkable Persistence In Iran Across A Period Of Two Millennia. The Central Thesis Is That This Complex Of Ideas Has Been Endemic To The Mountain Population Of Iran And Occasionally Become Epidemic With Major Consequences For The Country, Most Strikingly In The Revolts Examined Here, And In The Rise Of The Safavids Who Imposed Shi'ism On Iran. This Learned And Engaging Book By One Of The Most Influential Scholars Of Early Islamic History Casts Entirely New Light On The Nature Of Religion In Pre-islamic Iran, And On The Persistence Of Iranian Religious Beliefs Both Outside And Inside Islam After The Arab Conquest-- Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Introduction; Part I. The Revolts: 2. The Jibal: Sunbadh, The Muslimiyya; 3. Azerbaijan: Babak; 4. Khurasan: Muhammira, Khidashiyya, Rawandiyya, Harithiyya; 5. Sogdia And Turkestan: Ishaq; 6. Sogdia: Al-muqanna And The Mubayyida; 7. South-eastern Iran: Bihafaridh, Ustadhsis, And Yusuf Al-barm; 8. The Nature Of The Revolts; 9. The Aftermath; Part Ii. The Religion: 10. God, Cosmology, And Eschatology; 11. Divine Indwelling; 12. Reincarnation; 13. Ethos, Organisation, Overall Character; 14. Khurrami Beliefs In Pre-islamic Sources; 15. Regional And Official Zoroastrianism: Doctrines; 16. Regional And Official Zoroastrianism On The Ground; Part Iii. Women And Property: 17. 'wife-sharing'; 18. The Mazdakite Utopia And After; Part Iv. Conclusion: 19. Iranian Religion Versus Islam And Inside It; Appendices. Patricia Crone. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Patricia Crone's latest book is about the Iranian response to the Muslim penetration of the Iranian countryside, the revolts subsequently triggered there, and the religious communities that these revolts revealed. The book also describes a complex of religious ideas that, however varied in space and unstable over time, has demonstrated a remarkable persistence in Iran across a period of two millennia. The central thesis is that this complex of ideas has been endemic to the mountain population of Iran and occasionally become epidemic with major consequences for the country, most strikingly in the revolts examined here, and in the rise of the Safavids who imposed Shi'ism on Iran. This learned and engaging book by one of the most influential scholars of early Islamic history casts entirely new light on the nature of religion in pre-Islamic Iran, and on the persistence of Iranian religious beliefs both outside and inside Islam after the Arab conquest"-- Provided by publisher Frontmatter Preface (page vii) Maps (page xii) I Introduction (page 1) I. THE REVOLTSA. Western Iran B. Eastern Iran II. THE RELIGIONA. Reconstructing the Beliefs B. Khurramī Beliefs and Zoroastrianism III. WOMEN AND PROPERTY IV. CONCLUSION Appendix 1. Sharon and the Khidāshiyya (page 495) Appendix 2. Widengren on Bābak's Mithraic Wedding Ceremony (page 498) Works Cited and Abbreviations (page 501) Index (page 543)