An Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi'ism

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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 Contents List of Illustrations Foreword Preface A Note on Transliteration, Pronunciation and Technical Terms Acknowledgements Glossary 1. An Outline of the Life of Muhammad and the Early History of Islam 2. The Question of the Succession to Muhammad The Events at the Saqifa 3. The Lives of the Imams and Early Divisions among the Shi'is The Imamate of 'Ali Hasan, the Second Imam Husayn, the Third Imam 'Ali, Zaynu'l-'Abidin, the Fourth Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, the Fifth Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq, the Sixth Imam Musa al-Kazim, the Seventh Imam 'Ali ar-Rida, the Eighth Imam Muhammad at-Taqi, the Ninth Imam 'Ali al-Hadi, the Tenth Imam Hasan al-'Askari, the Eleventh Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi, the Twelfth Imam EARLY DIVISIONS AMONG THE SHI'IS During the Caliphate of 'Ali 1. The Saba'iyya After the Martyrdom of Husayn 2. The Kaysaniyya After the Imamate of Zaynu'l-Abidin 3. The Zaydiyya During the Imamates of Muhammad al-Baqir and Ja'far as-Sadiq 4. The Janahiyya 5. The Mughiriyya 6. The Mansuriyya or Kisfiyya 7. The Khattabiyya 8. The Baqiriyya After the Imamate of Ja'far as-Sadiq 9. The Ja'fariyya or Nawusiyya 10. The Aftahiyya or Fatahiyya 11. The Shumaytiyya or Sumaytiyya 12. The Isma'iliyya or Sab'iyya After the Death of Musa al-Kazim 13. The Musawiyya or Mamtura 14. The Bajaliyya 15. The Bashiriyya After the Imamate of 'Ali ar-Rida 16. The Ahmadiyya 17. The Mu'allifa 18. The Muhadditha After the Imamate of 'Ali al-Hadi 19. The Namiriyya, Nusayriyya, 'Alawiyya 20. The Muhammadiyya 21. The Pure Ja'fariyya After the Death of Hasan al-'Askari a. The Waqifiyya at Hasan al-'Askari b. The Cessation of the Imamate c. The Muhammadiyya d. The Ja'fariyya c. The Qat'iyya 4. Early History of Shi'i Islam, AD 632-1000 The First Four Caliphs and the Umayyad Dynasty (AD 632-750) The Ghulat Other Shi'i Groups The 'Abbasid Period (132/750-334/945) Beliefs of the Shi'a The Buyid Period (334/945-447/1055) Political Developments Doctrinal Developments and the Ulama The Popular Religion Geographical Spread 5. Shi'i Islam in the Medieval Period AD 1000-1500 The Seljuq Period (5th/11th-6th/12th Centuries) Political Developments The Ulama The Popular Religion Geographical Spread The Ilkhanid Period (7th/13th-8th/14th Centuries) Political Developments The Ulama The Sufi Orders Geographical Spread The Timurid Period (8th/14th-9th/15th Centuries) Political Developments The Ulama Sufism and the Popular Religion 6. Shi'i Islam in Modern Times AD 1500-1900 The Safavid Period (10th/16th-12th/18th Centuries) Political Developments under Shah Isma'il Shah Isma'il's Religious Policy Shah Tahmasp Shah 'Abbas I The School of Isfahan Shah Sulayman The Ulama of the Late Safavid Period The Usuli-Akhbari Division The Popular Religion Shi'ism in the Arab World Shi'ism in India Geographical Spread The Eighteenth Century Political Developments The Ulama Shi'ism in other lands The Nineteenth Century Political Developments under Fath 'Ali Shah and Muhammad Shah The Ulama during the Reigns of Fath 'Ali Shah and Muhammad Shah Political Developments under Nasiru'd-Din and Muzaffaru'd-Din Shahs The Ulama during the Reigns of Nasiru'd-Din and Muzaffaru'd-Din Shahs The Popular Religion Shi'ism in Arab Lands Shi'ism in India 7. The Imamate The Continuity of the Imamate The Station of the Imams Necessary Attributes of the Imams A. The Conferment of the Imamate by Designation or Covenant B. Immunity from Sin and Error C. He is the Best of Men Other Attributes of the Imams A. Knowledge ('Ilm) B. Spiritual Guidance (Walaya) The Necessity of Recognising the Imam Rational Proofs for the Imamate 8. The Twelfth Imam, His Occultation and Return The Lesser Occultation The Doctrine of Occultation The Doctrine of Return (Raj'a) Signs of the Return of the Imam Mahdi Consequences of the Occultation of the Twelfth Imam 9. Doctrines, Ritual Practices and Social Transactions The Qur'an The Traditions (Hadith) Independent Investigation and Blind Imitation The Fundamental Elements of the Religion (Usul ad-Din) 1. Tawhid (Divine Unity) 2. Nabuwwa (Prophethood) 3. Ma'ad (the Resurrection) 4. Imama (The Imamate) 5. 'Adl (Divine Justice) Ritual Practice ('Ibadat) 1. Obligatory Prayer (Salat or Namaz) 2. Fasting (Siyam, Sawm) 3. Alms (Zakat) 4. The One-Fifth Tax (Khums) 5. Pilgrimage (Hajj) 6. Religious War (Jihad) 7. Enjoining to Do Good (Amr bi'l-Ma'ruf) 8. Exhortation to Desist from Evil (Nahy 'an al-Munkar) Doctrines and Practices Specific to Shi'ism 1. Shi'i Doctrines 2. Prayers 3. Visiting Shi'i Shrines (Ziyarat) 4. Temporary Marriage (Mut'a) 5. Religious Dissimulation (Taqiyya) 6. Divorce (Talaq) 7. Inheritance 10. Shi'i Jurisprudence and the Religious Hierarchy The Development of the Principles of Jurisprudence (Usul al-Fiqh) The Evolution of the Role of the Ulama The Ulama's Attitude Towards Political Authority The Theoretical Basis to the Ulama's Authority Other Sources of the Ulama's Authority and Social Prestige Education of the Ulama The Hierarchy of the Ulama The Finances of the Ulama 11. Sufism, 'Irfan and Hikma Sufism Philosophy, Hikma and 'Irfan 12. Schools within Twelver Shi'ism The Akhbari School The Shaykhi School The Babi Movement and the Baha'i Religion 13. The Popular Religion The Personal Religious Outlook The Pattern of Religious Life Religious Gatherings The Role and Position of Women 14. Contemporary Shi'ism The Religious Leadership Iran The Constitutional Movement Rida Shah Pahlavi Muhammad Rida Shah Religious Developments in the 1960s and 1970s Iraq Lebanon Syria Turkey Bahrain Saudi Arabia Kuwait Other Gulf States India and Pakistan Afghanistan USSR Africa America and Europe The Shi'i World Iran: the 1979 Revolution and After The 1979 Revolution After the Revolution Developments in Shi'ism since the Revolution Appendix I. A Chronology of Political and Religious Events in Shi'i History Appendix II. Shi'i Dynasties Appendix III. Biographies of Prominent Ulama Notes Select Bibliography Index