Islamic groups: Shi’ah, Shi’ite Books
Lexington Books Shia Islam and Politics: Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon
Book SynopsisThis book argues that ever since Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, which established a Shia Islamic government in Iran, that country’s religious and political leaders, have used Shia Islam as a crucial way of expanding Iran’s objectives in the Middle East and beyond. Since 1979, Iran’s religious and political leaders have been concerned about Iran’s security in the face of the hostility and expansionism of the United States and other western countries, and the threats from powerful neighboring Sunni leaders and countries. While Iran’s government has attempted to align itself with Shia Muslims in various countries, such as Iraq and Lebanon, against American and Sunni expansionism, the Iranian government has attempted to religiously nourish and politically mobilize those Shias as a matter of principle, not only because of the Iranian government’s desires to protect Iran from external threats. The book analyzes Shia Islam and politics in Iraq, Iraq, and Lebanon which have among the largest proportional Shia populations in the Middle East and are vibrant centers of Shia intellectual life. The book's clear and jargon-free approach make it especially accessible for students and general readers who would like an introduction to the book's topics.Trade ReviewThis clear and accessible book presents historical, intellectual, political, and religious contexts for understanding Shia Islam and modern politics in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and beyond. Its comparative approach, comprehensive scope, and compelling insights make it enormously useful for students, scholars, and general readers. -- Berge Traboulsi, Haigazian UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPreface Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Iran during the Qajar and Pahlavi Dynasties Chapter 3: Iran’s Islamic Revolution and Its Aftermath Chapter 4: Iraq from the End of World War I to 1990 Chapter 5: Iraq from 1990 and Beyond Chapter 6: Lebanon Chapter 7: Future Prospects - Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and the United States BibliographyIndexAbout the Author
£76.50
Cornell University Press The Vanished Imam
Book SynopsisAjami resurrects the Shia's neglected history, both distant and recent, and interweaves the life and work of Musa al Sadr with the larger strands of the Shia past.Trade ReviewThe questions Ajami raises are likely to remain central; he is challenging some of the fundamental assumptions with which many Arab and Western students of Arab history and politics have worked in recent decades. -- Itamar Rabinovich * New Republic *The Vanished Imam offers much more than a utilitarian account of recent developments in Lebanon. It takes the raw stuff of daily politics and turns it into a classic account of human achievement and strife. The details are localbut Mr. Ajami endows the story with a universal significance. His tale of the stranger who transforms a people and thenwhen his work is donereenacts its most sacred dramahas the literary power of a masterpiece. -- Daniel Pipes * Wall Street Journal *
£23.19
HarperCollins Publishers In the Rose Garden of the Martyrs A Memoir of Iran
Book SynopsisA superb, authoritatively written insider’s account of Iran, one of the most mysterious but significant and powerful nations in the world.Trade Review'A mixture of history, reportage and analysis, this book helps to understand the "enigma inside a puzzle" that is Iran today … fascinating' Financial Times 'Riveting … I was intrigued and impressed … de Bellaigue has done his research well and reports meticulously' Literary Review
£10.44
Indiana University Press Shii Cosmopolitanisms in Africa
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIn popular and media portrayals of Islam, images of fundamentalism and global terrorism obscure more everyday understandings of the varied lives of Muslims around the world. Mara Leichtman's engaging book on Shi'ism in Senegal is a refreshing antidote. * American Ethnologist *This book provides an original and timely analysis of the dynamics of religion and race in transnational migration. . . . Leichtman's book is sure to make an impact on African studies but should be read by non- Africanists as well. * Journal of West African History *This book is highly recommended for anyone with interest in African and Middle Eastern Affairs, Islam and Religious Studies, and Peace Studies. * African Studies Quarterly *[Leichtman's] volume is a theoretically packed, historically grounded and ethnographically rich exploration into minority religious communities and their migrations. * Journal of Modern African Studies *Table of ContentsPreface: Islam and Politics AcknowledgmentsNote on Transliteration Introduction: Locating Cosmopolitan Shi'i Islamic Movements in Senegal Part I. The Making of a Lebanese Community in SenegalIntroduction to Part I.1. French Colonial Manipulation and Lebanese Survival 2. Senegalese Independence and the Question of Belonging 3. Shi'i Islam Comes to Town: A Biography of Shaykh al-Zayn 4. Bringing Lebanese "Back" to Shi'i Islam Part II. Senegalese Conversion to Shi'i Islam5. The Vernacularization of Shi'i Islam: Competition and Conflict 6. Migrating from One's Parents' Traditions: Narrating Conversion Experiences Interlude: 'Umar: Converting to an "Intellectual Islam" 7. The Creation of a Senegalese Shi'i Islam Coda: On Shi'i Islam, Anthropology, and Cosmopolitanism Glossary Notes References
£59.40
Indiana University Press Shii Cosmopolitanisms in Africa
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIn popular and media portrayals of Islam, images of fundamentalism and global terrorism obscure more everyday understandings of the varied lives of Muslims around the world. Mara Leichtman's engaging book on Shi'ism in Senegal is a refreshing antidote. * American Ethnologist *This book provides an original and timely analysis of the dynamics of religion and race in transnational migration. . . . Leichtman's book is sure to make an impact on African studies but should be read by non- Africanists as well. * Journal of West African History *This book is highly recommended for anyone with interest in African and Middle Eastern Affairs, Islam and Religious Studies, and Peace Studies. * African Studies Quarterly *[Leichtman's] volume is a theoretically packed, historically grounded and ethnographically rich exploration into minority religious communities and their migrations. * Journal of Modern African Studies *Table of ContentsPreface: Islam and Politics AcknowledgmentsNote on Transliteration Introduction: Locating Cosmopolitan Shi'i Islamic Movements in Senegal Part I. The Making of a Lebanese Community in SenegalIntroduction to Part I.1. French Colonial Manipulation and Lebanese Survival 2. Senegalese Independence and the Question of Belonging 3. Shi'i Islam Comes to Town: A Biography of Shaykh al-Zayn 4. Bringing Lebanese "Back" to Shi'i Islam Part II. Senegalese Conversion to Shi'i Islam5. The Vernacularization of Shi'i Islam: Competition and Conflict 6. Migrating from One's Parents' Traditions: Narrating Conversion Experiences Interlude: 'Umar: Converting to an "Intellectual Islam" 7. The Creation of a Senegalese Shi'i Islam Coda: On Shi'i Islam, Anthropology, and Cosmopolitanism Glossary Notes References
£21.59
Princeton University Press Reaching for Power
Book SynopsisTraces the role of the Shi'is in the struggle raging among Muslims for the soul of Islam. This book shows that in contrast to the growing militancy among Sunni groups since the 1990s, Shi'is have shifted their focus from confrontation to accommodation with the West. It addresses the crucial importance of Shi'is to US endeavors.Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2006 "Yitzhak Nakash's book, based on a vast array of sources in Arabic, is a precious guide to understanding the real stakes in the conflicts among different religious and political tendencies in Arab countries."--Gilles Kepel, American Prospect Reaching for Power is more than just the best recent introduction to Shi'i politics in the Arab world. By basing his study on mainly Arab sources, he offers a rare insight into the Shi'i political thought and their ways of commemorating their past."--Guido Steinberg, International Affairs "Well-written, timely, and generally accessible... Reaching for Power is timely and highly relevant. It is clearly suitable for a course on Middle East politics, and should make the recommended reading list for policy pundits and US government officials contemplating the future of Iraq."--Lara Deeb, Middle East Journal "In this quietly optimistic work, Nakash sees Shi'ism as taking a lead in inspiring reform in the Arab world."--Fiona Capp, The Age "Nakash predicted that Iraq could descend into civil war or could lead the way to revolutionary change throughout the Arab world. Unfortunately, the pessimistic view has, to date, proven correct... Nakash has written a book that will be eminently useful for professors and students who want to update the received wisdom that 'real' Islam is Sunni and Shi'i Islam is a minority sect mostly associated with Iran. It is clear that scholars and general readers need to learn more about yet another transformation within the Arab world, and this concise book is the place to start."--Nancy E. Gallagher, Digest of Middle East StudiesTable of ContentsPreface ix A Note on Transliteration xiii Prologue A Shi'i-Led Reformation 1 Chapter 1: The Burden of the Past 16 Chapter 2: Containment Politics in the Persian Gulf 42 Chapter 3: The Struggle for Power in Iraq 72 Chapter 4: The Revival of Shi'ism in Lebanon 99 Chapter 5: Between Aspirations and Reality 129 Conclusion 158 Abbreviations 165 Notes 167 Further Reading 207 Acknowledgments 211 Index 213
£25.20
Mainstay Foundation The Shia Identity Persecution Horizons
£8.60
Lexington Books Bahrain
Book SynopsisThe book is a study of political development in Bahrain during the first five years after its independence in 1971. It is based on field research done by the author as the first senior Fulbright scholar in that country. The book was banned in Bahrain for 30 years but was allowed to be published in Arabic in that country in 2006. The study focuses on the tribal structure of Bahraini society and the rule of a minority Sunni government by al-Khalifa family over a largely disenfranchised Shia majority. To examine the making of the new state, the book analyzes the nature and characteristics of the Bahraini tribal society, the educational system of modern Bahrain, the nature of the political system, and popular demands for participation in decision making. The book also examines the making of the new constitution, the first ever national election to both the Constitutional Assembly and the National Assembly, and the electoral campaigns and candidates. The book also discusses the restrictionsTrade ReviewBahrain, a small yet geopolitically prized and culturally complex country has been propelled to the headlines, but Emile Nakhleh was there first. His seminal account of Bahrain's political development brims with insights every bit as topical as today's news. I was not surprised to learn that the Arabic translation of the volume is much respected in Bahrain. Nakhleh's extensive fieldwork began not long after the Gulf state won independence. His intricate, richly detailed accounts of political socialization, government institutions and practices, as well as associational life remain relevant. Any serious reader interested in Gulf politics will want to have Nakhleh's rewarding study of Bahrain at hand, particularly to understand how political power and influence are sustained and wielded. -- Augustus Richard Norton, Boston UniversityTable of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Education and Bahrain's Political Development Chapter 3. Communication and Political Socialization: The Role of the Clubs and the Press Chapter 4. Labor and Political Development Chapter 5. Foreign Policy and Political Development Chapter 6. Toward a Democratic Structure: The Constitutional Assembly Chapter 7. The First National Election and the Formation of the Constitutional Assembly Chapter 8. Conclusion: Toward a Functional Model of Urban Tribalism
£39.60
Visual Studies of Modern Iran Qajar Shiite Material Culture From the Court of
Book Synopsis
£95.00
Edinburgh University Press ShiA Minorities in the Contemporary World
Book SynopsisOffers a set of new comparative perspectives on the experiences of Shi'a Muslim minorities outside the 'Muslim heartland' (Middle East, North Africa, Central and South Asia) and discusses the challenges these communities face as 'a minority within a minority'.
£24.69
Lexington Books Identities in Crisis in Iran
Book SynopsisIdentities in Crisis in Iran aims at finding answers to the questions about the puzzling character of the Iranian identity. The contributors acknowledge that identity, especially when it is faced with fundamental tensions as in the case of Iran, is a phenomenon that is constantly developing via factors involving the private self and common social components. This book addresses the tension many Iranian people face that lie between the Persian culture and the Shi'a religion, women versus men, and culture versus traditions.Trade ReviewThis collection of articles aims at the complicated character of the Iranian identity and provides interesting case studies for it. Lucid in both arguments and expositions this volume will be essential reading for anyone engaged in the study of Iran. -- Uzi Rabi, Tel Aviv UniversityIn this volume, the editor has assembled an interesting cast of novel insights on the complex, challenging, and interesting subject of identity in Iran, through the prisms of politics, culture, and religion. The combination of seasoned and junior Israeli and Iranian scholars discussing questions such as national/Iranian versus ultra-national/Islamic identities and analyzing the links between identity and issues such as Iran's nuclear program, the social media, and even sexuality and beauty all make this collection quite intriguing. -- Soli Shahvar, University of HaifaA thorough, provoking, and challenging collection of chapters and a valuable contribution to the field. -- Ali Ansari, University of St. AndrewsTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction, Ronen A. Cohen Section One: Historical and Current Perspectives on Persian, Islamic, and Contested Religious Identities Chapter One: The Unending Battle between the Persian and Islamic Identities of Iran, Harold Rhode Chapter Two: National Identity or Political Legitimacy: The Reconstruction of the City of Bam, Ladan Zarabadi Section Two: An Islamic-National Identity and Nuclear Program Chapter Three: The Islamic Identity Project: Between Coercion and Voluntarism, Ofira Seliktar Chapter Four: Iran’s National Identity and the Nuclear Program: A Rational Choice Theory Analysis, Farhad Rezaei Chapter Five: Overcoming “the –isms”: Iranian’s Role in the Modern World, from the Perspective of Mahmūd Ahmadi-nezhād, Moshe-hay S. Hagigat Section Three: Sexuality, Beauty, and Social Networking—Between the Private, Self, and the Public Sphere Chapter Six: The Identity Designers of the Self in Sexuality, Beauty, and Plastic Surgery in Iran, Ronen A. Cohen Chapter Seven: Iranians against the “Other”: Iranian Identity in the Social Media Era, Raz Zimmt Conclusions Bibliography List of Contributors Index
£81.00
Lexington Books Identities in Crisis in Iran
Book SynopsisIdentities in Crisis in Iran aims at finding answers to the questions about the puzzling character of the Iranian identity. The contributors acknowledge that identity, especially when it is faced with fundamental tensions as in the case of Iran, is a phenomenon that is constantly developing via factors involving the private self and common social components. This book addresses the tension many Iranian people face that lie between the Persian culture and the Shi'a religion, women versus men, and culture versus traditions.Trade ReviewA thorough, provoking, and challenging collection of chapters and a valuable contribution to the field. -- Ali Ansari, University of St. AndrewsThis collection of articles aims at the complicated character of the Iranian identity and provides interesting case studies for it. Lucid in both arguments and expositions this volume will be essential reading for anyone engaged in the study of Iran. -- Uzi Rabi, Tel Aviv UniversityIn this volume, the editor has assembled an interesting cast of novel insights on the complex, challenging, and interesting subject of identity in Iran, through the prisms of politics, culture, and religion. The combination of seasoned and junior Israeli and Iranian scholars discussing questions such as national/Iranian versus ultra-national/Islamic identities and analyzing the links between identity and issues such as Iran's nuclear program, the social media, and even sexuality and beauty all make this collection quite intriguing. -- Soli Shahvar, University of HaifaTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction, Ronen A. Cohen Section One: Historical and Current Perspectives on Persian, Islamic, and Contested Religious Identities Chapter One: The Unending Battle between the Persian and Islamic Identities of Iran, Harold Rhode Chapter Two: National Identity or Political Legitimacy: The Reconstruction of the City of Bam, Ladan Zarabadi Section Two: An Islamic-National Identity and Nuclear Program Chapter Three: The Islamic Identity Project: Between Coercion and Voluntarism, Ofira Seliktar Chapter Four: Iran’s National Identity and the Nuclear Program: A Rational Choice Theory Analysis, Farhad Rezaei Chapter Five: Overcoming “the –isms”: Iranian’s Role in the Modern World, from the Perspective of Mahmūd Ahmadi-nezhād, Moshe-hay S. Hagigat Section Three: Sexuality, Beauty, and Social Networking—Between the Private, Self, and the Public Sphere Chapter Six: The Identity Designers of the Self in Sexuality, Beauty, and Plastic Surgery in Iran, Ronen A. Cohen Chapter Seven: Iranians against the “Other”: Iranian Identity in the Social Media Era, Raz Zimmt Conclusions Bibliography List of Contributors Index
£32.40
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Between Reason and Revelation: Twin Wisdoms Reconciled
Book SynopsisI.B.Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies This is the first English translation of the final philosophical work of the great eleventh-century Ismaili thinker, poet, and Fatimid emissary, N?sir-i Khusraw. Appointed from Cairo by command of the Fatimid Imam-caliph al-Mustansir to serve first as a d?'?, and then as the hujjat, for the entire region of Khur?s?n, he maintained his allegiance both to his mission and his Imam-caliph for the rest of his life, even when threatened and driven into exile. Written during his exile in Badakhsh?n in the year 1070, N?sir-i Khusraw here develops a powerful presentation of both Aristotelian philosophy and Ismaili exegesis, or ta'w?l, and strives to show that they are ultimately in harmony. The work is presented as a learned commentary on a long philosophical poem, written in the previous century and sent to N?sir by the am?r of Badakhsh?n, 'Al? b. al-Asad, who copied the poem out in his own hand from memory and asked the poet-philosopher to explicate it. In doing so, N?sir ranges over a huge span of topics from logic and language to the nature of the physical world, from the spheres of the highest heavens to the plants and animals of the earthly realm, and, most importantly, hidden spiritual realities: the esoteric (b?tin) as well as the exoteric (z?hir) realms. He thus discusses the nature of God, the creation of human beings, and the mysteries concealed in the physical world, itself a reflection of a higher, transcendent realm. Between Reason and Revelation: Twin Wisdoms Reconciled is an annotated translation of the Persian text prepared by Henry Corbin and Mohammed Mu'?n based on the single surviving manuscript of the work, now in the Süleymaniye Mosque Library in Istanbul. It is a work of great philosophical and spiritual insight, which is also a pioneering attempt to tackle difficult intellectual problems in the Persian language; it is at once lucid and lyrical, precise and speculative. N?sir’s influence has been immense as both a poet and a thinker, and the Kit?b-i J?mi' al-hikmatayn is his crowning work.
£47.50
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Fatimids 2: The Rule from Egypt
Book SynopsisOne of the most prosperous and influential dynasties of the Muslim world, the Fatimids (909–1171) were distinguished by their Imam-caliphs, who asserted religious as well as political authority in direct descent from the family of the Prophet. Their conquest of Egypt in 969 marked the inception of a burgeoning Mediterranean empire. From there, they refined their systems of administration, judiciary, and governance, instilling principles of inclusion which contributed to stability during their caliphate. Fatimid Cairo flourished as a vibrant cultural and intellectual centre through patronage of the arts, architecture, and scholarship. This book continues the story of the Fatimids from their newly founded capital of Cairo. Introducing the figures who moulded the empire, Shainool Jiwa charts the Fatimids’ expansion, the reasons behind their ultimate fall by the hand of Saladin, and the legacy that continues with the living Ismaili communities today. This lively and engaging work, including maps and colour images, draws on a broad range of primary sources to lead readers through two centuries that witnessed the triumphs and trials of the only sustained Shi’i caliphate to rule across the medieval Islamic world.Trade ReviewPithy, comprehensive and clearly expressed, this book brings together diverse strands of Fatimid cultural, religious and political history in a cohesive account. Books that speak to both general readers and experts are rare in academia. In achieving this feat with erudition and aplomb, Jiwa’s book is an invaluable addition to the library of Fatimid studies. * Dr Fozia Bora, University of Leeds, UK *Having founded Cairo in 969, the Fatimids inaugurated an age marked by tolerance as well as brilliance in artistic and learning patronage. Dealing with the vicissitudes of the Fatimids and their empire, this book covers a lot of ground in a succinct, accessible way without compromising on academic rigour. * Dr Delia Cortese, Middlesex University, UK *This is an accessible volume from a leading scholar in the field of Fatimid studies. Based on primary sources research and including images and maps that will help readers understand the two centuries of Fatimid presence in Egypt, alongside The Fatimids 1. The Rise of a Muslim Empire, it forms a two-volume complete history of the only sustained Mediterranean Shi‘i caliphate * Prof Ayman Fuad Sayyid, al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt *The book was difficult to put down … The author has woven a clear yet complex tapestry of fascinating human stories drawing upon political and religious, as well as cultural history, that engagingly reveal the quality and range of the intellectual and artistic patronage extended by these rulers in creating the cultural wonder that was the Fatimid Empire. * Raj Isar, Aga Khan Trust for Culture *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One: The Arrival of the Fatimids in Egypt Chapter Two: The Cosmopolitanism of Empire Chapter Three: The Pillars of Justice and Law Chapter Four: Public Life and Learning in Cairo Chapter Five: The Empire of the Seas Chapter Six: Fluctuations of Fatimid Rule Chapter Seven: The Heirs of Empire Conclusion: Glimpses of the Fatimid Legacy
£9.99
Lexington Books Shia Islam and Politics: Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon
Book SynopsisThis book argues that ever since Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, which established a Shia Islamic government in Iran, that country’s religious and political leaders have used Shia Islam as a crucial way of expanding Iran’s objectives in the Middle East and beyond. Since 1979, Iran’s religious and political leaders have been concerned about Iran’s security in the face of the hostility and expansionism of the United States and other western countries, and the threats from powerful neighboring Sunni leaders and countries. While Iran’s government has attempted to align itself with Shia Muslims in various countries, such as Iraq and Lebanon, against American and Sunni expansionism, the Iranian government has attempted to religiously nourish and politically mobilize those Shias as a matter of principle, not only because of the Iranian government’s desires to protect Iran from external threats. The book analyzes Shia Islam and politics in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon which have among the largest proportional Shia populations in the Middle East and are vibrant centers of Shia intellectual life. The book's clear and jargon-free approach make it especially accessible for students and general readers who would like an introduction to the book's topics.Trade ReviewThis clear and accessible book presents historical, intellectual, political, and religious contexts for understanding Shia Islam and modern politics in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and beyond. Its comparative approach, comprehensive scope, and compelling insights make it enormously useful for students, scholars, and general readers. -- Berge Traboulsi, Haigazian UniversityJon Armajani provides an accessible, balanced, and substantial treatment of the much touted but little understood “Shia Crescent.” Writing for informed, curious, non-specialists, Armajani presents a dispassionate political history which is no small feat when his subject matter includes the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the US wars in Iraq. He addresses a primarily American audience without privileging an American perspective. The power of this book is in compelling us to see that there is always a backstory; and that the fortunes of these three countries throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, up to and including the most recent wave of popular demonstrations during Fall 2019, can only be understood in the light of that story. -- Heather Keaney, Westmont CollegeThis is a remarkably tight and well structured book that clearly articulates the historical and contemporary significance of Shi'ism in the modern Middle East. It is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the interplay of religion and politics in the region, and especially the ways that Iran has grown its influence over the past century. -- Nancy L. Stockdale, University of North TexasTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPreface Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Iran during the Qajar and Pahlavi Dynasties Chapter 3: Iran’s Islamic Revolution and Its Aftermath Chapter 4: Iraq from the End of World War I to 1990 Chapter 5: Iraq from 1990 and Beyond Chapter 6: Lebanon Chapter 7: Future Prospects - Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and the United States BibliographyIndexAbout the Author
£31.50
Lexington Books The Making of Shia Ayatollahs
Book SynopsisThe Making of Shia Ayatollahs offers both insider and outsider views of how a scholar becomes an Ayatollah in Shia Islam, how ayatollahs suggest diverse perspectives on faith, and how the grand ayatollahs are recognized by a balance of many factors including piety, scholarship, popularity and networking. This book consists of two parts. The first begins with the core value of knowledge in Islam and the Ulama’s interpretation of jurisprudence and the subjects, values, and methodology they have developed and are applying to challenges found in the faithful practices in modern life. The author reveals the mechanisms of madrasa, hawza, their curricula, and the recognition of a scholar as an ayatollah. The second part elaborates the rich and sometimes bitter pluralism and debate within the community of ayatollahs regarding topics including denominational identity and intra-faith work, Sufism and mysticism, Philosophy (falsafa and wisdom), modernization and the West, political power and government, and women in public life. After providing a historical background on each subject, the author takes the reader into the heart of current debates among ayatollahs in Qum, Mashhad, Najaf, and Beirut without sacrificing accuracy and originality to educate a wide range of readers.Trade ReviewDr. Akhlaq’s study of the most important religious institution of Shi’ite Islam, the marja’iya, illuminates different views about the Ayatollah-concept that emerge from the confluence of theology and jurisprudence in Shi’ite history. While arguing for the centrality of orthopraxy through interpretive juridical heritage, it illuminates the logical foundations of the Shi’ite legal tradition. I strongly recommend this informative book to understand politics and faith that Shiite scholars promoted for more than a millennium. -- Abdulaziz Sachedina, George Mason UniversityThe word "ayatollah" usually evokes negative connotations in Western minds, yet Sayyed Hassan Akhlaq shows us in this meticulously researched study how unnecessary this is. He retraces the genealogy and the phenomenology of the forms of knowledge presupposed in the independent reasoning that is the hallmark of any ayatollah as "sign of God." On top of that, he shows the great variety of ideas and cultures among various ayatollahs and their schools. -- Pim Valkenberg, The Catholic University of AmericaTable of ContentsIntroductionPart One: Nature and StructureChapter One: From Knowledge to JurisprudenceChapter Two: Madrasa, Hawza, and HierarchyChapter Three: Ayatollah and MujtahidChapter Four: Jurisprudence: Significance and BecomingChapter Five: Grand Ayatollahs, Marja'iyyah, and the Division of Imitated and ImitatorPart Two: Dynamism and DiversityChapter Six: Sec-centrism and EcumenismChapter Seven: Sufism and SpiritualityChapter Eight: Philosophy and WisdomChapter Nine: Modernization and the WestChapter Ten: Politics and GovernmentChapter Eleven: WomenAppendixesBibliographyIndexAbout the Author
£76.50
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Spirituality of Shi'i Islam: Beliefs and Practices
Book SynopsisThe second largest branch of Islam, with between 130 and 190 million adherents across the globe, Shi'i Islam is becoming an increasingly significant force in contemporary politics, especially in the Middle East. This makes an informed understanding of its fundamental spiritual beliefs and practices both necessary and timely. Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi is one of the most distinguished scholars of Shi'i history and theology, and in this volume he offers a wide-ranging and engaging survey of the core texts of Shi'i Islam. Examining in turn the origins and later developments of Shi'i spirituality, the author reveals the profoundly esoteric nature of the beliefs which accrued to the figures of the early Imams, and which became associated with their interaction between the material and spiritual worlds. Many of these beliefs have remained much misunderstood even within the wider Muslim world. Furthermore, Western scholarship has tended to follow the lead of the earlier orientalists and critics, viewing Shi'i teachings as marginal. In this study the author shows, by contrast, how central and creative the very nature of spirituality was to the development of Shi'i Islam, as well as to classical Muslim civilisation as a whole. In this comprehensive treatment, the esoteric nature of Shi'i spirituality emerges as an essential phenomenon for understanding Shi'i Islam.
£42.75
Rutgers University Press Global Dynamics of Shi'a Marriages: Religion,
Book SynopsisMuslim marriages have been the focus of considerable public debate in Europe and beyond, in Muslim-majority countries as well as in settings where Muslims are a minority. Most academic work has focused on how the majority Sunni Muslims conclude marriages. This volume, in contrast, focuses on Twelver Shi'a Muslims in Iran, Pakistan, Oman, Indonesia, Norway, and the Netherlands. The volume makes an original contribution to understanding the global dynamics of Shi'a marriage practices in a wide range of contexts--not only its geographical spread but also by providing a critical analysis of the socio-economic, religious, ethnic, and political discourses of each context. The book sheds light on new marriage forms presented through a bottom up approach focusing on the lived experiences of Shi'a Muslims negotiating a diverse range of relationships and forms of belonging.Trade Review"In this pioneering book, Shanneik and Moors have deftly amended the dearth of scholarly books on Shi’i cultures and traditions. The ethnographically diverse chapters brought together in this collected volume on the Global Dynamics of Shi’a Marriages engage with local practices as they are embedded within the wider contexts of migration, diaspora and transnationalism. It is a very timely and accessible book, and I highly recommend it." -- Shahla Haeri * author of The Unforgettable Queens of Islam: Succession, Authority, Gender *"Global Dynamics of Shi’a Marriages is a fascinating addition to the emerging literature on marriage and sexuality in the Muslim world. Young people engage in 'dating cultures' facilitated by mobile phones, young women are reluctant to live with in-laws, and there is a growing desire for love-based marriages. While the authority of the older generation has been diminished, the move towards more companionate marriages in every Shi’a community still involves family negotiations over choice of partner, marital gifts, and wedding expenses." -- Janet Afary * co-editor of Iranian Romance in the Digital Age: From Arranged Marriage to White Marriage *Table of ContentsSeries Foreword by Péter Berta Introduction ANNELIES MOORS AND YAFA SHANNEIK PART ONE Gender and Generation: New Dating and Marriage Practices 1 Marriage Modifications in Aliabad: Social Change Overrides Clerical Directives MARY ELAINE HEGLAND 2 The New Marital Romance: How Bollywood, Islamic Doctrines, and Mobile Phones Dissect the Imperative of Spouse Evasion ANNA-MARIA WALTER PART TWO Dower Practices: Signifying Religion, Ethnicity, and Class 3 The Dower (Mahr) and Wedding Ceremony among the Shi‘a of Oman: Religion, Class, and Ethnicity JIHAN SAFAR 4 Mahr Iranian Style in Norway: Negotiating Gender Equality and Religious and Cultural Belonging through Transnational Shia Marriage Practices PART THREE Temporary Marriage: A Flexible and Controversial Institution 5 Mutʿa Marriage among Youth in the Non-Shi‘i Environment of Indonesia EVA F. NISA 6 Between Love and Sex, Modernity and Archaism: Iranian Students’ Discourse in the Netherlands about Sigheh SOPHIE-YVIE GIRARD 7 “Laboratory Sigheh”: The (Dis)Entanglements of Temporary Marriage and Third-Party Donation in Iran TARA ASGARILALEH AND ANNELIES MOORS Acknowledgments Notes on Contributors Index
£25.19
Rutgers University Press Global Dynamics of Shi'a Marriages: Religion,
Book SynopsisMuslim marriages have been the focus of considerable public debate in Europe and beyond, in Muslim-majority countries as well as in settings where Muslims are a minority. Most academic work has focused on how the majority Sunni Muslims conclude marriages. This volume, in contrast, focuses on Twelver Shi'a Muslims in Iran, Pakistan, Oman, Indonesia, Norway, and the Netherlands. The volume makes an original contribution to understanding the global dynamics of Shi'a marriage practices in a wide range of contexts--not only its geographical spread but also by providing a critical analysis of the socio-economic, religious, ethnic, and political discourses of each context. The book sheds light on new marriage forms presented through a bottom up approach focusing on the lived experiences of Shi'a Muslims negotiating a diverse range of relationships and forms of belonging.Trade Review"In this pioneering book, Shanneik and Moors have deftly amended the dearth of scholarly books on Shi’i cultures and traditions. The ethnographically diverse chapters brought together in this collected volume on the Global Dynamics of Shi’a Marriages engage with local practices as they are embedded within the wider contexts of migration, diaspora and transnationalism. It is a very timely and accessible book, and I highly recommend it." -- Shahla Haeri * author of The Unforgettable Queens of Islam: Succession, Authority, Gender *"Global Dynamics of Shi’a Marriages is a fascinating addition to the emerging literature on marriage and sexuality in the Muslim world. Young people engage in 'dating cultures' facilitated by mobile phones, young women are reluctant to live with in-laws, and there is a growing desire for love-based marriages. While the authority of the older generation has been diminished, the move towards more companionate marriages in every Shi’a community still involves family negotiations over choice of partner, marital gifts, and wedding expenses." -- Janet Afary * co-editor of Iranian Romance in the Digital Age: From Arranged Marriage to White Marriage *"In this pioneering book, Shanneik and Moors have deftly amended the dearth of scholarly books on Shi’i cultures and traditions. The ethnographically diverse chapters brought together in this collected volume on the Global Dynamics of Shi’a Marriages engage with local practices as they are embedded within the wider contexts of migration, diaspora and transnationalism. It is a very timely and accessible book, and I highly recommend it." -- Shahla Haeri * author of The Unforgettable Queens of Islam: Succession, Authority, Gender *"Global Dynamics of Shi’a Marriages is a fascinating addition to the emerging literature on marriage and sexuality in the Muslim world. Young people engage in 'dating cultures' facilitated by mobile phones, young women are reluctant to live with in-laws, and there is a growing desire for love-based marriages. While the authority of the older generation has been diminished, the move towards more companionate marriages in every Shi’a community still involves family negotiations over choice of partner, marital gifts, and wedding expenses." -- Janet Afary * co-editor of Iranian Romance in the Digital Age: From Arranged Marriage to White Marriage *Table of ContentsSeries Foreword by Péter Berta Introduction ANNELIES MOORS AND YAFA SHANNEIK PART ONE Gender and Generation: New Dating and Marriage Practices 1 Marriage Modifications in Aliabad: Social Change Overrides Clerical Directives MARY ELAINE HEGLAND 2 The New Marital Romance: How Bollywood, Islamic Doctrines, and Mobile Phones Dissect the Imperative of Spouse Evasion ANNA-MARIA WALTER PART TWO Dower Practices: Signifying Religion, Ethnicity, and Class 3 The Dower (Mahr) and Wedding Ceremony among the Shi‘a of Oman: Religion, Class, and Ethnicity JIHAN SAFAR 4 Mahr Iranian Style in Norway: Negotiating Gender Equality and Religious and Cultural Belonging through Transnational Shia Marriage Practices PART THREE Temporary Marriage: A Flexible and Controversial Institution 5 Mutʿa Marriage among Youth in the Non-Shi‘i Environment of Indonesia EVA F. NISA 6 Between Love and Sex, Modernity and Archaism: Iranian Students’ Discourse in the Netherlands about Sigheh SOPHIE-YVIE GIRARD 7 “Laboratory Sigheh”: The (Dis)Entanglements of Temporary Marriage and Third-Party Donation in Iran TARA ASGARILALEH AND ANNELIES MOORS Acknowledgments Notes on Contributors Index
£107.20
Brepols N.V. Constructing a Worldview: Al-Barqi's Role in the
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£83.60
De Gruyter Zwischen Chiliasmus und Staatsräson
Book Synopsis
£103.55
