Shi'ite Islam

This book is a well-organized introduction to Shi'ism by an eminent Islamic scholar. It provides a way of understanding Iran, a country which is about 90% Shi'ite.As is widely known, there is no division in Islam between "Church and State" as exists in Christianity. Religious and civil society made up a single body of believers. This did not lead to difficulties as long as Muhammed was alive. His view on all matters was definitive. There was no question about control of the ummah (community of the faithful). But at his death there was a split between his family, known in Muslim accounts as the Household, and the his un-related followers, the Companions. The most highly regarded person in the Household was Muhammed's son-in-law Ali. He was the first person to become Muslim. Among the Companions Abu Bakr was most admired. The question was which of the two should lead the ummah, but more than governance was involved.Ali's relation to Muhammed was closer, and being a relative, his relation was more emotional. Ali and the rest of the Household became known as Shi'ites (meaning partisans). But it was Abu Bakr, lieutenant to Muhammed and the person in charge of his military conquests, who became caliph, i.e., successor to Muhammed. Abu Bakr and his followers (a majority) were known as Sunnis, from the word for "tradition". The Shi'ites continued as a minority for some twenty-four years under Abu Bakr and two following Sunni caliphs; then Ali the dissenter became caliph. His contentious five-year reign ended when he was killed in battle. The Sunni Umayyad dynasty then began. During that time, the Shi'ites remained out of power in the Muslim empire although they ruled various provinces in Persia, Iraq, and Syria.Key to Shi'ism is the concept of certain individuals who possess very superior enlightenment. They are known as Imams, and have a status between Prophets (like Muhammed) and ordinary people. Only one Imam can be alive at any time. There were a number of Shi'ia sects, differing as to who the Imams were and how many of them there were. But today the Twelvers are predominant by far. To get a better understanding of the concept of the imam, we need to know something about Islamic religious philosophy. The author explains this in Chapter III-V, treating Shi'ism and Sunnism as essentially similar. There are three levels of religious thought. The simplest is the observation of procedures such as fasting and prayer. These are actions of which all people are capable. Then there is the intellectual and analytical analysis employed in philosophy, both Western and Islamic. This is certainly more complex. Last, there is intuitive mysticism, i.e., an intuitive perception of reality which is difficult to explain, but leads to the perception of reality as a whole rather than specific rituals or concepts. This is the most difficult of all. The two higher levels are not for everyone.The author presents a straightforward realistic philosophical idealism. He believes in an inner world of thoughts and an outer world of physical objects and sense perceptions. These worlds are harmonious. The outer world conforms to human needs. The author points out "If creation has given man bread, it has also given him feet to seek it, hands to grasp it, a mouth to eat it, and teeth to chew it." (p.125) This leads to an "argument from design" that the universe is a product of conscious design. All in all, it seems to be a pleasant world for human individuals. There is one God, who possesses all positive qualities. Man has free will, but the author reconciles this with determinism by asserting that "God the Exalted has willed and made necessary the act through all of the parts of the complete cause, of which one is the will and free choice of man." (p.135)There would seem to be a rational universe and a place for individual human beings in it. But the laws that govern the happiness of human society cannot be found by reason but depend on revelation. They place a demand on everyone's understanding. Being disinclined to logical analysis and mystic intuition, ordinary humanity requires miraculous events in order to believe. In Shi'ism, those with the ability to produce miracles and receive revelations are called Prophets. Muhammed was the last of them, but there were many before him. The chief miracle he left behind is the Quran itself. There are other extremely virtuous individuals called Imams, who do not perform miracles but can experience revelations. The reason for this division is that the prophetic voice is needed only once in history, but therafter it must be continually explained; therefore an Imam is always required.The author devotes a number of pages to demonstrating that Ali, by virtue of Muhammed's endorsement, was properly the first Imam. The evidence consists entirely of "hadith", which are anecdotes of Muslim history. There are thousands of hadith; some of them are not considered genuine by Muslim scholars. A problem is that there appears to be no way of validating the first Imam, Ali, other than by citing hadith. The author states "Shi'ism has reached the conclusion that there are sufficient traditional texts left by the Prophet to indicate the procedure for determining the Imam and successor of the Prophet. This conclusion is supported by Quranic verses and hadiths which Shi'ism considers as sound ..." (p.177). So we must hope. We have only anecdotes, not history.In the usual "Twelver" Shi'ism there were twelve Imams from Ali to the final one, of a similar name, Ali ibn Muhammed Simmari, who went into "occultation" (hiding) in 909 CE and will not emerge until God grants permission. There is a hadith that states that on his emergence (as a heroic figure, the "Mahdi") "He will fill the earth with equality and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny." (p.211). We are not told what sort of equality and justice it will be. The Imamate seems to be a hereditary calling, since each of the eleven after Ali was the son of the previous Imam. Shi'ism does not seem to have any political philosophy, since as said before the governance of human society is a matter of revelation.The author presents capsule biographies of the Twelve. They show that Islam in its first few centuries was a tumultuous affair. The fight over who should control the ummah was ferocious. A majority of the Twelve were killed by poisoning; others were killed in battle with their political opponents. This book appeared in 1978, but it certainly seems prophetic given that 909 CE is the latest date in it.

This book is an excellent complement to Dr. Momen's work  An Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi`ism  but not a substitute therefor. It is written from a more esoteric, albeit still theological, perspective. In the section "Man and Gnostic Comprehension" Prof. Dr. Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai states: "The polytheistic religions and Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Islam all have believers who are gnostics." This statement alone is worth at least one star and will be felt quite shocking for some more zahiri (exoteric) Muslims.The preface and notes by Prof. Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr are extremely worthwhile in themselves and provide considerable additional insight into the subject matter.The title of the book should have been: "Twelver Shi'ite Islam" as the other 2 significantly extant branches of Shi'ite Islam, Zaydi and Ismaili, are discussed only in a very summary manner. Modesty is a becoming virtue.In Chapter VI Eschatology the first section is entitled "Man is Composed of Spirit and Body". This is rather disappointing especially in view of the Quranic triad of spirit (Ar-Ruh), soul or mind (An-Nafs) and body (Al-Jism).

A classic. The best on the topic hands down. And naturally. Allamah Tabatabai, well, was an "allamah"= (meaning the 'Most Accomplished Scholar' which is awarded to one or two people per Islamic century). He is from a long line of first rate scholars, theologians, researchers and more. Without a doubt, this IS THE source on Shia Islam to consult. All others--old and new--fade in comparison. The editor/translator, however, does not do justice to the work or the grand station of Tabatabai, and his opinions and assessments ought to be ignored.

There doesn't seem to be as many texts out there on Shi'a Islam, and this is an excellent and well translated primer on the sect. It goes into the history of Shi'ism and tenants of the practice. A great introductory read.

This work, which took six years to generate, gives a view of twelver Shi'i thought before the Iranian Revolution - a rarity in the current study of the Shi'i tradition today.

Brilliant introduction to Shi'ism from an erudite contemporary scholar of the religion, excellent English translation. Recommended for both Muslim and non-Muslims alike.

This book is great as a primer into deeper understanding of the Shia branch of Islam. Covers several areas as well as multiple sects within Shia belief. If you are a student of Islamic studies your library needs this book.

This is a great book by the allamah.. This is a must read for all Muslims and non Muslims.

Excellent book for giving a brief introduction into Shi'a Islam and its workings, would recommend to anyone who has a slight foundation of knowledge and is looking to expand it further

The book is mentioning about the division of different sects of Islam and it is basic details .