Shiite islam originated as a political movement supporting ali cousin and soninlaw of muhammad, the prophet of islam as the rightful leader of the islamic state. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Origins of islam as a political movement are to be found in the life and times of islam s prophet muhammad and his successors. Majlessi, majlisi, madjlessi, known as allamah majlesi or majlesi althani majlesi the second, was a renowned and very powerful iranian twelver shia cleric, during the safavid era. Introduction to shii islam starts november 15, 2018 youtube. This course aims to teach something of the history and teachings of the twelver shii branch of islam. Pdf this research paper surveys the history, theology, and philosophy of the shia madhhab, one of the two main factions of islam. Oct 15, 2018 introduction to shii islam starts november 15, 2018 wilmette institute. During the formative period of islam, in the first centuries after muhammads death, two particular intellectual traditions emerged, sunnism and shiism. May 11, 2015 dr moojan momen provides readers with an accessible and insightful introduction to the shii branch of islam, taking us from its beginnings after the death of the prophet muhammad through to the present day. Did you know that the bahai faith started as an offshoot of the shaykhi school of the ithnaashariyyih twelver sect of shiah islam. As well as providing a historical overview, the book also introduces readers to shii doctrines and practices, explains the key differences between the shii and sunni branches of islam. This book is a general introduction to shii islam specifically to twelver shiism, to which the majority of shiis belong today.
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Moojan momen, introduction to shii islam, new york. As well as providing a historical overview, the book also introduces readers to shii. We also acknowledge previous national science foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057. In everyday terms, the imam for sunni muslims is the one who leads islamic formal prayers, even in locations besides the mosque, whenever prayers are done in a group of two or more with one person leading imam and the. The hegira medieval latin transliteration, also arabic. Moojan momen chair, department of religion, philosophy and theology. He is a wellknown scholar of the bahai faith, having written a number of books and articles on aspects of its history, the first one, on. It also looks at its relationship to the bahai faith and the manner in which the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. An introduction to shii islam bahai library online. An introduction to the shia tradition in islam springerlink. Shii history and doctrines, excerpted from the book introduction to shii islam. Sunni muslims endorsed the historical caliphate, while shii muslims, supporters of ali, cousin of the prophet and the fourth caliph, articulated.
Select general bibliography and miscellany with occasonal urls. Dr moojan momen provides readers with an accessible and insightful introduction to the shii branch of islam, taking us from its beginnings after the death of the prophet muhammad through to the present day. Momen majoon from mena 160 at arizona state university. The question is not only who was the successor of muhammad but also the nature of the role of this successor, for it is on both these points that shiis and sunnis disagree. Dr moojan momen is a fellow of the royal asiatic society and a member of both the british society for middle eastern studies and the association for bahai studies. In recent years, his interests have extended to the study of the phenomenon of religion. The comprehensive authority of the jurist in imamite jurisprudence. Political aspects of islam are derived from the quran, the sunnah the sayings and living habits of muhammad, muslim history, and elements of political movements outside islam traditional political concepts in islam include leadership by elected or selected successors to the prophet known as caliphs, imamate for shia. The shia revival how conflicts within islam will shape the. For more information on early shia history, see moojan momen, an introduction to shii islam new haven. The shii perception of jihad assaf moghadam the institute for.
The legitimacy of this claim, as initially envisioned by alis supporters. The iranian revolution of 1979 and recent events in lebanon have greatly increased western interest in the shii branch of islam, which is much less known than sunni islam. See also seyyed hossein nasr, hamid dabashi, and seyyed vali reza nasr eds. Until recently most book published in the west on islam have tended to concentrate on sunni islam and to overlook shiism. New and used copies may be found to purchase online. For fatimas death from grief over the prophet, see muhammad ibn yaqub alkulayni, usul alkafi teheran. This article is a selection of excerpts from momens much longer book, which. From the time of the first prophet adam, there has been a continuous succession of imams. Moojan momen was born in iran, but was raised and educated in england, attending the university of cambridge.
Momen s book fills an important gap in the general literature in. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read shii islam. In 622 ce, in recognition of his claims to prophethood, muhammad was invited to rule the city of medina. Introduction to shii islam starts november 15, 2018 wilmette institute. This book is a general introduction to shii islamspecifically to twelver shiism, to which the majority of shiis belong today. From infallible imams to ayatollahs in iran, shii islam has long been a prominent, if misunderstood, branch of islam. Moojan momen in his introduction to shii islam george ronald, oxford, 1985 states that many mujtahids were afraid that the shaykhs preference for intuitive knowledge, which he claimed to obtain directly by inspiration from the imams, would seriously undermine the authority of their position. The sunni branch of islam does not have imams in the same sense as the shia, an important distinction often overlooked by those outside of the islamic religion. Moojan momen has 28 books on goodreads with 967 ratings. It deals with the history and development of this important religion, giving an account of shii doctrines and focusing in particular on those areas in which it differs from sunni islam. From the office of the mufti to the institution of. The book is not an introduction or guide to islam in general, and therefore he focuses exclusively what distinguishes shii muslims from sunni muslims, and furthermore what distinguishes the three main sects of shii islam from one another. Momen s book fills an important gap in the general literature in english on. It will consist mostly of a survey of the life of muhammad and a brief outline of the early history of islam as well as some of the fundamental elements of the teachings contained in the quran.
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