Shiʿism

Doctrines, Thought, and Spirituality

Edited by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Hamid Dabashi, Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr
Notes by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Hamid Dabashi, Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr
Introduction by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Hamid Dabashi, and Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr

Paperback : 9780887066900, 422 pages, August 1988
Hardcover : 9780887066894, 422 pages, September 1988
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Out of print (Hardcover)

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Table of contents

Preface

Note to the Reader

Acknowledgments

List of Abbreviations

Introduction (Seyyed Hossein Nasr)

I. Origins

Chapter 1 Shi'i View of Religion in General and Shi'ism in Particular
'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I

Chapter 2 The Roots of Shi'ism in Early Islamic History
MAHMUD SHAHABI

Chapter 3 The Shi'i Interpretation of the Qur'an
'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I
MURTADA MUTAHHARI

Chapter 4 The Shi'i Interpretation of Hadith Literature
'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I
S. M. WARIS HASAN

Chapter 5 The Nahj al-Balaghah and the Teachings of the Imams
SYED HUSSEIN M. JAFRI
IMAM 'ALI

Chapter 6 Doctrinal Divisions Within Shi'ism
'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I

II. The Shi'i Position vs. Other Divisions Within Islam

Chapter 7 Shi'ism and Sunnism
HAMID ENAYAT

Chapter 8 Shi'ism, Zaydism, Isma'ilism, and Shaykhism
'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I
MUHAMMAD IBN cABD AL-KARIM AL-SHAHRASTANI
MARSHALL HODGSON
MANGOL BAYAT

Chapter 9 Shi'ism and Sufism
SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR

III. Shi'i Doctrines and Beliefs

Chapter 10 The Shi'i View of God
cALLAMAH TABATABA'I
WILLIAM CHITTICK

Chapter 11 The Shi'i View of Revelation and Prophecy

'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I
'ALLAMAH AL-HILLI

Chapter 12 The Imams and the Imamate

'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I
HENRY CORBIN

Chapter 13 Shi'i Hermeneutics

HENRY CORBIN

Chapter 14 Taqiyyah

'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I
HAMID ENAYAT

Chapter 15 Mut'ah or Temporary Marriage

'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I and SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR

Chapter 16 Eschatology

'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I

Chapter 17 Ijtihad and Marja'iyyat

MAHMUD RAMYAR
LEONARD BINDER

IV. Shi'i Spirituality and Piety

Chapter 18 Religious Rites, Prayers, and Supplications

SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR
PRAYERS OF SHI'I IMAMS AND DU'A-I KUMA YL

Chapter 19 Diverse Religious Practices

AYATOLLAH ABU'L-QASIM KHU'I
MAHMUD AYOUB
E. G. BROWNE
PETER CHELKOWSKI
MAHMUD AYOUB
DWIGHT DONALDSON
MAHMUD AYOUB

Chapter 20 Jihad

SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR

V. The Intellectual and Artistic Life

Chapter 21 Shi'i Education

ROY MOTTAHEDEH

Chapter 22 Shi'i Theology

W. MONTGOMERY WATT
cALLAMAH AL-HILLI
KHWAJAH NASIR AL-DIN TUSI

Chapter 23 Intellectual Sciences and Philosophy

'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I
cABD AL-RAZZAQ LAHIJI
MUHSIN FAYD KASHANI

Chapter 24 Shi'i Literature

MAHMUD AYOUB
E. G. BROWNE
PETER CHELKOWSKI
SHAYKH AL-MUFID

Chapter 25 Shi'ism and Art

NADER ARDALAN
SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR

Chapter 26 Shi'ism and the Natural Sciences and Mathematics

SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR

VI. Shi'i Thought in the Twentieth Century

Chapter 27 Continuity and Change in the Intellectual Heritage

SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR
'ALLAMAH TABATABA'I
SAYYID ABU'L-HASAN QAZWINI
MURTADA MUTAHHARI
SAYYID MUHAMMAD BAQIR SADR

Index

Description

This is an anthology of the most significant writing on the doctrinal, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions of Shicism. The works included here foster an interpretive understanding of Shicism in its dogmatic and cognitive aspects.

The intent of this book is to balance the attention that has been focused on the political aspect of Shicism. Shicism is often seen, not only as an essentially political phenomenon, but as a creed of violence. Understanding Shicism in its total reality will encourage a more balanced approach to issues which are viewed mostly politically. While not denying the importance of political manifestations, this book offers an understanding of the often neglected religious beliefs and spiritual practices of this world community.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr is University Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University. Hamid Dabashi is Lecturer at the Department of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Political Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.