Little is known in the West about the division of the Islamic world into Shiites and Sunnites and even less about the stratification of these two groups, with most of the attention going to the Sunnites. Moosa's comprehensive study of the origins and cultural aspects of the different extremist, or Ghulat, Shiite sects in the Middle East is a ground-breaking work. These sects whose 'extremism' is essentially religious are generally a peaceful people and, except for the Nusayris of Syria, are not political activists.

Mahdis and Millenarians is a discussion of Shiite groups in eighth- and ninth-century Iraq and Iran, whose ideas reflected a mixture of indigenous non-Muslim religious teachings and practices in Iraq in the early centuries of Islamic rule and demonstrates the fluidity of religious boundaries of this period. Particular attention is given to the millenarian expectations and the revolutionary political activities of these sects. Specifically, the author's intention is to define the term 'millenarian', to explain how these groups reflect that definition, and to show how they consequently need to be seen in a much larger context than Shiite or even simply Muslim history. The author concentrates, therefore, on the historical-sociological role of these movements. The central thesis of the study is that they were the first revolutionary chiliastic groups in Islamic history and, combined with the later influence of some of their doctrines, contributed to the tactics and teachings of a number of subsequent Shiite or quasi-Shiite sectarian groups.

Mahdis and Millenarians is a discussion of Shiite groups in eighth- and ninth-century Iraq and Iran, whose ideas reflected a mixture of indigenous non-Muslim religious teachings and practices in Iraq in the early centuries of Islamic rule and demonstrates the fluidity of religious boundaries of this period. Particular attention is given to the millenarian expectations and the revolutionary political activities of these sects. Specifically, the author's intention is to define the term 'millenarian', to explain how these groups reflect that definition, and to show how they consequently need to be seen in a much larger context than Shiite or even simply Muslim history. The author concentrates, therefore, on the historical-sociological role of these movements. The central thesis of the study is that they were the first revolutionary chiliastic groups in Islamic history and, combined with the later influence of some of their doctrines, contributed to the tactics and teachings of a number of subsequent Shiite or quasi-Shiite sectarian groups. -- Publisher description.

Mahdis and Millenarians is a discussion of Shiite groups in eighth- and ninth-century Iraq and Iran, whose ideas reflected a mixture of indigenous non-Muslim religious teachings and practices in Iraq in the early centuries of Islamic rule and demonstrates the fluidity of religious boundaries of this period. Particular attention is given to the millenarian expectations and the revolutionary political activities of these sects. Specifically, the author's intention is to define the term 'millenarian', to explain how these groups reflect that definition, and to show how they consequently need to be seen in a much larger context than Shiite or even simply Muslim history. The author concentrates, therefore, on the historical-sociological role of these movements. The central thesis of the study is that they were the first revolutionary chiliastic groups in Islamic history and, combined with the later influence of some of their doctrines, contributed to the tactics and teachings of a number of subsequent Shiite or quasi-Shiite sectarian groups.

In this book, Shaul Mishal and Ori Goldberg explore the ways in which Shiite leaderships in Iran and Lebanon approach themselves and their world. Contrary to the violent and radical image of religious leaderships in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Lebanese Hizballah, the political vision and practice of these leaderships view the world as a middle ground, shying away from absolutist and extremist tendencies. The political leadership assumed by Shiite religious scholars in Iran and Lebanon has transformed Shiite Islam from a marginalized minority to a highly politicized avant garde of Muslim presence, revitalized the practice and causes of political Islam in its struggle for legitimacy and authority, and reshaped the politics of the Middle East and the globe in its image. Utilizing approaches from social theory, history, theology, and literary criticism, the book presents these leaderships as pragmatic, interpretative entities with the potential to form fruitful relationships between Shiite leadership and the non-Shiite world.

Machine generated contents note: CHAPTER ONE: The View from Baghdad: The ShT'a in the Early -- Third/Ninth Century -- The ShT'i/Mu'tazili and Court Alliance During the Caliphate of -- al-Ma'mun -- Shl'ism and 'Popular' Rebellion in the Umayyad and Early -- Abbasid Periods -- The Anarchy of the Second Civil War and Further ShT'i Uprisings -- CHAPTER TWO: The View from Baghdad: The ShT'a at the Turn -- of the Third/Ninth Century -- The Shi'i Resurgence -- The Shi'i Vizierates and the Rise of the Banu Nawbakht -- The Conditionality of ImamT Rationalism: The Achievements of -- the BanO Nawbakht -- Summary and Conclusion -- CHAPTER THREE: Pockets of Believers: The View from the ShT'T -- City-State of Qum -- Sunnism in Iran: Traditionism and Egalitarianism -- The Sht'a in Third/Ninth Century Iran -- The Twelver Sht'a in Iran: Between Centres and Peripheries -- A Shi'i Haven: Qum and the Ash'art Tribe -- Tribe and City -- Ash'ari Qum and Abbasid Baghdad -- CHAPTER FOUR: Al-Barqi and the Beginnings of the QummT/ -- Ash'arT Association with the Traditions -- Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Barqi: the Mawla Traditionist -- Al-Barqi and al-Mahsin -- Summary and Conclusion -- CHAPTER FIVE: Al-Saffar's Basa'ir al-Darajat: Theological -- Discourse As Encouragement -- Basa'ir as Qummi Discourse -- The Importance of 'Ilm and Its Possessors -- The Miraculous Nature, Substance and Transmission of the Imams' 'Ilm -- The Unique Nature of the Imams and their Sht'a -- The Unique Abilities of the Imams -- Summary and Conclusions -- CHAPTER SIX: Al-KulaynT's al-Kaff: The Qummi Response to -- Baghdadi Rationalism -- Al-KulaynT on al-Kafti2 Baghdad's Rationalist Discourse on the Edge -- The Centrality of al-'Aql and al-'Ilm: the Repudiation of Rationalism -- The Grace of al-'Ilm -- Summary and Conclusion -- CHAPTER SEVEN: Al-Saffar and al-KulaynT on the Imams and the -- Imamate: Twelver Theology Between Qum and Baghdad -- The Qummi/Ash'ari Connection to Twelver Traditionist Theology -- The Theology of al-Kafi Kitab al-Tawhfd -- Twelver Theology Between Qum and Baghdad: Al-Kaft's Kitab al- Hujja -- The Imamology in Basa'ir and al-Kaft's Kitab al-, Huja: a Comparative -- Approach -- Special Effects and Possessions Possessed by the Imams -- Their Special Personages -- The Unique Abilities of the Imams -- Al-Kulayni's Excisions -- CHAPTER EIGHT: AI-Kafi From Theology to Practice -- The Practical Nature of al-Usil's Traditions -- The Traditions of al-Furd' as QummT Discourse on Points of Practice -- The Collection and Obligations of al-Khums -- The Collection and Distribution of Alms -- 'Fle Obligation and Conduct of Congregational Prayer -- Overt Confrontation with Authority -- Al-Amr and al-Nahy -- The Permitted Scope of Personal Relations, and Confrontation, -- With Authority -- The Implementation of al-. Hudzud During the Occultation -- Judicial Arbitration in the Absence of the Imam -- The Imams and al-Jawr in al-Kafi -- CHAPTER NINE: Summary and Conclusions -- Bibliography -- Index of Qur'anic verses cited -- Index.

Journalist Khalid M. Amayreh points out the Major Contradictions in the Shiite Imami Religion in his book My Story with the Shiites. He says the real contentious issue between Muslims and Shiites is not Yazid or Mu’awiya, Hassan or Hussein, Fadak or al-“Zahraa’s limb,” the Karbulaa tragedy or the so-called Raziyatul Khamis (Thursday’s calamity), Hadithul Manzela or the Saqifa of Bani Sa’ada, or the Ghadeer Khom event. In fact, these issues can be reduced to mere “red herrings” used by the Shiites to discredit Islam and undermine the entire Muhammadan message. This timely and eye-opening book clears up misconceptions as it tells the truth about Shiites and Shiism.

The Shiites of Lebanon under Ottoman Rule provides an original perspective on the history of the Shiites as a constituent of Lebanese society. Winter presents a history of the community before the 19th century, based primarily on Ottoman Turkish documents. From these, he examines how local Shiites were well integrated in the Ottoman system of rule, and that Lebanon as an autonomous entity only developed in the course of the 18th century through the marginalization and then violent elimination of the indigenous Shiite leaderships by an increasingly powerful Druze-Maronite emirate. As such the book recovers the Ottoman-era history of a group which has always been neglected in chronicle-based works, and in doing so, fundamentally calls into question the historic place within 'Lebanon' of what has today become the country's largest and most activist sectarian community.

Explores the terms, concepts, personalities, historical events, and institutions that helped shape the history of this religion and the way it is practiced today.

Numerous accusations against the beliefs and practices of the Shi'ites, and their answers. Includes discussions on the revelation of the Qur'an, Ibn Saba, and the companions of the Prophet (s).This book is one of the many Islamic publications distributed by Ahlulbayt Organization throughout the world in different languages with the aim of conveying the message of Islam to the people of the world. Ahlulbayt Organization (www.shia.es) is a registered Organization that operates and is sustained through collaborative efforts of volunteers in many countries around the world, and it welcomes your involvement and support. Its objectives are numerous, yet its main goal is to spread the truth about the Islamic faith in general and the Shi`a School of Thought in particular due to the latter being misrepresented, misunderstood and its tenets often assaulted by many ignorant folks, Muslims and non-Muslims. Organization's purpose is to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge through a global medium, the Internet, to locations where such resources are not commonly or easily accessible or are resented, resisted and fought! In addition, For a complete list of our published books please refer to our website (www.shia.es) or send us an email to [email protected]