Shi’ism
Bibliography – Categorized Thematically
General:
Kohlberg, Etan, ed. Shi’ism. Burlington: Ashgate, 2003
Collection of articles addressing aspects of Shi’ism including Ismailism, Zaydism, early history, etc.
Momen, Moojan. An Introduction to Shi'i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi'ism. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1985.
General reference on Shi’i Islam. Comprehensive review.
Nasr, Seyyed Hossein, Hamid Dabashi, and Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr, ed. Shi'ism: Doctrines, Thought, and Spirituality. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1988.
Tabataba'i, "Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn. Shiite Islam. Translated by Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Edited by Introduction by Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1977.
Religious Doctrine and Practice:
Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali. The Divine Guide in Early Shi'ism. Translated by David Streight (from French). Albany: State University of New York Press, 1994.
Ayoub, Mahmoud. Redemptive Suffering in Islam. Edited by Leo Laeyendecker, Religion and Society 10. The Hague: Mouton Publishers, 1978.
Jurisprudence:
Baqir, Sadr. The principles of Shi’i jurisprudence: According to Shi’I Law. London: ICAS, 2003
Messianism:
Bashir, Shahzad. Messianic Hopes and Mystical Visions: The Nurbakhshiya between Medieval and Modern Islam. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2003.
Looks at messianism as it appeared in a Sufi/Shi’i context, through the life and teachings of Nurbakhsh.
Sachedina, Abdulaziz Abdulhussein. Islamic Messianism: The Idea of the Mahdi in Twelver Shi'ism. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1981.
Vaziri, Mostafa. The Emergence of Islam: Prophecy, Imamate and Messianism in Perspective. New York: Paragon House, 1992.
This work sets the goal of scrutinizing Shi'i oral tradition in an historical context, seeking to detach it from its 'romanticized notions' and inaccuracies that result from synthesized oral histories and collective interpretations promulgated by Shi'i Ulama.
Ethnography:
Fisher, Michael and Abedi, Mehdi. Debating Muslims: Cultural Dialogues in Postmodernity and Tradition. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1990.
Ethnographic study of Shi’ite Iranians, pre and post revolution, in Iran and is diaspora.
Pinault, David. Horse of Kerbala: Muslim Devotional Life in India. New York: Palgrave, 2001.
Readable and informative analysis of major Shia ritual celebrated during the month of Muharram. He provides a general introduction to Shiism, as well as an ethnographic narrative of his work on ritual practices in 3 Indian cities. Provides a good text to examine Shi’a Islam through ritual and symbols.
------. The Shiites. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1992.
Readable and general introduction to Shi’i Islam. Examines the common fabrics of Sunni Islam, Shi’a Islam and Sufism.
Ismaili:
Daftary, Farhad. A Short History of the Ismailis: Traditions of a Muslim Community. Princeton: M. Wiener, 1988.
Introduction to Ismai’ili doctrine and practice.
Revolution:
Halm, Heinz. Shi'a Islam: From Religion to Revolution. Translated by Allison Brown (from German). ed by Bernard Lewis and Heath W. Lowry. Princeton Series on the Middle East. Princeton: Markus Wiener Publishers, 1997.
Examination of Shi’ism and the development of religious government. Includes useful gazetteer records of Shi’i ritual over two centuries.
Keddie, Nikkie, ed. Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1981.
Richard, Yann. Le Shi’isme en Iran: Imam et revolution. Paris: Librairie d’Amerique e d’Orient, 1980.
Madelung, Wilfred. The succession to Muhammad: A Study of the early Caliphate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.
------. Religious and Ethnic Movements in Medieval Islam. Hampshire: Variorum, 1992.
Literature:
Maalouf, Amin. Trans. By Russell Harris. Samarqand. Abacus, 1994.
Novel about Seljuk Iran; Illustrates a period of tension between Ismaili Shi’as and Sunni rulership.
Mottahedeh, Roy. The Mantle of the Prophet. 2nd ed. Oxford: One World, 1985, 2000.
Narration of a young mullah through revolution in Iran; sensitive portrayal of Iranian culture and socio-political situation. Insightful discussion of Iranian society through biography, history, politics and religion. Readable and engaging account interweaving complexities of Iran's past and present.
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