Table of Contents
PREFACE Seyyed Hossein Nasr
The Study of Shi'ism Fundamental ELements of Shi'ism Present State of Shi'ite Studies The Present Book The Author INTRODUCTION 'Allamah Tabataba'i
PART 1: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SHI'ISM
I. The Origin and Growth of Shi'ism
The Cause of the Separation of the Shi'ite Minority from the Sunni Majority The Two Problems of Succession and Authority in Religious Sciences The Political Method of the Selection of the Caliph by Vote and Its Disagreement with the Shi'ite View The Termination of the Caliphate of 'Ali Amir al-mu'minin and His Method of Rule The Benefit That the Shi'ah Derived from the Caliphate of 'Ali The Transfer of the Caliphate to Mu'awiyah and Its Transformation into a Hereditary Monarchy The Bleakest Days of Shi'ism The Establishment of Umayyad Rule Shi'ism During the 2nd/8th Century Shi'ism in the 3rd/9th Century Shi'ism in the 4th/10th Century Shi'ism from the 5th/11th to the 9th/15th Centuries Shi'ism in the 10th/16th and 11th/17th Centuries Shi'ism from the 12th/18th to the 14th/20th Centuries
NOTES: CHAPTER I
II. Divisions within Shi'ism
Zaydism and Its Branches Isma'ilism and Its Branches The Batinis The Nizaris, Musta'lis, Druzes, and Muqanna'ah The Nizaris The Musta'lis The Druzes The Muqanna'ah Differences Between Twelve-Imam Shi'ism and Isma'ilism and Zaydism Summary of the History of Twelve-Imam Shi'ism
NOTES: CHAPTER II
PART II: SHI'ITE RELIGIOUS THOUGHT III. Three Methods of Religious Thought
First Method: The Formal Aspect of Religion Different Facets of the Formal Apsect Traditions of the Companions The Book and Tradition The Outward and Inward Apsects of the Quran The Principles of Interpretation of the Quran Hadith The Method of Shi'ism in Authenticating the Hadith The Method of Shi'ism in Following the Hadith Learning and Teaching in Islam Shi'ism and the Transmitted Sciences Second Method: The Way of Intellection and Intellectual Reasoning Philosophical and Theological Thought in Shi'ism Shi'ite Initiative in Islamic Philosophy and Kalam Shi'ite Contributions in Philosophy and Intellectual Sciences Outstanding Intellectual Figures of Shi'ism Third Method: Intellectual Intuition or Mystical Unveiling Man and Gnostic Comprehension Appearance of Gnosis (Sufism) in Islam Guidance Provided by the Quran and Sunnah for Gnostic Knowledge
NOTES: CHAPTER III
PART III: ISLAMIC BELIEFS FROM THE SHI'ITE POINT OF VIEW
IV. On the Knowledge of God
The World Seen from the Point of View of Being and Reality: The Necessity of God Another Point of View Concerning the Relation Between Man and the Universe The Divine Essence and Qualities The Meaning of the Divine Qualities Further Explanations Concerning the Qualities Qualities of Action Destiny and Providence Man and Free Will
NOTES: CHAPTER IV
V. On the Knowledge of the Prophet
Toward the Goal: General Guidance Special Guidance Reason and Law That Mysterious Wisdom and Consciousness Called Revelation The Prophets - Inerrancy of Prophecy The Prophets and Revealed Religion The Prophets and Proof of Revelation and Prophecy The Number of the Prophets of God The Prophets Who are Bringers of Divine Law The Prophecy of Muhammad The Prophet and the Quran
NOTES: CHAPTER V
VI. Eschatology
Man is Composed of Spirit and Body A Discussion of Spirit from Another Perspective Death from the Islamic Point of View Purgatory The Day of Judgment - Resurrection Another Explanation The Continuity and Succession of Creation
NOTES: CHAPTER VI
VII. On the Knowledge of the Imam (Imamology)
The Meaning of Imam The Imamate and Succession Affirmation of the Previous Section The Imamate and Its Role in the Exposition of the Divine Sciences The Difference Between Prophet and Imam The Imamate and Its Role in the Esoteric Dimension of Religion The Imams and Leaders of Islam A Brief History of the Lives of the Twelve Imams The First Imam - 'Ali ibn Abi Talib The Second Imam - Hasan ibn 'Ali The Third Imam - Husayn ibn 'Ali The Fourth Imam - 'Ali ibn Husayn The Fifth Imam - Muhammad ibn 'Ali The Sixth Imam - Ja'far ibn Muhammad The Seventh Imam - Musa ibn Ja'far The Eighth Imam - 'Ali ibn Musa The Ninth Imam - Muhammad ibn 'Ali Then Tenth Imam - 'Ali ibn Muhammad The Eleventh Imam - Hasan ibn 'Ali The Twelfth Imam - Mahdi On the Appearance of the Mahdi
The Spiritual Message of Shi'ism NOTES: CHAPTER VII
APPENDIX
I. Taqiyah or Dissimulation II. Mut'ah or Temporary Marriage III. Ritual Practices in Shi'ism IV. A Note on the Jinn
BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX