Shi’ite Islam

The distinctive institution of Shi’ism is the Imamate and the question of the Imamate is inseparable from that of walayat, or the esoteric function of interpreting the inner mysteries of the Holy Quran and the Shari’ah. According to the Shi’ite view the successor of the Prophet of Islam must be one who not only rules over the community in justice but also is able to interpret the Divine law and its esoteric meaning. Hence he must be free from error and sin and he must be chosen from on high by divine decree (nass) through the Prophet.

Contents include: The cause of the separation of the Shi’ite minority from the Sunni majority; 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-muminin; the benefit that the shia derived from the caliphate of Ali; the bleakest days of Shi’ism; Shi’ism between the 2nd and 20th centuries; Divisions within Shi’ism (Zaydism, Ismailism, Batinis, Nizaris, Druzes, Muqannaah, Twelve-Imam Shi’ism); Three methods of religious thought (Shi’ism and the transmitted sciences; the way of intellection and intellectual reasoning; Mystical unveiling [Sufism]); Islamic beliefs from the Shi’ite point of view (the necessity of God; divine essence and qualities; destiny and providence; man and free will); the prophets and proof of revelation and prophecy; Eschatology; The meaning of Imam and succession; the Imamate and its role in the esoteric dimension of religion; a brief history of the lives of the twelve imams; the spiritual message of Shi’ism; Mut’ah (pro-temporary marriage); ritual practices in Shi’ism; and a note on the Jinn.