Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

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The Shiite Islam

Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai

Translated By: Sayyid Husayn Nasr

Ansarian Publications

Qom, Iran

www.alhassanain.org/english

Notice:

This version is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errors are not corrected.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE 8

The Study of Shi'ism 8

Fundamental Elements of Shi'ism 12

Present State of Shi'ite Studies 16

The Present Book 17

The Author 20

NOTES 23

INTRODUCTION 25

The Meaning of Religion (din) Islam, and Shi'ism 25

The Meaning of Religion (din)^[2] Islam, and Shi'ism 25

NOTES 26

PART I: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SHI'ISM 28

CHAPTER I THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF SHI'ISM 28

The Cause of the Separation of the Shi'ite Minority from the Sunni Majority 29

The Two Problems of Succession and Authority in Religious Sciences 30

The Political Method of the Selection of the Caliph by Vote and Its Disagreement with the Shi'ite View 31

The Termination of the Caliphate of 'Ali Amir al-mu'minin^[41] and His Method of Rule 35

The Benefit which the Shi'ah Derived from the Caliphate of Ali 38

The Transfer of the Caliphate to Mu'awiyah and Its Transformation into a Hereditary Monarchy 39

The Bleakest Days of Shi'ism 40

The Establishment of Umayyad Rule 41

Shi'ism During the 2nd/8th Century 43

Shi'ism in the 3rd/9th Century 44

Shi'ism in the 4th/10th Century 44

Shi'ism from the 5th/11th to the 9th/15th Centuries 45

Shi'ism in the 10th/16th and 11th/17th Centuries 45

Shi'ism from the 12th/18th to the 14th/20th Centuries 46

NOTES 46

CHAPTER II DIVISIONS WITHIN SHI'ISM 51

Zaydism and Its Branches 52

Isma'ilism and Its Branches 52

The Batinis 53

The Nizaris, Musta'lis, Druzes and Muqanna'ah 54

Differences Between Twelve-Imam Shi'ism and Isma'ilism and Zaydism 55

Summary of the History of Twelve-Imam Shi'ism 56

NOTES 57

PART II: SHI'ITE RELIGIOUS THOUGHT 58

CHAPTER III THREE METHODS OF RELIGIOUS THOUGHT 58

FIRST METHOD: THE FORMAL ASPECT OF RELIGION 60

The Different Facets of the Formal Aspect of Religion 60

Traditions of the Companions 61

The Book and Tradition 61

The Outward and Inward Aspects of the Quran 62

The Principles of Interpretation of the Quran 64

Hadith 66

The Method of Shi'ism in Authenticating the Hadith 66

The Method of Shi'ism in Following the Hadith 66

Learning and Teaching in Islam 67

Shi'ism and the Transmitted Sciences 68

SECOND METHOD: THE WAY OF INTELLECTION AND INTELLECTUAL REASONING 69

Philosophical and Theological Thought in Shi'ism 69

Shi'ite Initiative in Islamic Philosophy and Kalam 69

Shi'ite Contributions to Philosophy and the Intellectual Sciences 70

Outstanding Intellectual Figures of Shi'ism 71

THIRD METHOD: INTELLECTUAL INTUITION OR MYSTICAL UNVEILING 73

Man and Gnostic Comprehension 73

Appearance of Gnosis (Sufism) in Islam 73

Guidance Provided by the Quran and Sunnah for Gnostic Knowledge 75

NOTES 76

PART III: ISLAMIC BELIEFS FROM THE SHI'ITE POINT OF VIEW 80

CHAPTER IV ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD 80

The World Seen from the Point of View of Being and Reality ; The Necessity of God 80

Another Point of View Concerning the Relation Between Man and the Universe 80

The Divine Essence and Qualities 83

The Meaning of the Divine Qualities 84

Further Explanation Concerning Qualities 84

Qualities of Action 85

Destiny and Providence 85

Man and Free Will 87

NOTES 88

CHAPTER V ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROPHET 90

Toward the Goal : General Guidance 90

Special Guidance 91

Reason and Law 92

That Mysterious Wisdom and Consciousness Called Revelation 92

The Prophets - Inerrancy of Prophecy 93

The Prophets and Revealed Religion 93

The Prophets and Proof of Revelation and Prophecy 95

The Number of the Prophets of God 96

The Prophets Who are Bringers of Divine Law 96

The Prophecy of Muhammad 96

The Prophet and the Quran 99

NOTES 101

CHAPTER VI ESCHATOLOGY 103

Man is Composed of Spirit and Body 103

A Discussion of Spirit from Another Perspective 104

Death from the Islamic Point of View 104

Purgatory 104

The Day of Judgment - Resurrection 105

Another Explanation 107

The Continuity and Succession of Creation 109

NOTES 110

CHAPTER VII ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMAM (IMAMOLOGY) (part-1) 111

The Meaning of Imam 111

The Imamate and Succession 111

Affirmation of the Previous Section 117

The Imamate and Its Role in the Exposition of the Divine Sciences 118

The Difference Between Prophet and Imam 119

The Imamate and Its Role in the Esoteric Dimension of Religion 119

The Imams and Leaders of Islam 121

NOTES 122

CHAPTER VII ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMAM (IMAMOLOGY) (part-2) 125

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LIVES OF THE TWELVE IMAMS 125

The First Imam Amir al-mu'minin Ali 125

The Second Imam Hasan Mujtaba 127

The Third Imam Husayn (Sayyid al-Shuhada) 128

The Fourth Imam Sajjad (Ali ibn Husayn entitled Zayn al-'abidin and Sajjad) 132

The Fifth Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Baqir 133

The Sixth Imam Ja'far ibn Muhammad 133

The Seventh Imam Musa ibn Ja'far Kazim 134

The Eighth Imam Rida (Ali ibn Musa) 135

The Ninth Imam Muhammad (ibn Ali) Taqi 136

The Tenth Imam Ali ibn Muhammad Naqi 136

The Eleventh Imam Hasan ibn Ali 'Askari 137

The Twelfth Imam Mahdi 138

NOTES 138

CHAPTER VII ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMAM (IMAMOLOGY) (part-3) 141

On the Appearance of the Mahdi 141

The Spiritual Message of Shi'ism 143

NOTES 144

APPENDIX I TAQIYAH Or DISSIMULATION 146

APPENDIX II MUT'AH OR TEMPORARY MARRIAGE 148

NOTE 150

APPENDIX III PRACTICES IN RITUAL SHIISM 151

APPENDIX IV A NOTE ON THE JINN 153

BIBLIOGRAPHY 155

The Writings of Allamah Tabataba'i 155

GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY 157