Religious Authority in Shi'ite Islam
Author | : Ahmad Kazemi Moussavi |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 338 |
Release | : 1996 |
ISBN-10 | : 9839900269 |
ISBN-13 | : 9789839900262 |
Rating | : 4/5 (262 Downloads) |
Download or read book Religious Authority in Shi'ite Islam written by Ahmad Kazemi Moussavi and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work studies the development of the institution of the uluma in the Muslim world, with special reference to Shi'ite Islam, in which a semi-formal hierarchy has been in existence since the 19th century. The book examines the emergence of Ithn 'Ashar jurisprudence and its periodic changes, the rise of a Shi'ite learned body, the institutionalization of the positions of mujtahid and marja' a l-taqlid, their financial sources of authority, and finally the political roles of the uluma. It also surveys the long drawn out struggle for authority amongst the representatives of speculative thought in Shi'ism. It includes the challenges of the Sufis, Akhbaris and Shaykhis to the office of ulama, which was successfully empowered with juristic mandate and with the charismatic authority of the viceregent of the Imam.