Shiite Ulama & Political Power

DESCRIPTION

This book studies the rise and development of the institution of the Shiite ulama with special reference to its increasingly political orientation. Based on the authority of their knowledge of jurisprudence, the ulama claimed that they should assume the position of holy Imams which entitles them to political power in addition to their juridical authority. This claim was bolstered by the rise of Shiite popular religion during Safavid period (1501-1722). The popularity of Muharram processions and tombs visitations have ensured the ulama's independent financial income and a shared charisma with the holy Imam. Being the locus of popular religion, the ulama managed not only to overcome several Sufi, Akhbari, Shaykhi and contemporary intellectual challenges, but to succeed in taking political power and monopolize the religious institutions after the Islamic Revolution of Iran (1979).

AUTHOR

Dr. Ahmad Kazemi Moussavi teaches at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization of the International Islamic University in Malaysia.

علمای شیعه و قدرت سیاسی تحلیلی از مبانی نظری قدرت علما و سیر تاریخی آن

احمد کاظمی موسوی استاد حقوق در دانشگاه بین المللی اسلامی مالزی