DOCSLIB.ORG

Agents of the Hidden Imam

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Agents of the Hidden Imam Agents of the Hidden Imam: Shiite Juristic Authority in Light of the Doctrine of Deputyship Ali-Ahmad Rasekh A Thesis In the Department of Religion Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Religion) at Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada © Ali-Ahmad Rasekh 2015 ii CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES This is to certify that the thesis prepared By: Ali-Ahmad Rasekh Entitled: Agents of the Hidden Imam: Shiite Juristic Authority in Light of the Doctrine of Deputyship and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Religion) complies with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Signed by the final examining committee: Dr. F. Shaver Chair Dr. L. Takim External Examiner Dr. J. Carty External to Program Dr. R. Foltz Examiner Dr. L. Orr Examiner Dr. L. Clarke Thesis Supervisor Approved by: Dr. L. Orr, Graduate Program Director July 23, 2015 Dr. A. Roy, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science iii ABSTRACT Agents of the Hidden Imam: Shiite Juristic Authority in Light of the Doctrine of Deputyship Ali-Ahmad Rasek, Ph.D. Concordia University, 2015 Deputyship deals with the issue of leadership in Twelver Shiism in a situation in which the Imam is believed to be only temporarily absent and still the possessor of ultimate religious and political authority. The jurists were recognized as the deputies of the Imam; this was and still is the source of their legitimacy and authority. There was, however, no consensus about the areas Deputyship would cover. This was due both to caution about trespassing on the prerogatives of the Imam and the unavailability of power to Shiites. The theoretical constraint changed with the lengthening of the Occultation after 940, and the practical constraint was also loosened due to instances of Shiite political power, principally in Iran. Change in thought about Deputyship, however, is very slow until the twentieth century, so that it can be detected and evaluated in juristic and theological texts and sometimes also in historical developments only over the long term. Close to the Occultation, the jurists confined their Deputyship and thus authority to juridical issues and Quranic punishments. In the sixteenth century under the Safavids, they expanded Deputyship to a wider range of religious matters through new interpretations of Shiite jurisprudence. They did not, however, possess or claim actual political authority, and their prominence was due rather to their social, economic and political influence and growth of religious institutions. It was in nineteenth-century Persia under the Qājārs that an interpretation of deputyship was introduced that would grant the jurists political power and upon which a further, even more political interpretation and actual jurist-led Islamic state was established by Khomeini in the twentieth century. The dissertation argues, contrary to views in a substantial literature on Shiism and Weber, that the jurists form a third category of charismatic authority after the Prophet and Imams. The chief and essential source of juristic charisma is Deputyship of the Imam, i.e. office charisma. A second source is personal qualities, which help the office charisma to flourish. Shiite jurists who possess personal in addition to office charisma and act, in the Weberian sense, “exceptionally” gather more followers. The dissertation makes a contribution to Weberian theory by arguing that charisma and charismatic office continue to evolve after the pure charismatic event. The emergence of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini is a recent striking instance. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deep and eternal gratitude to Professor Lynda Clarke. I am endlessly indebted to my advisor for helping to improve and enrich the dissertation, as well as edit it. Prof. Clarke’s kindness will always remain alive in my memory. I pleased to offer my warm thanks to Professor Leslie Orr for her informative classes and unfailing guidance. Prof. Orr read and re-read the dissertation and suggested valuable corrections. I would also like to thank Distinguished Professor Emeritus Michel Despland, from whom I learned many new things; and Professor Richard Foltz, Director of the Centre for Iranian Studies, for his helpful comments and also for nominating me for the PARSA Award. With the submission of my dissertation, I remember and appreciate all my teachers: professors Marc Lalonde, Bilal Kuspinar, Ira Robinson, Michael Oppenheim, Norma Joseph, and Carly Daniel-Hughes. Many thanks to Munit Merid, Assistant to the Chair and Undergraduate Programs Assistant, and Tina Montandon, Graduate Program Assistant. Finally and foremost, I owe the greatest debt of gratitude to my family members, Masouma, Fatima, Sapida, and Ershad. My family not only fully supported me, but also understood the importance to me of my studies. I apologize that I could not provide a better life for them though I did my best to save them from experiencing the difficulties I and my generation suffered due to the troubles of my beloved country, Afghanistan. v Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter One: Re-reading post-Occultation juristic authority ................................................ 11 Prophetic charisma and its routinization ....................................................................... 13 Imamic charisma ........................................................................................................... 25 Charisma of the jurist .................................................................................................... 33 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 60 Chapter Two: First moment of Deputyship: Struggling with political limitation .................. 65 Life and times ................................................................................................................ 67 Ideas and influence ........................................................................................................ 69 Contemporary politicization of the image of Mufīd ..................................................... 71 Key terms and concepts ................................................................................................. 75 The Imam’s amīrs, hākims, and wālīs ........................................................................... 79 The jurists and judgeship ............................................................................................... 80 The jurists and leadership of Friday prayer ................................................................... 83 Deputyship and jihād ..................................................................................................... 86 Commanding good and forbidding evil ........................................................................ 87 Deputyship and religious taxes ..................................................................................... 88 The jurist as a charismatic figure .................................................................................. 91 Deputyship from an unjust ruler is deputyship from the Imam .................................... 94 Analysis and conclusion ................................................................................................ 97 Chapter Three: Karakī and niyābah: The dilemma of two sultans ...................................... 104 Life and times .............................................................................................................. 105 Key terms and concepts ............................................................................................... 108 Scope of the mujtahid’s niyābah ................................................................................. 115 The jurists and Friday prayer ...................................................................................... 119 vi The jurists and judgeship ............................................................................................. 122 Niyābah from the Imam and working with an unjust ruler ......................................... 123 Enjoining good and forbidding evil and jihad ............................................................. 128 The jurists and religio-political taxes .......................................................................... 129 Analysis and conclusion .............................................................................................. 134 Chapter Four: Khomeini and the doctrine of wilāyah: Reviving the Prophet’s authority ... 141 Life and times .............................................................................................................. 143 Key terms and concepts ............................................................................................... 146 Personal charisma through politicization .................................................................... 154 Khomeini’s political theology ..................................................................................... 161 Working for an unjust ruler denied ............................................................................. 168 Khums ....................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Manifestation of Religious Authority on the Internet: Presentation of Twelver Shiite Authority in the Persian Blogosphere By
    Manifestation of Religious Authority on the Internet: Presentation of Twelver Shiite Authority in the Persian Blogosphere by Narges Valibeigi A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfilment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2012 © Narges Valibeigi 2012 Author’s Declaration I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. Narges Valibeigi ii Abstract Cyberspace has diversified and pluralized people’s daily experiences of religion in unprecedented ways. By studying several websites and weblogs that have a religious orientation, different layers of religious authority including “religious hierarchy, structures, ideology, and sources” (Campbell, 2009) can be identified. Also, using Weber’s definition of the three types of authority, “rational-legal, traditional, and charismatic” (1968), the specific type of authority that is being presented on blogosphere can be recognized. The Internet presents a level of liberty for the discussion of sensitive topics in any kind of religious cyberspace, specifically the Islamic one. In this way, the Internet is expanding the number and range of Muslim voices, which may pose problems for traditional forms of religious authority or may suggest new forms of authority in the Islamic world. The interaction between the Internet and religion is often perceived as contradictory, especially when it is religion at its most conservative practice. While the international and national applications of the Internet have increased vastly, local religious communities, especially fundamentalists, perceived this new technology as a threat to their local cultures and practices.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Four Deputies of Imam Mahdi (A) in Shiite Hadith Literature
    The Role of the Four Deputies of Imam Mahdi (a) in Shiite Hadith Literature Morteza Maddahi1 Abstract After the holy Qur’an, Hadith is the second source of Islam in terms of authority and the first in terms of extent. Contrary to the Qur’an, hadith is SURQHWRPDQLSXODWLRQDQGIRUJHU\DVWKH3URSKHW V ZDUQHGDERXWLWDQG history testifies to it. Prior to the era of occultation, many hadiths were presented to the Imams, and they rejected some of them and corrected RUH[SODLQHGWKHRWKHUV$O6KD\NKDOৡDGnjT G JDWKHUHGPDQ\ of these hadiths in his 0DҵƗQƯ DODNKEƗU. On the other hand, the most important Shiite hadith books were compiled after the occultation of the Twelfth Imam. The period of the Minor Occultation was a crucial time in Shiite history. With a historical and analytical approach, this article studies the identity and conditions of the Four Deputies and their role in guiding the Shiite community in relation to Hadith. In this regard, the article discusses the stance of the Four deputies against the hadiths of false FODLPHUVOLNH6KDOPDJƗQƯ G WKHLUUHODWLRQZLWKWKHVFKRODUVRI Qom, the reason why DO.ƗIL was not presented to them so as to obtain the DSSURYDORI,PDP0DKGL D DQGILQDOO\WKHUHODWLRQEHWZHHQDO.XOD\QL G DQGWKH)RXU'HSXWLHV Keywords +DGLWK WKH )RXU 'HSXWLHV DO.XOD\QƯ DO.ƗIƯ 0LQRU Occultation. 1$VVLဧDQWSURIHVVRUDWDO0XဧDID,QWHUQDWLRQDO8QLYHUVLW\ Journal of Al-Mustafa International University Vol. 3 (2020), Issue 1 The Infallible Imams and the Correction of Ahadith Hadith being the largest source of Islamic teachings, and gaining authenticity from Qur›an, contain vast details in a variety of matters. They contain fundamental importance in all subjects of practical Islamic life, and are often the main source of reference for Islamic scholars in different fields.
    [Show full text]
  • Imam Al-Mahdi - “A Sun Hidden Behind the Clouds” Or Imam Al-Mahdi – the Last Luminous Pearl of the Household of the Holy Prophet
    Imam Al-Mahdi - “A sun hidden behind the clouds” or Imam Al-Mahdi – The Last Luminous Pearl of the household of the Holy Prophet Characters: Imam - Zohra Kassam Narrator - Fatema Rehmani Deputy 1 - Zayn Visram Deputy 2 - Fatema Kanji Deputy 3 - Zayn Visram Deputy 4 - Fatema Kanji Scene 1 - Man 1 (Mohammed) Sabiha Kassam Man 2 (Ahmad)- Farzana Man 3 (Hajiz) - Scene 2 - Man 4 (Ja’far) - Mehtab Man 5 (Hassan) - Sabiha Kassam Scene 3 - Man 6 (Abdu Sahal) - Farzana Man 7 (Ja’far) - Mehtab Man 8 (Ali) - Aliya Seyyid Rashti - Sarah Walji Narrator: On this morning of the 15h Sha’ban 255 A.H., at the time of Fajr , in the city of Samaraa, the world has been illuminated with a powerful ray of light, into a human form, which has now become the source of existence for the universe. Finally, the Divine promise is fulfilled and Imam al-Mahdi (a.s) is born in spite of the efforts of those who deny him. Due to the severe restrictions imposed by the reigning Abbaside Caliph, Al-Mutamad, and in order to safeguard himself for achieving the objectives decreed by Allah, Imam Mahdi (a.s) is forced to conceal himself from the eyes of the people. When Imam Hassan Al-Askari (a.s) is martyred on the 8th Rabi-ul-Awwal 260 A.H., the office of Divine Leadership (Imamat) is transferred to the Last Luminous Pearl of the Household of the Holy Prophet, Imam al-Mahdi (a.s), who is now five years old. Although His Eminence does not appear amongst the people, some persons in whom he has trust and confidence are allowed to visit him and convey the problems and religious queries of the Shi’ites; and they communicate to the people, guidance and commands of the Divine Luminous Light.
    [Show full text]
  • THE ROLE of the MUJTAHIDS of TEHRAN in the IRANIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTION 1905-9 Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Ph.D. By
    THE ROLE OF THE MUJTAHIDS OF TEHRAN IN THE IRANIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTION 1905-9 Thesis submitted for the Degree of Ph.D. by Vanessa Ann Morgan Martin School of Oriental and African Studies University of London 1984 ProQuest Number: 11010525 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 11010525 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 - 1 - ABSTRACT The thesis discusses the role of the mujtahids of Tehran in the Constitutional Revolution, considering their contribution both in ideas and organisation. The thesis is divided into eight chapters, the first of which deals with the relationship between the Lulama and the state, and the problem of accommodation with a ruler who was illegitimate according to Twelver Shi'ite law. The second chapter discusses the economic and social position of the Lulama, concentrating on their financial resources, their legal duties, and their relationships with other groups, and attempting to show the ways in which they were subject to pressure. In the third chapter, the role of the ^ulama, and particularly the mujtahids, in the coming of the Revolution is examined, especially their response to the centralisation of government, and the financial crisis at the turn of the century.
    [Show full text]
  • The Book of Occultation—Is Devoted to Accounts About the Last Hujja of Allah the Imam of the Age, May Allah Hasten His Appearance
    Chapter 1 DEDICATION This humble and petty and unworthy effort, O’ my Master, O’ Love of my heart, O Luminous Star of the heavens and the earths, my father and mother and all whom I hold dear be the ransom of the dust of your steps, on the blessed occasion of your birthday, I offer to you, and with tearful eyes and trembling voice and an embarrassed conscience, I beseech you, O king of glory, harm has touched us and our family. We have come to you with a scanty offer, so give us full measure and give us charity, for Allah rewards the charitable. My Master, may Allah hasten your appearance and make us of your aides and supporters and martyrs at your feet, though I confess that thus far, I am ashamed to have been a very bad Shī‘a for you. But my Master, you know I do not have a Patron but you. So please abandon me not for my bad character, forget me not for my disloyalty, and give me charity from the treasure trove of certainty, knowledge, propriety, and love and more. H. A. 15 Sha‘bān 1423 2 Chapter 2 INTRODUCTION In the name of Allah the Merciful the Compassionate Praise belongs to Allah, Who conveyed the Word to His servants through an Imam after an Imam, so may they remember; and completed the religion through His entrusted subjects and representatives, in every time and age, for a people who believe. And blessings and greetings be unto the one that apostles and prophets gave the happy tidings of his and his successors, Muhammad the master of the creation, and his Household the lights of darkness, until the Day they shall be resurrected.
    [Show full text]
  • Imame Zaman Hazrat Mahdi (A.S)
    IMAME ZAMAN HAZRAT MAHDI (A.S) By: Mulla Haji Muhammadjaffer Sheriff Dewji Translated by: MURTAZA A. LAKHA Published by: Literary Section Ithnaasheri Union, P.O. Box 2440 Dar es Salaam. TRANSLATOR’S NOTE When I was invited to translate into English the Gujarati book on our current Imam (a.s.), written by Marhum Al-Haj Mulla Muhammadjaffer Sheriff Dewji, I was astonished for I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth, to undertake such an assignment. Yet, the holy nature of the task forbade my declining. Conscious of my inadequacies, I passed my manuscripts on to no less than three person; Al-Haj Mohamed Gulamhusein Dharsi, my elder brother Al-Haj Mulla Mohamedhusein Ahmed Lakha and Al-Haj Muhsin Alidina, to examine them. So apt, ample and thorough have been their amendments that I am tempted to call this production a joint effort. However, as the original translation is mine, the responsibility for all the faults, frailties and failures herein must exclusively be on me. For having reduced them so considerably, I remain grateful to all of them and, particularly, to Al-Haj Muhsin Alidina, who even perused the final draft and undertook proof-reading. There has generally been felt the need to awaken awareness of the presence amongst us of our current Imam (a.s.). Although the Gujarati version of this work ran into three editions and was translated into Urdu as well, the demand for rendering it into English was compelling. It is my pious hope that this effort will not only imbue consciousness of his existence and our duties to him, but will also inspire added vigour towards improvement of this work, as well as translation of other works, by the late author.
    [Show full text]
  • In Waiting for Godot and Islam: a Thematic Comparative Study
    PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION (2021) 58(2): 1756-1765 ISSN: 00333077 The Image of the 'Saviour' in Waiting for Godot and Islam: A Thematic Comparative Study 1Ameer Abd Hadi M.A. in English literature, Al-Qasim Green University (Iraq) ABSTRACT The idea of the 'saviour' has been an interesting subject matter for many specialists for a very long time. Its interset can be attributed to many reasons, probably the most important one is religion. Allusions to the saviour seem to be present in almost all religions, heavenly or earthly. It has been noted that even the pagan tribes believe in the existence of a saviour as a part of their cultures and traditions. Another reason stems back to man's weakness as a living creature and his constant need for a natural, or supernatural, power to save him from misery, oppression, injustice, ...etc. The saviour could be a superbeing or human being. For instance, Beowulf is looked at as a saviour, and King Arthur was, for a long time, thought to be a saviour that one day he will come and save his people, and many legends have been written in this respect. The aim of this study is to highlight the 'saviour' as a concept in Samuel Becket's play Waiting for Godot and explore its interpretations as tackled by two 'schools': The Theatre of the Absurd and Existentialism, then compare it to the concept of the saviour from Islam's point of view. The study falls into four chapters. Chapter one is devoted to outline the 'saviour' as a term, the belief in the presence of the saviour in general, and how the idea of the saviour is looked at by different writers and philosophers.
    [Show full text]
  • The Study of Early Shīʿī Ḥadīth
    Horizon 2020 INSTITUTE OF ARAB AND ISLAMIC STUDIES The Study of Early Shīʿī Ḥadīth: Sources and Methodology College of Social Sciences and International Online Workshop Studies th th Stocker Road 19 and 20 May 2020Exeter LAWALISI (Law, Authority and Learning in ImamiEX4 4ND Shiite Islam) Project Funded by the European Research CouncilTel: +44(No. (0) 1392 695245) 264025 Fax: +44 (0) 1392 724035 Email: [email protected] 16 January 2018 Programme Web: www.exeter.ac.uk/iais Abstracts (inDear order friends or presentation) RE: LAWALISI Uṣūl Workshop: Texts on Naskh in late classical Uṣūl al-Fiqh Edmund HayesMonday (Leiden 22nd January University): 2018: The Deer Park Hotel Imam Jawād’s Khums Letter: Between Implementation and Legislation Ṭūsī’s TahdhībWe are cites looking a letterforward carried to welcoming by youʿAlī next b. week Mahzyiār for the uṣūl from texts workshop, Imam Jawād,convened inas part which the of the LAWALISI project. The programme is on the next page, but here are some practical details: Imam mentions some of his followers in the Jibāl who took large amounts of wealth in a battle againstWorkshop Khurramiyya. venue: The letter mentions the imposition of zakāt, khums and the “gains and benefits”The Deer Park (al Hotel-ghanāʾim wa al-fawāʾid). These categories do not appear to EX14 3PG correspond toTel: classical 01404 41266 Imami fiqh, nor to hadith statements ascribed to earlier Imams. The anomalous nature of this letter was noted not only by later jurists of the Occultation period, but even duringSome theof you lifetime will have visitedof Imam there before.Hādī.
    [Show full text]
  • Al-Mahdi (A.S.)
    Al-Mahdi(A.S.) Sayed Sadruddin Sadr AL-MAHDI (A.S.) By: Sayyed Sadruddin Sadr Translated by: Jalil Dorrani In The Name of Allah Dedication This book is dedicated to you ‘O Abul-Qasim-Muhammad-ibn-Hassan- Askari, ‘O “Baqia’tallah” (Allah’s reminder) on the earth and His proof over His servants. I hope to be graced with Your acceptance. In reality, the value of presentation is tantamount to the capacity of its giver. Sayyid Sadruddin al-Sadr Naba Cultural Organization NabaClutural.Org Al-Mahdi(A.S.) Sayed Sadruddin Sadr In His Exalted Name ﺍﳊﻤﺪﺍﷲ ﺭﺏ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﳌﲔ ﻭ ﺍﻟﺼﻮﺓ ﻋﻠﻲ ﳏﻤﺪ ﻭ ﺁﻟﻪ ﺍﻟﻄﻴﺒﲔ ﺍﻟﻄﺎﻫﺮﻳﻦ ﺳﻴﻤﺎ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺍﳌﻬﺪﻱ ﺍﳌﻨﺘﻈﺮ ﺍﻻﻣﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﺜﺎﱐ ﻋﺸﺮ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻠﻌﻨﺔ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺍﻋﺪﺍﺋﻬﻢ ﺍﲨﻌﲔ This (book) is a collection of a series of traditions, which have been narrated from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.), his progeny and companions - all taken from our Sunni brethren sources. It also contains sayings and writings of Sunni scholars about the Awaited Mahdi who is from the progeny of Muhammad (S.A.W.A.). It is hoped that this book remains a means of my remembrance and a vision for others. I have arranged this book by bringing one preface, eight chapters and a conclusion. I ask Allah for its success and humbly request Him who is the best of the Helpers for His favor. Sayyid Sadruddin al-Sadr Naba Cultural Organization NabaClutural.Org Al-Mahdi(A.S.) Sayed Sadruddin Sadr The Reason for Writing This Book and the Writer’s Style Some of my learned friends joined me in a noble and scholarly gathering.
    [Show full text]
  • Imam Mahdi in Urdu Pdf
    Imam mahdi in urdu pdf Continue ٰ ,th Imam of Twelver Shia IslamMuhammad al-Mahdi's name in Islamic calligraphyBornMuhammad15 Sha'ban 255 AH[1](c. (869-07-29)July 29, 869 CE)Samarra ُﺣ ﺠﺔ ﻟﻠﻪ ﻟْ َﻤﻬْﺪِيFor the Fatimid caliph, see al-Kaim (Fatimids). For other purposes, see Twelfth and last Imam in Shia Twelver of Islam Hujjat Allah al-Mahdi 12ّ Abbasid EmpireDisappearedMinor Occultation c. 5 January 874 (aged 4) Major Occultation c. 941Samarra, IraqStatusDisappeared, believed by Twelver Shia Islam to be due to The OccultationMonumentsAl-Sahlah Mosque, IraqMaqam e Ghaybat, IraqJamkaran Mosque, IranAgent The Four Deputies UthmanAbu ﺻﺎ ِﺣﺐ)Imam of Our Time)[2] Ṣāhib az-Zamān)(إ َﻣﺎم ﻟْﻌَﺼﺮ)The Proof of the House of Muhammad)[1] ʾImām al-ʿAsr)(ﻟْ ُﺤ ﺠﺔ آل ُﻣ َﺤ ﻤﺪ)The Hidden)[1] al-Ḥujjah ʾĀl Muḥammad)(ﻟْﻐَﺎﺋِﺐ)The Riser)[1] al-Ghāʾib)(ﻟْ َﻘﺎﺋِﻢ)The Guided)[1] al-Qāʾim)(ﻟْ َﻤﻬﺪِي)JafarAbul QasimAbul Hasan Known forLast Twelver ImamTitle al-Mahdiy َ ِ ْ ْ ّ َ The Comforter of Hearts) Term874 CE – presentPredecessorHasan al-AskariMovementTwelver Shia IslamOpponent(s)Shaytan , Sufyani, DajalParent (s)Hasan al-Askari)(دﻻور)The Awaited)[3] Delāvar)(ﻟْﻤﻨﺘﻈَﺮ)Master of the Obligation)[1] al-Muntaẓar)(ﺻﺎ ِﺣﺐ ْﻷﻣﺮ)Master of the Era)[1] Ṣāhib al-ʾAmr)(ﻟﺰﻣﺎن ُ ْ َ ٰ َ ْ َ Ujjat All'h ibn al-Asan al-Mahdiy) is considered the Twelve Shia Mahdi, the eschatological redeemer of Islam and the last imam of the Twelve Imams who will appear with Isa (Jesus Christ) in order to fulfill his mission of , ُﺣ ﺠﺔ ﻟﻠﻪ ﺑْﻦ ﻟْ َﺤ َﺴﻦ ﻟْ َﻤﻬْﺪِيّ :father)Nargis (mother) Hujat Allah ibn al-Hasan al-Mahdi (Arabic) ensuring world peace and justice.
    [Show full text]
  • The Hidden Political Message in Twelver Exegesis
    Obeying Those in Authority: the Hidden Political Message in Twelver Exegesis The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citation Gordon, Jennifer Thea. 2014. Obeying Those in Authority: the Hidden Political Message in Twelver Exegesis. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University. Citable link http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:12274278 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use#LAA Obeying Those in Authority: The Hidden Political Message in Twelver Exegesis A dissertation presented by Jennifer Thea Gordon to The Committee on Middle Eastern Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the subject of History and Middle Eastern Studies Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts March 2014 © 2014 Jennifer Thea Gordon All rights reserved. Advisor: Professor Roy P. Mottahedeh Jennifer Thea Gordon Obeying Those in Authority: The Hidden Political Message in Twelver Exegesis ABSTRACT In the tenth century, a confluence of two unrelated events shaped the Twelver ShíȺa community in Baghdad: the Occultation of the Twelfth ImÃm in 939/329 and the takeover of Baghdad in 945 by the Buyid princes, who were largely tolerant towards their ShíȺa subjects. Twelver intellectual life flourished during this era, led by the exegetes who are the subject of this dissertation. Chief among them were al-Shaykh al-ଢĭsí and al-Sharíf al-MurtaૃÃ, who ‒ along with many of their contemporaries ‒ comprised a “Baghdad school” of Twelver intellectuals.
    [Show full text]
  • The Last Luminary
    THE LAST LUMINARY Translated from the Persian First Edition 1980/1401 WOFIS WORLD ORGANIZATION FOR ISLAMIC SERVICES TEHRAN -IRAN Presented by Ziaraat.Com Translated and published by: World Organization for Islamic Services, P.O. Box No. 11365-1545, Tehran - IRAN. Presented by Ziaraat.Com In the Name of Allah, The All-compassionate, The All-merciful Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all being; the All-compassionate, the All-merciful; the Master of the Day of Judgement; Thee only we serve, and to Thee alone we pray for succour; Guide us in the straight path; the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray. O' Allah! send your blessings to the head of your messengers and the last of your prophets, Muhammad and his pure and cleansed progeny. Also send your blessings to all your prophets and envoys. Presented by Ziaraat.Com Dear Reader, The book you now have in hand is one of the many Islamic publications distributed by this Organization throughout the world in dif ferent languages with the aim of conveying the message of Islam to the people of the world. You may read this book carefully and should you be interested to have further study on such publications you can contact us through a letter. Naturally, if we find you to be a keen and energetic reader we shall give you a deserv- ing response in sending you some other publi- cations of this Organization. Presented by Ziaraat.Com You may express your views on this pub- lication and the subject matter discussed in it, and how far you have benefited from it or which part of the subject matter has proved useful to you and your environment.
    [Show full text]