Shi'a Islam (book)
Encyclopedia
Shi'ite Islam is an important text on the history and thought of Shi'a Islam
.
Written by Muhammed H. Al-Tabataba'i
, with the translation, editing, and introduction by Dr. Sayyed Hussein Nasr, it was the first text to be written by a top Shi'a scholar and intended for western readership.
and professor of religious studies at Colgate University
, initiated a project to produce a text specifically dealing with Shi'a Islam
, introducing the Islamic sect to the non Muslim western reader, written from a true Shi'a perspective. Presenting Oriental religion to the West from the point of view of an authentic representative is an important goal, and there are still very few authentic works by and about the Shi'a.
The aim of Professor Morgan to have a description of Shi'ism by one of the respected traditional scholars of the Shi'a, led him and collaborator Dr. Seyyed Hosein Nasr
, to Allamah Tabataba'i
in 1963.
Allameh Tabatabaei
was particularly well suited for this task; he was a pillar of intellectual Shi'a thoughtulema
who combined interest in jurisprudence and Quranic commentary with philosophy, theosophy
, and Sufism
, and represented a more universal interpretation of the Shi'a point of view.
The project took 6 years to complete, and was followed by two more extending volumes. William Chittick
of SUNY
collaborated with the editing, and the book was published by the State University of New York Press
in 1979.
It remains a classic textbook for westerners trying to gain an introductory understanding of Shi'a Islam.
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
Written by Muhammed H. Al-Tabataba'i
Allameh Tabatabaei
Allameh Seyyed Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaei was one of the most prominent thinkers of philosophy and contemporary Shia Islam...
, with the translation, editing, and introduction by Dr. Sayyed Hussein Nasr, it was the first text to be written by a top Shi'a scholar and intended for western readership.
How it began
In 1962, Kenneth Morgan, university chaplainChaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
and professor of religious studies at Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
, initiated a project to produce a text specifically dealing with Shi'a Islam
Shi'a Islam
Shia Islam is the second largest denomination of Islam. The followers of Shia Islam are called Shi'ites or Shias. "Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatu ʻAlī , meaning "followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or "party of Ali".Like other schools of thought in Islam, Shia Islam is...
, introducing the Islamic sect to the non Muslim western reader, written from a true Shi'a perspective. Presenting Oriental religion to the West from the point of view of an authentic representative is an important goal, and there are still very few authentic works by and about the Shi'a.
The aim of Professor Morgan to have a description of Shi'ism by one of the respected traditional scholars of the Shi'a, led him and collaborator Dr. Seyyed Hosein Nasr
Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Seyyed Hossein Nasr is an Iranian University Professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University, and a prominent Islamic philosopher...
, to Allamah Tabataba'i
Tabatabaei
Tabatabaei is a surname of Arabic and Persian origin...
in 1963.
Allameh Tabatabaei
Allameh Tabatabaei
Allameh Seyyed Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaei was one of the most prominent thinkers of philosophy and contemporary Shia Islam...
was particularly well suited for this task; he was a pillar of intellectual Shi'a thoughtulema
Ulema
Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
who combined interest in jurisprudence and Quranic commentary with philosophy, theosophy
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
, and Sufism
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
, and represented a more universal interpretation of the Shi'a point of view.
The project took 6 years to complete, and was followed by two more extending volumes. William Chittick
William Chittick
William C. Chittick is a leading translator and interpreter of classical Islamic philosophical and mystical texts. He is best known for his groundbreaking work on Rumi and Ibn 'Arabi, and has written extensively on the school of Ibn 'Arabi, Islamic philosophy, Shi'ism, and Islamic...
of SUNY
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
collaborated with the editing, and the book was published by the State University of New York Press
State University of New York Press
The State University of New York Press , is a university press and a Center for Scholarly Communication. The Press is part of the State University of New York system and is located in Albany, New York.- History :...
in 1979.
It remains a classic textbook for westerners trying to gain an introductory understanding of Shi'a Islam.