Overview
The Sunni-Shi'a schism is often framed as a dispute over the identity of the successor to Muhammad. In reality, however, this fracture only materialized a century later in the important southern Iraqi city of Kufa (present-day Najaf). This book explores the birth and development of Shi'i identity. Through a critical analysis of legal texts, whose provenance has only recently been confirmed, the study shows how the early Shi'a carved out independent religious and social identities through specific ritual practices and within separate sacred spaces. In this way, the book addresses two seminal controversies in the study of early Islam, namely the dating of Kufan Shi'i identity and the means by which the Shi'a differentiated themselves from mainstream Kufan society. This is an important, original and path-breaking book that marks a significant development in the study of early Islamic society.
Full Product Details
Author: Najam Haider (Barnard College, New York)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Imprint: Cambridge University Press (Virtual Publishing)
ISBN: 9780511862618
ISBN 10: 051186261
Publication Date: 07 October 2011
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Undefined
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
'Haider's study makes an important and much-needed contribution to the study of the origins of Imami and Zaydi Shi'ism as independent branches of Islam. Through his analysis of ritual practice, the legality of intoxicating drinks, and the emergence of distinct ritual locations, Haider produces a compelling case for the central role of legal discursive analysis of K-fan hadith in the articulation of Imami and Zaydi Shi'i religious, political, and social identities. The Origins of the Shi'a will be of interest to many in the fields of Islamic history, ritual studies, and law, and [Haider's] extensive use of charts to organize and explain his data and highly structured chapters make this complex historical data readable ...' Karen G. Ruffle, Journal of the American Oriental Society 'This study provides a significant contribution to the fields of Shi'i studies, Islamic law and early history of Islam, but perhaps mostly to hadith studies. Haider successfully implements a new method on Muslim traditions and reaches ground-breaking conclusions regarding the origins of early Shi'ism.' Seyfeddin Kara, Ilahiyat Studies: A Journal on Islamic and Religious Studies
'Haider's study makes an important and much-needed contribution to the study of the origins of Imami and Zaydi Shiʿism as independent branches of Islam. Through his analysis of ritual practice, the legality of intoxicating drinks, and the emergence of distinct ritual locations, Haider produces a compelling case for the central role of legal discursive analysis of K-fan hadith in the articulation of Imami and Zaydi Shiʿi religious, political, and social identities. The Origins of the Shiʿa will be of interest to many in the fields of Islamic history, ritual studies, and law, and [Haider's] extensive use of charts to organize and explain his data and highly structured chapters make this complex historical data readable ...' Karen G. Ruffle, Journal of the American Oriental Society 'This study provides a significant contribution to the fields of Shiʿi studies, Islamic law and early history of Islam, but perhaps mostly to hadith studies. Haider successfully implements a new method on Muslim traditions and reaches ground-breaking conclusions regarding the origins of early Shiʿism.' Seyfeddin Kara, Ilahiyat Studies: A Journal on Islamic and Religious Studies
Author Information
Najam Haider is Assistant Professor of Religion at Barnard College in New York City.
