Description
Viva Books Imams & Emirs 2010 Edition by Fuad I. Khuri
In this classic, comprehensive study of Islamic sects in the contemporary Arab world, Khuri focuses on the Sunni, Shi'a, Alawis, Druze, Ibadis, Zaidis, Yazidis and Maronites (who, although Christian, are included because they share certain distinguishing features). His placement of these groups on a single comparative scale was unprecedented.Khuri argues that conflicts among Muslims arise from the struggle between two opposing forces: religious, doctrinaire authorities (imams) and leaders who derive their authority form power and coercion (emirs). He discusses the role of dogma but also, uniquely, the critical factors that differentiate sects from religious communities and religions from sects.Following a through review of the structural characteristics of individual sects, Khuri addresses issues of religious change, dealing with the interplay between religions, states and nationalism. Here he explores the contradictions between modern state structures and the Islamic umma, showing how some religious concepts had begun to take on nationalistic meanings.Contents:Introduction: Sources and Chapters • Part one: RELIGION AND SETS IN ISLAM: Religion as Din and Sects as Ta'ifa • The Supremacy of the Shari'a • The Sovereignty of Religion • The Incorporative Character of Religion and the Segregative Character of Sects: The Selection of the Caliph or Imam • Variations in Legal Interpretation • Cultural Practices • The Centrality of Religion: State and Asabiya: the Sunni and the Sects • Sects and Modern States • The Feudal Tradition • The Peripherality of Sects : The Territorial Concentration of Sects • The Comprehensive System of Production • Sects and Religious Minorities: The Spread of Religious Minorities • The Adaptation of Minorities to the Sunni Ideology of Government • The Correspondence between Religious and Social Stratification • The Specialized Production System among Religious Minorities • Part Two: THE IDEOLOGY OF SETS: The Formation of the Religious Community • The Origin and Formation of the Religious Community: the Sunni View • The Origin and formation of the Religious Community: the View of Sects • The Controversy of Origin • The Imam: Martyr or Hero? • The Hero Imamate: the Ibadis and the Zaidis • The Martyr Imamate: the Shi'a • The Society of Divine Manifestation: the Druzes and the Alawis • The Synthetic View of Religion • The Stratified View of Religion: the Alawis • The Stratified View of Religion: the Druzes • The Survival Society: the Yazidis • The Society of Angels: the Yazidis • Lebanon, the Unique Identity: the Maronites • Part Three: THE ORGANIZATIIONOF SETS • The Organization of Religion: the Sunni Ulama • The Ulama of Religion in Islam • The Sunni Ulama • The Imam and the Pharaoh: the Shi'a Ulama • Social Profile of al-Ghumri • Purity versus Power: the Ibadis, the Zaidis and the Yazidis • Duality in Contradiction: the Zaidis and the Ibadis •Parallel Duality: the Yazidis • God and Caesar: the Alawis and the Druzes • The Alawi Shaikhs of Religion • The Druze Ajawid • God and Caesar: the Maronites and the Orthodox • Epilogue: Brethren or Citizens? • The Interplay between State, Religion and Nationalism • Some Future TrendsAbout the Author: Fuad I. Khuri,who died in 2003, was a distinguished Lebanese writer and academic. He wrote widely on the contemporary Arab world, covering topics such as social and cultural change, tribal and peasant societies and religious organisation in Islam. His books include The Body in Islamic Culture and Tents and Pyramids: Games and Ideology in Arab Culture from Backgammon to Autocratic Rule.Target Audience:Researchers in to area of Islamic studies.