{"product_id":"shia-islam-from-religion-to-revolution-princeton-series-on-the-middle-east-9781558761353","title":"Shi'a Islam: From Religion to Revolution (Princeton Series on the Middle East)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShi'a Islam: From Religion to Revolution (Princeton Series on the Middle East)\u003c\/strong\u003e by Halm, Heinz. paperback edition. ISBN: 9781558761353.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author highlights the three main aspects of Shia Islam: its historical development, especially the history of the Imams; the rituals, including flagellation and passion plays; and the rule of the mullahs, known as the \"government of experts.\"\nShiism is as old as Islam. It began as an exclusively Arab political issue of succession to Muhammad, and was later embraced by the Iranians. At the core of Shii religious practice are rituals of mourning and atonement. Halm describes the elegies of mourning and the taziye (passion plays) and includes travelers accounts over the course of several centuries that establish striking similarities between Iranian and particular Christian practices.\nHalm explains the exalted position of the religious scholars, the mullahs and ayatollahs, who established themselves as clergy in the Safavid empire and defined themselves as \"administrators\" for the Hidden Imam. Their authority is based on idtschtihad, the rational interpretation of the Koran and the traditions of the Imans. The relationship between the rulers of Iran and the mullahs has always been tense. The Khomeini revolution was the powerful culmination of a lengthy history of conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Brand: Markus Wiener Pub","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44677376245813,"sku":"ByrdShop_1558761357","price":94.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/ByrdShop_1558761357_79c45fbf-de8f-4455-a520-9a33cdaa5066.jpg?v=1781411081","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/shia-islam-from-religion-to-revolution-princeton-series-on-the-middle-east-9781558761353","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}