{"product_id":"religious-authority-and-political-thought-in-twelver-shiism","title":"Religious Authority and Political Thought in Twelver Shi'ism","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Religious Authority and Political Thought in Twelver Shi'ism the reviewer finds a careful, source-driven study aimed at readers seeking a deep, historical understanding of Shii doctrines of leadership. Hamid Mavani uses untapped Arabic and Persian sources to map the development of the Imamate and the transmission of authority, making this volume most valuable for scholars, advanced students, and policy analysts interested in how Twelver Shiism informs contemporary politics in Iran and Lebanon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBroad historical scope:\u003c\/strong\u003e Traces debates from the era of the infallible Imams to the contemporary period, giving readers a long view of doctrinal change and continuity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrimary sources:\u003c\/strong\u003e Draws on previously underused Arabic and Persian materials, offering fresh evidence and perspectives for scholars of Islamic thought.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTheoretical depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Presents diverse theological, philosophical, and mystical readings of the doctrine of the Imamate to illuminate internal pluralities within Shiism.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocus on transmission of authority:\u003c\/strong\u003e Analyses how the Twelfth Imam's religious and political authority was transmitted to jurists during the Greater Occultation, clarifying a central institutional development.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegional emphasis:\u003c\/strong\u003e Concentrates on Iran and Lebanon, providing context for contemporary political expressions without limiting the discussion to a single model of Islamic governance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is best suited for academic readers: graduate students, researchers in Middle Eastern politics and religion, and policymakers who need a nuanced account of Shii sources for authority. Its engagement with primary Persian and Arabic texts means readers will gain access to material often omitted in anglophone syntheses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders looking for a brief introduction to Shiism or a purely political manifesto should look elsewhere; this is not a light primer or a partisan tract but a deliberate scholarly monograph that presumes some prior knowledge of religious and historical terms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWell-sourced: extensive use of Arabic and Persian texts adds original evidence and depth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBalanced analysis: highlights the diversity within Twelver Shiism rather than presenting a single narrative.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConceptual clarity: clear discussion of Imamate doctrine and the jurists' role during the Greater Occultation aids understanding of institutional evolution.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDense academic style: the material can be demanding for general readers or newcomers to the subject.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReligious Authority and Political Thought in Twelver Shi'ism\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoutledge Studies in Political Islam\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHamid Mavani\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeographic focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIran and Lebanon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSource languages used\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArabic and Persian\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrimary themes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImamate doctrine; transmission of authority; jurists and Occultation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReligious Authority and Political Thought in Twelver Shi'ism is a rigorous, well-documented study for readers who need a serious, historically grounded account of Shii leadership theology and its political implications. Academics and policy analysts will find it good value for its use of original sources and its balanced exposition of doctrinal diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book focus only on Khomeini's model of governance?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. The book explicitly avoids limiting the discussion to Khomeini's version of an Islamic State and examines multiple strands within Twelver Shiism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat regions receive the most attention?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe analysis concentrates on Iran and Lebanon while using broader historical materials to situate those cases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs prior knowledge of Shiism required?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSome familiarity with Islamic history and basic theological terms is helpful, as the book is written in a scholarly, analytic register.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hamid Mavani","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48153441075419,"sku":"1138933732","price":50.24,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/61dCwire9yL._SL1360.jpg?v=1768766565","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/religious-authority-and-political-thought-in-twelver-shiism","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}