Shi'ism: A Religion of Protest : Dabashi, Hamid

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Shi'ism: A Religion of Protest
by Hamid Dabashi (Author) Format: Paperback
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars (5)

For a Western world anxious to understand Islam and, in particular, Shi'ism, this book arrives with urgently needed information and critical analysis. Hamid Dabashi exposes the soul of Shi'ism as a religion of protest-successful only when in a warring position, and losing its legitimacy when in power.

Dabashi makes his case through a detailed discussion of the Shi'i doctrinal foundations, a panoramic view of its historical unfolding, a varied investigation into its visual and performing arts, and finally a focus on the three major sites of its contemporary contestations: Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon. In these states, Shi'ism seems to have ceased to be a sect within the larger context of Islam and has instead emerged to claim global political attention. Here we see Shi'ism in its combative mode-reminiscent of its traumatic birth in early Islamic history. Hezbollah in Lebanon claims Shi'ism, as do the militant insurgents in Iraq,the ruling Ayatollahs in Iran, and the masses of youthful demonstrators rebelling against their reign. All declare their active loyalties to a religion of protest that has defined them and their ancestry for almost fourteen hundred years.

Shi'sm: A Religion of Protest attends to the explosive conflicts in the Middle East with an abiding attention to historical facts, cultural forces, religious convictions, literary and artistic nuances, and metaphysical details. This timely book offers readers a bravely intelligent history of a world religion.
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Review
[A] challenging and brilliant new book...Dabashi's extraordinarily rich and powerful book takes Shiism out of the sectarian ghettos where it was largely confined when it became an ideological weapon of the Persian Empire in its rivalry with the Sunni Ottomans. By emancipating Shiism from its instrumental use by the Islamic Republic of Iran, he has performed a vital cultural--and political--service.--Malise Ruthven "New York Review of Books" (12/22/2011 12:00:00 AM)

After the death of the Prophet, a struggle ensued for leadership of the Muslim community. Those who believe the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law Ali was his legitimate successor are called the Shi'i, and Dabashi's book is a fascinating look at this tradition viewed through the lens of such thinkers as Freud, Weber, Habermas, and others.--Christopher McConnell "Booklist" (12/15/2010 12:00:00 AM)

You can't make sense of the news from the Middle East without some understanding of the ancient division between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims. Shi'ism: A Religion of Protest, by Hamid Dabashi, offers a comprehensive new history of Shi'ite theology, history, and politics, down to the current conflict in Iraq.--Adam Kirsch "Barnes and Noble Review" (2/4/2011 12:00:00 AM)
About the Author
Hamid Dabashi is Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University.

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Publication date ‏ : ‎ 7 May 2012
Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 448 pages

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Customer Reviews:
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars (5)

About the author
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Hamid Dabashi is the Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. Born in Iran, he received a dual PhD in Sociology of Culture and Islamic Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University. Dabashi has written 20 books, edited four, and written over 100 chapters, essays, articles and book reviews. An internationally renowned cultural critic, his writings have been translated into numerous languages.

Dabashi has been a columnist for the Egyptian al-Ahram Weekly for over a decade, and is a regular contributor to Aljazeera and CNN. He has been a committed teacher for nearly three decades and is also a public speaker, a current affairs essayist, a staunch anti-war activist, and the founder of Dreams of a Nation. He has four children and lives in New York with his wife, the Iranian-Swedish feminist scholar and photographer Golbarg Bashi.
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Customer reviews
3.8 out of 5 stars

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Jadziya
2 out of 5 stars
Good memoirs, but unreliable discussion about Shi'ism
Reviewed in the United States on 23 July 2015

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It is an engaging read...however, it is not reliable as a book on the historical or global phenomenon of Shi'ism. It has errors of omission and commission. It is also repetitive, and the part on early Islamic history comes across as having been written by an undergraduate (and one who was unfamiliar with Shi'i sources at that). There is also a tacit assumption - not uncommon in certain circles - that being Shi'i and being Iranian are the same thing, whereas Shi'ism originated outside Iran and there are quite a number of peoples outside Iran who happen to be Shi'i.



So...in sum... read it for enjoyment - yes. Read it for insight into the author's life, times, and perspective - yes. Read it for facts or for coursework or academic articles on Shi'ism - no.

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rdf
2 out of 5 stars
Interesting book but AVOID THE KINDLE VERSION
Reviewed in the United States on 29 September 2012

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Kindle version doesn't have all the images, instead you get this completely lame directive : "to view this image, refer to the pri t version of this title"



Note the star rating is for this kindle version, I have found the book interesting and insightful, and would definitely rate the print version higher.

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