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Chapter 18: The Shī‘ah Alternative and Regional Developments
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter, the student should be able to:
• Explain the basic beliefs of Shī‘ite Muslims.
Chapter Summary
Islam is far from a monolithic religion. As the customs, politics and traditions of the far
flung regions of its vast extension percolated up through Islamic doctrines various permutations
presented themselves. Nevertheless, one major schism was the Shī‘ah deviation. Arriving early
as a consequence of succession issues it is has spawned even more sects as political and
theological modifications and additions have presented themselves. Some sects even embracing
practices that are clearly reminiscent of Christian theology such as veneration of saints.
The differences, some quite large, between the various sects of Muslim belief have not
precluded a unity in the celebration of the five feasts and festivals of the Islamic year. Also,
Islam as a whole has had immense impact on the cultures to which it has spread, including
music, architecture, politics and social patterns. The common use of Arabic as the liturgical
language may be one of the most significant cultural factors due to its potential to unite Muslims
world and individual nations must give pause to such a scenario. As a source of political turmoil
in Egypt, the near totalitarianism of the Islamic state of Iran or the ever evolving face of The
Black Muslims of the United States Islam presents a widely diverse tradition that defies
expectations or predictions about its effects, whether they be malevolent or benign.
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Chapter Outline
I. Introduction
II. The Party (Shī‘ah) of ‘Ali
A. The Shī‘ite Version of Succession
B. Infallibility, Sinlessness, and a Messianic Imām Māhdi
C. Theology of Saintliness: Ethics for Special Conditions
G. Movements within Shī‘ism
1. Qarmatians and Assassins
2. Syncretic Sects: Druzes and ‘Alawites
3. Modern Moderates: Musta‘līs, Nizārīs
III. Further Developments
A. Sūfī Dervish Orders
IV. Islam and Culture
A. The Literary Effects of the Qūr’ān and Its Language
B. Architecture Painting and Other Art Forms
C. Perso-Muslim Literature
V. Issues in the Modern Period
A. Wahhābī Purification
B. Secularism: Turkey
2. Emotional Fervor
3. Institutional Mechanisms
4. Iran as an Islamic State
D. Iraq: Secularism and Religion in a Fragmented Nation
I. Movements toward Innovation and Syncretism
A. The Ahmadiya
B. Bahā’i
C. The Black Muslims of the United States
Discussion Questions
1. What are the major differences between the Muslim faith generally and the Shī‘ite
alternative?
2. How did a straightforward difference about succession transmogrify into differences in
doctrine and practice?