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Synopsis of the Book and its Contents
Elisheva Machlis's Shi'i Sectarianism in the Middle East: Modernisation and the Quest for Islamic Universalism begins with “Acknowledgements” (p. viii), “Note on transliteration” (p. ix), “List of abbreviations” (p. x), and an “Introduction” (pp. 1-15). This is followed by five chapters (pp. 17-218), a “Conclusion” (p. 219), “Notes” (p. 227), “Bibliography” (p. 282), and an “Index” (p. 311). The book centres on the progressive role of two leading 'ulama's progressive thought, which is portrayed and disseminated within the diameters of authenticity and modernity: “... Kashif al-Ghita' in Iraq and Muhsin al-Amin in Lebanon [who] provided an important precedent of dialogue between reform-minded clerics and both the Sunni and Shi'i [Shi'i] intelligentsia which led to an emphasis on a shared progressive world view (p. 226).
Chapter one furnishes the necessary background on “Social Change and the Contest for Communal Leadership;” chapter two discusses the prospects of “Muslim Unity” from the perspective of historiography; chapter three puts the spotlight on “Modern Shi'i Theology;” chapter four surveys the emergence of a pan-Islamic judicial system through the shift “From fiqh to Shari'a;” chapter five discusses “The Politicisation of Shi'ism;” finally, the “Conclusion” studies the possibility of “Muslim Networks” in light of the resurgence of political Islam and the revolutionary tenor of Shi'ism [Shi'ism].
Shi'i Doctrine
All Muslims believe in arkan al-Islam (five pillars of Islam) and usul al-din (the fundamental principles of religion or the foundations of faith). The arkan are the following: al-shahadatayn1 (Muslim confession or declaration of faith); salat (the five daily ritual prayers); sawm (fasting in the holy month of Ramadan); hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca); and zakat (alms giving: 2.5% or 1/40) (pp. 81-85, 93-95, 97-101, 104-105, 123-124, 126, 145, 141-152). For Sunnis, usul al-din comprise the following three doctrines: tawhid (divine unity); nubuwwah (Prophethood); and al-ma'ad (resurrection). To usul al-din, the Shi'is add the following two doctrines: Imama [Imamah] (Imamate) and 'adl (justice)2 (pp. 4, 13, 61-2, 84).
Machlis writes, “... the exclusive Shi'i principles of imama and 'adl, the belief in the authority of the Imams and their special qualities and the notion of justice, to be fulfilled only with the return of the vanished Imam at the end of days [day of judgement]... are the core...