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Summary 'the World of Shi'i Islam' Midterm
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Extensive summary based on class notes, readings & further research. Highlighted key words as given by professor.
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Summary Shi’I Islam, midtermImportant dates
- 570: Birth Mohammad
- 598: Birth Ali inside Ka’ba
- 610: First religious experience in mountains
- 619: Death Abu Talib & Khadija
- 622: Hijra
- 632: Death Prophet Mohammad
- 680: Husayn Death / Battle of Karbala
Week 1. Origin stories
The significance of the Ghadir Khumm event lies in its role in solidifying Ali's position as the
rightful successor to Prophet Muhammad, a matter of profound importance in Islamic history,
particularly within Shi'a Islam. The event occurred during the Prophet's farewell pilgrimage
when he halted at Ghadir Khumm, a place midway between Mecca and Medina. It's recounted
that Muhammad, in front of a large gathering of Muslims, delivered a sermon in which he
declared, "Whomever I am his master (mawla), Ali is also his master." This statement is
considered pivotal by Shi'a Muslims, who interpret "master" (mawla) as indicating not just
friendship but also spiritual and temporal authority.
A mawlā is someone who has a relationship of walāya with another person, walāya can
be thought of as a relationship of friendship or clientage in which one person recognizes the
mastery and protection provided by another. For subsequent generations, the word walāya came
to define the relationship of the Shia followers to their imams. It was a subordinate relationship
in which leadership both spiritual and political was recognized. Whereas Sunni versions
understate the significance and the power conveyed by this word.
Walaya = Charismatic bond of loyalty/love for ‘Ali and the family of the Prophet.
For Ismailis and Twelvers: Note that the term has additional meanings, including wilaya
(political authority) and wali (the holder of spiritua lauthority).
Nass = Formal designation by previous Imam
,Muhammad was orphaned at an early age and eventually raised in the household of his paternal
uncle, Abu Talib. Muhammad had no sons who survived him, it was argued that ‘Ali was the
heir to the prophet, not only in terms of righteousness and designation, but also because he was
married to the prophet’s daughter (Fatima), and their sons (Hasan and Husayn) are therefore the
grandsons of the prophet.
In one story in particular ‘The story of the cloak’, Muhammad took Fatima, Hasan and Husayn
under his cloak to indicate God's special blessing on them. “the people of the cloak” (ahl al-
kisāʾ) then means Muh ̣ammad, ʿAlī, Fātima,
̣ Ḥasan and Ḥusayn.
Ahl al-Bayt refers to the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
The city of Karbala, the city of Husayn’s death, is now a very large city which would not have
existed without this moment in history. This site became a graveyard, a shrine and then an
educational and pilgrimage center.
For Zaydi Shia, the events at Karbala are seen as archetypical. Husayn's qualifications
to be Imam are based on his lineage and scholarly credentials. His rebellion against
the oppressive Umayyads, leading to his defeat and death, is viewed as the proper
course of action for any aspirant to the Imamate. Zaydis include Husayn in a line of
Imams who embody this ideal, with his rebellion seen as part of a continuum of
similar uprisings, distinguished by his direct lineage to the Prophet and Ali.
The Ismaili Shia, particularly the Musta'lis and Nizaris, have varying interpretations
of the Karbala narrative. Musta'li Ismailis, primarily the Tayyibis, actively participate
in the commemorative rituals of Twelver Shia, linking Husayn to the leadership of the
community and emphasizing the cosmological significance of his death. Nizari
Ismailis, however, refrain from public mourning rituals due to the presence of a living
and visible Imam who holds the religious authority of Husayn.
Twelver Shia present a particularly elaborate and emotional version of the Karbala
narrative. Their commemorations, rooted in public rituals dating back to the eighth
century, go beyond historical reenactment to symbolize the eternal struggle between
good and evil. Modern Twelver mourning practices owe much to the Safavid
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, transformation of Karbala into an elaborate public spectacle, blending early poetic
laments with local cultural traditions.
Important Shi’i festivals:
- Eid el-Ghadir celebrating Ghadir Khumm = location where Muhammad delivered a
sermon to a large gathering of Muslims. In this sermon, Muhammad declared Ali ibn Abi
Talib, his cousin and son-in-law, as his successor, stating, "Whomever I am his leader
(Mawla), Ali is his leader (Mawla)." This declaration is interpreted by Shia Muslims as
an explicit appointment of Ali as the leader (Imam) of the Muslim community after
Muhammad's death. However, interpretations and significance of this event vary among
different sects within Islam.
o (Zaydi scholars argue that the Qur'an itself presents compelling evidence for the
succession of Ali, emphasizing the importance of familial ties and the elevated
status of the Prophet Muhammad's family. In other words, the Quran established a
basic expectation for Ali's succession based on his kinship with the Prophet. Even
if the Prophet did not formally designate Ali, the proof for his right to succession
is embedded in Quranic narratives about past prophets and their clear parallels
with Muhammad and his family.)
- Ashura, on the tenth of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic calendar) = Battle of
Karbala in 680 CE (61 AH), where Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet
Muhammad and the third Shia Imam, along with his family and companions, faced a
much larger army loyal to the Umayyad caliph Yazid I. The battle resulted in the
martyrdom of Husayn and his companions. This event is commemorated annually during
Muharram, with rituals of mourning and remembrance to honor Husayn's sacrifice and to
reflect on themes of justice, sacrifice, and resistance against oppression. The story of
Karbala holds immense significance in Shia Islam and serves as a reminder of the
struggle for righteousness and truth in the face of tyranny.
- Arbaʿīn (Arbaeen) = “40 days” after Ḥusayn’s death on Ashura (26th Aug 2024), which
is one of the world’s biggest pilgrimages 20 million, many walk 80km from Naja,
Terms for the Shiʿi denominations: Imami/Twelver, Zaydi & Ismaili
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