Poli 398 Islam & nationalism: Class of October 13th

Class of October 13th
Poli 398 Islam & nationalism

Ideology of shi'ism - originally, abbsassid dynasty is about: unity of all muslim of all origins around one state (al-dawla : the state)

Aimed at restauring the ideal muslim community and order associated to Prophet Muhammed

It aimed to include all the existing members as equals (arabs or non-arabs), concept of Mawali - non-arab muslim converts

most Mawali from persian origin. Abbassid caliphs expressed there willingness to establish a social system that respects the rights of all on the basis of faith.

Struggles surrounding definition of what is a muslim, up to 780 ac
750-850: one central adminstrative authorithy
during this, isalm had showed great progresses in many spheres of humanity, in evolution of practices and blablabla...
military power of state shifted from arab to turks and to some extent, persians. Religious institutions and offices by arabs, administrative offices hold by persians (during abbassids dynasty)
Effective political power again shifted from caliphs to local emirs (governors). At this point caliphs had only a nominal authority, institution lasted until mongol invasions.

in reinforcing and consolidating muslim identity, contributing factors are:
(in the sunni concept)
- the collection of the hadith materials - from the teachings of the Prophet, collected and classsified and made available to the faithfuls (canonisation of writtings), played a role in substantiating the muslim identity
- emergence of an elite group, the Ulema, or scholars & jurist, religious authorities coming to foreground and emphasis of qu'ran and hadith as a way to remain a true muslim. there was ulemas before, but in abbassid dynasty, they gain importance and are the ultimate authorithy in interpreting the qu'ran, not the caliph.
- language written and spoken in government and religious realms is arab, litterature and poetry is persian. Non-arab converts brings something into muslim community, enriches community.

Sunni Shi'ites
orthodox Ali followers
accepts separation of political and religious powers concept powers not separables: concept of Imam
caliph is political, can delegate religious task to ulemas
Caliphates Imamates: word of Imam carries a weight and is almost as binding as writtings, not challengable
Ulemas decisions revokable only by another council
of ulemas

Sunnis and inner problematics: in certain periods of time, superceeding authorities of law-givers over others became a problem of state and confusions ensued, uncertainties. In abbassids, 3 caliphs imposed one form of religious dogmas: Mu'tazilites dogma, upon issue of if Qu'ran was created or uncreated, took former stand and imposed it as state doctrine and repressed opponents (inquisition-like). theological interpretation by political authorities with political consequences. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, founder of a legal school, put to jail, trialed, symbol of "resistance". so, point is, within sunnis there existed conflicts. this doctrine lasted 3 decades, after which it was reversed completely, strict interpretation of law became state policy, persecutors ecame persecuted.

Islam and islamic law should be the center of political and social life.

names of caliphs shows importance of justifying there positions in terms of religious foundation of power
"al-mansur" "the one made victorious by god"
"al-mahdi"

In shi'a islam, no real oppenness to other communities, had to hide identities... founding the Imamate institution, and of own hadith collection, in reaction to sunnism
hadith: collection of everything that is related to mohammed. shi'as only collected hadith materials transmitted by members of prophets tribe, all other reports being eliminated.

Ja'far al-Sadiq, important player in determining shi'a ideology. sixth Imam. dies 765. around central question of leadership of muslims, still unresolved today, Ja'far will start the following dogma: Imam should be named by predeccessor: designation of sucessor by predecessor, from line of Imams connecting all the way back to prophet muhammed through Ali. Each imam numbered. Ja'far son was Ismail, eldest son. Also had another son, youngest, Musa. Traditionally, Imam would name is eldest son, but story wants that Ismail was wether drunk or dead at time of naming successor, and Ja'far named Musa.
a minority group of dissident wanted Ismail to be Imam instead of the other guy... "dissident" group still existing today, the Ismailites... the Seveners shi'as (Ismailiyya)

11th Imam (Hasan), no sons, named a successor but this one disappearred! (a "Muhammad", the "waited for Imam", or "hidden Imam") story wants that he'll come out at end of time with jesus and establish justice, the 12th Imam... majority of shi'a Islam still holds that belief... did not displayed their beliefs and identity before 8th century, by fear of repression under abbassids dynasty.

so, divison between believers of seveners shi'ism & twelvers shi'ism. Primarily a political distinction within dogma of shi'ism.

Most of Central Asia, Iran, but also large part of arab world is shi'a.