Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāṭabā’ī 
Shiʿite Islam [PDF ebook] 

PREFACE Seyyed Hossein Nasr
The Study of Shi’ism
Fundamental ELements of Shi’ism
Present State of Shi’ite Studies
The Present Book
The Author
INTRODUCTION ‘Allamah Tabataba’i

PART 1: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SHI’ISM

I. The Origin and Growth of Shi’ism

The Cause of the Separation of the Shi’ite Minority from the Sunni Majority
The Two Problems of Succession and Authority in Religious Sciences
The Political Method of the Selection of the Caliph by Vote and Its Disagreement with the Shi’ite View
The Termination of the Caliphate of ‘Ali Amir al-mu’minin and His Method of Rule
The Benefit That the Shi’ah Derived from the Caliphate of ‘Ali
The Transfer of the Caliphate to Mu’awiyah and Its Transformation into a Hereditary Monarchy
The Bleakest Days of Shi’ism
The Establishment of Umayyad Rule
Shi’ism During the 2nd/8th Century
Shi’ism in the 3rd/9th Century
Shi’ism in the 4th/10th Century
Shi’ism from the 5th/11th to the 9th/15th Centuries
Shi’ism in the 10th/16th and 11th/17th Centuries
Shi’ism from the 12th/18th to the 14th/20th Centuries

NOTES: CHAPTER I

II. Divisions within Shi’ism

Zaydism and Its Branches
Isma’ilism and Its Branches
The Batinis
The Nizaris, Musta’lis, Druzes, and Muqanna’ah
The Nizaris
The Musta’lis
The Druzes
The Muqanna’ah
Differences Between Twelve-Imam Shi’ism and Isma’ilism and Zaydism
Summary of the History of Twelve-Imam Shi’ism

NOTES: CHAPTER II

III. Three Methods of Religious Thought

First Method: The Formal Aspect of Religion
Different Facets of the Formal Apsect
Traditions of the Companions
The Book and Tradition
The Outward and Inward Apsects of the Quran
The Principles of Interpretation of the Quran
Hadith
The Method of Shi’ism in Authenticating the Hadith
The Method of Shi’ism in Following the Hadith
Learning and Teaching in Islam
Shi’ism and the Transmitted Sciences
Second Method: The Way of Intellection and Intellectual Reasoning
Philosophical and Theological Thought in Shi’ism
Shi’ite Initiative in Islamic Philosophy and Kalam
Shi’ite Contributions in Philosophy and Intellectual Sciences
Outstanding Intellectual Figures of Shi’ism
Third Method: Intellectual Intuition or Mystical Unveiling
Man and Gnostic Comprehension
Appearance of Gnosis (Sufism) in Islam
Guidance Provided by the Quran and Sunnah for Gnostic Knowledge

NOTES: CHAPTER III

PART III: ISLAMIC BELIEFS FROM THE SHI’ITE POINT OF VIEW

IV. On the Knowledge of God

The World Seen from the Point of View of Being and Reality: The Necessity of God
Another Point of View Concerning the Relation Between Man and the Universe
The Divine Essence and Qualities
The Meaning of the Divine Qualities
Further Explanations Concerning the Qualities
Qualities of Action
Destiny and Providence
Man and Free Will

NOTES: CHAPTER IV

V. On the Knowledge of the Prophet

Toward the Goal: General Guidance
Special Guidance
Reason and Law
That Mysterious Wisdom and Consciousness Called Revelation
The Prophets – Inerrancy of Prophecy
The Prophets and Revealed Religion
The Prophets and Proof of Revelation and Prophecy
The Number of the Prophets of God
The Prophets Who are Bringers of Divine Law
The Prophecy of Muhammad
The Prophet and the Quran

NOTES: CHAPTER V

VI. Eschatology

Man is Composed of Spirit and Body
A Discussion of Spirit from Another Perspective
Death from the Islamic Point of View
Purgatory
The Day of Judgment – Resurrection
Another Explanation
The Continuity and Succession of Creation

NOTES: CHAPTER VI

VII. On the Knowledge of the Imam (Imamology)

The Meaning of Imam
The Imamate and Succession
Affirmation of the Previous Section
The Imamate and Its Role in the Exposition of the Divine Sciences
The Difference Between Prophet and Imam
The Imamate and Its Role in the Esoteric Dimension of Religion
The Imams and Leaders of Islam
A Brief History of the Lives of the Twelve Imams
The First Imam – ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib
The Second Imam – Hasan ibn ‘Ali
The Third Imam – Husayn ibn ‘Ali
The Fourth Imam – ‘Ali ibn Husayn
The Fifth Imam – Muhammad ibn ‘Ali
The Sixth Imam – Ja’far ibn Muhammad
The Seventh Imam – Musa ibn Ja’far
The Eighth Imam – ‘Ali ibn Musa
The Ninth Imam – Muhammad ibn ‘Ali
Then Tenth Imam – ‘Ali ibn Muhammad
The Eleventh Imam – Hasan ibn ‘Ali
The Twelfth Imam – Mahdi
On the Appearance of the Mahdi

The Spiritual Message of Shi’ism
NOTES: CHAPTER VII

APPENDIX

I. Taqiyah or Dissimulation
II. Mut’ah or Temporary Marriage
III. Ritual Practices in Shi’ism
IV. A Note on the Jinn

BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX

Seyyed Hossein Nasr is Professor of the History of Science and Philosophy at Tehran University. Among his many books are
Ideals and Realities of Islam, The Encounter of Man and Nature and Sufi Essays.