Zackery M. Heern is a professor of Middle East and Islamic studies at Murray State University. His research and teaching interests include Shi'ism, Iraq, Iran, Islamic Movements, and Global History. He lives in Murray, America.

Preface

Introduction

The Triumph of neo-Usulism

The Eighteenth-Century Moment

Contemporary Shi'ism and its Roots

Shi'i Knowledge and Authority

Summary of Chapters

Chapter 1 The Times and Places of Reform in the Modern World

Introduction

The Place of Modernity

The Time of Modernity

World Systems and Multiple Modernities

Creation of the Modern World

Tradition and Change: From Pre-Modern to Modern

Chapter 2 Shi'ism and the Emergence of Modern Iran

Introduction

Safavid Centralization of Iran (1501-1722)

Decentralization of Iran (1722-85)

Qajar Recentralization of Iran (1785-1925)

Conclusion

Chapter 3 Shi'ism and the Emergence of Modern Iraq

Introduction

Ottoman and Mamluk Rule in Iraq

Shi'ism and Arab Tribes in Southern Iraq

Conclusion

Chapter 4 Wahid Bihbihani: Shi'i Reviver and Reformer

Introduction

Reviver of the Eighteenth Century

Bihbihani's Early Life

Bihbihani in Bihbihan

Usuli-Akhbari Dispute in Karbala'

The Historical and Mythical Bihbihani

Conclusion: Why Usulism Prevailed

Chapter 5 Wahid Bihbihani's Usuli Network in Iraq and Iran

Introduction

Usuli-Qajar Alliance

Bihbihani's Students in Iraq

Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi Tabataba'i "Bahr al-'Ulum" (Najaf)

Shaykh Ja'far al-Najafi "Kashif al-Ghita'" (Najaf)

Mirza Muhammad Mahdi Shahristani (Karbala')

Sayyid 'Ali Tabataba'i (Karbala')

Bihbihani's Students in Iran

Mirza Abu al-Qasim Qummi (Qum)

Mulla Ahmad Naraqi (Kashan)

Muhammad Ibrahim Kalbasi (Isfahan)

Muhammad Baqir Shafti (Isfahan)

Additional Students of Bihbihani

Conclusion

Chapter 6 Wahid Bihbihani's Conception of Islamic Law

Introduction

Bihbihani's Legalistic Conception of Knowledge

Four or Five Sources of Usuli Shi'i Law?

1 The Qur'an

2 Traditions (Hadith)

3 Consensus (ijma')

4 Reason ('aql)

5 Transference (ta'diyya) vs. Analogy (qiyas)

Language (lugha) and Custom ('urf)

Conjecture of Mujtahids

Conclusion

Chapter 7 Founding Fathers of Modern Islam

Introduction

Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab and the Wahhabi Movement

Ibn Idris and Neo-Sufism

Political Influence of the Reformers

Knowledge and Authority

Opponents of the Reformers

Primary Concerns of the Reformers

Conclusion

Glossary

Notes

Bibliography

Index