What do you think?
Rate this book
乇丕賴賳賲丕蹖 乇亘丕賳蹖 丿乇 鬲卮蹖毓 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳:爻乇趩卮賲賴 賴丕蹖 毓乇賮丕賳 丿乇 丕爻賱丕賲
The Imam, the Divine Guide, is the central point around which the Shi'ite religion turns. The power of Shi'ism comes from the actions of the Imam. This title is reserved exclusively for the sucessors of the prophets in their mission. The author shows that from the beginning of Shi'ite Islam until the tenth century, the Imam was primarily a master of knowledge with supernatural powers, not a jurist theologian. The Imam is the threshold through which God and the creatures communicate. He is thus a cosmic necessity, the key and the center of the universal economy of the sacred.
The author presents Shi'ism as a religion founded on double dimensions where the role of the leader remains constantly central: perpetual initiation into divine secrets and continued confrontation with anti-initiation forces. Without esotericism, exotericism loses its meaning. Early Imamism is an esoteric doctrine. Historically, then, at the beginning of esotericism in Islam, we find an initiatory, mystical, and occultist doctrine. This is the first book to systematically explore the immense literature attributed to the Imams themselves in order to recover the authentic original vision. It restores an essential source of esotericism in the world of Islam.
The author presents Shi'ism as a religion founded on double dimensions where the role of the leader remains constantly central: perpetual initiation into divine secrets and continued confrontation with anti-initiation forces. Without esotericism, exotericism loses its meaning. Early Imamism is an esoteric doctrine. Historically, then, at the beginning of esotericism in Islam, we find an initiatory, mystical, and occultist doctrine. This is the first book to systematically explore the immense literature attributed to the Imams themselves in order to recover the authentic original vision. It restores an essential source of esotericism in the world of Islam.
- GenresIslamReligionPhilosophy
359 pages
First published November 1, 1992
4 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi
35听books31听followersMohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi is an Islamologist at the 脡cole Pratique des Hautes 脡tudes. He is one of the leading academics within the study of early Twelver Shi士ism.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 19, 2019
讴鬲丕亘 禺蹖賱蹖 禺賵亘 亘賵丿 賵 鬲氐賵蹖乇 丿賯蹖賯蹖 丕夭 鬲卮蹖毓 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 賵 噩丕蹖诏丕賴 芦丕賲丕賲禄 丿乇 丌賳 丕乇丕蹖賴 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 賳鬲蹖噩賴鈥屭屫臂� 丿乇禺卮丕賳蹖 賴賲 丿丕卮鬲. 亘丕 丕蹖賳 丨丕賱 鬲乇噩賲賴 賲鬲賵爻胤 亘賵丿 賵 胤亘賯 賲毓賲賵賱 賳卮乇 賳丕賲讴 賴賲 賲鬲賳 倬乇 丕夭 睾賱胤鈥屬囏й� 賳賲賵賳賴鈥屫堌з嗃� 亘賵丿.
August 25, 2012
An excellent discussion of the full meaning of the imamate as a spiritual, not just a political, reality, with a heavy emphasis on metaphysical and mystical ideas within Shi`ism. The sheer breadth of the sources employed makes this a truly exceptional work. The Imam is the intellect without and the intellect is the Imam within!
Read
January 3, 2020賴乇 丿賵 讴鬲丕亘蹖 讴賴 丕夭 丌賯丕蹖 丕賲蹖乇賲毓夭蹖 亘賴 賮丕乇爻蹖 丕夭 爻賵蹖 賳卮乇 賳丕賲讴 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲 鬲乇噩賲賴 賴丕蹖 囟毓蹖賮 賵 倬乇 睾賱胤蹖 丿丕乇丿 賵 賲賳 丿乇 鬲賲丕爻 亘丕 賳丕卮乇 賵 賲賵賱賮 (賳賴 賲鬲乇噩賲) 賲爻卅賱賴 乇丕 亘賴 丌賳賴丕 诏賮鬲賴 丕賲. 丨蹖賮 丌孬丕乇 丌賯丕蹖 丕賲蹖乇賲毓夭蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕蹖賳 趩賳蹖賳 亘賴 賮丕乇爻蹖 匕亘丨 賲蹖鈥嶁€屫促堌�. 馗丕賴乇丕 丕乇丕丿賴 丕蹖 亘乇丕蹖 丕氐賱丕丨 賳蹖爻鬲.
January 26, 2019
A brilliant and must read to understand the esoteric tradition of Shi鈥檌 school of Islam.
May 24, 2025
In this volume Professor Amir-Moezzi takes a deep dive into the earliest primary sources on Imami (Twelver) Shi'ism to call into question the common perception that Shi'ism was primarily a political movement, arguing instead that early Shi'ism was a "non-rational esoteric tradition" built around a worldview centred on the imam: "The true axis around which this world vision turns is the person of the Perfect Guide (the imam) in his ontological dimension (in this acceptation, it will be written with a capital 'i': the Imam) as well as in his historical dimension (where 'imam' will be written with a lowercase 'i'). The two dimensions are inextricably bound to one another. Imamism's cosmology-cosmogony, its anthropology, its soteriology, and its eschatology all gravitate around its Imamology (pg 4)." Through the early Imami sources he describes the central importance of 'aql as intuitive spiritual knowledge rather than rational, philosophical, or judicial knowledge ("intuition of the sacred", pg 127),and explores in detail the traditions that describe the mythic pre-existence of the Muhammad, Fatima, and the twelve imams and their spiritual role in creation; the traditions about the imams' supernatural knowledge and abilities; and the traditions about the miraculous birth, childhood, occultation, and return of the twelfth imam. Tracking the appearance of these "non-rational esoteric" traditions in (and their gradual disappearance from) the source materials he shows how the original teachings of the imams came to be displaced after the occultation by the increasingly dominant "theological-juridical-rational" currents of thought that have come to characterise Twelver Shi'ism right up to the present day.
This is a fascinating and important study for anyone interested in Shi'i history and thought. The book packs a vast amount of scholarship into a surprisingly small package - 139 pages of text (plus 96 pages of end notes). It is not a light read and does require concentration, but is well worth the effort.
This is a fascinating and important study for anyone interested in Shi'i history and thought. The book packs a vast amount of scholarship into a surprisingly small package - 139 pages of text (plus 96 pages of end notes). It is not a light read and does require concentration, but is well worth the effort.
August 30, 2022
乇丕賴賳賲丕蹖 乇亘賾丕賳蹖 丿乇 鬲卮蹖賾毓 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳貙 倬跇賵賴卮蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 鬲賱丕卮 丿丕乇丿 亘丕 乇賵卮鈥屫促嗀ж驰屬� (賲鬲丿賵賱賵跇蹖) 毓賱賲蹖貙 胤乇丨蹖 讴丕賲賱 丕夭 毓賯丕蹖丿 丕賲丕賲丕賳 卮蹖毓賴 亘賴鈥屫池� 丿賴丿. 賲賳馗賵乇賲 丕夭 乇賵卮鈥屫促嗀ж驰屬� 毓賱賲蹖貙 丿賯蹖賯丕賸 亘賴 賲毓賳丕蹖 scientific 丌賳 丕爻鬲. 乇賵卮鈥屫促嗀ж驰� 讴賴 丿乇 賴蹖趩 讴丿丕賲 丕夭 爻賳鬲鈥屬囏й� 卮乇賯蹖 爻丕亘賯賴鈥屫ж� 賳蹖爻鬲. 賴賲蹖賳 鬲賮丕賵鬲 賲賳噩乇 亘賴 禺賱賯 鬲氐賵蹖乇蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇 亘丿蹖毓 賵 賯丕亘賱 鬲兀賲賱 丕夭 丕賲丕賲蹖賴贁 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲. 诏賵蹖蹖 賲丐賱賮 賲丨鬲乇賲 鬲賱丕卮 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲 鬲丕 賱丕蹖賴鈥屬囏й� 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 乇丕 亘卮讴丕賮丿 賵 丿賯蹖賯丕賸 賴賲丕賳 丌賲賵夭賴丕蹖 丕賲丕賲丕賳 卮蹖毓賴 乇丕 亘丿賵賳 鬲睾蹖蹖乇丕鬲 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 亘蹖丕亘丿. 倬乇 賵丕囟丨 丕爻鬲 讴賴 爻賵丿丕蹖 趩賳蹖賳 鬲賱丕卮蹖 亘賴 趩賴 賲蹖夭丕賳 丕乇夭卮賲賳丿 丕爻鬲. 鬲氐賵蹖乇蹖 讴賴 賲丐賱賮 丕夭 丕賲丕賲蹖賴贁 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 卮讴賱 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 讴丕賲賱丕賸 毓乇賮丕賳蹖 賵 亘丕胤賳蹖 丕爻鬲. 丿乇 亘禺卮蹖 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 亘賴 讴乇丕鬲 丨賮馗 乇丕夭 (鬲賯蹖賾賴) 亘禺卮 賲賴賲蹖 丕夭 丌賲賵夭賴鈥屬囏й� 丕賲丕賲蹖賴贁 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 毓賳賵丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 賲賳 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 賮賴賲 賵 丿乇讴 鬲氐賵蹖乇蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丕夭 丕賲丕賲蹖賴 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 丕乇丕卅賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 禺賵丿 乇丕夭蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 賲丨賮賵馗 亘賲丕賳丿 賵 胤丕賯鬲 賮賴賲 丌賳 丿乇 賴賲诏丕賳 賳禺賵丕賴丿 亘賵丿.
March 30, 2023
賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘丕賵乇賴丕蹖 卮蹖毓蹖 乇丕 讴賴 亘丕乇賴丕 卮賳蹖丿賴 丕蹖賲 亘賴 卮讴賱 .賲賳馗賵賲賴 丕蹖 亘丕 賲丨賵乇蹖鬲 丕賲丕賲 賳卮丕賳 賲蹖丿賴丿 賴乇 趩賳丿 丿乇 噩夭蹖蹖丕鬲 丕卮讴丕賱丕鬲 蹖丕 賳賯丿 賴丕蹖蹖 賵噩賵丿 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 禺賵丿 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賴賲 禺賵丿 乇丕 丕夭 丕賳 亘乇蹖 賳賲蹖丿丕賳丿 丕賲丕 賳诏乇卮 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賵 乇賵卮 倬乇丿丕禺鬲 亘賴 賲賵囟賵毓 賯丕亘賱 鬲賵噩賴 丕爻鬲.
July 18, 2024
Perhaps a bit biased towards a semi fictitious "traditionalist"/akhbari lineage and overly skeptical of the co-existence of esoterism and rationalism, but nonetheless an amazing compilation and explanation of neglected akhbar from the Shii tradition.
May 10, 2019
La superbe!
Read
March 3, 2020find this link
讴鬲丕亘 倬乇 丕夭 丕卮讴丕賱丕鬲 鬲乇噩賲賴 丕蹖 賵 賳賲賵賳賴 禺賵丕賳蹖 .
讴鬲丕亘 倬乇 丕夭 丕卮讴丕賱丕鬲 鬲乇噩賲賴 丕蹖 賵 賳賲賵賳賴 禺賵丕賳蹖 .
December 28, 2022
丕孬乇蹖 亘蹖 賳馗蹖乇 丿乇 賲毓乇賮蹖 鬲卮蹖毓 丕賵賱蹖賴 賵 禺賵丕爻鬲诏丕賴 賴丕蹖 毓乇賮丕賳蹖 丌賳.
December 24, 2024
Delves into esoteric concepts of the imams, including occult practices, preservation of the Quran and magic.
April 12, 2025
賮賴賲蹖 讴賴 丕夭 賳賯卮 丕賲丕賲 賲蹖丿賴貙 丕蹖賳讴賴 丕賲丕賲 丿乇 賮賴賲 卮蹖毓蹖丕賳 丕亘鬲丿丕蹖蹖 趩賯丿乇 亘丕 丕賲乇賵夭 賮乇賯 丿丕乇賴.
賳爻亘鬲 賱賴 讴鬲丕亘 賲丿乇爻蹖貙 爻賵丕賱丕鬲 噩丿蹖 丿蹖诏乇蹖 賲蹖丿賴 丕賲丕 禺亘貙 趩賵賳 鬲噩乇亘賴 丕賵賱 賳蹖爻鬲 亘賳蹖丕賳 賮讴賳丕賳賴 賳亘賵丿.
賳爻亘鬲 賱賴 讴鬲丕亘 賲丿乇爻蹖貙 爻賵丕賱丕鬲 噩丿蹖 丿蹖诏乇蹖 賲蹖丿賴 丕賲丕 禺亘貙 趩賵賳 鬲噩乇亘賴 丕賵賱 賳蹖爻鬲 亘賳蹖丕賳 賮讴賳丕賳賴 賳亘賵丿.
March 18, 2023
亘乇丕蹖 讴爻蹖 讴賴 丿乇 讴賵丿讴蹖 鬲乇亘蹖鬲 卮蹖毓蹖 丿丕卮鬲賴 賵噩賵丿 丿賵 賳賵毓 鬲卮蹖毓 賵丕囟丨賴. 蹖讴蹖 鬲卮蹖毓 毓乇賮丕賳蹖鈥屫� 亘乇 賲亘賳丕蹖 賲賮賴賵賲 丕賲丕賲 賵 蹖讴蹖 鬲卮蹖毓 乇爻賲蹖鈥屫� 讴賴 丨鬲蹖 賲蹖鬲賵賳賴 丕丿毓丕 讴賳賴 賲匕賴亘 倬賳噩賲 丕夭 賲匕丕賴亘 丕賴賱 鬲爻賳賳賴. 丕夭 鬲卮蹖毓 丕賵賱 賳卮丕賳賴鈥屬囏й� 賲禺鬲賱賮蹖 丨鬲蹖 鬲賵蹖 鬲卮蹖毓 乇爻賲蹖鈥屫� 賴賲 賵噩賵丿 丿丕乇賴. 賲孬賱丕 丕卮丕乇丕鬲蹖 亘賴 鬲丨乇蹖賮 亘禺卮鈥屬囏й屰� 丕夭 賯乇丌賳 讴賴 賲乇亘賵胤 亘賴 賵賱丕蹖鬲 丕賲丕賲丕賳 卮蹖毓賴 賲蹖卮賴. 丕丨丕丿蹖孬蹖 賲孬賱: 芦賲丕 乇丕 丕夭 賲乇鬲亘賴 毓亘賵丿蹖鬲 倬丕蹖蹖賳 亘蹖丕乇蹖賳 賵 賴乇趩賴 禺賵丕爻鬲蹖丿 丿乇 亘丕乇賴 賲丕 亘诏賵卅蹖丿禄
蹖丕 丕丨丕丿蹖孬蹖 讴賴 亘賴 禺賱賯鬲 丕賵賱蹖賴 丕賳爻丕賳鈥屬囏� 丕卮丕乇賴 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� . 賵 丿丕禺賱卮賵賳 賳賯卮 亘爻蹖丕乇 賵爻蹖毓蹖 亘賴 丕賲丕賲丕賳 卮蹖毓賴 丿丕丿賴 賲蹖卮賴.
丿乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 趩賳丿 賳賲賵賳賴 丕夭 賲賮丕賴蹖賲 鬲卮蹖毓 毓乇賮丕賳蹖 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 卮丿賴 賵 丿乇 讴鬲亘 卮蹖毓賴 丿乇 夭賲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 賲禺鬲賱賮 賲賵乇丿 亘乇乇爻蹖 賯乇丕乇 诏乇賮鬲賴 賵 賳鬲蹖噩賴 噩丕賱亘蹖 诏乇賮鬲賴 卮丿賴: 賴乇趩賴 賲賳亘毓 賲賵乇丿 亘乇乇爻蹖 賯丿蹖賲蹖鈥屫� 亘丕卮賴 賲賮丕賴蹖賲 鬲卮蹖毓 毓乇賮丕賳蹖 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丿蹖丿賴 賲蹖卮賴 賵 賴乇賯丿乇 丕夭 賳馗乇 夭賲丕賳蹖 噩賱賵 賲蹖丕蹖賲 丕蹖賳 賲賮丕賴蹖賲 亘蹖卮鬲乇 讴賳丕乇 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 賲蹖卮賳. 丕賳诏丕乇 毓賱賲丕蹖 丿乇 丕賯賱蹖鬲 卮蹖毓賴 亘乇丕蹖 倬匕蹖乇賮鬲賴 卮丿賳 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳 丕讴孬乇蹖鬲 賲爻賱賲丕賳丕賳 亘乇禺蹖 丕夭 賲賮丕賴蹖賲 乇賵 讴賳丕乇 诏匕丕卮鬲賳 賴乇趩賳丿 爻丕蹖賴 丕蹖賳 賲賮丕賴蹖賲 鬲丕 丕賲乇賵夭 賴賲 丿乇 鬲卮蹖毓 賵噩賵丿 丿丕乇賳.
亘賳丕亘乇丕蹖賳 卮丕蹖丿 丕夭 丕蹖賳 胤乇蹖賯 亘卮賴 乇賵夭賳賴鈥屫й� 亘賴 鬲卮蹖毓蹖 讴賴 丕賲丕賲丕賳 卮蹖毓賴 鬲毓賱蹖賲 賲蹖丿丕丿賳丿 蹖丕賮鬲. 鬲卮蹖毓蹖 讴賴 卮丕蹖丿 丿乇 賯丕賱亘 鬲氐賵賮 賵 丕賴賲蹖鬲 賳賯卮 賲乇丕丿 賵 丕賳爻丕賳 讴丕賲賱 亘賴 丨蹖丕鬲 禺賵丿卮 丕丿丕賲賴 丿丕丿賴. 鬲卮蹖毓蹖 讴賴 丕蹖賳 乇賵夭賴丕 卮丕蹖丿 禺蹖賱蹖 丕夭 亘禺卮鈥屬囏й� 亘賴 禺丕胤乇 睾賱賵丌賲蹖夭 亘賵丿賳 讴賳丕乇 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 卮丿賳.
蹖丕 丕丨丕丿蹖孬蹖 讴賴 亘賴 禺賱賯鬲 丕賵賱蹖賴 丕賳爻丕賳鈥屬囏� 丕卮丕乇賴 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� . 賵 丿丕禺賱卮賵賳 賳賯卮 亘爻蹖丕乇 賵爻蹖毓蹖 亘賴 丕賲丕賲丕賳 卮蹖毓賴 丿丕丿賴 賲蹖卮賴.
丿乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 趩賳丿 賳賲賵賳賴 丕夭 賲賮丕賴蹖賲 鬲卮蹖毓 毓乇賮丕賳蹖 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 卮丿賴 賵 丿乇 讴鬲亘 卮蹖毓賴 丿乇 夭賲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 賲禺鬲賱賮 賲賵乇丿 亘乇乇爻蹖 賯乇丕乇 诏乇賮鬲賴 賵 賳鬲蹖噩賴 噩丕賱亘蹖 诏乇賮鬲賴 卮丿賴: 賴乇趩賴 賲賳亘毓 賲賵乇丿 亘乇乇爻蹖 賯丿蹖賲蹖鈥屫� 亘丕卮賴 賲賮丕賴蹖賲 鬲卮蹖毓 毓乇賮丕賳蹖 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丿蹖丿賴 賲蹖卮賴 賵 賴乇賯丿乇 丕夭 賳馗乇 夭賲丕賳蹖 噩賱賵 賲蹖丕蹖賲 丕蹖賳 賲賮丕賴蹖賲 亘蹖卮鬲乇 讴賳丕乇 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 賲蹖卮賳. 丕賳诏丕乇 毓賱賲丕蹖 丿乇 丕賯賱蹖鬲 卮蹖毓賴 亘乇丕蹖 倬匕蹖乇賮鬲賴 卮丿賳 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳 丕讴孬乇蹖鬲 賲爻賱賲丕賳丕賳 亘乇禺蹖 丕夭 賲賮丕賴蹖賲 乇賵 讴賳丕乇 诏匕丕卮鬲賳 賴乇趩賳丿 爻丕蹖賴 丕蹖賳 賲賮丕賴蹖賲 鬲丕 丕賲乇賵夭 賴賲 丿乇 鬲卮蹖毓 賵噩賵丿 丿丕乇賳.
亘賳丕亘乇丕蹖賳 卮丕蹖丿 丕夭 丕蹖賳 胤乇蹖賯 亘卮賴 乇賵夭賳賴鈥屫й� 亘賴 鬲卮蹖毓蹖 讴賴 丕賲丕賲丕賳 卮蹖毓賴 鬲毓賱蹖賲 賲蹖丿丕丿賳丿 蹖丕賮鬲. 鬲卮蹖毓蹖 讴賴 卮丕蹖丿 丿乇 賯丕賱亘 鬲氐賵賮 賵 丕賴賲蹖鬲 賳賯卮 賲乇丕丿 賵 丕賳爻丕賳 讴丕賲賱 亘賴 丨蹖丕鬲 禺賵丿卮 丕丿丕賲賴 丿丕丿賴. 鬲卮蹖毓蹖 讴賴 丕蹖賳 乇賵夭賴丕 卮丕蹖丿 禺蹖賱蹖 丕夭 亘禺卮鈥屬囏й� 亘賴 禺丕胤乇 睾賱賵丌賲蹖夭 亘賵丿賳 讴賳丕乇 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 卮丿賳.
November 25, 2014
Livre tr猫s int茅ressant sur la doctrine originelle du chiisme.
L'auteur pr茅sente ici le chiisme sous un angle 茅sot茅rique. L'imamat est d茅crite dans ses diff茅rents degr茅s d'existence montrant ainsi le r么le Divin que m猫nent les imams impeccables.
La relation des Imams avec la politique est aussi abord茅e, mais aussi l'apparition de l'茅cole nouvelle du chiisme qui a consacr茅 ses 茅nergies 脿 la jurisprudence en oubliant l'essentiel du message chiite; L'Imamat comme 茅sot茅risme de la Nubuwa !
L'auteur pr茅sente ici le chiisme sous un angle 茅sot茅rique. L'imamat est d茅crite dans ses diff茅rents degr茅s d'existence montrant ainsi le r么le Divin que m猫nent les imams impeccables.
La relation des Imams avec la politique est aussi abord茅e, mais aussi l'apparition de l'茅cole nouvelle du chiisme qui a consacr茅 ses 茅nergies 脿 la jurisprudence en oubliant l'essentiel du message chiite; L'Imamat comme 茅sot茅risme de la Nubuwa !
November 23, 2015
An excavation of the original sense of the Imamah in earliest Shi'ism, particularly its cosmological and soteriological elements.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.