The Shi'a Revival - Vali Nasr Flashcards
What was the 30 years war?
A series of conflicts in the 17th century in Europe.
It started as a conflict between Protestants and Catholics but evolved into a struggle for political power.
What is globalisation?
The growing interdependence of the world’s economies, cultures and populations.
What is Modernity?
Think of it more like a condition:
Secularism
Cartesian Dualism
Industrial Capitalism
Disenchantment
Rejection of Traditional Authority
Innovation
Subjectivism
Progressive notion of time
In governance: Nation states, beurocracy, commodity capitalism, tolerance, urbanisation and so on.
Describe the 1991 Shi’a uprisings against Saddam?
From march to April in 1991, Shi’as revolted against Sadam after the ceasefire in the Gulf War.
It also included lots of Kurds.
Tens of thousands killed and millions were displaced.
In Iraq, where has sectarian violence and expulsions been most pronounced since 2003?
Sunni violence against Shia: Al Saura, Shi’a driven out… Ramadi - Insurgents push Shia out
Shi’a violence against Sunni: - big exodus of Sunni’s from Basra, some clerics targeted.
What was the theory of government developed my Medieval Sunni Jurists?
Medieval Sunni jurists developed a theory of governance whereby the clerics would uphold and support the governments, so long as the rulers provided stability and order to protect the community.
Their job was to protect borders, not realise ideals.
What is Durga Puja?
Festival in Hinduism.
Held for 10 days.
Celebrates victory of goddess Durga over demon king Mahishasura.
How are conceptions surrounding Sufi saints and Shi’a Imams similar?
Both are viewed as intermediaries between man and god
Cosmological significance
Shrines
Describe the formation of the Safawid Empire
By the 15th century, Sheikh **Safi al Din al Ardabili’s ** descendents controlled parts of Iran.
They battled Mongol rulers
in 1501, Ismail 1 defeated the Mongols and established the Safavid dynasty.
Who is Ismail 1? What were his warriors called?
Warrior with extremist Shi’a beliefs.
His warriors, the Qizilbash, worshipped him as a demi-god.
What is the main distinction between Usuli’s and Akhbaris?
Usuli’s allow the use of reasoning to derive legal rulings, protect community interests and assert political prerogatives.
Akhbaris accept only Quran, hadith and reject notion that reasoning can lead to creation of any new laws.
Who was the only ever sole marja’?
Ayatullah Muhammad Hussein Burujurdi
Describe the development of modern Shi’a political doctrines
In the 16th century, a Shi’a monarchy was something new.
Until then, Shi’as had been somewhat passive, not accepting Sunni rule, but not rebelling.
During Safavid empire, shi’a would not necessarily recognise their rule as the most legitimate, but would bless it as the most desirable at the time.
This lasted, generally, until 1979.
Who is Muhammad ibn al Alqami
Shi’ite politician and vizior to Abbasid Caliph during Mongol invasions.
Alleged to have supported Hulagu’s captre of Baghdad.
Saddam makes reference to him in 2003 to rile up Iraq against shi’a ‘‘conspirators’’
Describe the Ba’th party
Advocated the formation of a single Arab socialist state.
Opposed imperialism and colonialism
Historically, limited to Syria and IRaq.
When did the Wahabi’s attack Karbala?
in 1802, 12,000 Wahabis from Najd sacked Karbala, killing 2-5000.
Shrine and tomb plundered.
It was claimed that this was a reprisal for attacks on caravans.
When was alBaqee’ destroyed?
1925.
What was the main goal of the early modernists?
To ‘restore’ islam’s position and prospects by aligning it with modern ways of thinking. This would be achieved by returning to authentic muslim practice.
Those values that accounted for the rise of Europe, were actually best represented in Early Islamic history.
What significant development toward Islamic Unity happened in 1959?
Al-Azhar, under Sheikh Mahmoud Shaltut, recognised Jafari fiqh as the 5th school of Islamic law.
What was the formal reason that Saddam executed Sadr?
Fear of Shi’a challenge to Ba’thism.
Who sent Musa al Sadr to Lebanon?
Muhsin al hakim, 1959
What was Black September in 1970?
Armed conflict between King Hussein of Jordan and PLO in Jordan.
Leftists in the PLO began calling for fall of Hashimites.
In early september, PFLP hijacked 3 civilian planes and forced them to land in jordan, taking hostages and blowing up planes.
Many PLO relocated to Lebanon after this.
Define Liberation theology:
Takes shape in Latin America in the 20th century,=.
Aimed to use religious faith and precepts to aid the oppressed through political involvement.
'’If Jesus were on earth today, he would be a marxist revolutionary.’’
Bible should be understood from the perspective of the poor.
