Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. List of Illustrations ix
4. Foreword xi
5. Preface xiii
6. Glossary xix
7. 1. An Outline of the Life of Muhammad and the Early History of Islam 1
8. 2. The Question of the Succession to Muhammad 11
9. 3. The Lives of the Imams and Early Divisions among the Shi'is 23
10. 4. Early History ofShi'i Islam, AD 632—1000 61
11. 5. Shi'i Islam in the Medieval Period AD 1000-1500 86
12. 6. Shi'i Islam in Modern Times AD i$oo-igoo 105
13. 7. The Imamate 147
14. 8. The Twelfth Imam, His Occultation and Return 161
15. 9. Doctrines, Ritual Practices and Social Transactions 172
16. 10. Shi'iJurisprudence and the Religious Hierarchy 184
17. 11. Sufism, 'Irfdn and Hikma 208
18. 12. Schools within Twelver Shi'ism 220
19. 13. The Popular Religion 233
20. 14. Contemporary Shi'ism 246
21. Appendix I. A Chronology of Political and Religious Events in Shi'i History 300
22. Appendix II. Shi'i Dynasties 304
23. Appendix III. Biographies of Prominent Ulama 310
24. Notes 324
25. Select Bibliography 345
26. Index 363