The Shi'a of Samarra by Imranali Panjwani

The Shi'a of Samarra by Imranali Panjwani

On 22 February 2006, the main dome of the al-Askariyya shrine in Samarra was blown up. In the aftermath, sectarian strife between Shi'i and Sunni communities in Iraq and the wider region resonated around the world. The assault on Samarra, which was built in the period of the Abbasid caliphate in the ninth century CE, therefore came to represent for many a symbol of the destructive civil conflict which engulfed Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion. The Shi'a of Samarra explores and analyses the cultural, architectural and political heritage of the Shi'a in both Samarra and the Middle East, thus highlighting how this city functions as a microcosm for the contentious issues and debates which remain at the forefront of efforts to rebuild the modern Iraqi state. From its origins under the eighth Abbasid caliph to its rise as a recognized site for visitation (ziyarat), akin to that of Najaf and Karbala, Samarra in the early period of Islam was a prominent gathering place for Shi'i Muslims. Of particular importance was the presence of the shrines of the tenth and eleventh Imams, and Samarra's status as the last known residence of the twelfth Imam. But upon the return of the Abbasids to their former capital of Baghdad at the end of the ninth century, Samarra's importance declined. Although there were Shi'i Muslims present in Samarra, it was in the late nineteenth century that the city once again became a centre for religious and juridical learning, for the most part due to the presence of the Ayatollah Mirza Hasan Shirazi. Here, the book highlights the cross-border linkages of Shi'i clerics and the impact of their teaching on both the Shi'a and Sunni within the city, and across the Middle East. Crucially, this volume also examines the history of sectarianism in Samarra: exploring issues of citizenship and identity in Iraq, and-bearing in mind the specific socio-political context of this conflict-analysing the rise of violence between the Shi'a and the Sunni. In the aftermath of the US-led invasion, and the bombings of the main dome in 2006 and the two minarets in 2007, this book also details the efforts at reconstruction that have taken place, providing important insights for students and researchers working on the history and politics of Iraq and the Middle East, as well as those interested in the art and architecture of the Islamic world.

'During the rule of Saddam Husayn's Ba'th Party, studies of Iraq's Shi'a community, whether historical or contemporary, were few and far betweenIn The Shi'a of Samarra: The Heritage and Politics of a Community in Iraq, Imranali Panjwani has addressed this problem in compiling an impressive group of essays on the history, religious significance and politics of a city that is central to Shi'ism. Rather than viewing Samarra as a site of sectarian conflict and political decay, the volume's contributors offer much hope for the future of Iraq. In an exceptionally creative manner, this volume uses the notions of place and geographical space to demonstrate Samarra's great contributions of Samarra not only to Shi'i scholarship, but the manner in which its heritage has enriched all Iraqis. This collection is must reading for all scholars of Iraq, whatever their disciplinary specialization.' - Eric Davis, Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University, 'The authors and compiler of this volume are to be thanked for placing Samarra in its true historical focus, bringing an appreciation of the ways in which the city and its monuments resonated through the history of the region.' - Charles R. H. Tripp, Professor of Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London

Imranali Panjwani is a Tutor and PhD candidate in the Theology and Religious Studies faculty at King's College London. Educated at the University of Sheffield, The College of Law and Al-Mahdi Institute in Birmingham, he has worked for the Centre for Islamic Shi'a Studies in London as its Research Co-ordinator.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781784537449
ISBN 10	1784537446
Title	The Shi'a of Samarra
Author	Imranali Panjwani
Series	Library Of Modern Middle East Studies
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Year published	2017-03-20
Number of pages	296
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.