Islam

Paper Summary:

The paper points out that within the context of Western-Islamic relations, most Shi'a Muslims are concentrated in Iran and Iraq and so it is crucial that the West understands the differences between Shi'a and Sunni Muslims. The paper discusses the role and importance of the cleric system, ulema, within Shi'a Islam and how it differs from the cleric system among Sunnis. Finally, the writer highlights some of the modern effects of the Ulema in Shi'a society. The paper concludes that these religious teachers and advisers hold tremendous sway over the development of Shi'a communities and nations all over the world.

Outline:
Introduction: The Historical Context of Shi'a Islam
The Clergy, Ulema, System in Shi'a Islam
Differences with Other Types of Muslims, Specifically Sunni Muslims
Modern Relevance of the Shi'a Ulema: Iran and Iraq
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Shi'a Islam represents the only major schism in modern Islam. The differences between it and the dominant Sunni Muslim tradition date back to the foundation of the religion, shortly after the death of the Prophet Mohammed (Hooker par. 1). I will discuss these differences in greater depth in a subsequent section. However, it is important to recognize that this distinction exists, because it helps us to not think of Islam as a monolithic religion. The fact is that Shi'a Muslims do not recognize the religious authority of Sunni caliphs (Hooker par. 7). This religious distinction makes Shi'a Muslims categorically different from Sunni Muslims. If the West deals with any nation or group of people who are Shiite, it would be important to understand the differences that exist between them and Sunni Muslims. In Iran, for example, where Shi'a Islam became the official religion in 1500 when the Safauid Dynasty took power, it is crucial that Westerners recognize the difference between Shi'a and Sunni Muslims (Thornton par. 6)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Botiveau, Bernard. "Tolerance and Law: From Islamic Culture to Islamist Ideology." Ratio Juris 10.1 (Mar. 1997): 61-74.
• Ghozzi, Kamel. "The Study of Resilience and Decay in Ulema Groups: Tunisia and Iran as an Example." Sociology of Religion 63.3 (Fall 2002): 317-334.
• Gibreel, Gibreel. "The Ulema: Middle Eastern Power Brokers." Middle East Quarterly 8.4 (Fall 2001): 15-23.
• Hooker, Richard. "Shi'a." World Civilizations: An Internet Classroom and Anthology. Washington State University. 6 June 1999. 2 Dec. 2005 <http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ISLAM/SHIA.HTM>.
• Ipsirli, Mehmet. "The Ottoman Ulema (Scholars)." Foundation for Science Technology and Civilization. May 2004. 1 Dec. 2005 <http://www.muslimheritage.com/uploads/OttomanUlema.pdf>.

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• Analytical Essay # 150198 : "Islam and Modern Science"
• Book Review # 37006 : "Book Reviews on Islam"
• Comparison Essay # 3253 : "The Nation of Islam: Are They Islamic?"

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