Inquiries About Shi'a Islam

Questions about the beliefs of Shīʿī Muslims frequently concern the authority of the Prophet's family, the status of the Imams, and interpretations of Islamic religious practice. This introductory work provides explanations of several major doctrines that distinguish Shīʿī Islam within the wider Muslim tradition.

About the Book

Inquiries About Shi'a Islam by Sayed Moustafa al-Qazwini introduces central aspects of Shīʿī religious belief through discussion of important theological questions.

The catalogue identifies this publication as a first edition issued in 2005 by the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County.

Its subject matter includes the Ahl al-Bayt, the family of Prophet Muḥammad, whose religious authority holds particular importance within Shīʿī Islam.

The book also discusses infallibility, a doctrine associated with the religious authority and guidance of the Imams.

Another subject is intercession, which concerns the possibility of seeking divine mercy through an intercessor by God's permission.

The work addresses dissimulation, or taqiyyah, a concept connected with the concealment of religious belief under particular circumstances.

These discussions are accompanied by questions concerning the Prophet's companions and wives, subjects that have historically influenced relations between different Islamic schools.

The catalogue also identifies other schools of Islamic thought as part of the book's scope.

Together, these topics make the publication relevant to readers seeking an introduction to doctrinal differences within Islam.

Its emphasis is on explaining beliefs that may be unfamiliar to those outside the Shīʿī tradition.

The book can therefore serve as an introductory resource for comparative Islamic study.

The catalogue does not establish significant differences in content between this edition and the separately listed 2006 edition. Both are attributed to the same author and share the same principal subject matter.

What You Will Discover

• The importance of the Ahl al-Bayt in Shīʿī Islam.
• The doctrine of the Imams' infallibility.
• The religious meaning of intercession.
• The concept of taqiyyah.
• Questions concerning the Prophet's companions and wives.
• An introduction to differences among Islamic schools.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is suitable for students of Islamic theology, readers unfamiliar with Shīʿī beliefs, and educators working in comparative religious studies. It is particularly relevant to those seeking an accessible explanation of important Shīʿī doctrines.