Shi'i Scholars of Nineteenth-Century Iraq: The 'Ulama' of Najaf and Karbala'

by Meir Litvak

Book Overview

In the nineteenth century, the shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala in Ottoman Iraq emerged as the most important Shi'i centres of learning. In a major contribution to the study of pre-modern Middle Eastern religious institutions, Meir Litvak analyses the social and political dynamics of these communities. Tracing the historical evolution of Shi'i leadership, he explores the determinants of social status amongst the ulama, the concept of patronage,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521892961
• ISBN13: 9780521892964
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.3" x 9.1"