Date of Award
8-1985
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Political Science
First Advisor
Dr. William A. Ritchie
Second Advisor
David Ede
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
This study of the Shi'ite doctrine of political-religious leadership deals with the question of who should fill Muhammad's rulership role. According to the Shi'ite belief, Muhammad did not die leaving his successors undetermined. The prophet announced his legal successors until the end of the world. The study looks at the emergence of the Shi'ite doctrine, explains how the Imamate theory gives legitimacy to its leaders, and examines the function of the Imam from the Islamic perspective. Results of the study indicate that the Shi'ah are so insistent on the legitimacy of their Imams as leaders that they consider them the true rulers of the Islamic world whether they attain official political power or not. Ali b. Abi Talib is used as a case study. The paper investigates Ali's life both outside the formal political framework and inside as ruler of the Islamic world; the research shows that in either case Ali acted as a Shi'ite Imam in terms of his holy character.
Recommended Citation
Johar, Hasan A. A., "The Political Role of Imamate in the Shi'ah Doctorine: Ali, A Case Study" (1985). Masters Theses. 3728.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3728