The Shi'is of Iraq

Rating:
Summary: Well Researched Book
Review: The author takes you straight to the subject and sinks deep into details that are rarely found in other books published in the English language. Excellent research with knowledge of culture and tradition that associates with this highly sensitive area. The most important argument made is that Shi'is of Iraq became a majority in the mid 19th century due to the active role of the seminaries in Najaf and Karabala spreading Shiisim Islam among the recently settled Arab tribes.

Rating:
Summary: The Shi'is of Iraq
Review: The title suggests that the much-needed survey of Iraq's Shi'i population is finally at hand. But Nakash's topic is far more specialized, and ultimately more valuable: an historical inquiry into roughly a hundred years' history of the Iraqi Shi'is, from the mid-nineteenth century to 1958. The author reaches two main conclusions, both surprising to an outsider. First, the Iraqi Shi'is are not an antique community, but are "by and large recent converts to Shi'ism, a result of a development which took place mainly during the nineteenth century as the bulk of Iraq's Arab nomadic tribes settled down and took up agriculture." Second, though they belong to the same branch of Twelver Shi'ism as the Shi'a of Iran, they constitute an entirely separate community, with its own structure and outlook. "The diverging development of Shi'i Islam in Iraq and Iran in the twentieth century reflected the essentially different characters of Shi'i religion and society in the two countries." Applying these insights to the Kuwait war, Nakash argues by prompting the failed uprising of March 1991, Iraqi defeat furthered the long-term decline of Shi'is in Iraqi society. He expects this event to shape the consciousness of Iraqi Shi'is for many years to come, though he shies away from predicting just how it will affect future Sunni-Shi'i relations.

Middle East Quarterly, September 1994

Rating:
Summary: The Shi'is of Iraq
Review: The title suggests that the much-needed survey of Iraq's Shi`i population is finally at hand. But Nakash's topic is far more specialized, and ultimately more valuable: an historical inquiry into roughly a hundred years' history of the Iraqi Shi`is, from the mid-nineteenth century to 1958. The author reaches two main conclusions, both surprising to an outsider. First, the Iraqi Shi`is are not an antique community, but are "by and large recent converts to Shi`ism, a result of a development which took place mainly during the nineteenth century as the bulk of Iraq's Arab nomadic tribes settled down and took up agriculture." Second, though they belong to the same branch of Twelver Shi`ism as the Shi`a of Iran, they constitute an entirely separate community, with its own structure and outlook. "The diverging development of Shi`i Islam in Iraq and Iran in the twentieth century reflected the essentially different characters of Shi`i religion and society in the two countries." Applying these insights to the Kuwait war, Nakash argues by prompting the failed uprising of March 1991, Iraqi defeat furthered the long-term decline of Shi`is in Iraqi society. He expects this event to shape the consciousness of Iraqi Shi`is for many years to come, though he shies away from predicting just how it will affect future Sunni-Shi`i relations.

Middle East Quarterly, September 1994

Rating:
Summary: Informative book on Shia
Review: This book certainly provides considerable information about the Shi'a in Iraq. It also in the background shows the political fight between the ruling nations in the region, Ottomans, Persians and later the British. Most interestingly, you can see the political power games Muctehids played throughout the years to secure their positions and how they have changed sides depending on circumstances. As a religious person I had to take some of the statements about the intentions of the Muchtehids with reservation for further study. There were some statements such as Turkey during their own independence war was trying to occupy Iraq which is news to me but I you learn something everyday. It is very detailed. For someone who is not very familiar with the Iraq's political landscape may get lost in the sea of names and numbers but that also make the book verifible. It basically gives the impression that Shi'is of Iraq do not have a strong identity and has been used by political figures in one way or other also reminds me the Azerbaijanis in Persia, different race same sect, where do you stand.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book
Review: To tell you the truth, and as an Iraqi, I was at first suspicious of the author's motives of writing this book. However, from the first page, and through his diligence, well documented and footnoted research, I was immediately convinced that I had a scholarly book on the Shias of Iraq in my hands. At the same time, and for a detailed look at the socio-economic motivation behind Shia involvement in Iraqi politics (large landowners, Sayids, and Chalabis) take a look at Hanna Batatu's incredible "Old Social Classes" (Part I).