Shi’ism is often wrongly considered as a “sectarian” movement and therefore secondary to Sunni “orthodoxy”. In fact it dates back to the early beginnings of Islam, as it is rooted in the political quarrels after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632.
In the Shi’ite belief, Muhammad did designate as successor his son-in-law and Cousin ‘Ali. The successors and descendants of ‘Ali, the imams, holders of the esoteric meaning of the Qur’an, provided the guidance in understanding and applying the revelation. Having developed mainly in Mesopotamia and Iran, territories with a rich religious and philosophical heritage, Shi’ism represents a living tradition able to integrate into its conception of Islam various contributions from different religions – Eastern Christianity, Manichaeism and other dualist Iranian religions –, the Gnostic and Jewish traditions or even Greek philosophy.
At the LEM are studied the numerous sources of Shi’i esotericism, in particular those of its two major currents: Ismailism and Twelver or Imami Shi’ism. The interest focus on the doctrinal porosity with other spiritual and religious currents in Islam, such as Sufism, Sunni theology, or philosophy. Moreover, Neoplatonism and its various adaptations in Ismaili (Fatimid, Taiyibite) and Imami thought represent a unifying theme in our researches. The doctrinal evolution of Shi’ism is approached in all its complexity from its origins to the present day.
| Selected books
What is Shi’i Islam ?
Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi and Christian Jambet,
Routledge, 2019.
The Silent Qur’an and the Speaking Qur’an. Scriptural Sources of Islam Between History and Fervor
Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi. Translated by Eric Ormsby
Columbia University Press, 2015.
Le Coran des historiens,
Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi and Guillaume Dye (dir.),
Paris, Éd. du Cerf, 2019.
La Preuve de Dieu.
La mystique shi’ite ancienne à travers l’œuvre de Kulaynî
Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi
Paris, Éditions du Cerf, 2018.
L’ésotérisme shi’ite, ses racines et ses prolongements
Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi et alii (dir.)
Turnhout, Brepols, 2016.
Le shi’isme imamite quarante ans après. Hommage à Etan Kohlberg
Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi et alii (éd.)
Turnhout, Brepols, 2009.
Histoire de la sagesse et philosophie shi’ite. « L’Aimé des cœurs » de Quṭb al-Dīn Ashkevarī: sources scripturaires de l’islam entre histoire et ferveur,
Mathieu Terrier
Paris, Éditions du Cerf, 2016.