The authority and excellence of the Sunnah, the normative mode of conduct of the Prophet (pbh), is mandated in the Qur'an itself, even though the term itself does not occur there with the same meaning. Certain aspects of the Sunnah are obligatory for the Muslim to follow; these include those several instances where the Sunnah clarifies the mode of implementation of a Qur'anic injunction, as is the case with prayer. A number of jurists hold, in fact, the Sunnah is a source of legal authorit...

In the summer of 1979, at a time when the viability of the Islamic Republic of Iran was being widely questioned in the Western media and the historical background of the revolution that had led to its establishment was largely unknown, Hamid Algar delivered four lectures on the Islamic Revolution at the Muslim Institute in London. In clear and concise fashion, he examined the historical links between Iran and Shi'a Islam; the life an personality of Imam Khomeini, leader of the Islamic Revo...

Wahhabism, a peculiar interpretation of Islamic doctrine and practice that first arose in mid-eighteenth century Arabia, is sometimes regarded as simply an extreme or uncompromising form of Sunni Islam. This is incorrect, for at the very outset the movement was stigmatized as aberrant by the leading Sunni scholars of the day, because it rejected many of the traditional beliefs and practices of Sunni Islam and declared permissible warfare against all Muslims that disputed Wahhabi teachings....

Religion and State in Iran, 1785–1906 offers the first sustained study of the political role of the ulama during the Qajar dynasty, a period that culminated in the Constitutional Revolution of 1906. Hamid Algar traces the emergence of the ulama as the central counterweight to the monarchy, showing how their authority grew in response to foreign encroachment, economic concessions, and the efforts of successive shahs to consolidate power. Through detailed analysis of key episodes—from the mu...

There can be few topics in the religious and intellectual history of Islam that have aroused as much controversy and misunderstanding as Sufism. This is due partly to the multiform and elusive nature of Sufism itself and partly to the profusion of false claimants to Sufism, particularly in recent times. This lecture attempts to clarify the principal conceptual bases of Sufism and the way in which it may legitimately claim to be derived from both the Qur'an and the Sunnah; the varying level...

Although no distinction may be made among the parts of the Qur'an in terms of relative excellence, it is obvious that the opening surah has a special significance that goes beyond its placing at the beginning of the Book. This is indicated among other things by the numerous designations given to it, some by the Prophet (pbh) himself; by the fact the uniquely it was revealed twice; and by the fact that its recitation constitutes the core of the prayer. Many commentators have seen in it, in ...

The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran sets forth the cultural, social, political, and economic foundations of Iranian society on the basis of the Islamic principles and norms that represent the heartfelt desire of the Islamic nation.

If a list of the half dozen most important figures in the historical elaboration of Islam were to be drawn up, there can be no doubt that Abu Hamid Ghazali would figure on that list. As a versatile and gifted scholar and, more importantly, a believer of great spiritual insight, he confronted all the intellectual and spiritual currents of his day and elaborated what might be called a defining synthesis of Sunni Islam. He achieved this result through both lengthy personal experience and erud...

A feature of the Quran that deserves careful attention is that while it unambiguously asserts the finality of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the divine abrogation by means of the revelation entrusted to him of all preceding books, it also devotes considerable attention to the prophets that cam before him. This is not by way of ecumenical goodwill to the followers of religious other than Islam for the prophets in question are all legitimately regarded as prophets of Islam are portrayed, mor...

In this book, one of his most widely read works, Sayyid Qutb addresses himself to the task of retrieving what he regards as the authentic mode of thought that is distinctive of Islam or even unique to it. This he does through the concise presentation of seven characteristics of Islamic thought, abundantly illustrated with the citation of relevant Qur’anic verses. The translation has been edited and introduced by Hamid Algar, who places Sayyid Qutb and his work in his historical and contemp...

This unprecedented collection in English of notable works by Imam Khomeini, ranging in date from 1941 to 1980, makes it possible for non-Iranians to become directly acquainted with his ideas and to examine the convictions that underlay his indomitable mien. He was undeniably one of the most important figures of the age, not only for his roles as principal strategist of a successful revolutionary movement and supervisor of the Islamic order it ushered in, but also for his unhesitating promo...

"Social Justice in Islam" is perhaps the best known work of Sayyib Qutb, a leading figure in the Muslim Brethen of Egypt who was executed by the regime of 'Abd al-Nasr in 1966. Despite the years that have passed since Sayyid Qutb's death, the imprint of his thought on the contemporary Islamic movements of the Arab world remains profound. The Arabic original of "Social Justice in Islam" was first published in 1949, but this book in particular retains its relevance in many respects: the pers...