Political Thought in Contemporary Shi'a Islam

This book offers an intellectual history of one of the leading ShiΓÇÿi thinkers and religious leaders of 20th-century Lebanon, Shaykh Muhammad Mahdi Shams al-Din. The author argues his role as the foremost figure of ShiΓÇÿi intellectual life, a key associate of Musa al-Sadr, and president of the Supreme Shiite Council of Lebanon, having maintained the independence of this institution until his death from the domination of ShiΓÇÿi political parties. The core of the book consists of three interrelated main themes that constitute the major threads of Shams al-DinΓÇÖs intellectual legacy: Islamic government involving a critique of KhomeiniΓÇÖs theory of wilayat al-faqih, the role of Islam within civil government, and the political integration of the ShiΓÇÿa in their respective countries. The project will appeal to scholars, students, academics, and researchers in the Middle Eastern politics and history. ΓÇï