Kamran Scot Aghaie's Books

The Martyrs of Karbala

Shi'i Symbols and Rituals in Modern Iran

By: Kamran Scot Aghaie

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The Martyrs of Karbala

Shi'i Symbols and Rituals in Modern Iran

By: Kamran Scot Aghaie

This innovative study examines patterns of change in Shi’i symbols and rituals over the past two centuries to reveal how modernization has influenced the societal, political, and religious culture of Iran. Shi’is, who support the Prophet Mohammad’s progeny as his successors in opposition to the Sunni caliphate tradition, make up 10 to 15 percent of the world’s Muslim population, roughly half of whom live in Iran. Throughout the early history of the Islamic Middle East, the Sunnis have been associated with the state and the ruling elite, while Shi’is have most often represented the political opposition and have had broad appeal among the masses. Moharram symbols and rituals commemorate the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE, in which the Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Hoseyn and most of his family and supporters were massacred by the troops of the Umayyad caliph Yazid. Moharram symbols and rituals are among the most pervasive and popular aspects of Iranian culture and society. This book traces patterns of continuity and change of Moharran symbols and rituals in three aspects of Iranian life: the importance of these rituals in promoting social bonds, status, identities, and ideals; ways in which the three major successive regimes (Qujars, Pahlavis, and the Islamic Republic), have either used these rituals to promote their legitimacy, or have suppressed them because they viewed them as a potential political threat; and the uses of Moharram symbolism by opposition groups interested in overthrowing the regime. While the patterns of government patronage have been radically discontinuous over the past two centuries, the roles of these rituals in popular society and culture have been relatively continuous or have evolved independently of the state. The political uses of modern-day rituals and the enduring symbolism of the Karbala narratives continue today.

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248

Publisher

University of Washington Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

029580078X

ISBN 13

9780295800783

The Women of Karbala

Ritual Performance and Symbolic Discourses in Modern Shi'i Islam

By: Kamran Scot Aghaie

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The Women of Karbala

Ritual Performance and Symbolic Discourses in Modern Shi'i Islam

By: Kamran Scot Aghaie

Commemorating the Battle of Karbala, in which the Prophet Mohammad's grandson Hosayn and seventy-two of his family members and supporters were martyred in 680 CE, is the central religious observance of Shi'i Islam. Though much has been written about the rituals that reenact and venerate Karbala, until now no one has studied women's participation in these observances. This collection of original essays by a multidisciplinary team of scholars analyzes the diverse roles that women have played in the Karbala rituals, as well as the varied ways in which gender-coded symbols have been used within religious and political discourses. The contributors to this volume consider women as participants in and observers of the Karbala rituals in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, and the United States. They find that women's experiences in the Shi'i rituals vary considerably from one community to another, based on regional customs, personal preferences, religious interpretations, popular culture, and socioeconomic background. The authors also examine the gender symbolism within the rituals, showing how it reinforces distinctions between the genders while it also highlights the centrality of women to the symbolic repertory of Shi'ism. Overall, the authors conclude that while Shi'i rituals and symbols have in some ways been used to restrict women's social roles, in other ways they have served to provide women with a sense of independence and empowerment.

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Page Count

310

Publisher

University of Texas Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0292709595

ISBN 13

9780292709591

Rethinking Iranian Nationalism and Modernity

By: Kamran Scot Aghaie,Afshin Marashi

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Rethinking Iranian Nationalism and Modernity

By: Kamran Scot Aghaie,Afshin Marashi

While recent books have explored Arab and Turkish nationalism, the nuances of Iran have received scant book-length study—until now. Capturing the significant changes in approach that have shaped this specialization, Rethinking Iranian Nationalism and Modernity shares innovative research and charts new areas of analysis from an array of scholars in the field. Delving into a wide range of theoretical and conceptual perspectives, the essays—all previously unpublished—encompass social history, literary theory, postcolonial studies, and comparative analysis to address such topics as: Ethnicity in the Islamic Republic of Iran Political Islam and religious nationalism The evolution of U.S.-Iranian relations before and after the Cold War Comparing Islamic and secular nationalism(s) in Egypt and Iran The German counterrevolution and its influence on Iranian political alliances The effects of Israel's image as a Euro-American space Sufism Geocultural concepts in Azar's Atashkadeh Interdisciplinary in essence, the essays also draw from sociology, gender studies, and art and architecture. Posing compelling questions while challenging the conventional historiographical traditions, the authors (many of whom represent a new generation of Iranian studies scholars) give voice to a research approach that embraces the modern era's complexity while emphasizing Iranian nationalism's contested, multifaceted, and continuously transformative possibilities.

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374

Publisher

University of Texas Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0292757492

ISBN 13

9780292757493

The Martyrs of Karbala

Shi'i Symbols and Rituals in Modern Iran

By: Kamran Scot Aghaie

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The Martyrs of Karbala

Shi'i Symbols and Rituals in Modern Iran

By: Kamran Scot Aghaie

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Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

248

Publisher

University of Washington Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

029580078X

ISBN 13

9780295800783

Rethinking Iranian Nationalism and Modernity

By: Kamran Scot Aghaie,Afshin Marashi

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Rethinking Iranian Nationalism and Modernity

By: Kamran Scot Aghaie,Afshin Marashi

Average ratings

N/A

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Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

374

Publisher

University of Texas Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0292757492

ISBN 13

9780292757493

Book's by Kamran Scot Aghaie

The Martyrs of Karbala

The Martyrs of Karbala

The Women of Karbala

The Women of Karbala

Rethinking Iranian Nationalism and Modernity

Rethinking Iranian Nationalism and Modernity

The Martyrs of Karbala

The Martyrs of Karbala

Rethinking Iranian Nationalism and Modernity

Rethinking Iranian Nationalism and Modernity

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