Mahdis and Millenarians: Shiite Extremists in Early Muslim Iraq

by William F. Tucker

Mahdis and Millenarians is a study of early extremist Shiites in Iraq and Iran. These sectarians originated certain doctrines and religious practices that influenced a number of later Shiite religious and political movements. Their millenarian expectations and willingness to use force against perceived enemies gave them a sense of solidarity and coherence that could be effectively mobilized in revolutionary or conflict situations. They should be viewed primarily within the context of world millenarian sectarian movements.

Genres: History

204 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

William Frederick Tucker

Reviews

[Mohammad · Rating 5 out of 5]

پژوهش بسیار خواندنی و دقیقی بود. منتها تعریفش از هزاره‌گرایان (گروهی از افراد که منتظر رستگاری قریب‌الوقوع، تام، نهایی، این‌جهانی و جمعی است،) اگرچه گروه‌های موضوع پژوهش رو در بر می‌گرفت، خود عنصر هزاره‌گرایی رو کم داشت. شاید منجی‌گرایی عنوان بهتری برای این گروه‌ها بود که البته عام‌تر می‌شد.

[Thomas Ayre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief but an interesting book on the earliest days of Shia Islam and the millenniarian cults that bubbled up around it. I wish there was a little more about the reasons for such heretical beliefs.

I'm left curious what the writer would think of the modern Sunni millenialist cult Islamic State.