Islam as Power

<p>Providing an in-depth and extensive analysis of the concept of power as articulated</p><p>by Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah (1935–2010), this case study analyses the</p><p>systemic conceptualisation of power and his argumentation of sacralising</p><p>Islamised power. The volume also offers a quick overview of how the concept was</p><p>understood and articulated by other Shi‛ite jurists such as Ayatollah Khomeini.</p><p>Examining Fadlallah’s oeuvre, in particular his seminal book <i>Islam and the</i></p><p>Logic of Power [ <i>al-Islam wa-mantiq al-quwwa </i>], this book focuses on the narrative</p><p>itself, which played a central role in the radical transformation that occurred in the</p><p>Shi‛te concept of empowerment and its recognition as a necessity. The analysis</p><p>of Fadlallah’s conceptualisation and argumentation illustrates the mechanism</p><p>of sacralising righteous power as well as the means of gaining it. Fadlallah</p><p>reinterpreted Shi‛sm as a project of empowerment to initiate and sustain an</p><p>“impulse of power” amongst the Lebanese Shi‛tes in the most critical moment of</p><p>modern Lebanese history.</p><p>Dealing with the concept of power in Shi‛te political thought from a theoretical</p><p>perspective, the study has an innovative approach that offers an insight into</p><p>how the transformative narrative is constructed and what makes it convincing.</p><p>Shedding light on the content and logical structure of Fadlallah’s argumentation,</p><p>this volume will be of interest to scholars and students researching contemporary</p><p>politics, Islam, and the Middle East.</p> <p>Introduction 1. The Importance of Muḥammad Ḥusayn Faḍlallāh in ShīꜤī Revivalism 2. Defining Power as a System and an Intermediate Goal 3. Faḍlallāh’s Theology of Power 4. Spiritual Power as the Engine of Revolution 5. Social Power 6. Political Power 7. Ethics of Power 8. Rhetoric of Power Conclusion Bibliography </p>