Against Censorship

Before I wrote that I’m going to translate a book named “The Shia Revival” by Vali Nasr into Persian and I could do some of it, but unfortunately there is no sponsor. The publishers can not take a risk. This new government doesn’t let to publish such a book.
In spite of that fact, I’m going to translate some of chapters for quarterlies. It is presently possible. What about tomorrow? I don’t know.

Bibliography

Shariati, Ali. “Shia”, Elham Publication, Tehran, 7th Edition, 1983.

An Evolutional Religion

Some months ago, a book was translated by Hashem Izadpanah, named “Religion in an Evolutional Process”. Of course the translator changed the title. The real name is “Crisis and Consolidation in the Formative Period of Shiite Islam: Abu Jafar Ibn Coiba” written by Seyyed Husain Modarresi Tabatabaei.
This book, during last few months, has provoked some arguments. Some are very surprised that such a book has published in Iran. They think that the author declared that Shia has been an evolutional religion, based on the title in Persian.
I studied the book and I think that they are absolutely wrong. In fact the author doesn’t believe to it. Modarresi Tabatabaei wrote his opinion about Shiism in the introduction. In fact he doesn’t believe to it at all.
Of course I myself believe that Shia is an evolutional religion. The difference between Shia and Sunni began first by political problems, then by identity and at last by every thing until now. I think that believing to an evolution process in formation of Shia can present an effective model to study Shia and in this case, we should emphasize on a historical approach.
By the way, “Crisis and Consolidation in the Formative Period of Shiite Islam: Abu Jafar Ibn Coiba” is a nice book for those who want to know about different opinions about formation of Shiism.

Bibliography

Jaefari, Seyyd Husain Mohammad, “Shiism, A Historical Approach,” Islamic Culture Press, Tehran, 13th edition, 2007.

Another Sign of Conflict

 …“Witnesses said the first shots were fired after crowds started accusing Hamas security forces of being a proxy for Shia Muslim-ruled Iran, chanting the word “Shia” repeatedly.”
Perhaps this story, based on what Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr wrote in his last book, is another sign of conflict between Shia and Sunni in Middle East.

This Year’s Noble Prize for Literature

 

Tonight I understood that Doris Lessing was born in Kermanshah (my town) in 1919. At that time, many British families lived in Kermanshah, according to history.
If I was instead of officials, I would name an avenue as Doris Lessing.

A New Book

Today I could receive The Shia Revival finally. This book is written by Vali Nasr. I’m going to translate it into Persian until next February.