The Twelver Shîʻa as a Muslim Minority in India: Pulpit of Tears

Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgements Transliteration, Translation and Notes on the Text An Introduction to the Shîca and the Events Surrounding the Battle of Karbala PART ONE: CONTEXT Chapter 1: From Karbala to India: a History of Shîcî Preaching Roots of Islamic Preaching The Message of Shîcî Mourning Gatherings up to the Sixteenth Century The Development of Mourning Gatherings in Iran and South India from the Sixteenth Century Mourning Gatherings in North India in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries The Birth of the Modern Sermon Preaching at Mourning Gatherings in?saf Jâhî Hyderabad (1720?1948) Preaching without Political Power: Hyderabad since India?s Independence Conclusion Chapter 2: The Shîca of Hyderabad and their Mourning Gatherings Hyderabad?s Shîcî Community The Mourning Gathering in the Religious Life of Hyderabadi Shîcas Varieties of Mourning Gathering The Annual Cycle of Mourning Gatherings Sunnî Perceptions of Shîcî Mourning Practices The Preachers Becoming a Preacher and Community?Control? over the Majlis Pulpit Conclusion PART TWO: SERMONS Chapter 3: The Description of a Complete Mourning Gathering (Including the Text of Sermon 1) The Setting The Elegies The Sermon The Flagellation Chapter 4: Sermons by Male?lay? Preachers Sermon 2: Mirza Muhammad Ashfaq,?A Son Dies in his Father's Arms? Sermon 3: Syed Ziya Abbas Naqvi,?A Miraculous Healing? Sermon 4: Syed Naqi Mehdi,?Hindus Commemorate the Death of Husayn? Sermon 5: Syed Husn al-Hasan Qararwi,?Religion and Politics? Chapter 5: Sermons by Women Sermon 6: Anees Fatima,?Supplication and Fire-walking? Sermon 7: Asgari Hussain,?Imâm Husayn as a Child? Sermon 8: Nafees Unisa,?The Remembrance of Imâm Hasan? Chapter 6: Sermons by Religious Scholars Sermon 9: Syed Reza Aga,?A Necklace of Pearls of the Praises of Imâm cAli? Sermon 10: Zaki Baqri,?Women?s Rights? PART THREE: ANALYSIS Chapter 7: What the Sermons Do and How They Do It Defending the Faith in a Pluralist World Apologetic in Relation to Sun nî Islam Apologetic in Relation to the West and Christianity Apologetic in Relation to the Akhbârî Shîcî Sub-sect Apologetic in Relation to Hinduism The General Discourse as Moral or Reformist Teaching Uniting the Community in Praise of its Heroes The Language of Praise Responding in Praise Stories of Glory Binding the Community in a Narrative of Suffering Triggering the Tears Narrating the Suffering Taking the Congregation?Back in Time? Women as Role Models Chapter 8: Indian Shi'i Preaching as the Expression of a Minority Islamic Religious Identity The Theology of the Sermons A Personal Theology A Theology of Mediation A Theology of Tears The Roots of the Sermons? Theology The Purpose of the Majlis, its Sermon and the Shîcî Community Preaching as a Response to Karbala Preaching and Shîcî Identity Glossary List of Sermons and Preachers Interviews Bibliography Index of Qur?ânic passages General index.