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Resurrection and Renewal: The Making of the Bábi Movement in Iran, 1844-1850
The most complete academic treatment of the early years of the Babi religion. With energy and power, Abbas Amanat communicates fully the sense of elation and terror that accompanied the birth of the New Age. He recounts the full story of the early years of the Bab's religion--the early converts and martyrs, the message of the Prophet, the shaping of the community, and the final break with Islam. A brilliant and important work of scholarship!
498 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 27, 2023
The best Book ever written in the Thema.
December 19, 2020
Last year I read Abbas Amanat's "Iran: A Modern History" and loved it. So I was interested when I learned Amanat had earlier written a book on the Babi movement, predecessor to Baha'i. I have long had an interest in Baha'i and wanted to learn more about the origins of the faith in the Babi movement, which itself evolved from the relatively heterodox Shaykhi school of Shi'ism.
This is not an easy book to read however and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an introduction level text. For someone who only has the most general understanding of Shia Islam much of the text came across as difficult and esoteric. This would likely have been an easier read for someone who had read other more introduction level books on the subject first. Unfortunately, there is not an abundance of those. While Mormonism (my own faith tradition) has received plenty of academic treatment, the number of academic books on Baha'i or its predecessor Babism are unfortunately few and far between.
And yet I'm happy I read the book. It gave me an appreciation for the origins of the faith in a millenarian interpretation of Shia Islam, with the Bab proclaiming himself as the Twelfth Imam heralding the end of the religious cycle of Islam and ushering in a renewed religious cycle based on new prophecy and progressive revelation. At the same time, it is obvious that much of the universal nature of Baha'i theology was only nascent at this stage. Babism was enmeshed in esoteric interpretations of the Qur'an and Shi'ite traditions, and in mysticism and numerology. Only after experiencing persecution, the failures of militant Babists to push back against state forces, the execution of the Bab, and the leadership succession struggles did a more moderate, pacifist, and universalist version of the faith predominate under Baha'ullah.
The book provides little in the way of explanation or analysis of actual Bab religious law or theological teaching apart from the millenarian revelation. In fact, it seems to me that the Bab as a millenarian figure stands out as relatively more important than his actual teachings. In the epilogue, Amanat seems to confirm this by stating that "the Babi shari'a lacked the consistency, comprehensiveness, and independence to address the pressing issues of its times. It was largely modeled out of the practices, rituals, prohibitions, and injunctions of the existing shari'a." It's intriguing to me the extent to which Babism revolved around a messianic figure more than actual new religious teachings. While in Mormonism, the nature of Priesthood authority and prophethood is important, Joseph Smith himself is seen as ancillary to the revelations and restored order he produced - and is in fact considered potentially dispensable in God's revelations through Joseph Smith. As the revelation of the Hidden Imam, the Bab doesn't appear to have been dispensable in quite the same way.
An important book on a fascinating religious movement but a difficult read for the newcomer.
This is not an easy book to read however and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an introduction level text. For someone who only has the most general understanding of Shia Islam much of the text came across as difficult and esoteric. This would likely have been an easier read for someone who had read other more introduction level books on the subject first. Unfortunately, there is not an abundance of those. While Mormonism (my own faith tradition) has received plenty of academic treatment, the number of academic books on Baha'i or its predecessor Babism are unfortunately few and far between.
And yet I'm happy I read the book. It gave me an appreciation for the origins of the faith in a millenarian interpretation of Shia Islam, with the Bab proclaiming himself as the Twelfth Imam heralding the end of the religious cycle of Islam and ushering in a renewed religious cycle based on new prophecy and progressive revelation. At the same time, it is obvious that much of the universal nature of Baha'i theology was only nascent at this stage. Babism was enmeshed in esoteric interpretations of the Qur'an and Shi'ite traditions, and in mysticism and numerology. Only after experiencing persecution, the failures of militant Babists to push back against state forces, the execution of the Bab, and the leadership succession struggles did a more moderate, pacifist, and universalist version of the faith predominate under Baha'ullah.
The book provides little in the way of explanation or analysis of actual Bab religious law or theological teaching apart from the millenarian revelation. In fact, it seems to me that the Bab as a millenarian figure stands out as relatively more important than his actual teachings. In the epilogue, Amanat seems to confirm this by stating that "the Babi shari'a lacked the consistency, comprehensiveness, and independence to address the pressing issues of its times. It was largely modeled out of the practices, rituals, prohibitions, and injunctions of the existing shari'a." It's intriguing to me the extent to which Babism revolved around a messianic figure more than actual new religious teachings. While in Mormonism, the nature of Priesthood authority and prophethood is important, Joseph Smith himself is seen as ancillary to the revelations and restored order he produced - and is in fact considered potentially dispensable in God's revelations through Joseph Smith. As the revelation of the Hidden Imam, the Bab doesn't appear to have been dispensable in quite the same way.
An important book on a fascinating religious movement but a difficult read for the newcomer.
March 24, 2022
Solid academic history of the historical, religious, and social background of the Babi religion, its birth, and its early history up to the execution of Sayyid Ali Muhammad Shirazi, the Bab. I believe that Dr Amanat has given us a sympathetic and balanced treatment to the Bab and some of his key followers as human beings engaged in what they believed to be a divinely-directed undertaking. I found the lengthy chapter on Qurrat al-Ayn and her followers particularly enlightening as it makes reference to a number of other women who were active in the early years of the movement.
Not a light or quick read, with a very large cast of characters, many of whom are referred to by several names or titles (rather like the proverbial "Russian novel"), but well worth the effort if one wishes to see, and try to understand, the Bab and his religion in historical context.
Not a light or quick read, with a very large cast of characters, many of whom are referred to by several names or titles (rather like the proverbial "Russian novel"), but well worth the effort if one wishes to see, and try to understand, the Bab and his religion in historical context.
April 6, 2024
An academic masterpiece!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews