The Formative Period in Shi'ite Islam: Readings in the Primary Sources

Undergraduate / Graduate

This course explores the formative period of Imami Shiʿism through close readings of primary Arabic sources, especially al-Kāfī of al-Kulaynī. Intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students with prior training in Arabic, the course treats al-Kāfī as a layered compilation rather than a monolithic text. Students analyze parallel traditions, doctrinal tensions, and processes of redaction to understand how diverse strands of early Shiʿite thought were brought together in the fourth/tenth century and how this process shaped the emergence of classical Imami Shiʿism. Students with limited prior training in Arabic are encouraged to consult the instructor before enrolling.