Professor Amir-Moezzi Receives Prize for the History of Religions
Professor Amir-Moezzi, Director of Islamic Studies at École Pratique des Hautes Études, Sorbonne University and IIS Research Fellow, was honored with the Prize for the History of Religions
Professor Amir-Moezzi, Director of Islamic Studies at École Pratique des Hautes Études, Sorbonne University and IIS Research Fellow, was honored with the Prize for the History of Religions by the Pierre-Antoine Bernheim’s Friends Foundation (French Academy) for his book The Proof of God: Shi‘ite Mysticism through Kulaynî's work (La Preuve de Dieu: La Mystique Shi'ite à travers l'oeuvre de Kulaynî) at l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, part of the Institut de France. The book is centred on one of the noted Shia hadith authorities Abu Ja’far Mohammad ibn Ya’qub ibn Ishaq al-Kulayni (d. around 940), and his seminal work, the Kitāb al-Kafī (The Sufficient Book).
Speaking about how the book contributes towards Muslim thought and spirituality, IIS Research Associate Dr Maria De Cillis said:
This fascinating and enlightening volume is inspired by the Book of the Proof (Kitāb al-Hujja) – one of the central chapters of The Sufficient Book (Kitāb al-Kafī). Large excerpts from the original Arabic text have been magisterially translated into French and complemented by in-depth analytical comments, thus allowing unprecedented access into extremely vivid theoretical insights. Elaborating on the nature of the “Proof” which, in the Shiʿite terminology identifies the central figure, i.e., the guide (imām) of mystical spirituality, this volume resourcefully contributes in portraying Shiʿi Islam in its kaleidoscopic nature, not merely, as Amir-Moezzi himself puts it, as ‘the politico-religious ideology of its “clergy”’, but also and above all as an inspirational religion ‘enriching Muslim thought and spirituality, sometimes with unusual finesse and sophistication.'
The renowned Kitāb al-Kafī is divided into three sections: Usūl al-Kāfī, which is concerned with epistemology, theology, history, ethics, supplication, and the Qur’an; Furūʿ al-Kāfī, which is concerned with practical and legal issues; and Rawdat al-Kāfī, which includes lengthy letters and speeches transmitted from the Imams. The title of Professor Amir-Moezzi’s book has been inspired by the Kitāb al-Hujja (Book of Proof), which is part of the Usūl al-Kāfī. In Shi‘i Islam, Prophets and Imams are designated ‘proofs’ of God’s presence on earth who provide guidance and the esoteric teachings of the faith. In his book, Professor Amir-Moezzi includes an epilogue that allows the reader to follow the thread of intellectual history and Shi‘i mysticism from the Abbasid period until contemporary times.
Reflecting on the author’s approach to the subject, IIS Senior Researcher, Dr Orkhan Mir-Kasimov, remarked:
The Proof of God (original title La preuve de Dieu) by Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi is a lucid and masterfully written introduction to the doctrines of early Shiʿism, in particular those concerning the figure of the divine guide, the Imam. The book presents to the reader one of the most important works of the Shiʿi intellectual heritage, Kulayni’s Book of the Proof (Kitāb al-ḥujja), selected excerpts from which are translated by the author and provided with helpful annotations. Amir-Moezzi’s talent to convey elaborate theories in a simple and accessible way and his broad erudition makes this book fascinating reading for everyone interested in the theoretical foundations of the Shiʿi Islam.
Created in 2011, the Pierre-Antoine Bernheim’s Friends Foundation serves to perpetuate the memory of the late Pierre-Antoine Bernheim. Dedicated to the promotion of history of religions, it aims to reward recent works, the most outstanding achievements in this area, and more generally, to promote the dissemination of knowledge in this field.
