The Shadow of God and the Hidden Imam ─ Religion, Political Order, and Societal Change in Shi'Ite Iran from the Beginning to 1890

Dismissing oversimplified and politically-charged views of the politics of Shi’ite Islam, Said Amir Arjomand offers a richly researched sociological and historical study of Shi’ism and the political order of premodern Iran that exposes the roots of what became Khomeini’s theocracy. “This book deserves to be read by anyone concerned with the relationship between religion and state in Iran and Islam.”—The New Republic “This is an important book. . . . Arjomand has certainly challenged much contemporary Western scholarship and made an important contribution to the continuing debate on the subject of religion and politics in [Shi’ite] Islam.”—American Historical Review “A remarkable achievement in providing a sustained, solid theoretical perspective on a massive movement in modern Islamic societies, while advancing the sociological study of Islam to an unsurpassed level. . . . Supported by an impressive and unprecedented analytical examination of theological and juridical texts.”—Contemporary Sociology

Said Amir Arjomand is Distinguished Service Professor of Sociology at Stony Brook University. He is the author of The Turban for the Crown: The Islamic Revolution in Iran and After Khomeini: Iran Under His Successors, as well as the editor or coeditor of several books.