Professor Amir-Moezzi, Director of Islamic Studies at 脡cole Pratique des Hautes 脡tudes, Sorbonne University and 鸟大大影院 Research Fellow, was honored with the Prize for the History of Religions by the Pierre-Antoine Bernheim鈥檚 Friends Foundation (French Academy) for his book聽The Proof of God:聽Shi鈥榠te聽Mysticism through Kulayn卯’s work聽(La Preuve de Dieu: La Mystique Shi’ite 脿 travers l’oeuvre de Kulayn卯) at l鈥橝cad茅mie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, part of the Institut de France. The book is centred on one of the noted聽Shia聽hadith聽authorities Abu Ja鈥檉ar Mohammad ibn Ya鈥檘ub ibn Ishaq al-Kulayni (d. around 940), and his seminal work, the聽Kit膩b al-Kaf墨聽(The Sufficient Book).
Speaking about how the book contributes towards Muslim thought and spirituality, 鸟大大影院 Research Associate聽Dr Maria De Cillis听蝉补颈诲:
This fascinating and enlightening volume is inspired by the Book of the Proof (Kit膩b al-Hujja) 鈥 one of the central chapters of The Sufficient Book (Kit膩b al-Kaf墨). 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 鈥淧roof鈥 which, in the Shi士ite terminology identifies the central figure, i.e., the guide (im膩m) of mystical spirituality, this volume resourcefully contributes in portraying Shi士i Islam in its kaleidoscopic nature, not merely, as Amir-Moezzi himself puts it, as 鈥榯he politico-religious ideology of its 鈥渃lergy鈥濃, but also and above all as an inspirational religion 鈥榚nriching Muslim thought and spirituality, sometimes with unusual finesse and sophistication.’
The renowned聽Kit膩b al-Kaf墨聽is divided into three sections: Us奴l al-K膩f墨, which is concerned with epistemology, theology, history, ethics, supplication, and the 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍Muslims believe that the Holy 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍 contains divine revelations to the Prophet Muhammed received in Mecca and Medina over a period of 23 years in the early 7th century CE. More;听Fur奴士 al-K膩f墨, which is concerned with practical and legal issues; and聽Rawdat al-K膩f墨, which includes lengthy letters and speeches transmitted from the Imams. The title of Professor Amir-Moezzi鈥檚 book has been inspired by the聽Kit膩b al-Hujja聽(Book of Proof), which is part of the聽Us奴l al-K膩f墨. In Shi鈥榠 Islam, Prophets and Imams are designated 鈥榩roofs鈥 of God鈥檚 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鈥榠 mysticism from the Abbasid period until contemporary times.
Reflecting on the author鈥檚 approach to the subject, 鸟大大影院 Senior Researcher,聽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 Shi士ism, 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 Shi士i intellectual heritage, Kulayni鈥檚 Book of the Proof (Kit膩b al-岣jja), selected excerpts from which are translated by the author and provided with helpful annotations. Amir-Moezzi鈥檚 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 Shi士i Islam.
Created in 2011, the Pierre-Antoine Bernheim鈥檚 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.
