Hussain’s Revolution
In his book Hussain’s Revolution, Ayatollah Chamseddine provides a historical analysis of the events leading up to and following the Tragedy of Karbala. From the events following the passing of the Prophet Muhammad and up to the succession of Yazid I to the Umayyad throne, Ayatollah Chamseddine draws a portrait of the social and political undercurrents that lead to Imam Hussain’s Revolution. He goes on to show how the massacre that ensued would change the course of history within the Muslim nation.
Shaykh Muhammad Mahdi Chamseddine
Shaykh Muhammad Mahdi ChamseddineAyatollah Sheikh Muhammad Mahdi Chamseddine was a prominent Shia-Lebanese religious scholar, intellectual, and public figure. He was one of the founders of the Supreme Shia Islamic Council in Lebanon, along with Sayyid Musa Al-Sadr and others. Chamseddine and Sadr were heavily involved in preaching a moderate understanding of Islam that espoused plurality and coexistence at a time when Lebanon was going through an extreme period of violent civil war. After the disappearance of Sadr in 1978, Chamseddine rose to the forefront as his successor.
Chamseddine was not only a religious figure, but a public intellectual and political thinker. He led Lebanon in its national and political introspection, always calling for inter-faith and intra-faith dialogue. He made the unity and advancement of Lebanon his priority through his calls for civic engagement, national sovereignty, and resistance to occupation. At the same time, his theory of political legitimacy was based on notions of social contract and popular sovereignty, as opposed to other prevalent Islamist ideologies at the time. I one of his most influential books Nidham Al-Hukm Wa Al-Idara fi Al-Islam (The System of Government and Public Administration in Islam), Chamseddine set out his theory of national sovereignty based on Islamic teachings that gave religious legitimacy to representative government.
Chamseddine also played a central role in the establishment of the Islamic University of Lebanon, which became a leading institution in the country, including in fields such as surveying and biomedical engineering. The University is a member of the International Association of Universities and the Francophone University Association, as well as a number of other regional associations. Chamseddine also established a number of other institutions, including schools, orphanages, and social service organizations.
Chamseddine was born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1936 to a family known for religious and scholarly achievement. His father had migrated to Najaf to pursue his religious studies there. In 1948, while Chamseddine was still 12 years old, his father decided to return to Lebanon. Chamseddine stayed in Najaf to pursue his own religious education. During his stay of over 30 years in Iraq, Chamseddine studied with the most prominent Shia religious scholars, including Grand Ayatollah Muhsen Al-Hakim, Grand Ayatollah Abulqasim Al-Khoei, and Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Al-Rouhani. He rose to prominence in Najaf and became a distinguished member of the seminary. In 1969, Chamseddine returned to Lebanon, where he began his illustrious legacy as a public figure. He survived an assassination attempt in 1990 and passed away due to illness at age 65 in 2001.
The Victors of Imam Hussain
Through his book The Victors, Ayatollah Chamseddine provides a critical study of the individuals who came to support Imam Hussain in his movement against the Umayyad regime of Yazid ibn Muawiya in 680 AD. This work sheds light on who those individuals were, their backgrounds, as well as a look into the discrepancies found in history’s account of the quantity and traits of Hussain’s supporters. Ayatollah Chamseddine’s initial intent with this work was to provide an appendix for his book, Hussain’s Revolution; however, given the length and significance of this particular study, he decided to publish an entirely separate book dedicated to the victors of Hussain.
Shaykh Muhammad Mahdi Chamseddine
Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Mahdi Chamseddine was a prominent Shia-Lebanese religious scholar, intellectual, and public figure. He was one of the founders of the Supreme Shia Islamic Council in Lebanon, along with Sayyid Musa Al-Sadr and others. Chamseddine and Sadr were heavily involved in preaching a moderate understanding of Islam that espoused plurality and coexistence at a time when Lebanon was going through an extreme period of violent civil war. After the disappearance of Sadr in 1978, Chamseddine rose to the forefront as his successor.
Chamseddine was not only a religious figure, but a public intellectual and political thinker. He led Lebanon in its national and political introspection, always calling for inter-faith and intra-faith dialogue. He made the unity and advancement of Lebanon his priority through his calls for civic engagement, national sovereignty, and resistance to occupation. At the same time, his theory of political legitimacy was based on notions of social contract and popular sovereignty, as opposed to other prevalent Islamist ideologies at the time. I one of his most influential books Nidham Al-Hukm Wa Al-Idara fi Al-Islam (The System of Government and Public Administration in Islam), Chamseddine set out his theory of national sovereignty based on Islamic teachings that gave religious legitimacy to representative government.
Chamseddine also played a central role in the establishment of the Islamic University of Lebanon, which became a leading institution in the country, including in fields such as surveying and biomedical engineering. The University is a member of the International Association of Universities and the Francophone University Association, as well as a number of other regional associations. Chamseddine also established a number of other institutions, including schools, orphanages, and social service organizations.
Chamseddine was born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1936 to a family known for religious and scholarly achievement. His father had migrated to Najaf to pursue his religious studies there. In 1948, while Chamseddine was still 12 years old, his father decided to return to Lebanon. Chamseddine stayed in Najaf to pursue his own religious education. During his stay of over 30 years in Iraq, Chamseddine studied with the most prominent Shia religious scholars, including Grand Ayatollah Muhsen Al-Hakim, Grand Ayatollah Abulqasim Al-Khoei, and Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Al-Rouhani. He rose to prominence in Najaf and became a distinguished member of the seminary. In 1969, Chamseddine returned to Lebanon, where he began his illustrious legacy as a public figure. He survived an assassination attempt in 1990 and passed away due to illness at age 65 in 2001.
The Course of History: A Study in the Peak of Eloquence
The Course of History: A Study in the Peak of EloquenceImam Ali ibn Abi Talib is one of the most revered and respected figures in Islamic history. His words are enshrined everywhere from works of religious scholarship to publications of the United Nations. Early in the 11th century, the Muslim scholar Al-Shareef Al-Radi collected the sermons, sayings, and letters of Imam Ali and published them in the book The Peak of Eloquence. Ayatollah Chamseddine’s work –The Course of History: A Study in the Peak of Eloquence – is a study of Imam Ali’s method and discourse. The book takes a look into Imam Ali’s brilliant use of history in his engagement with society, as a statesman, spiritual leader, and private citizen.
Shaykh Muhammad Mahdi Chamseddine
Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Mahdi Chamseddine was a prominent Shia-Lebanese religious scholar, intellectual, and public figure. He was one of the founders of the Supreme Shia Islamic Council in Lebanon, along with Sayyid Musa Al-Sadr and others. Chamseddine and Sadr were heavily involved in preaching a moderate understanding of Islam that espoused plurality and coexistence at a time when Lebanon was going through an extreme period of violent civil war. After the disappearance of Sadr in 1978, Chamseddine rose to the forefront as his successor.
Chamseddine was not only a religious figure, but a public intellectual and political thinker. He led Lebanon in its national and political introspection, always calling for inter-faith and intra-faith dialogue. He made the unity and advancement of Lebanon his priority through his calls for civic engagement, national sovereignty, and resistance to occupation. At the same time, his theory of political legitimacy was based on notions of social contract and popular sovereignty, as opposed to other prevalent Islamist ideologies at the time. I one of his most influential books Nidham Al-Hukm Wa Al-Idara fi Al-Islam (The System of Government and Public Administration in Islam), Chamseddine set out his theory of national sovereignty based on Islamic teachings that gave religious legitimacy to representative government.
Chamseddine also played a central role in the establishment of the Islamic University of Lebanon, which became a leading institution in the country, including in fields such as surveying and biomedical engineering. The University is a member of the International Association of Universities and the Francophone University Association, as well as a number of other regional associations. Chamseddine also established a number of other institutions, including schools, orphanages, and social service organizations.
Chamseddine was born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1936 to a family known for religious and scholarly achievement. His father had migrated to Najaf to pursue his religious studies there. In 1948, while Chamseddine was still 12 years old, his father decided to return to Lebanon. Chamseddine stayed in Najaf to pursue his own religious education. During his stay of over 30 years in Iraq, Chamseddine studied with the most prominent Shia religious scholars, including Grand Ayatollah Muhsen Al-Hakim, Grand Ayatollah Abulqasim Al-Khoei, and Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Al-Rouhani. He rose to prominence in Najaf and became a distinguished member of the seminary. In 1969, Chamseddine returned to Lebanon, where he began his illustrious legacy as a public figure. He survived an assassination attempt in 1990 and passed away due to illness at age 65 in 2001.
Practices: From Prayer to Pilgrimage
This book, Practices: From Prayer to Pilgrimage, is a compilation of fundamental lessons on rituals and practices in Islam. The book is meant to explain the philosophy and etiquette behind Islam’s most important rituals. Along with chapters on prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage, the book looks at a number of other key practices, such as supplication and modesty. Finally, the book concludes with a chapter on the commemoration of the tragedy of Imam Hussain (a) as a form of devotion and commitment to God and His message.
Sayyid Ali Al-Hakeem
Sayyid Ali Al-HakeemSayyid Ali Al-Hakeem is an esteemed Muslim scholar, lecturer, and researcher residing in Dubai, UAE. Sayyid Al-Hakeem spent ten years studying at the Islamic seminaries of Qum, Iran. There, he completed his Advanced Seminars (a Ph.D. equivalent in Islamic seminaries) in Islamic Jurisprudence and Thought. He also received a Master’s degree in Islamic Thought from the Islamic University of Lebanon. Sayyid Al-Hakeem has dedicated the past twenty-two years of his life to service of the Muslim community in different capacities. He serves as a resident scholar in the Imam Hassan Mosque, Dubai. He is the Chair of the Religious Committee and the religious supervisor of the Charitable Deeds Committee of the Ja’afariya Endowment Charitable Council of Dubai.
Ethics: God, Society, and Me
This book, Ethics: God, Society, and Me, is a compilation of life lessons revolving around the moral character of a true Muslim. The focus and purpose of this work is to provide practical inspiration for the reader who is trying to lead a noble life in servicing God. With basic principles derived from the Holy Quran and the lives of the Prophet (s) and his Progeny (a), this book provides an overview of the Is-lamic code of ethics.
Sayyid Ali Al-Hakeem
Sayyid Ali Al-Hakeem is an esteemed Muslim scholar, lecturer, and researcher residing in Dubai, UAE. Sayyid Al-Hakeem spent ten years studying at the Islamic seminaries of Qum, Iran. There, he completed his Advanced Seminars (a Ph.D. equivalent in Islamic seminaries) in Islamic Jurisprudence and Thought. He also received a Master’s degree in Islamic Thought from the Islamic University of Lebanon. Sayyid Al-Hakeem has dedicated the past twenty-two years of his life to service of the Muslim community in different capacities. He serves as a resident scholar in the Imam Hassan Mosque, Dubai. He is the Chair of the Religious Committee and the religious supervisor of the Charitable Deeds Committee of the Ja’afariya Endowment Charitable Council of Dubai.
The Progeny: The Prophet and His Household
This book, The Progeny: the Prophet and His Household, is a compilation of inspirational lessons and parables taken from the lives of the Grand Prophet Muhammad (s) and His Pure Progeny (a). Greater focus is given to the first five of the Immaculate Leaders – The Grand Prophet (s), Imam Ali (a), Lady Fatima (a), Imam Hassan (a), and Imam Hussain (a). Those chapters are followed by shorter chapters and lessons from the lives of the remainder of our Immaculate Imams, from Imam Ali Zayn Al-Abideen (a) to the Awaited Imam Al-Mahdi (a).
Sayyid Ali Al-Hakeem
Sayyid Ali Al-Hakeem is an esteemed Muslim scholar, lecturer, and researcher residing in Dubai, UAE. Sayyid Al-Hakeem spent ten years studying at the Islamic seminaries of Qum, Iran. There, he completed his Advanced Seminars (a Ph.D. equivalent in Islamic seminaries) in Islamic Jurisprudence and Thought. He also received a Master’s degree in Islamic Thought from the Islamic University of Lebanon. Sayyid Al-Hakeem has dedicated the past twenty-two years of his life to service of the Muslim community in different capacities. He serves as a resident scholar in the Imam Hassan Mosque, Dubai. He is the Chair of the Religious Committee and the religious supervisor of the Charitable Deeds Committee of the Ja’afariya Endowment Charitable Council of Dubai.
Creed: God and His Ambassadors
This book, Creed: God and His Ambassadors, is a compilation of lessons in creed revolving around specific discussions on our relationship with God and His representatives (i.e. prophets, messengers, imams). It addresses a number of topics that are key to the Shia Muslim world-view. Emphasis is given, first and foremost, to our relationship with the Creator. The book then addresses the message and example of our Grand Prophet (s) and his Holy Household. The book concludes with a brief chapter on death as our transition to the afterlife.
Sayyid Ali Al-Hakeem
Sayyid Ali Al-Hakeem is an esteemed Muslim scholar, lecturer, and researcher residing in Dubai, UAE. Sayyid Al-Hakeem spent ten years studying at the Islamic seminaries of Qum, Iran. There, he completed his Advanced Seminars (a Ph.D. equivalent in Islamic seminaries) in Islamic Jurisprudence and Thought. He also received a Master’s degree in Islamic Thought from the Islamic University of Lebanon. Sayyid Al-Hakeem has dedicated the past twenty-two years of his life to service of the Muslim community in different capacities. He serves as a resident scholar in the Imam Hassan Mosque, Dubai. He is the Chair of the Religious Committee and the religious supervisor of the Charitable Deeds Committee of the Ja’afariya Endowment Charitable Council of Dubai.
The Shia: Identity. Persecution. Horizons.
“As the world grapples with religious extremism and consequent violence in the world of Islam, Sayyid Riyadh Al-Hakeem provides us a valuable opportunity to understand the political dynamics and theological debates within Islam. I had the privilege to have a long conversation with Sayyid in 2014 in Najaf focusing on the developments in the Muslim world. I was struck by his scholarly demeanor, thoughtful approach and creative thinking geared towards peaceful resolutions to the challenges faced by humanity today. The Shia: Identity. Persecution. Horizons. is a penetrating historical account about Shia Muslims, enlightening us about their genesis, their struggles and most importantly their contribution to the Islamic faith.“Unlike many similar efforts, this book is not a chronicle of Shia–Sunni rivalries. The book is more focused on what the author believes to be the essence and spirit of Islam. He intelligently differentiates between issues that are linked to Muslim identity and others that are more profound in terms of foundations of faith. Sayyid Al-Hakeem, an accomplished scholar and jurist, is not only well qualified to teach us about this subject but his access to the corridors of learning and education in the Holy City of Najaf makes him among the ideal people to undertake this task.“This poignant and well-timed analysis of the Muslim dynamics brings great clarity to the complex series of events shaping the Muslim world today. It is a must read for both Muslim and non-Muslim audiences who are interested in understanding a Shia perspective that is written with an objective to pursue inter-religious harmony and peaceful coexistence, encourage tolerance and defeat sectarian agendas.”- Dr. Hassan Abbas, author of The Taliban Revival
Sayyid Riyadh Al-Hakeem
Sayyid Riyadh Al-HakeemSayyid Riyadh Al-Hakeem is a high ranking jurist in the Holy City of Najaf. He has studied and taught in the Islamic Seminaries of Qum and Najaf for over 45 years. He has published a number of works in the Islamic Sciences, both historical and contemporary in significance. Through his work, he has educated and inspired scores of teachers, students, and readers from audiences across the world.