Root of Islamic Revolution

The Root of Islamic Revolution by Hamid Algar examines the foundations of the 1979 Iranian Revolution through the writings and teachings of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The book presents Khomeini's religious and political philosophy leading up to the revolution. Algar translates and analyzes key texts and speeches by Khomeini during his years in exile, placing them in historical context. The work covers the period from 1962 to 1979, documenting the development of Khomeini's ideas about Islamic governance and opposition to the Shah's regime. The book includes extensive primary source material, with translations of Khomeini's writings and religious edicts. References to classical Islamic texts and twentieth century political movements provide background for understanding the revolutionary movement's ideological roots. Through its examination of religious doctrine, political theory, and social movements, the book illuminates how traditional Shi'a Islamic concepts were adapted into a modern revolutionary ideology. The text demonstrates the complex interplay between religion and politics in shaping Iran's revolutionary transformation.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Hamid Algar's overall work: Readers consistently note Algar's thorough academic research and command of primary sources. His translations receive praise for accuracy and attention to linguistic nuance. On Amazon, readers highlight his "Wahhabism: A Critical Essay" for providing clear historical context and documentation. What readers liked: - Detailed sourcing and references - Clear explanations of complex theological concepts - Balanced historical analysis - Quality of translations from original texts What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style can be difficult for general readers - Some works assume significant background knowledge - Limited accessibility for newcomers to Islamic studies Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: Average 4.1/5 across works Amazon: "Wahhabism: A Critical Essay" - 4.3/5 (82 reviews) "Islam and Revolution" - 4.2/5 (24 reviews) One reader noted: "Algar's command of primary sources and languages allows him to present material often unavailable elsewhere in English." Another commented: "The academic tone makes this challenging for casual reading but valuable for serious study."

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🔸 The author, Hamid Algar, is one of the few Western scholars who personally met and interviewed Ayatollah Khomeini multiple times during his exile in France. 🔸 Hamid Algar translated many of Khomeini's key works from Persian and Arabic into English, including his seminal text "Islamic Government" (Hokumat-e Islami). 🔸 The book examines how traditional Shi'i religious networks and institutions played a crucial role in mobilizing popular support for the 1979 Iranian Revolution. 🔸 The author has been a professor at UC Berkeley since 1965 and is one of the world's leading scholars on Iranian studies, particularly in Islamic spirituality and political thought. 🔸 The text challenges common Western assumptions that the Iranian Revolution was primarily driven by modernization and economic factors, highlighting instead the deep religious and cultural roots.