The major theme of this book is authority in Shiism with special emphasis on its institutionalization in different historic periods from the beginning of Shiism in the Middle Ages to the present.

Part I presents new material on important or neglected issues that are at the center of current scholarly debate, including the fundamental relationship between knowledge and authority in pristine Shiism, aspects of popular culture in medieval Shiism, the institutionalization of religious authority in Shiite Iran from the 16th to 18th centuries, and the centralization of religious authority in the 19th century. The editor provides an analysis of the ideological revolution in Shiism during the 1970s and 1980s. Important documents and primary sources have been selected for Part II representing the major trends in the history of Shiism. With two exceptions, these sources have neither been available in English translation nor easily accessible in the original Arabic or Persian. An extensive introduction by the editor effectively connects Parts I and II of the book.