Twelve Infallible Men: The Imams and the Making of Shi’ism

In the tenth century Shiˀa scholars assembled accounts of twelve imams’ lives, portraying them as miracle workers who were betrayed. These biographies invoked shared cultural memories, shaped communal responses and ritual practices of mourning, and inspired Shiˀa identity and religious imagination for centuries to come, Matthew Pierce shows.

Table of Contents:
Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Note on Dates and Transliteration Prologue Chapter 1. Setting the Stage Chapter 2. Consolation for a Community Chapter 3. Betrayal and the Boundaries of Faithfulness Chapter 4. Vulnerable Bodies and Masculine Ideals Chapter 5. Entering the Cosmos Epilogue Appendix 1: The Fourteen Infallibles: A Quick Guide Appendix 2: Collective Biographies of the Imams: A Genre Survey Abbreviations Notes Select Bibliography Acknowledgments Index

Review :
[A] compelling study of the imams of Ali's line. -- Malise Ruthven Times Literary Supplement Pierce's scholarship is impressive...[He] expertly takes us through these stories [of the imams], examining themes like suffering, memory, gender, political power, and theology...A lovely book that does much to teach us about Islam, its many traditions, and the ways in which memory functions in the lives of its followers. -- Sophia Rose Arjana Reading Religion Forgoing some well-worn topics, Pierce adds a fresh perspective by peering at the Imams' biographies through the lens of gender. In fact, Pierce is at his best when he engages in questions of gender...Twelve Infallible Men is a well-written analysis of the stories that have been told and retold about the Imams...This book is sure to spark valuable discussion. -- Zackery M. Heern Journal of Islamic Studies Pierce provides a clearly articulated and stimulating reading of an understudied but fascinating and historically significant body of writings. -- Sarah Bowen Savant American Historical Review An exemplary work on a hitherto understudied yet highly significant topic. Pierce succeeds admirably in making these biographies speak to central concerns in the contemporary study of Shiˀism in particular and of Islam in general. He writes with ease and precision, and is especially effective at using collective memory to document the formation of communal boundaries and expressions of piety. This compact and accessible work will go a long way towards offering a robust understanding of a major religious phenomenon. -- Ahmet Karamustafa, University of Maryland A successful book that singles out a number of the most influential themes related to the portrayal of the imams and treats them with considerable insight. -- Devin Stewart, Emory University