SHI’ISM IN EGYPT A Strategic Appraisal of the Shi’a School of thought in Egypt and the Management of its Social Expanse

The continuity and expansion of the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) and the social extension of the Shi’ite culture and thought depends on a strategic evaluation of the existing potentials and challenges ahead of Shi’ism in the regional and the international levels. The status survey and needs assessment of the Shias according to countries and different regions of the world will serve as a foundation of fruitful planning and investment in this field. In view of the civilizational background, cultural and religious nature and geographical location of Egypt, the country has been turned into a center of influential movements of thought in Islamic countries. Furthermore, considering the fact that Shi’ism has a historical basis in Egypt and enjoys sufficient intellectual and social foundations, we shall analyze the subject of “Shi’ism in Egypt and its Social Extension” from a regional approach. The main focus of this research is on the status of Shi’ism in Egypt and strategies for its social extension, and it is directed towards responding to the crucial question that why is it that in spite of having intellectual motifs and a Shi’ite cultural heritage in Egypt and despite the effectiveness of the Shi’ite perception in arenas of thought, these potentials are not substantially apparent and visible, and what strategies are ahead of the Shias to attain the desired situation? In between all this, considering the specific regional conditions and the variety of active centers in the processes of forming and making decisions, the focus has been centered on multi-dimensional formulas and models and their necessities and requirements have been emphasized. This research has come to the conclusion that the situation of Shi’ism in Egypt, despite the countless limitations and restrictions, confers the glad tidings of a bright and satisfying future, since the Shi’ahs of Egypt enjoy various opportunities and potentials, which if coupled with necessary management and observations, will bring about blessed achievements, not only for the Shias of Egypt but also for the world of Shi’ism. This treatise consists of fifteen chapters arranged in four sections. In the first section, concepts and theoretical principles have been analyzed. The second section entitled “The Precedent of the Presence of Shi’ism in Egypt”, studies with a historical approach the ups and downs of Shi’ism in Egypt and gives examples of Shi’ite heritage in Egypt. The third section analyzes the current state of the Shias of Egypt from the cultural, political, social and economic aspects; and finally, in the fourth section with an approach of regional analysis, by focusing on the potentials and challenges, guidelines have been proposed for the progress and the extension of Shi’ism in Egypt.