Nuṣayriyyah: Tārikh, Manābiʿ, Iʿtiqādāt [Nuṣayriyyah: History, Sources and Creeds].

There has been ongoing disagreement regarding the conceptual boundaries of ghuluww (religious exaggeration) among different Islamic sects, and this book aims to clarify these boundaries within the context of one particular sect known as the Ghulāt cults (Exaggerators).
Nuṣayriyyah is the most prominent Ghulāt cult that has survived from the early centuries of Islam and is attributed to Muhammad b. Nuṣayr, who emerged in Iraq during the 9th century. Throughout history, Nuṣayris have held beliefs and practices that are significantly different from Twelver Shīʿism, and their scholars did not engage in dialogue with non-Nuṣayris until modern times. However, recently, some Nuṣayri researchers have shown interest in critically studying the legacy of their ancestors.
While there have been valuable studies available in English and Arabic on Nuṣayris and their historical sources, this is the first Persian work that provides a more comprehensive examination. It relies on sectarian and historical sources from both general and secret Nuṣayriyya, encompassing eight languages. The book covers various topics, including an assessment of the authenticity of early Nuṣayrī works from the 8th to the 15th century, a detailed description of the development of five fundamental doctrines in Nuṣayrī beliefs, their views on the codex of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd, and Nuṣayri codes found in al-Khuṣaybi’s book Hidāyat al-kubrā.
In recent times, the Nuṣayrī community has sought to present themselves under a new and less derogatory title, “Syrian Alawites” (ʿAlawiyyah), due to their increased involvement in politics over the past century. This book’s exceptional presentation of historical and documented research on Nuṣayrī heritage provides a solid foundation for engaging in religious dialogue with progressive Alawites. However, further research into the social and religious circumstances of present-day Alawites and finding ways to enhance their interaction with followers of other religious traditions, particularly Twelver Shīʿis, would have added to the book’s depth and richness.