Introduction

Chapter 1: Shi'ism
-Historical factors and Shi’ism
-The Shi‘a and Armed Uprising
-Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq & the Shi’a School of Thought
-Before Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him)
-Shi‘a Ideology’s Practicality
-Shi‘a Positions with Respect to the Usurping Rulers
-The Accusation of “Exaggeration” (Ghuluww) Against the Shi‘a
-The Relation of the Shi‘a with the Mu‘tazilah
 

Chapter 2: Imamah
-The Secret of Choosing the Imams
-Allah’s Knowledge and the Infallibles’ (peace be upon them ) Knowledge of the Unseen
-The Countenance of the Imams’ (peace be upon them) Conduct
-The Limits of the Imam’s Leadership
-The Number of the Shi‘a Imams
-Principality of Reason or Narration in Specifying the Imam (peace be upon him)

Chapter 3: Messianism (Mahdawiyyah)
-Original Source of Belief in Imamah and Faith in The Appearance of the Twelfth Imam (peace be upon him)
-The Qur’an and Messianism (Mahdawiyyat)
-Belief in the Appearance of the Mahdi and Savior and the Appearance of False Mahdis
-The Effect of Social, Economic, and Political Factors in Religious Thought
-“Mahdi” in a Special Meaning and Technical Usage
-Controversy Regarding the Date of Birth of Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return)
-Consensus of the Shi‘a Regarding the Imamah of Imam Sahib al-Amr (may Allah hasten his return) after the Demise of Imam Hasan al-‘Askari (peace be upon him)
-The Twelfth Imam’s Revolution
-The title “Al-Qa’im” (The Riser)
-Two Types of Occultation
-The Miraculous Birth of the Imam of the Age (may Allah hasten his return)
-Philosophy of the Delay of Reappearance with the Presence of Conditions
-The Length of the Occultation and Difficult and Formidable Trials
-The Principle of Grace and the Imamah of the Concealed Imam
-The Issue of Bada’ (Alteration in the Divine Will) and the Tradition of Abu Hamza
-Belief in the Return (Raj’ah) with respect to Belief in the Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return)