Imams and emirs: state, religion and sects in islam

The book focuses on religious ideology and ulama organization. Ideology refers to the genesis and formation of the religious community; organization, to the recruitment, training and roles of the ulama (imams) in society. Whereas Sunni ideology and organization are adapted to the sovereignty of centralized authority (state, government), those of other sects are adapted to the sovereignty of the religious community. Thus Sunni ideology tends to be conformist, and that of the other sects, rebellious. Many Islamic sects began as rebellious groups and subsequently developed into stable, routine systems.