“Smash His Head with a Rock”: Imāmic Excommunications and the Production of Deviance in Late Ninth-Century Imāmī Shīʿism

In this article, I study how Imāmī imams ʿAlī al-Hādī (d. 868 CE) and al-Ḥasan al-ʿAskarī 874 attempted to police boundaries. While their excommunications have hitherto been treated through the lens of doctrinal discipline, argue that we should not situate doctrine within practice. Religious leaders like Imams used politics boundaries in order meet challenges authority. By studying acts excommunication get a more precise sense where practical power lay: ability mobilise figures localised authority far-flung communities recognised imamate. Such mediatory were needed gain assent for imamic commands networks. Conversely, local actors also constantly constructing own deviance autonomously. This could conflict with commands, or be confirmed by an imprimatur. The construction was multi-polar process.