"This book, by a highly respected Shi'i theologian, offers a wide-ranging overview of the principal tenets of Shi'i Islam with particular reference to Twelver Shi'ism. It is useful not only as an introductory text on Shi'i thought and practice, but also as a contemporary expression, from within, of this vibrant branch of the Islamic faith. Comprehensive yet concise, it gives the reader a taste of the tradition as a whole."--BOOK JACKET.