Akif Tahiiev
Biographic Data
| ID | 937773 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Akif Tahiiev |
| GIVEN NAMES | Akif |
| FAMILY NAME | Tahiiev |
| SIGNATURE | TAHIIEV A |
| AFFILIATIONS | Goethe University Frankfurt |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0052-9919 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 12 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 12 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2021 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Digital Shi’ism and ethical dilemmas in the study of religious minorities on Instagram: Methodological reflections from the field
This paper explores the complex ethical landscape of researching digital religious minorities, focusing on Instagram content related to Shiʿi Islam. Drawing from original case studies, it critically engages with the methodological and ethical dilemmas encountered in digital fieldwork. Core tensions examined include the questions of visibility and vulnerability, the boundaries between public and private content, and the balance between academic in…
Sacred Texts, Changing Bodies: Shiʿi Islamic Jurisprudence and the Legitimization of Sex Reassignment
This paper explores the legitimacy of sex reassignment surgery within contemporary Shiʿi Islamic jurisprudence, with a particular focus on post-revolutionary Iran. Through an analysis of fatwas issued by prominent Shiʿi marājiʿ (religious authorities), the study examines a wide spectrum of legal and theological views on gender transition. While classical Islamic sources do not explicitly address transsexuality or gender identity, modern scholars …
Inheritance of Martyrdom: Digital Interpretations on Instagram
Martyrdom, as epitomized by the martyrdom of Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī at Karbalāʾ in 680, occupies a central position in Shiʿi theology, symbolizing the ultimate sacrifice for truth and justice. This study analyzes how the “inheritance of martyrdom,” a concept involving the transgenerational transmission of martyrdom’s values, is visually and narratively recontextualized on Instagram. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, the article collects and …
Shiʿi Materiality Beyond Karbala: Religion That Matters
In recent years, the field of Shiʿi studies has undergone a significant transformation, expanding beyond traditional religious, theological, and historical inquiries to encompass a more nuanced exploration of the material and sensory dimensions of Shiʿi religiosity. While earlier scholarship on Shiʿism focused heavily on its foundational texts, rituals, and political movements, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of material cu…
Becoming a Shia in Russia: Reasons for Conversion to Shi‘ism in Russia
The article examines the underexplored phenomenon of conversion to Shia Islam in Russia, where Shias form a small minority within the Muslim population. Drawing on literature review, ethnography, and interviews with prominent converts, it identifies intellectual inquiry and spiritual quest as primary motives, alongside occasional political or social justice orientations. Conversion trajectories include transitions from Christianity, atheism, or S…
Understanding the ‘Spirit’ of Qurʾānic Laws in Contemporary Shīʿī Islamic Thought
Shīʿī mujtahids (mujtahidun) and thinkers often try to adopt the norms of Islamic law to contemporary conditions, and usually it is hampered by the absolute authority of the ‘letter’ of the Qurʾān, Sunna, and sometimes the opinions of authoritative theologians of the past, which leads to an understanding of Islamic law as dogmatic. However, some scholars attempt to revise this approach, appealing to the principles and ‘spirit’ of the Qurʾānic ver…
Female Leadership in Shia Islam: Women on the Way from Mujtahid to Marja’
Marja’ al-taqlid are Shia religious scholars of the highest level, something which takes decades to achieve. At present, most Shia scholars agree that women cannot be Marja’, i.e., create religious rulings for other people. But there is a space for discourse, and there are even a few scholars who disagree with the mainstream narrative. In this paper, I argue that, with time, the number of these scholars will increase, since Shia Islamic thought i…
Practice of Application of the Islamic Family Law in European Countries and Experience of Ukraine
Ukraine is a secular state, which is provided for by the Constitution and a number of laws. Religious rites of marriage are not the basis for a woman and a man to have the rights and obligations of a spouse. Nevertheless, there is a need to determine how religious marriages are perceived in Ukraine. This article examines the application of Islamic law in the secular legal systems of Ukraine and other European countries with the aim of determining…
The Shi‘i Islamic Martyrdom: Narratives of Imam al-Ḥusayn (by Muhammad-Reza Fakhr-Rohani)
The topic of the movement and martyrdom of Imam Husayn is central to the doctrine of Shi‘ism. There are many works devoted to this subject, especially in the context of mourning events held annually on this occasion. Thus, an enormous amount of literature has been written on the uprising of Imam Husayn. Here, Muhammad-Reza Fakhr-Rohani has analyzed the major outlines of typical martyrdom narratives (maqtals) of Imam al-Husayn and his martyred com…
Impact of the Events of Saqifa on the Formation of Differences between the Islamic Sunni and Shia Tradition
There were a number of events in early Islamic history that caused controversy among the first generations of Muslims. In our opinion retrospective analysis of these events can reveal the prerequisites for the emergence of certain characteristics that have become specific to the main directions of Islam. This essay presents an analysis of one such event and its impact on the differences in the sources of Sunni and Shia Islamic traditions. During …
Prospects for Higher Shia Religious Education in Post-Soviet Countries
The opportunity to receive religious education plays an important role in the formation of the religious elite of society. It forms the Muslim clergy, which, in turn, represents this community in front of other members of society. Their statements directly affect the attitude of non-Muslims towards the members of this community, which is very important, especially in the cases where Muslims are a minority, and Shi'ites, in turn, are a minority in…
Minority within a Minority: Shia Community in Ukraine
Ukraine is one of the largest countries in Europe and there is a significant Muslim minority here, among which there are several Shia communities. Aspects of the life and activities of the Shia community in Ukraine are almost unexplored. Although at the same time a number of studies were devoted to the Shiite minorities of Western European countries, therefore in this paper, we examined the characteristics of the life of the Shia community in Ukr…
Prospects for Higher Shia Religious Education in Post-Soviet Countries
The opportunity to receive religious education plays an important role in the formation of the religious elite of society. It forms the Muslim clergy, which, in turn, represents this community in front of other members of society. Their statements directly affect the attitude of non-Muslims towards the members of this community, which is very important, especially in the cases where Muslims are a minority, and Shi'ites, in turn, are a minority in…
Minority within a Minority: Shia Community in Ukraine
Ukraine is one of the largest countries in Europe and there is a significant Muslim minority here, among which there are several Shia communities. Aspects of the life and activities of the Shia community in Ukraine are almost unexplored. Although at the same time a number of studies were devoted to the Shiite minorities of Western European countries, therefore in this paper, we examined the characteristics of the life of the Shia community in Ukr…
Practice of Application of the Islamic Family Law in European Countries and Experience of Ukraine
Ukraine is a secular state, which is provided for by the Constitution and a number of laws. Religious rites of marriage are not the basis for a woman and a man to have the rights and obligations of a spouse. Nevertheless, there is a need to determine how religious marriages are perceived in Ukraine. This article examines the application of Islamic law in the secular legal systems of Ukraine and other European countries with the aim of determining…
The Shi‘i Islamic Martyrdom: Narratives of Imam al-Ḥusayn (by Muhammad-Reza Fakhr-Rohani)
The topic of the movement and martyrdom of Imam Husayn is central to the doctrine of Shi‘ism. There are many works devoted to this subject, especially in the context of mourning events held annually on this occasion. Thus, an enormous amount of literature has been written on the uprising of Imam Husayn. Here, Muhammad-Reza Fakhr-Rohani has analyzed the major outlines of typical martyrdom narratives (maqtals) of Imam al-Husayn and his martyred com…
Impact of the Events of Saqifa on the Formation of Differences between the Islamic Sunni and Shia Tradition
There were a number of events in early Islamic history that caused controversy among the first generations of Muslims. In our opinion retrospective analysis of these events can reveal the prerequisites for the emergence of certain characteristics that have become specific to the main directions of Islam. This essay presents an analysis of one such event and its impact on the differences in the sources of Sunni and Shia Islamic traditions. During …
Prospects for Higher Shia Religious Education in Post-Soviet Countries
The opportunity to receive religious education plays an important role in the formation of the religious elite of society. It forms the Muslim clergy, which, in turn, represents this community in front of other members of society. Their statements directly affect the attitude of non-Muslims towards the members of this community, which is very important, especially in the cases where Muslims are a minority, and Shi'ites, in turn, are a minority in…
Understanding the ‘Spirit’ of Qurʾānic Laws in Contemporary Shīʿī Islamic Thought
Shīʿī mujtahids (mujtahidun) and thinkers often try to adopt the norms of Islamic law to contemporary conditions, and usually it is hampered by the absolute authority of the ‘letter’ of the Qurʾān, Sunna, and sometimes the opinions of authoritative theologians of the past, which leads to an understanding of Islamic law as dogmatic. However, some scholars attempt to revise this approach, appealing to the principles and ‘spirit’ of the Qurʾānic ver…
Female Leadership in Shia Islam: Women on the Way from Mujtahid to Marja’
Marja’ al-taqlid are Shia religious scholars of the highest level, something which takes decades to achieve. At present, most Shia scholars agree that women cannot be Marja’, i.e., create religious rulings for other people. But there is a space for discourse, and there are even a few scholars who disagree with the mainstream narrative. In this paper, I argue that, with time, the number of these scholars will increase, since Shia Islamic thought i…
Inheritance of Martyrdom: Digital Interpretations on Instagram
Martyrdom, as epitomized by the martyrdom of Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī at Karbalāʾ in 680, occupies a central position in Shiʿi theology, symbolizing the ultimate sacrifice for truth and justice. This study analyzes how the “inheritance of martyrdom,” a concept involving the transgenerational transmission of martyrdom’s values, is visually and narratively recontextualized on Instagram. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, the article collects and …
Shiʿi Materiality Beyond Karbala: Religion That Matters
In recent years, the field of Shiʿi studies has undergone a significant transformation, expanding beyond traditional religious, theological, and historical inquiries to encompass a more nuanced exploration of the material and sensory dimensions of Shiʿi religiosity. While earlier scholarship on Shiʿism focused heavily on its foundational texts, rituals, and political movements, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of material cu…
Becoming a Shia in Russia: Reasons for Conversion to Shi‘ism in Russia
The article examines the underexplored phenomenon of conversion to Shia Islam in Russia, where Shias form a small minority within the Muslim population. Drawing on literature review, ethnography, and interviews with prominent converts, it identifies intellectual inquiry and spiritual quest as primary motives, alongside occasional political or social justice orientations. Conversion trajectories include transitions from Christianity, atheism, or S…
Digital Shi’ism and ethical dilemmas in the study of religious minorities on Instagram: Methodological reflections from the field
This paper explores the complex ethical landscape of researching digital religious minorities, focusing on Instagram content related to Shiʿi Islam. Drawing from original case studies, it critically engages with the methodological and ethical dilemmas encountered in digital fieldwork. Core tensions examined include the questions of visibility and vulnerability, the boundaries between public and private content, and the balance between academic in…
Sacred Texts, Changing Bodies: Shiʿi Islamic Jurisprudence and the Legitimization of Sex Reassignment
This paper explores the legitimacy of sex reassignment surgery within contemporary Shiʿi Islamic jurisprudence, with a particular focus on post-revolutionary Iran. Through an analysis of fatwas issued by prominent Shiʿi marājiʿ (religious authorities), the study examines a wide spectrum of legal and theological views on gender transition. While classical Islamic sources do not explicitly address transsexuality or gender identity, modern scholars …
Islam (8 works) · Islamic Studies and History (8 works) · Law (6 works) · Political science (6 works) · Sociology (5 works) · Education and Islamic Studies (4 works) · History (4 works) · Gender Studies (3 works) · Marriage and Sexual Relationships (3 works) · Narrative (3 works)