After the Prophet
Books | History / Middle East / General
4.3
Lesley Hazleton
In this gripping narrative history, Lesley Hazleton tells the tragic story at the heart of the ongoing rivalry between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam, a rift that dominates the news now more than ever. Even as Muhammad lay dying, the battle over who would take control of the new Islamic nation had begun, beginning a succession crisis marked by power grabs, assassination, political intrigue, and passionate faith. Soon Islam was embroiled in civil war, pitting its founder's controversial wife Aisha against his son-in-law Ali, and shattering Muhammad’s ideal of unity. Combining meticulous research with compelling storytelling, After the Prophet explores the volatile intersection of religion and politics, psychology and culture, and history and current events. It is an indispensable guide to the depth and power of the Shia–Sunni split.
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Author
Lesley Hazleton
Pages
256
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published Date
2010-09-07
ISBN
0385523947 9780385523943
Ratings
Google: 3.5
Community ReviewsSee all
""After the Prophet" links the personalities and events of the early days of Islam to the recent history of the Muslim world. Hazleton deftly spins a narrative that transported me back to in time to the Arabian peninsula in the 600’s and introduced me to the main cast of characters in the story of Islam. She does a terrific job of rounding out each historical figure’s personality and putting them in the context of their time. Hazleton also explains the ramifications of these ancient events on the dynamics of the Middle East in our own time. I particularly appreciated her explanation of why <a href="http://books.max-nova.com/satanic-verses/">"The Satanic Verses"</a> provoked such an acrimonious reaction in the Arab world.<br/><br/>The Islamic faith has a gripping origin story - one that isn’t nearly well known enough in the West. Hazleton writes for a lay Western audience and I’d highly recommend “After the Prophet” to anyone seeking an intro to the history of Islam and the Middle East.<br/><br/>Full review and highlights at <a href="http://books.max-nova.com/after-the-prophet/">http://books.max-nova.com/after-the-prophet/</a>"
Max Nova