Publishers Weekly (starred review) A page turner that reads like an incredible cross between a suspense thriller and a fairy tale. Hooman Majd, author of The Ayatollah Begs to Differ A profound story masterfully told. Christian Science Monitor A remarkable and respectful telling of the story of Islam-a tale of power, intrigue, rivalry, jealousy, assassination, manipulation, greed, and faith that would have made Machiavelli shudder (had he read it), but above all it is a very human story, told in a wonderfully novelistic style that puts most other, often dreary, explanations of the Shia-Sunni divide to shame. The Wall Street Journal As sectarian aggression flares in Iraq, Hazletons explanation of its deep, entrenched roots is essential. Dallas Morning News Thrilling in its depiction of long-ago events. manages the not inconsiderable feat of maintaining scholarly respect for her subject while also showing a real fondness for the people at the storys heart-people who, we learn, were not unlike us, and whose tale is directly linked to todays newscast. A story of human passion and consequence, told with consummate skill. After the Prophet will be held up as a primer for grasping the modern-day Middle East. deftly uses original sources, many based on contemporaneous or nearly so oral accounts, to give life and breath to figures familiar to every Muslim but unknown to most non-Muslims. Hazleton not only recounts the facts behind the split but also expertly uses centuries-old accounts to convey the depth of emotional and spiritual associations bundled within a simple word like Karbala. Anyone seeking to understand todays Middle East can learn from this book. It is an indispensable guide to the depth and power of the Shia-Sunni split. 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. Soon Islam was embroiled in civil war, pitting its founders controversial wife Aisha against his son-in-law Ali, and shattering Muhammads ideal of unity.
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. Book Synopsis 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. About the Book Balancing past and present, Hazelton shows how 7th-century events are alive in Middle Eastern hearts and minds today as though they had just happened, shaping modern headlines from Irans Islamic Revolution to the civil war in Iraq.
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