After the Prophet, Lesley Hazleton
After the Prophet, Lesley Hazleton
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After the Prophet
The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam

Author: Lesley Hazleton

Narrator: Lesley Hazleton

Unabridged: 7 hr 33 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/14/2016

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.Even as Muhammad lay dying, the battle over who would take control of the new Islamic nation had begun, sparking 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.

About Lesley Hazleton

Lesley Hazleton is a veteran Middle East journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Esquire, Vanity Fair, the Nation, and other publications. She is the author of several books on Middle East politics, religion, and history.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Meezan Ali on May 02, 2012

I always feel uncertain when reading history books specially Islamic history where there are so many contrasting versions of the events that defined pretty much who we are today. Lesley has taken a very sensitive topic, has considered both sides of the story to narrate and connected it very shrewdly......more

Goodreads review by Saadia on June 14, 2021

Though I don’t consider myself as someone qualified enough to review the content of this book however I do feel that the sources used for this book are bias and one-sided. Whatever happened after Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) death is something which till date Muslims have not been able to comprehend. Each......more

Goodreads review by Hammad on July 29, 2016

This is a review of literally the first 20 pages. I had read a few earlier reviews of the book so I might have read it with those specific opinions in my mind. Lesley Hazelton also known to The Pakistani Upper Middle classes as that wonderful agnostic woman with a very nice British accent who occasi......more

Goodreads review by Shadin on October 03, 2019

After The Prophet The Epic Story Of Shia-Sunni Split বেশ রাশভারী নাম বইটির। লেখক ল্যাসলি হ্যাজেলটন সাহসিনীর ভূমিকায় নেমেছেন তা বলতেই হয়। কেন লেখককে সাহসিনী বললাম তার নিশ্চয়ই কারণ আছে। তাই বলছি- রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর ধর্মের গভীরতর এক সংজ্ঞা দিয়েছিলেন একবাক্যে। এই মানুষটি তাঁর অভিজ্ঞতা বলে জানিয়েছিলেন......more

Goodreads review by Jean on April 01, 2017

This is a subject I am not too familiar with. I am well versed on the gulf between Catholicism and Protestantism, but the politics of Islam is new information for me. I would assume this book would be of interest to those readers not familiar with the religion of Islam. The split in the Islam world b......more

Quotes

“Thrilling in its depiction of long-ago events…Passionately and scrupulously done.” Wall Street Journal

“A story of human passion and consequence, told with consummate skill…[Hazleton] manages the not inconsiderable feat of maintaining scholarly respect for her subject while also showing a real fondness for the people at the story’s heart.” Dallas Morning News

“Deftly uses original sources…to give life and breath to figures familiar to every Muslim but unknown to most non-Muslims…Lively and engaging…Anyone seeking to understand today’s Middle East…can learn from this book.” Seattle Times

“Illuminating…After the Prophet will be held up as a primer for grasping the modern-day Middle East.” Miami Herald

“As sectarian aggression flares in Iraq, Hazleton’s explanation of its deep, entrenched roots is essential.” Christian Science Monitor

“Distill[s] centuries of Islamic history into just 211 pages, and the result is a page-turner that reads like an incredible cross between a suspense thriller and a fairy tale. All the elements of a fantastic story are here…A superbly written first step for the uninformed to become knowledgeable.” Fredericksburg (VA) Free Lance-Star

“Hazleton’s gripping narrative…unspools this historically tangled tale with assurance and admirable clarity.” Bellingham (WA) Herald

“After the Prophet is narrative nonfiction at its finest and an emotional and political revelation for Western readers.” Amazon.com, editorial review

“A profound story masterfully told…[An] exceptional book.” Publishers Weekly (starred and boxed review)

“[A] masterpiece…Thrillingly and intelligently distills one of the most consequential train of events in all history.” Booklist (starred review)

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