After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam Paperback – Illustrated, September 7, 2010

While I can understand the criticism of some reviewers who are likely Sunni Muslim, she makes it clear in the comments after the book that she relied heavily on the history detailed by the early Islamic historian al-Tabari, including some of the quotes that some reader critics have questioned. Interesting to note that he is a Sunni Muslim, so his words would likely not have skewed to favor Shiism. Subject like this can be very dry, but the author's style holds your attention as she literally tells the story of those years in the 7th century, interspersed with some comments on how those events still influence what we see in the Middle East today. I'd highly recommend this if you wish to learn more about the origins of the Sunni-Shia conflict as well as who was instrumental in leading Islam after the death of the Prophet.

I think that this is good chronicle of the Shia-Sunni split in Islam. Interestingly, what makes this book intriguing is almost the same thing that takes away from it, albeit not by much.This book is divided into 3 chapters, about Muhammad, Ali, & Hussein. The death of one leads to the other & so on. Since this book is organized by its emphasis on characters, with chronology/historical context tacitly tucked in, this book reads like a great novel, with character sketches complete & additional narrative to add flavor to historical text which otherwise may come across as insipid.Aside the main characters, the story of Aisha finds great resonance in this text & is probably, as other other reviewers have commented, is the most polemic & divisive content of this text. If you do not have an opinion on this historical figure, you're very likely to find her powerful & assertive - however, the way in which power manifests itself demarcates it as virtuous or vile &, I think, that is in this judgement that the 2 sects of Islam differ widely. This, however, is not the only source of separation - there are many others & this book does a good job of highlighting the various other disagreements between the two sects.Because of it's flavors, you could argue that the book is not exactly an academic view on the matter - I, like many other reviewers, felt that it glorifies the Shia slightly more than it should have, or, on the other hand, represented the Sunni in ways that are more redeeming. I also found certain discrepancies in the exact detail of history between the book by Reza Aslan - No God but God - & this one. Finally, I felt that not enough content was there between the death of Hussein & the formalizing of the Shia as cogent sect of Islam.This is a good introductory book, very easy to read & thoroughly enjoyable - my slight disappointments with it, notwithstanding.

Arabic is a subtle language ... it can only be understood when learned.Both names, Sunni & Shii imply "to follow".This is why, though widely used even by Muslims in describing themselves, they are misnomers ... they serve no purpose but to mislead and to divide.Sunna is short for "Ahl Sunna’t Muhammad … followers of Muhammad's example" and Shia is short for "Shia’t Ali … followers of Ali ".The first is the following of a way … the second is the following of a man. In other words, one has a religious component while the other is strictly political … and neither excludes the other, for Muhammad & Ali were never competitors.This is why Sunnis are also Shiis and Shiis are also Sunnis in their beliefs. And this is why, though the differences between them seem insurmountable today ... theologically, they are astonishingly small.Yes, grave mistakes were committed by the closest of the Prophet's companions (despite what Sunnis say) and also by his relatives (despite what Shiis say), but they are humans ... and no human is infallible.The Quran has always pointed out the vulnerabilities of the human spirit, even those of revered Prophets ... let alone others. Chapter after chapter it spells out the human condition, corruptible & error prone ... but when repentant, God is merciful.Precisely because it's message was never tied to the deeds of individual characters or even to a place or a time, Islam has endured those dark days, continues to endure in modern times despite the negative publicity and the bad actions of a few and will continue to endure in an increasingly postmodern world.What's sacred is always the message, not the messenger ... the community, not the leader. In this respect, Sunnis understand; to them what happened or happens is the story of man, just that ... a history. To Shiis it became an obsession. And to the west ... no understanding at all.This is why I think Lesley Hazleton did a very good job in narrating this part of human history and relating it to the present. Not only did the west not understand the Sunni/Shii divide before going to war in the Middle East, but also the west does not understand Islam itself.It should be of comfort to nervous westerners, that Muslims were never unanimous in accepting or following their leaders ... even if they declare themselves to be Caliphs. And equally, to over zealous Muslims ... despite this, Islam has flourished.In the words of Abu Bakr in the chaos and panic when the Prophet passed away: "For those of you who worshiped Muhammad, Muhammad has died ... but for those of you who worship God, God is immortal" ... perhaps this is the true message of Islam.Contrast this to the words of another Abu Bakr (in modern times) who has asked Muslims all around the world to obey him. The majority of Muslims (Sunnis or Shiis), despite their difference ... are not impressed.

I'm So glad the truth being told here by this author. She is not a muslim so she did her research in order to write this book. you may not like it or love it but truth is truth. it was all political at the end of Prophets life and the islam and love of the prophet was lost. None of the prophets blood family were alive more than 45 years after prophets passing. Ask yourself why? Seriously ask your self why? Why didn't muslims who claim to love the prophet let his family all be killed mercilessly within few years.