After the Prophet

After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split
by Lesley Hazleton
Published in July 2009
258 Pages
Thibault’s Score: 5/5


Its been a long time since my last book review. I’ve been very busy these last few months with the Adrianople Group (https://www.adrianoplegroup.com/), and haven’t been able to read as much as I would like to. I also have been taking a break from books and listening to more podcasts lately.


Incidentally, its been nearly two months since I finished the book, which is probably the longest time I’ve waited to review a book. As such, this review will be shorter than normal.


This is one of the best history books that I have ever read.


I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about Islam, and is willing to do the necessary homework. This book is a masterfully crafted narrative of the events as they are commonly understood by Muslims. As such, it is light on archeological material and discussion of sources, however it is not intended as a detailed book.


I do not recommend this book to people who aren’t already at least roughly familiar with the circumstances before the rise of Islam, the Quran, or the life of Mohamed. I very strongly recommend it to anyone who is already deep in the study of Islam.