The problem of who should succeed the Prophet has plagued the Islamic community since the time of his death. The Shiites have decided on a successor, but that does not solve who is the lawful marja (or grand ayatollah) of all the Shi'a.

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.

This book explains the basic traditions and practices of one of Canada's newest immigrant groups, the Shia Ismaili Muslims, and how they have progressed under the guidance of their spiritual leader, the Aga Khan. The Aga Khan is believed to be a direct descendant of the prophet Mohamed and represents his Islamic faith through humanitarian work in international development. The Ismailites have, through volunteerism, pluralism, and humanitarianism, been eradicating poverty in developing countries by building schools, universities, and hospitals.

Attempts to explain the bewildering events in the Middle East.

“Knowing the contents of this informative book is a necessity for every Muslim. I believe that the contents of this book can have a huge impact on the lives of many Muslims in the West, and it can be a good start for gaining more knowledge about the religion of Islam. I would also encourage the Muslim community to appreciate and support this work. I want to take this opportunity to thank brother Mateen for his hard work and efforts. May Allah (SWT) increase his blessings and bestow His mercy upon him.”- Sheikh Mustafa Akhound, Imam Ali Center, Springfield VAThe idea that prompted me to write this book was due to the fact that so many new converts to Shia Islam would always ask me why we did things differently than other sects. They would be exposed to different things upon going to various mosques. They would ask me why people pray with their hands by their sides while others would fold their arms, why was the call to prayer different, what is that “stone” we prostrate on, etc.? I used to find myself explaining these things on a daily basis, so I decided to write these questions and answers down and share them with people who came to me. That was the first phase of this project. Later on I decided to add the Usul-e-Deen (roots of religion) and Furu-e-Deen (branches of religion) being that these differ from other schools of thought as well. After I looked at what I had put together I thought that this would be a very beneficial piece of information for new converts to Islam. This was designed to help them not only to learn why Shia believe and practice the way we do, but also to learn with clear proofs from the sources. I then proceeded to add a few other chapters to help give a good basic foundation for one to start in their quest for knowledge.In total this work deals with a variety of topics including:• Usul-e-Deen• Furu-e-Deen• The Word Shia and its Meaning• The 30 rights of a Muslim• Forbidden acts of a Muslim• Some Important Dates and Things to Know• Cleanliness in Islam• Wudhu• Salat• Ahadith showing the importance of knowing the Ahl ul Bayt (as)• Why we say bismillah aloud in salat• Why we say hayya ala khayril amal in adhan• Why we dont fold our hands in salat• Why we takbir 3 times after salat• Why we dont say as-salatu khayrum min nawm in our fajr adhan• Why we say taslim once while looking straight instead of turning our head right and left• Why we prostrate on turbah• Why we say aliyan waliyallah in our adhan and iqamah

Provides an overview of America's Shi'i community, tracing its history, describing its composition in the twenty-first century, and explaining how they have created an identity for themselves in the American context.

The Making of Shia Ayatollahs is a uniformly balanced and scholarly but empathetic portrayal of the appearance, construction, and dynamism of Shia hawzas, aytollahs’ attitudes and scholarship, and the meeting of faith, knowledge, and popularity in Shia Islam.

First Published in 1984, The Section on Muslim Sects in Kit?b al-Milal wa '1-Nihal by Muhammmad b.'Abd al-Karim Shahrastani who died in 1153. Identified as indispensable as a servicebook, this is a useful addition to Muslim theology and provides a translation into English of Shahrastani's Kit?b al-Milal wa 'l-Nihal. The part of the al-Milal is translated which deals with Muslim sects.

The first book of Dr. Taijani after having been guided to Shia Islam . A true story about how the light of truth was ignited in his heart. Every sincere Muslim is invited to read this book attentively, because there are explicit evidences and answers to the main issues on which the Shiites are blamed.

This book argues that ever since Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, which established a Shia Islamic government in Iran, that country’s religious and political leaders have used Shia Islam as a crucial way of expanding Iran’s objectives in the Middle East and beyond. Since 1979, Iran’s religious and political leaders have been concerned about Iran’s security in the face of the hostility and expansionism of the United States and other western countries, and the threats from powerful neighboring Sunni leaders and countries. While Iran’s government has attempted to align itself with Shia Muslims in various countries, such as Iraq and Lebanon, against American and Sunni expansionism, the Iranian government has attempted to religiously nourish and politically mobilize those Shias as a matter of principle, not only because of the Iranian government’s desires to protect Iran from external threats. The book analyzes Shia Islam and politics in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon which have among the largest proportional Shia populations in the Middle East and are vibrant centers of Shia intellectual life. The book's clear and jargon-free approach make it especially accessible for students and general readers who would like an introduction to the book's topics.