The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate

The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate

After the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), what conflict arose over leadership of the Muslim community, and how did it shape the early caliphate and the enduring division between Sunni and Shia Islam?

About the Book

The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate, authored by Wilferd Madelung and published in 2004 by Cambridge University Press, is a comprehensive historical analysis of the succession crisis following the Prophet’s death. The book traces the developing conflict through the reigns of the four “Rightly Guided” caliphs, culminating in the first inter-Muslim civil war. Madelung challenges prevailing scholarly trends by emphasizing Ali’s early claim to legitimate succession and the support it received from those who later formed the Shia community. The work offers a detailed reinterpretation of early Islamic history and explains how the outcome of these events led to the lasting schism between Sunnite and Shi’ite Islam. It has been recognized with the Best Book of the Year award by the Islamic Republic of Iran (1997).

What You Will Discover

• The immediate succession crisis after the death of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
• The historical development of leadership disputes during the reigns of the four Rightly Guided caliphs
• The causes and consequences of the first major inter-Muslim civil war
• Ali’s early claim to legitimate succession and the support it garnered
• The origins and deepening of the Sunni-Shia schism in early Islamic history
• A critical reinterpretation of key events and sources from the period
• The long-term impact of these conflicts on Muslim political and religious thought

About the Author

Wilferd Madelung is a distinguished scholar of Islamic history and Shi’ite studies, known for his meticulous research on early Islam and the development of Muslim sects.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is essential for students and researchers of early Islamic history, comparative religion, and Shia-Sunni studies, as well as anyone seeking a detailed scholarly examination of the succession to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and its historical consequences.