Opposing the Imam: The Legacy of the Nawasib in Islamic Literature

Nebil Husayn's book explores the legacy of the nawasib, early Muslims who disliked Ali and his descendants, and how their views influenced Islamic historiography and theology. It demonstrates how Sunni scholars gradually rehabilitated Ali's image from a villainous character to a righteous one through medieval Muslim literature.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Islam's fourth caliph, Ali, holds a revered status in Islamic history, despite centuries of contention and the eventual rehabilitation of his character. In his book, Nebil Husayn delves into the enduring legacy of the nawasib, early Muslims who disliked Ali and his descendants. These nawasib engaged in political and scholarly discussions on religion until the ninth century. However, their virtual disappearance in Muslim societies has led to their neglect, despite their significant impact on Islamic historiography and theology. Husayn conducts a comprehensive survey of medieval Muslim literature across various genres and traditions, including Sunni, Mutazili, and Ibadi. Through this analysis, he reconstructs the claims and arguments of the nawasib and sheds light on the methods employed by Sunni scholars to transform Ali's image from a villainous character to a righteous one.

Islam's fourth caliph, Ali, holds a revered status in Islamic history, despite centuries of contention and the eventual rehabilitation of his character. In his book, Nebil Husayn delves into the enduring legacy of the nawasib, early Muslims who disliked Ali and his descendants. These nawasib engaged in political and scholarly discussions on religion until the ninth century. However, their virtual disappearance in Muslim societies has led to their neglect, despite their significant impact on Islamic historiography and theology. Husayn conducts a comprehensive survey of medieval Muslim literature across various genres and traditions, including Sunni, Mutazili, and Ibadi. Through this analysis, he reconstructs the claims and arguments of the nawasib and sheds light on the methods employed by Sunni scholars to transform Ali's image from a villainous character to a righteous one.

Weight: 502g
Dimension: 237 x 159 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108832816