After the Prophet

The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam

By: Lesley Hazleton

Narrated by: Lesley Hazleton

Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

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, sparking 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 intersections 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.

©2009 Lesley Hazleton (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A good primer for basic understanding

It's usually never a good idea to let the author to read their own book but in a serviceable book the author gives a serviceable narration.

If you don't know Shia from Shinola this audiobook is good place to learn the basics.
It a quick and breezy enough affair helping one to understand what the debate is all about and why some very bad people are blowing up some very nice mosques.

However if you want a deeper understanding of either the Sia or Sunni movements or the history of the same, look elsewhere. What you get here is a very quick bus tour of the major highlights. There is nothing about the various flavors of either the Sunni or Shia understanding. There are parts where historical whiplash occurs where the author blast from the distant past to the present day in the narration. There are subjects given only the thinnest of glosses, like the Mongol Invasion and it's impact on the Shia heartland. Our friends the Mongols barely make an appearance before charging off screen on their ponies.

As a very significant event in both Muslim history and world history, the paint by numbers presentation does not do much justice to the event. More curious listeners are left wanting much more than this rushed, barn storming introduction to the split.

Still, I can recommend the Audiobook as a quick and dirty primer, as long as you understand that it barely scratches the surface of the subject. A deeper understanding, one based on the ancient antagonisms of Imperial Rome and Imperial Persia is waiting to be fleshed out somewhere else. As for narration, it's a solid C effort, a C+ at times. A bit stolid, a bit pokey, and always with the airs of a elderly British Don, it still delivers a good enough listening experience.

Informative and compelling story

Well researched, telling the narratives of very important stories of early Islam. This really helped me better understand what happened so long ago, at least according to the narratives and legend, and how we got here. It's also well paced and good drama.

Extremely Well Told Story of History of Islam

I have always been curious about the history that caused the apparent rift in my faith, Islam. This version of the history was illuminating and fascinating.

I am determined to learn more and understand how the tapestry we now see before us was woven.

I highly recommend this book!

Excellent narration.

As a muslim I listened to this at first with reservation since it is from a non-Muslim but I gained tremendous respect for the author/narrator with each chapter in the book since she has great depth in knowledge. The presentation of the facts from both the sides are presented quite accurately and connected to how history and politics are affected by the different views both in the past and currently. The narration is so moving at the story of Karbala that I was moved to tears as if I was truly listening to a religious scholar in Ashura. This skill is only present in someone with knowledge and the skill of speech to present it in a way to touch the listener. Not all scholars have attained both of these qualities and I admire Lesley Hazleton for this greatly. I gained a lot of in depth knowledge that I have not been able to read from the volumes of historical readings that are present but either do not have an English translation or those that do, are very difficult reads for the Western educated person. Thanks very much for writing this book and narrating it.

Excellent concise telling of the early Islam story

A very readable (listenable) telling of early Islamic history. I am not a scholar on the topic but this is an interest of mine. The story is told in an easy to follow fashion. Not bogged down in details.

Beginning of History

Enjoyed listening a wonderful narration of historical events. At places, it looked like the author is himself biased to oneside but excellent book.

Storytelling -based on research- at its best!

This author is a master storyteller. The information has been carefully researched and it unfolds in a way that the reader/listener craves more and more. Can't recommend this book and author highly enough.

good solid research

well narrated book and very well researched keeping an unbiased view on a sensitive issue. Lesley does a good job of presenting the issue from a pure historical and academic point of view. highly recommended.

Riveting

This is a remarkably entertaining audiobook. Islam is often understood in the West as a monolithic religion when nothing could be farther from the truth. However, we should read the Quran the religion of Islam was quickly overcome by the surrounding culture. This book presents the story of Islam immediately following the death of Muhammad through the first four Caliphs until the beginning of the Umayyad dynasty. If you have any interest at all in the subject then I think you will enjoy this book.

One of the best!!

History has never sounded so riveting and entertaining yet after reading this book, one can understand why the Shia and Sunni schism is deep yet the religious differences between the two are subtle.

There are a lot of comments about how the historical references tilt towards the Shia but if you pick a number of primary source accounts, the historical events remain the same. One has to look at historical figures in the light of the events that surrounded them rather than glorified accounts written in the future with different interpretations or made up events. I don’t see that as an attack on anyone’s faith or religion.