The Prophet's Heir

“Hassan Abbas has stepped skilfully and eloquently into a lacuna [and] has produced a book that is not only timely and germane, but which pleads the cause of Ali before a contemporary generation, offering him afresh as a fitting and relevant paradigm for an age in which people hunger for the things for which Ali hungered and struggled.”—Christopher Clohessy, Islamochristiana

“For Muslims, this book is a must, for non-Muslims, it is essential reading in order to understand the correct history and true spirit of Islam.”—Akbar Ahmed, AlBilad

“A refreshing and relevant repertoire, worthy of a broad-based readership and will be of interest as much to the academic as to a lay reader, a Muslim or non-Muslim, and may well serve as a definitive primer in Islamic history for schools and colleges.”—Hasnain Walji, Muslim Vibe

“An elegantly written narrative, filled with intriguing detail. . . . Abbas’ central message is that Ali was a man of peace and tolerance, of self-sacrifice and modesty. . . . Well-researched and captivating biography.”—Geneive Abdo, LSE Blog

“The book is a timely addition and will certainly benefit those who want to explore the greatness of ꜥAlī, early Islamic history, and subsequent controversies. The author brilliantly engages a variety of scholarship and presents his case eloquently and engagingly.”—Jaffer Abbas Mirza, Journal of Shi’a Islamic Studies

“This is the best biography of Ali that I have ever read.”—Reza Aslan, author of Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth

“An erudite and accessible biography of Ali, one that tells his life story, and discusses his teachings and values, and how his legacy continues to loom large over Muslim world.”—Vali Nasr, author of The Shia Revival

“This erudite but readable book shows why the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law Ali is central to Islam today, and should be both an inspiration and a figure for reconciliation.”—John McHugo, author of A Concise History of Sunnis & Shi’is

“Ali was a hugely gifted thinker and speaker, one of the earliest scribes and something of a poet. But it is hard to be objective about him. The evidence is often contradictory and he is shrouded by accretions, pious and otherwise. In The Prophet’s Heir, Hassan Abbas—an enthusiast for his subject, and an objective enthusiast—pursues Ali on the ground. Fantastic.”—Tim Mackintosh-Smith, author of Arabs