The 'Alids: The First Family of Islam, 750-1200 - Hardcover

"The study is meticulousand well-referenced, with ample support from primary sources in addition to active engagement with contemporary literature... valuable to anyone wishing to study the social phenomenon of the $e Alids or medieval Islamic history in general." - Amina Inloes, American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences "Bernheimer has produced a short, readable, and captivating study of an often overlooked aspect of medieval Islamic societies... In particular, the book would supplement a class on Shi'ism, elegantly making a point about the extent to which most Muslims held the family of the Prophet in high esteem, regardless of their sectarian affiliation." -- Adam Gaiser, Journal of the American Oriental Society "Bernheimer's book will (and should) be one of the first secondary sources students and researchers reach for when pursuing the history of Alids in the medieval Islamic world." -- Ahmad Khan, Der Islam

The 'Alids are the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, the elite family of Islam. They have played a major role Islamic history, from famous early rebels to the founders and eponyms of major Islamic sects, and from 9th-century Moroccan and 10th-century Egyptian rulers to the current King of Jordan, the Ayatollah Khomeini and the Aga Khan. This first social history of the 'Alids covers the crucial formative period from the Abbasid Revolution of 750 to the Seljuq period of 1100. Exploring their rise from a religious point of view and as a social phenomenon, the author asks how this family attained and extended its status over the centuries. Key Features In-depth exploration of the distinction between Shi'ites and 'Alids: opens new possibilities for the understanding of the sectarian differences between Sunnis and Shi'ites Based on a wide range of primary sources in both Arabic and Persian Draws on historical, legal and biographical material Critically examines recently published genealogical works on the 'Alid family.