Hazleton, Lesley

Retelling the life of the iconic prophet of Islam draws on early eyewitness sources and records from myriad disciplines to profile his complexity, vitality and legacy, tracing his rise from humble origins to a powerful figure who challenged an estalished order with a new vision of social justice.

Draws from a variety of historical, anthropological, and theological sources to examine the life of Mary, mother of Jesus, presenting her as a young woman, barely out of adolescence, who became pregnant without benefit of a husband, raised her child to greatness, and endured his death with strength and courage.

Examines the origins of the Shia-Sunni split in Islam, from its start in Arabia in 632 to its lasting influence on modern conflicts in the Middle East, explaining how the succession crisis following the death of Muhammad created a divide among the Muslim people that is still felt in the twenty-first century.