After the Prophet — Lesley Hazleton

After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam by Lesley Hazleton is a deeply engaging historical account of one of the most consequential turning points in Islamic history—the events that followed the death of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The book takes readers back to the seventh century, exploring the early Muslim community and the difficult question of who would lead the community after the Prophet ﷺ. Hazleton narrates the lives, relationships, decisions, and conflicts surrounding major figures such as Abu Bakr (RA), Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), Uthman ibn Affan (RA), Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA), and Aisha (RA).

Rather than focusing only on political events, the book examines the human emotions and personal relationships behind them—questions of loyalty, leadership, justice, faith, and succession. It follows the turbulent period that included the selection of the early caliphs, the assassination of Uthman (RA), Ali’s (RA) caliphate, and the conflicts that eventually contributed to the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

With its narrative-driven style, After the Prophet makes a complex period of history accessible to modern readers. It offers a detailed look at how disagreements within the first Muslim community developed over time and how those events continued to shape Islamic history.

After the Prophet is particularly suitable for readers interested in Islamic history, the early Muslim community, the Rashidun period, and the historical origins of the Sunni–Shia divide.