325:, "a towering authority on Islamic sects" has produced a book that "does not seem to be about history in the modern sense at all". He takes a conservative approach to the sources, where speeches and dialogues "are generally taken to represent what people actually said", and "the tone is openly partisan". Madelung's assessment that the egalitarianism and tribal autonomy of the early period were replaced by an imperial government is correct, but he associates the change with "the personalities, ambitions, and intrigues of the individuals", blaming especially Mu'awiya and the Umayyads for the transformation, while in reality it was an inevitable consequence of broader processes of conquests, Arab migration out of Arabia and state building.
278:, the work is a "masterpiece of traditional orientalist scholarship", which those interested in the history of the period should consult. However, those wishing to understand the historical development of the Muslim community should approach it with caution. Madelung's attitude to sources is shared by few historians, as he uses them with utmost trust, taking utterances ascribed to various characters as if they were "minutes of a council meeting". He then uses these to analyze their motivations without seriously considering that most of these reflect later interpolations. On the other hand, modern scholarship, save
337:
267:, the work is possibly the "fullest account" of the first four caliphs in English and it is a "judicious and honestly critical" account of the events. But this does not save him from "self-serving, tendentious arguments." He criticized Madelung's argument that hereditary succession was norm in the day for it was usually military action which decided succession, with the exception of the
262:
In the view of Keith
Lewinstein, the work will be a useful reference for Muslim traditions on the events after Muhammad's death. He criticized Madelung's uncritical attitude towards early Arabic sources which he uses to recover "precise words, thoughts, and even emotions of the principal actors." The
254:
called the book "erudite, complex, and fascinating", praising it for "counter-balancing popular views about origins and development of Shi'ism". In his view, Madelung "has an axe to grind" against earlier scholars writing on the subject, and criticized
Madelung's approach to sources where accounts
249:
praised the work, stating it had "laid down a marker", and the critics would need to raise their standard of scholarship. James E. Lindsay considered the book a "compelling re-assessment of the
Rashidun" period and a "welcome addition" to historiography of early Islam which those interested in
287:
finds
Madelung "thorough" in his treatment of the subject but "not very scholarly" as he is selective in his source use, accepting traditions that support his argument and rejecting those that do not. Madelung's argument of basing Ali's claim to rule on the Qur'an is credible but is based on
263:
approach to admitting and dismissing evidence is arbitrary, elements colored by later disputes are taken at face value, and traditions identified by the author to contain partisan or legendary elements are nevertheless admitted without justification if it suits the argument. According to
259:, the book gives a "readable account of the earliest history" of the Islamic community, but the author's approach to sift through anecdotal and contradictory accounts while extrapolating motives of actors based on intuition in search of "poetical truth" is surprising.
282:
and some other early historians, is ignored. Given that most modern scholarship has been pro-Sunnite, it is "interesting and stimulating" to see a "pro-Alid reading of the sources". Nevertheless, he is "vigorously, and at times disconcertingly, partisan".
229:
Ali, the subject of the fourth and longest chapter, is shown as champion of
Islamic principles. He reversed Uthman's nepotistic policies, refused to make compromises on principles and was beset by opposition. Ali's acceptance of arbitration at the
271:. Traditions supporting the author's arguments are highlighted while those opposing it are ignored. Madelung seems to be concerned more with "what should have happened" rather than what did happen.
218:
of
Muhammad as well as Quraysh, but the latter supported his selection for he protected their interests and because a general election would have resulted in coming to power of Muhammad's family.
199:
afforded Abu Bakr his chance to realize his plans, who then proceeded to maneuver the assembly to ensure his own election. He consolidated his caliphate by empowering the
Quraysh, sidelining the
191:
had planned before
Muhammad's death to acquire for himself the position of caliph. Although a general election would have resulted in a dynastic succession in the person of Muhammad's cousin
34:
238:. The latter is roundly criticized in Conclusion, which discusses events after Ali's death, as a despot and a coward, who turned the caliphate into a tool of imperial repression.
255:
supporting his case are accepted as coming from "best" and "most reliable" sources whereas contradicting ones are dismissed as "baseless" and "unreliable". According to
296:. The book can serve as an excellent reference on the history of Ali's caliphate "if one can see beyond his narrow interpretation of the sources".
303:, the author has a "deep familiarity" with the sources and has been able to "critique successfully" earlier historians Like Caetani,
311:. Madelung's conclusions he labels as being "too extreme to be convincing", holding that earlier, less tendentious sources, such as
222:, the subject of the third chapter, is shown as weak military commander as well as nepotistic. The revolution that ended in
155:, where there was a battle to see who would control the Muslim community. This struggle resulted in the difference between
855:
234:
is characterized as a flaw in his leadership which demoralized his supporters and gave moral victory to his opponent,
625:
130:
180:
183:
had wished to be succeeded by their descendants or relatives. It is followed by four chapters, one on each of the
850:
171:
Introduction argues that hereditary succession was common at that time, especially among
Muhammad's tribe of
250:
Islamic history should read. The reader is sometimes "taken aback" by the attacks on various characters.
321:, give a better image of the Umayyads who "come off worst" in Madelung's account. In the assessment of
148:
84:
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214:'s appointment by Abu Bakr when the latter died. Umar is asserted to be unpopular among the
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too, Madelung argues, stresses importance of kinship ties, and
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in 1997. Madelung investigates the events after the death of
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The
Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
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The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
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The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
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The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
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The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
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The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
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The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
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The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
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The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
530:
The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
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The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate
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203:, who supported Ali, and marginalizing Muhammad's clan
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163:Islam over authority (spiritual and temporal).
510:(1997). "In Defence of Ali: Wilferd Madelung,
187:. In the first chapter, Madelung posits that
681:The Journal of the American Oriental Society
617:Muslim Identities: An Introduction to Islam
674:
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716:Middle East Studies Association Bulletin
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620:. New York: Columbia University Press.
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518:. No. February 1997. p. 28.
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646:Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
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14:
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782:. By Wilferd Madelung (review)".
714:, by Wilferd Madelung (review)".
679:. By Wilferd Madelung (review)".
644:. By Wilferd Madelung (review)".
532:, by Wilferd Madelung (review)".
335:
784:Journal of Near Eastern Studies
594:. By Wilferd Madelung (review)"
562:By Wilferd Madelung (review)".
197:assembly of the Ansar at Saqifa
812:, Wilferd Madelung (review)".
1:
328:
210:The second chapter discusses
740:(1998). "Madelung, Wilferd.
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7:
675:Lewinstein, Keith (2001). "
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564:Journal of Islamic Studies
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149:Cambridge University Press
140:The Succession to Muhammad
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710:Lindsay, James (1997). "
19:Not to be confused with
16:Book by Wilferd Madelung
746:The Journal of Religion
288:misreading of the term
851:1997 non-fiction books
63:Succession to Muhammad
21:Succession to Muhammad
534:Middle East Journal
359:, pp. 116–117.
28:
185:first four caliphs
67:Rashidun Caliphate
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744:(review)".
514:(review)".
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357:Hughes 2013
292:ahl al-bayt
205:Banu Hashim
120:xviii + 413
76:Non-fiction
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408:Crone 1997
329:References
305:Wellhausen
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808:(1999). "
778:(2000). "
640:(1998). "
604:(2): 194.
558:(1998). "
528:(1998). "
269:Sasanians
242:Reception
224:his death
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728:23061434
666:25183470
614:(2013).
588:(1999).
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309:Vaglieri
236:Mu'awiya
189:Abu Bakr
153:Muhammad
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319:Malik
201:Ansar
117:Pages
73:Genre
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96:1997
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