Engaging books give insights into Islamic history

• Published September 20, 2009

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Lesley Hazleton's warning is ominous: "History is often made by the heedless" And as the British-born, Seattle-based author demonstrates in her new book, leaders of any constituency, in any era, who fail to pay attention to the context of a conflict will meet with devastating results.

Hazleton is a veteran Middle East journalist. “After the Prophet” is her latest effort to explain the intertwined religion, politics and history of a vast region that too many Americans conceive of still as featureless desert .

But Hazleton’s gripping narrative of the rise of Islam and the split between Shia and Sunni branches paints a picture that is more epic, nuanced and tragic.

The prophet of the title is Muhammad, the founder of Islam and the man whose success in uniting Arabia began to fray even as he lay dying, with a succession crisis that pitted Ali, his relative and trusted confidant, against his favorite surviving wife, Aisha.

The disagreement has been passed down through generations – rife with conflicting notions of loyalty, piety and ambition, and defined by stunning examples of forbearance, treachery and martyrdom.

Hazleton unspools this tangled tale with assurance and admirable clarity. A few of the players clearly are selfinterested scoundrels, but many of the key figures had legitimate differences of opinion, and Hazleton details the competing viewpoints with empathy.

Also woven into this lively parade are explanations of Islamic customs and practices that sometimes have been regarded with perplexity or apprehension by the rest of the world.

Hazleton’s point in writing this book is to demonstrate how powerfully the Shia-Sunni split animates the struggle for the hearts and minds in Islam even today.

Hazleton’s approach is mostly evenhanded – although she can’t resist tweaking the actions of recent American leaders in prosecuting military action, intimating that if the United States isn’t thoughtful about its course of action, it too may become another of history’s footnotes.

I’ve been reading “After the Prophet” during Ramadan, the Islamic month devoted to fasting, reflection and purification. This book has given me more insight into the rich traditions of the world’s second largest religion. For lighter reading but additional insights into Muslim life, you also might check out “The American Muslim Teenager’s Handbook,” written by Bellingham-based Dilara Hafiz along with her son Imran and daughter Yasmine, both of whom are young adults.

Written as a guide for Muslim teens in post-9/11 America, the volume also is an accessible introduction to the religion for non-Muslims, too, as it covers basic Islamic history, prayer traditions, proscribed behaviors, and how to deal with prejudice.

With input from more than 100 American Muslim teens, the tone is upbeat. The authors promote a moderate version of Islam that encourages cultural confidence but stresses interfaith tolerance, too.

The Bookmonger is Barbara Lloyd McMichael, who writes this weekly column focusing on the books, authors and publishers of the Pacific Northwest. Contact her at bkmonger@nwlink.com.