Shi'a Sects (Kitab Firaq al-Shi'a)

Book excerpt: The earliest surviving work on Shi‘i sects, Kitab Firaq al-Shi‘a by al-Nawbakhti offers a uniquely Twelver Shi‘a perspective on early Shi‘i movements, including the Zaydis, the Isma‘ilis, and extremist sects (ghulat). History, charisma, and ideology combine in a fascinating narrative which provides a window into the early Shi‘i consciousness. Extensively annotated and highly readable, this is the first translation of this work to be published in the English language. An indispensable reference for Islamic historians, theologians, and researchers.