The History of al-Ṭabarī Vol. 17

This volume 17 of al-Tabari's great 40-volume history of the Arabs treats the first Civil War, 656-661. Many of the events treated in this volume have become part of the historical consciousness of Muslims. The first civil war of Islam, the Fitnah, is widely seen as of decisive importance in dividing the Muslims into three major traditions, Sunnis, Shi'is, and Kharijis, which have persisted until today. Although this division may be an over-simplification of a much more complex process of commun