Opposing the Imam: The Legacy of the Nawasib in Islamic Literature

In this book, Nebil Husayn examines the enduring legacy of the nawasib, early Muslims who disliked ʿAli and his descendants.

Islam’s fourth caliph, ʿAlı ̄, can be considered one of the most revered figures in Islamic history. His nearly universal portrayal in Muslim literature as a pious authority obscures centuries of contestation and the eventual rehabilitation of his character. In this book, Nebil Husayn examines the enduring legacy of the nawasib, early Muslims who disliked ʿAli and his descendants. The nawasib participated in politics and discussions on religion at least until the ninth century. However, their virtual disappearance in Muslim societies has led many to ignore their existence and the subtle ways in which their views subsequently affected Islamic historiography and theology. By surveying medieval Muslim literature across multiple genres and traditions including the Sunni, Muʿtazili, and Ibād, Husayn reconstructs the claims and arguments of the nawasib and illuminates the methods that Sunni scholars employed to gradually rehabilitate the image of ʿAlı ̄ from a villainous character to a righteous one.

About the Author

Nebil Husayn is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Miami, where his research considers the development of Islamic theology, historiography, and debates on the caliphate. Husayn obtained his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University.

Bibliographic Information

Title: Opposing the Imam: The Legacy of the Nawasib in Islamic Literature

Author(s): Nebil Husayn

Publisher: ‎ ‎ ‎Cambridge University Press

Length: 240 pages

ISBN: 978-1108832816

Pub. Date: April 29 2021

Opposing the Imam The Legacy of the Nawasib in Islamic Literature