The Great Sedition: Ali and His Sons - Part Two

In The Great Discord: Ali and His Sons, Taha Hussein examines the period following the death of Uthman ibn Affan and the rise of Ali ibn Abi Talib as caliph. The book discusses major political conflicts and divisions within early Islamic society, analyzing the motivations of historical figures and the circumstances surrounding them. Hussein applies a critical method by examining different historical narratives and their contexts. Written in his distinctive intellectual style, the work combines literary expression with historical analysis. It remains one of the notable modern studies of early Islamic history.

To explore a turning point in Islamic history.
To understand the political events during Ali ibn Abi Talib’s caliphate.
To discover Taha Hussein’s historical and analytical method.
To read a work combining history, literature, and thought.
To examine the impact of political conflicts on societies.
To engage with history from a critical perspective

This book is well suited to readers of Islamic history, students of Arabic literature and thought, admirers of Taha Hussein, and anyone interested in works that blend historical inquiry with literary style. It also fits reading groups and introductory academic reading focused on the intellectual framing of the Great Fitna.