Why Imam Ali Still Matters: The Prophet’s Heir with Dr Hassan Abbas | Thinking Islam | Ep.13

Описание: Is Imam Ali a source of division or the grounds for friendship among Muslims?

How did a man who asked that his killer's ropes be loosened in his dying moments become the most contested figure in Islamic history?

In this episode of Thinking Islam, we explore Dr Hassan Abbas's acclaimed book, "The Prophet's Heir" through the lens of a policy maker and conflict resolution scholar. Drawing from both Shi'a and Sunni sources, Dr Abbas tells the story of Imam Ali not as a sectarian narrative but as a bridge between traditions. We examine the political dynamics of Saqifa, Ali's radical economic justice, the bias in Western scholarship of Islam, and the paradox of a warrior whose defining qualities were dialogue, selflessness, and forgiveness. In his final moments, struck by a poisoned sword, Ali asked that his killer be treated well, a measure of the justice and forgiveness that Dr Abbas argues makes Ali's legacy not a source of division but a possibility for renewal and unity.

Dr Hassan Abbas is Distinguished Professor of International Relations at the National Defence University in Washington, D.C. and a senior adviser at Harvard University's Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs. His research focuses on countering political and religious extremism, rule-of-law reforms, and the intersections of security, politics, and faith in South Asia and the Middle East. "The Prophet's Heir: The Life of Ali ibn Abi Talib," published by Yale University Press, has been widely praised across traditions.

📖 Get the Book: "The Prophet's Heir: The Life of Ali ibn Abi Talib" by Dr. Hassan Abbas
🔗 Yale University Press: https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/97803002...
🔗 Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/0cn21foe

Video Chapters:
0:00 – Highlights
01:32 – Writing a Book on Imam Ali
8:04 – Using Both Shi'a and Sunni Sources
17:23 – The Bias in Western Scholarship
25:35 – An Uncritical Version of Imam Ali?
32:00 – Saqifa Through the Lens of a Policy Maker
43:47 – Did the Companions Fail the Test?
51:28 – Imam Ali as a Diplomat
56:45 – Imam Ali & Economic Justice
1:07:15 – Imam Ali, Dialogue & Egalitarianism
1:16:02 – Imam Ali's Legacy
1:21:05 – Thinking Islam Question

#ImamAli #IslamicHistory #ThinkingIslam #Podcast #Islam #MuslimHistory


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