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Article: Shias and Sunnis: the roots of an Islamic divide.(The Heirs of the Prophet Muhammed: And the Roots of the Sunni-Shia Schism )(Book review)
- Article from:
- Geographical
- Article date:
- April 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Circle Publishing Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Heirs of the Prophet Muhammed: And the Roots of the Sunni-Shia Schism by Barnaby Rogerson Little, Brown, hb, pp415, 17.99 [pounds sterling]
It hasn't been much of a century for the image of Islam. The attacks on New York, Madrid and London were all carried out in the name of God, as were the murders of harmless innocents in Iraq. And the recent cartoon issue made many followers of the faith seem, once again, intolerant and humourless.
Nor can it be said that all is well within the house of Islam. Corrupt regimes, poverty and sectarianism flame the conditions in which most of the world's Muslims live. Iraq is a step away from civil war between Shias ...