After the Prophet is a book well written by Lesley Hazleton. The author has attempted to make a very unbiased piece of writing.

It had me involved from the very first chapter and was very fast paced. I was so into the book that I ended it in two days.

The events that did take place in the history of Islam After the Prophet are very sad, and are very difficult for a Muslim to swallow, but then this is because we forget a very simple fact, and that is that “They were just Humans, and Humans make mistakes.” Furthermore, its even more saddening that a movement that started purely as a political movement has not become the root cause of the biggest Muslim sectarian split.

The thing that hurt me the most when reading the book was the part about Huzrat Uthman. How the book criticizes him.

It is true that Huzrat Uthman had become a controversial figure, due to the fact that the First Islamic Fitna started with him.

At this point in the book, I think that, only one side to his character has been shown, and I think that the other side should also be heard. No matter if you agree with it or not, but at least then you can give a take from here and there and come up with something that is satisfying according to you. As all of this has happened in the past and there is no way other than historical accounts to confirm what actually happened, we should always keep an open mind. As with history you can never be a hundred percent sure of the truth. As no matter how hard one tries, he or she is always biased. Everyone has an opinion. If I like someone then I would try to highlight the good things that person has and hide away the faults in that person’s character.

Here is a video about The Assassination of Huzrat Uthman, a lecture given by a Muslim Scholar: