"One of the most enduring sources of conflict among Muslims is the question of power and authority after the Prophet Muòhammad. This anthology of classical Arabic texts, presented in a new English translation, offers a comprehensive overview of the early history of the caliphate and medieval Muslim scholarly discussions on the subject. Composed between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries, these texts succinctly present competing views on the prerequisites of legitimate leadership and authority in the Islamic tradition"--

A Note on the Translation; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Glossary of Key Terms; 1. A Précis of the Doctrines of Ab¿ 'l-¿asan al-Ash¿ar¿ Ibn F¿rak; 2. The Succour of Nations Amidst the Confusion of Darkness al-Juwayn¿; 3. The Theoretical Underpinning of the Imamate Ab¿ ¿¿lib al-H¿r¿n¿; 4. The Curative Book on the Imamate: A Paraphrastic Rendering al-Shaykh al-¿¿s¿; 5. The Book of Excellence on the Fundamental Principles of Religion Ibn al-Mal¿¿im¿; 6. The concise ¿Abd al-K¿f¿ al-Warjal¿n¿; 7. The Crown of Doctrines and the Mine of Instructive Points al-D¿¿¿ Ibn al-Wal¿d; Bibliography; Index.