'A must-read work, "The Shi'i Islamic Martyrdom Narratives of Imam al-Husayn" leads the Western reader to a clear and profound understanding of a "universal classic" of Islamic studies, the "Maqtal" literature. The author, Muhammed-Reza Fakhr-Rohani, deploys his vast erudition and expertise and multiplies the possible points of view on the topic, so that the final result is not only a comprehensive study on martyrdom in Shi'i Islam but also a sophisticated essay on the human nature and on the different interpretations of heroism, sacrifice, and altruism for the common good and community.'Giancarlo Anello'This book was intended for both the academic reader and the reader with no background knowledge of the subject. This book will be useful for readers who are not familiar with Shi'ism to understand the events of Ashura, the significance of Imam Husayn and his martyrdom for Shi'ites, and literature related to this. Academics will also find this book useful, especially in the fields of Islamic sciences, history, and linguistics, since the author has used a large amount of literature on Ashura in Arabic, Persian, and English.'Akif TahiievResearch Fellow, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, Göttingen, Germany
