Originally published: The heirs of the prophet Muhammad. London : Little, Brown, 2006.

Medina: oasis capital of the Muslim state -- Ali: first disciple of the prophet -- Arabian soldiers of the seventh century -- Aisha and the other mothers of the faithful -- Caliph Abu Bakr and the Ridda Wars -- The invasion of the Holy Land and the death of the first caliph -- Omar and the great victories -- Uthman: third caliph of Islam -- Imam Ali: the fourth caliph -- Muawiya the Umayyad, Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn -- Appendix A: The political heirs of the prophet after the death of Husayn -- Appendix B: How can we know?: Aisha's legacy among the storytellers of Medina.