This volume examines the tortuous history of Islam's sectarian divisions, emphasizing the most important one, the Shi'a departure from Sunni "orthodoxy." Sunni and Shi'a Islam are the two major denominations of Islam, with the demographic breakdown between the two denominations is approximated as 85-90% of the world's Muslims are Sunni and 10-15% are Shi'a. Over the years, Sunni-Shi'a relations have been marked by conflict as sectarian violence persists to this day. The author contemplates the history of the relationship, how things stand today, and where the future of Sunni-Shi'a relations might lead.

The rise of Islam and its early divisions -- The Sunni-Shi'a divide in modern times -- The future of militant Islam.