The Prophet’s Heir: The Life of Ali ibn Abi Talib

Dua Kumail recitation followed by presentation by Professor Hassan Abbas providing an overview of the book he has recently authored:"The Prophet’s Heir: The Life of Ali ibn Abi Talib".  

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Program:         : 8:00 PM Dua Kumail Recitation

                          : 8:30 PM Presentation by Professor Hassan Abbas 

                          : 9:15 PM Q&A

                          : 9:30 PM Ziyarat Warith

                          : 9:45 PM Conclusion

This book tells the story of Ali ibn Abi Talib (599–661), a fascinating yet mystifying tale of an extraordinary man. Ali’s life is inextricably linked with the history and politics of Islam. It is as relevant to Islam’s rise and growth as it is to the contemporary trials and tribulations faced by its adherents. Ali’s legacy is projected by his antagonists as a divisive factor in Islam, yet a glance at popular Muslim literature brings him into the limelight for his matchless valor as well as spirituality, and he emerges as the most-loved Muslim hero after the Prophet Mohammad. The difficulty only comes upon realizing that this popularity is just as sorrowful as it is splendid – and that has been the case for centuries,

Hassan Abbas is Distinguished Professor of International Relations at the Near East South Asia Strategic Studies Centre (NESA), at the National Defense University in Washington DC. He also serves as senior advisor at Harvard University Weatherhead Center’s Shiism and Global Affairs project.   

Earlier he served as the Distinguished Quaid i Azam Professor at Columbia University (2009-2011). He held various fellowships including at Harvard Law School’s Islamic Legal Studies Program & Program on Negotiation  (2002-04); the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government  (2005-09); Asia Society in New York as Bernard Schwartz fellow (2009-2011); and as a Carnegie fellow at the New America Foundation (2016-2018).   

He holds a PhD & MALD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, an LLM in International Law from the Nottingham University, UK as a Britannia Chevening Scholar  and MA in Political Science from the Punjab University, Pakistan.   

He appeared on various television news shows on CNN, Fox News, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the Newshour with Jim Lehrer, Charlie Rose Show, MSNBC (Abrams Report and Hardball), C-Span (Washington Journal) and various programs on CBS, and NBC as an analyst on security related issues in South Asia and Middle East.