Episode 14: The first fitna

The unprecedented loss of Arab life at the battle of Siffin put an end to any illusions of the sanctity of muslim blood, an important pillar underpinning the umma’s unity. Arabs began withdrawing their support for the caliph in growing numbers, revealing the resurgence of the old ...  Show more

Divisions within the community only grew as the struggle between its two main parties persisted, almost pushing the goal of reuniting the umma out of the realm of possibility. This episode charts the evolution of this civil war, the disintegration of the norms islam had recently ...  Show more

The Battle of Siffin and the Arbitration Agreement marked one of the most pivotal and heartbreaking moments in early Islamic history, as the Muslim Ummah faced a deep internal divide. This episode explores the administrative reorganization led by Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, includi ...  Show more

The Battle of the Camel serves as the tragic centerpiece of this episode, marking the first major military conflict between Muslims in the early Caliphate. After the murder of Caliph Uthman, the struggle for Caliphal authority intensified as Ali ibn Abi Talib sought to maintain u ...  Show more

With hundreds dead after days of fighting between armed supporters of former leader Bashar al-Assad and government forces, the worst violence since al-Assad's fall, Syrians are grappling with how to move forward. Days ahead of the 14th anniversary of Syria's uprising, the coun ...

This episode brings us to one of the most complicated conflicts raging in the Middle East. Thomas and Aimen both know the country well and walk us through the actors and their motives. They’ll also explain how Syria became such a killing field as a result of the Arab Spring and h ...  Show more