"A well researched and thoughtful book… Al-Jamil's provocative study makes it clear that we can no longer understand the history of the transmission of knowledge in Medieval Islam within an exclusionary framework in which Shi'is are absent or marginalized. The complexity of Tariq al-Jamil's presentation of the interaction between Shi-i and Sunni scholars in medieval Baghdad will provoke new discussions in our field." Shaun E. Marmon, Associate Professor, Department of Religion, Princeton University "A serious new contribution to our historical understanding of a decisive period and controversial topic with important contemporary political and cultural ramifications, since the underlying polemics between extreme Hanbali perspectives (represented then and now primarily by the key figure of Ibn Taymiyya) and learned clerical forms of Imami (Twelver) Shi'ism has currently taken on often violent public ramifications-rooted in Arab-Iranian struggles for regional and even global political influence- that are today considerably visible and widespread in the Muslim world. a solid, original work of social and intellectual history focusing on a key turning point (the post-Mongol, pre-Ottoman period) in Middle Eastern culture and history that was to be marked by the rapid expansion and development of Islam as a world religion. a highly readable work" James W. Morris, Professor of Islamic Studies, Boston College.