The 'Alids are the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, the elite family of Islam. They have played a major role Islamic history, from famous early rebels to the founders and eponyms of major Islamic sects, and from 9th-century Moroccan and 10th-century Egyptian rulers to the current King of Jordan, the Ayatollah Khomeini and the Aga Khan. This first social history of the 'Alids covers the crucial formative period from the Abbasid Revolution of 750 to the Seljuq period of 1100. Exploring their rise from a religious point of view and as a social phenomenon, the author asks how this family attained and extended its status over the centuries. Key Features In-depth exploration of the distinction between Shi'ites and 'Alids: opens new possibilities for the understanding of the sectarian differences between Sunnis and Shi'ites Based on a wide range of primary sources in both Arabic and Persian Draws on historical, legal and biographical material Critically examines recently published genealogical works on the 'Alid family.