About the Author Reuven Firestone is Professor of Judaism and Islam and Director of the Graduate School of Judaic Studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

This study casts new light on the difficulties experienced by the new Muslims as they adjusted from revered customs to a divinely directed new allegiance. It will add to our understanding of the first decades of Islam and further explain why success grew out of apparent failure. Not least is shows the human realities that lie beneath the surface of the historical sources and how the demands of religious conviction could overcome even the most deep-rooted conservatism.

About the Author Reuven Firestone is Professor of Judaism and Islam and Director of the Graduate School of Judaic Studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

This study casts new light on the difficulties experienced by the new Muslims as they adjusted from revered customs to a divinely directed new allegiance. It will add to our understanding of the first decades of Islam and further explain why success grew out of apparent failure. Not least is shows the human realities that lie beneath the surface of the historical sources and how the demands of religious conviction could overcome even the most deep-rooted conservatism.

About the Author Reuven Firestone is Professor of Judaism and Islam and Director of the Graduate School of Judaic Studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

This study casts new light on the difficulties experienced by the new Muslims as they adjusted from revered customs to a divinely directed new allegiance. It will add to our understanding of the first decades of Islam and further explain why success grew out of apparent failure. Not least is shows the human realities that lie beneath the surface of the historical sources and how the demands of religious conviction could overcome even the most deep-rooted conservatism.