Ahmad Khan, Heresy and the Formation of Medieval Islamic Orthodoxy. The Making of Sunnism, from the Eighth to the Eleventh Century , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023, 434 pp., ISBN 9781009093033.

Key Points

• The article investigates the historical development of Sunnism and the role of heresy in forming medieval Islamic orthodoxy.
• Literary analysis of historical texts related to Islamic thought.
• Examination of the evolution of Sunnism from the eighth to the eleventh century.
• Contextual analysis of heretical movements and their impacts.
• Identifies key frameworks that shaped Sunni beliefs during the specified centuries.
• Illustrates the tension between orthodoxy and heretical ideologies.
• Highlights the lasting influence of these developments on contemporary Islamic practices.