Sami Helewas book opens anew theQia al-anbiy(Tales of the Prophets) in terms of the leadership of ancient prophets in a Muslim context of friendship and enmity in the narrative detail of the prophets Joseph, David, and Solomon. Although theQia genre is not court-based, advice literature, these tales could function as advisory literature through the legendary-prophetic figures. It is hardly surprising that the prophets of ancient times have been moral prototypes for the Judo-Islamic search for religio-political leaders. However, the themes of leadership, friendship, and enmity are embedded in these tales in the writing of great Medieval-Muslims like al-abar of Baghdd and al-Thalab of Nshpr, who were great scholars (ulam) and men of literature (udab). Like the religious side of these tales, Helewa maintains that theadab side of theQia has equal importance of meaning to the struggle of ancient prophets in their friendships and hostilities. These tales, as astutely compiled from Baghdd and Nshpr, mirror interesting cultural nuances of expected leadership inherent in these great cities of learning. This book will be a great value for those interested in the Sra genre, the overallQia genre, the inheritance of prophets, theadab of religious writing, the advice literature, and the history of Baghdd and Nshpr.

Sami Helewa is assistant professor of religious studies and director of Catholic studies at Campion College, University of Regina.

IntroductionChapter One: The Qia al-anbiy: Between Religious and Cultivated LiteratureChapter Two: Historical ContextChapter Three: Just LeadershipChapter Four: FriendshipChapter Five: EnmityChapter Six: Final Thoughts