Biography

Wilferd Madelung was a German-American scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Islamic history and Shi'i Islam. He was a professor at the University of Oxford and is best known for his research on the early Islamic period, focusing on the succession to Muhammad. His works, such as 'The Succession to Muhammad' and 'Religious Schools and Sects in Medieval Islam,' are considered seminal in the field. Madelung's detailed analysis of historical texts and his critical approach to sources have been influential in the study of Islamic history.