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'Mustapha's magisterial analysis of Muslim sectarian conflict in northern Nigeria remains the unrivaled original source, easily the canonical collection. Ideal for teaching yet required for scholars.' Paul M Lubeck, Acting Director, African Studies, Johns Hopkins University-SAIS

'will surely come to be regarded as a reference book for dealing with those Sufi, Islamist, Salafist, and terrorist movements developing in multi-ethnic and multireligious societies in Africa and elsewhere. Mustapha's multidimensional and multifaceted approach offers a credible and intelligible analysis of the relevant historical, political, socio-economic, and socio-cultural issues which led to the current situation in Northern Nigeria.' Heinrich Bergstresser, Africa Spectrum

'Mustapha's volume is an important corrective in the discourse about Boko Haram specifically and Islamic violence - indeed, all religious violence - generally, and it should be read by anyone who claims the authority to pronounce on any of these matters.' - Jack David Eller, Anthropology Review Database

'Abdul Raufu Mustapha's edited volume Sects & Social Disorder is most welcome, considering the escalation of conflict in Northern Nigeria in recent years and the fact that a plethora of crises has triggered a tsunami of analysis of variegated quality . Overcoming many of the shortcomings of the current literature, it fills a major gap in research and analysis.' - Roman Loimeier, Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Africa

Nigerian society has long been perceived as divided along religious lines, between Muslims and Christians, but alongside this there is an equally important polarization within the two faiths. Within the Muslim population differences in beliefs, rituals and sectarian allegiance have had profound consequences for public order. This book highlights the crucial issue of intra-Muslim pluralism and conflict in Nigeria.

Conflicting interpretations of texts and contexts have led to fragmentation within northern Nigerian Islam, and different Islamic sects have often resorted to violence against each other in pursuit of 'the right path'. The doctrinal justification of violence was first perfected against other Muslim groups, before being extended to non-Muslims: conflict between Muslim groups therefore preceded the violence between Muslims and Christians. It will be impossible to manage the relationship between the latter, without addressing the schisms within the Muslim community itself.

Abdul Raufu Mustapha is Associate Professor of African Politics, University of Oxford.