* {{cite book|last = Ali ibn Abi Talib|title = [[Nahj al-Balagha]] (Peak of Eloquence), compiled by [[ash-Sharif ar-Radi]]|year = 1984|publisher = Alhoda UK|isbn = 0940368439}}
* {{cite book|last = Holt|first = P. M.|coauthors = [[Bernard Lewis]]|title = Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 1|year = 1977|publisher = Cambridge University Press|isbn = 0521291364}}
* {{cite book|last = Lapidus|first = Ira|title = A History of Islamic Societies|publisher = Cambridge University Press|year = 2002|edition = 2nd|isbn = 978-0521779333}}
* {{cite book|last = Madelung|first = Wilferd|authorlink = Wilferd Madelung|title = The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate|publisher = Cambridge University Press|year = 1997|isbn = 0521646960}}