This profound book by Hayet Amamou offers a critical examination of the concept of power and the perpetual quest for legitimacy during the formative years of Islam. It meticulously analyzes how early Islamic leaders navigated the complex challenges of establishing and maintaining authority, often balancing religious injunctions with practical governance. Amamou provides a scholarly and insightful perspective on the historical dynamics that shaped political structures and the underlying philosophical debates surrounding leadership. This work is essential reading for anyone interested in the foundational periods of Islamic political thought and the historical development of authority.