Extremist Shiites: the ghulat sects By Matti Moosa (book)

You can read a preview of this book using books.google.com. In the Preface of the book, it states that 'This book is a comprehensive study of the cultural aspects of the different ghulat (extremist Shiites) sects in the Middle East'.

There are only two reviews for this book at Amazon.com (maybe because this is an old book?). The second reviewer pointed out author's misunderstanding of the core Shia Ithna Asharis belief. I am in a complete agreement with the second reviewer. For e.g., see the following quotes from the book 

The Shiite Community at present is divided into many sects who hold religious beliefs quite at variance with those of other Muslims and who are therefore considered heretics.

The author while describing the partisan of Ali has also incorrectly stated how the first three caliphs came to power. The people did not choose any of the first three caliphs. The first caliph, Abu Bakr, came to power through back-room dealing at the camp of Banu Saidah. The second caliph, Umar al-Khattab, came to power because the first caliph willed him as his successor. The third caliph, Uthman al-Affan, came to power through negotiation, in a meeting, consisting of six people.

The author has also incorrectly stated that the Shias (followers) of Ali began to agitate against Uthman for his nepotism. Wrong again. Most, if not all the Muslims (back then) hated Uthman and his tribe (Ummayad) who were deeply corrupt. One of the widows of the Holy Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his pure family), Ayesha Bint Abu Bakr considered Uthman an apostate and should be put to death.

The following is pure ignorance

The marji rules on behalf of the vanished Imam, the Mahdi. At present, Ayatollah Khomeini is regarded by most Shiites as the marji who represents the Mahdi and governs on his behalf. [Marji are scholars. Generally, we have more than one marji at a time. When the book was published in 1988, Ayatollah Khomeini, who passed away a year later, was not the only marja in the Shia world. We also had Ayatullah al-Khoei who was considered by many as one of the most prominent or leading marja of the 20th century].

 

If you ignore author’s negative views about the Shias and the school of ahlul bayt and read through the book, you may find an interesting overview about the Ghulat sects. The following sects are described and discussed in detail

Shabak, Bektathis, Kizilbash, Abdal, Bajwan and Ibrahimiyya, Ahl-i Haqq, Nusayris.