Here is the text regarding Kitab al-Milal wa al-Nihal:

2. English Translations

Two major English translations exist:

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It is the go-to source for understanding what people believed in the 12th century and why they were labeled heretics or orthodox.

• Historiography of religion: The Kitab al-Milal wa al-Nihal is a foundational text for the study of religious plurality in the medieval Near East. Its breadth and attempt at fair description make it an invaluable primary source for historians of religion, comparative theologians, and historians of ideas.
• Influence on later scholars: Later medieval and early modern scholars cited and used Shahrastānī’s classifications; his work fed into both Islamic and Western scholarly traditions once translated.
• Modern scholarship: Contemporary researchers use the book to trace textual transmission, intercommunal knowledge, and the medieval reception of non-Islamic doctrines. Its ethnographic-like descriptions provide clues about lost or poorly documented sects.

Section One: Non-Islamic Religions (Al-Milal) In this section, Al-Shahrastani categorizes religions that possess a divine book or a form of revelation. He discusses: