A: Absolutely. However, some prior knowledge of Islamic theology (e.g., what the Mu'tazila believed) will enhance understanding. The first book (Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians) is very accessible.
Muhammad al-Shahrastani was a Persian scholar who lived during the Seljuk period, a time of intense intellectual debate. His primary goal in writing Al-Milal wa al-Nihal (The Book of Religious and Philosophical Sects) was to provide an objective, descriptive account of various groups without the heavy-handed polemics common in his day. The book is structured into two main sections: al-milal wa al-nihal english pdf