Islam Books

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Book SynopsisA sweeping history of the often-violent conflict between Islam and the West, shedding a revealing light on current hostilities

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Book SynopsisThe Road to Makkah describes the happiness and sense of reality brought to one man by the Muslim way of life. The author does not wish to preach or to convert. He speaks only of his own unique experiences upon the road he has travelled.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Provides a discourse of charity that challenges and disrupts dominant secular and liberal notions of humanitarian aid. The book is recommended not only to anthropology and sociology students and scholars but also to ones of economics, theology, and religious studies.” * KULT Online *"Amira Mittermaier has written a marvelous book. Giving to God will be of considerable value not only to anthropologists of Islam and charitable giving, but also to historians and political scientists who seek to understand the persistence of a longstanding model of Islamic charity in the face of political, economic, and social upheaval." * Reading Religion *"A masterpiece of the anthropology of charity and the ethos of Islamic economics." * Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations *"Mittermaier has created an important study of Muslims negotiating their religious lives in the modern world." * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Table of ContentsIllustrations Note on Transliteration Acknowledgments Introduction during the revolution 1 • Revolutions Don’t Stop Charity giving 2 • Divine Minimum Wage 3 • Caravan to Paradise receiving 4 • Performances of Poverty 5 • All Thanks Belong to God after the revolution 6 • Tomorrow Is Better Postscript Notes Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisToday's discussions on Islam and the place religion should have in society often lead to questions about the Shari'a - Islamic law. Those who work for a political role for Islam demand that the Shari'a must be applied in their country, while those critical of Islam use the law as proof of its 'medieval' character. Islam is sometimes, not quite justly, called a 'religion of rules', and the rules of Islam are the Shari'a. But it is often hard to establish the exact nature of this law in more practical terms. Asking those who favour it or those who oppose it may only lead to greater confusion. But a rule and its exact opposite can both be said to be 'what the Shari'a says' and what God demands of the believer. It may even be questioned if there is any Shari'a at all in the work-a-day world, or whether it is just an ethical ideal, or a body whose secrets are known only to God. At the same time people may be stoned or mutilated in the name of this law. The key to understanding Shari'a is the concept of 'religious law', a term which might seem contradictory. 'Religion' is faith in a non-material force of some kind, and something we consider internal to the human soul. 'Law', on the other hand, is external to us, established by society in order to regulate the material needs of the community. The contrast between 'religion' and 'law' has been continuous throughout Muslim history. Islamic law has always existed in a tension between these two forces: God, who gave the law, and the state - the 'sultan' - representing society and implementing the law. This tension and dynamic have created a very particular history for the law - in how it was formulated and by whom, in its theoretical basis and its actual rules, and in how it was practised in historical reality from the time of its formation till today. That is the main theme of the book. Knut S. Vikor aims in this book to introduce the development and practice of Islamic law to a wide readership: students, lawyers and the growing number of those interested in Islamic civilisation. He summarises the main concepts of Islamic jurisprudence, discusses debates concerning the historicity of Islamic sources of dogma and the dating of early Islamic law; describes the classic practice of the law, in the formulation of legal rules and practice in the courts; and sets out various substantive legal rules, on such vital matters as the family and economic activity.Trade ReviewAn excellent introduction to Islamic law … It fulfils its aim of providing a rounded history of the subject, combined with studies of particular areas of the law (criminal law, family law, land and tax law) … a very important contribution to the field. -- Robert Gleave

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Book SynopsisThis revised and expanded edition of The Essential Rumi includes a new introduction by Coleman Barks and more than 80 never-before-published poems.Through his lyrical translations, Coleman Barks has been instrumental in bringing this exquisite literature to a remarkably wide range of readers, making the ecstatic, spiritual poetry of thirteenth-century Sufi Mystic Rumi more popular than ever.The Essential Rumi continues to be the bestselling of all Rumi books, and the definitive selection of his beautiful, mystical poetry.

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Book SynopsisWhat really happened in the centuries of conflict between Europe, Russia, China, America, and the peoples of the Muslim worldTrade Review“Crusade and Jihad is a challenging and interesting book, well written and provocative.”—Hugh Kennedy, Literary Review"In this magisterial treatment, William Polk cuts to the core of contemporary conflicts with the Muslim world, providing an accessible, often troubling account."—Joel Gordon,University of Arkansas, author of Nasser: Hero of the Arab Nation“A tour de force covering centuries of history from the perspective of the people who lived in the Muslim world, Crusade and Jihad offers a fresh and urgently needed angle on the present crisis in the Middle East that you will find nowhere else.”—Ilan Pappe, author of The Forgotten Palestinians: A History of the Palestinians in Israel“William Polk combines analytical powers and profound insight with a lively, accessible style. Crusade and Jihad is a pleasure for the mind.”—Uri Avnery, author and peace activist"With rigor and sympathy, William Polk has produced a masterpiece to enlighten us all. No one who reads Crusade and Jihad will put it down without an increased knowledge and understanding of the crucial relationship between the Islamic and Western worlds."— Charles Glass, author of Tribes with Flags and Syria Burning: A Short History of a Catastrophe “A brilliant study, analytical and authoritative. There are few overviews that can rival the depth and the range of this work.”— K.N. Chaudhuri, FBA Emeritus Professor of The History of European Expansion, European University, Florence, Italy

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of the Financial Times' Best Books of the Year: Critics' Picks""One of Asian Review of Books' Books of the Year (Biography & Memoir)""In Robert Irwin, Ibn Khaldun has finally found a biographer and interpreter almost as versatile and learned as he was himself."---Eric Ormsby, Wall Street Journal"A compelling new account of the 14th-century Arab historian and polymath. . . . Irwin has produced an exemplary work."---Gavin Jacobson, Financial Times"As an introduction to Ibn Khaldun’s fascinating life and times, his ideas, and how they have been understood and misunderstood over the centuries, you could hardly wish for something better."---Thomas Small, Times Literary Supplement"Irwin wears his immense erudition lightly and gives an often very funny account of how orientalists, historians and modern Arab nationalist have interpreted Ibn Khaldun’s most famous work. . . . Irwin offers his readers a superb work of intellectual recovery, one which presents Ibn Khaldun as a creature of his time. . . . He has resurrected for us the medieval Muslim mind."---Francis Ghilès, The Spectator"Ibn Khaldun: An Intellectual Biography is both an introduction to his work and an intervention into Ibn Khaldun studies."---Sameer Rahim, Prospect"The great merit of Ibn Khaldun: An Intellectual Biography is that it encourages us to treat the intellectual history of the Islamic world not as a battleground for contemporary ideological struggles but as a subject worthy of investigation in its own right."---Fitzroy Morrissey, Standpoint"Irwin’s book lives up to its name. . . . [It is] a work that will be of interest not only to students of Islamic intellectual history, but also to students of historiography, sociology, and anthropology. Irwin’s writing is accessible to all levels of readership. Well suited for seminar discussions, as it offers much to debate."---T.M. May, Choice"Irwin’s portrait of the philosopher is beautifully written, intriguing, stimulating and movingly intimate."---Doris Behrens-Abouseif, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society"In his highly readable appraisal of Ibn Khaldun’s life and work, Robert Irwin sets out to demythologize and, at the same time, remystify a man whose mind was formed far from the seminar rooms of 20th-century social science. . . . [C]oncise and compelling."---Nile Green, Los Angeles Review of Books"I did enjoy this style of biography as Irwin brought the mind of Ibn Khaldun into focus and showed the genius that [is] worthy of standing with other ‘well-regarded’ thinkers of the past."---Gaele Hince, I am, Indeed blog"The book is entertaining and thought-provoking in itself; it is not the last word but provides a fascinating guide to further reading."---Patrick Manning, Connections"Irwin's book is very informative and well-argued in addressing the life and works of Ibn Khaldun in both historical and intellectual contexts."---Fadi Zatari, Insight Turkey"This book engages the mind in a positive way and provides an academic but highly accessible introduction to a complex topic."---Abdullah Drury, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations"A noteworthy contribution to this ever-growing literature about Ibn Khaldun’s life, ideas and scholarly influence."---Prof Dr Oktay F. Tanrisever, Rest Journal"Irwin’s book is useful, engaging, commendable, and important. Given how Ibn Khaldun used to be misread, Irwin’s is a necessary book."---Ephraim Nissan, Quaderni di Studi Indo-Mediterranei

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Book SynopsisThis major philosophic work by one of the most important Muslim and Western religious philosophers of the 20th century continues to exert an important literary, religious, and political influence today.Trade Review"Given Iqbal's indisputable significance as a modern Muslim thinker, the Stanford edition of his Reconstruction will introduce his thought to a wide audience both in academe and among the general public in the West. It bids fair to become a milestone in the history of Iqbal studies."—Mustansir Mir, Youngstown State University

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Book SynopsisThe Path of Worshippers to the Paradise of the Lord of the Universe is an authoritative book and a guideline on practical Sufism (''irfan-i ''amali). It is also a mirror to the soul of its author. In this book Ghazzali speaks not only as a scholar but also as a master and sincerely shares his spiritual experiences with his readers in a simple language and an intimate tone. These qualities of the book penetrate into the depth of the heart of the reader. The importance of the book lies in the fact that its author was the most prominent theologian and jurist of his time and its teachings are as valid today as they were when the author wrote the book just before his death in 505/1111.Trade ReviewTo translate a Sufi text well into English, or for that matter into any other language, requires not only mastery of the languages involved and familiarity with Sufi teachings, but also spiritual affinity and intimacy with the reality of Sufism if something of the spiritual perfume of the original text is to be present in the translation. Fortunately, the translator of the present book combines all these qualities within himself. Not only does Mohammad Faghfoory possess mastery of Arabic and Persian and of course English, but he was brought up in a Sufi family and is himself immersed in the life of Sufism and engaged in its practices. Moreover, he has had experience in the translation of Sufi writings and has already produced English translations of other important Sufi works. The result of the conjunction of these diverse qualities in him has enabled him to produce a fine translation which is an important addition to the corpus of Sufi literature in English. -- Seyyed Hossein Nasr, University Professor of Islamic Studies, George Washington University * From The Foreword *Table of ContentsTable of Transliteration Foreword by Seyyed Hossein Nasr Translator's Introduction Introductory Remarks I. On the Valley of Knowledge (ilm) II. On the Valley of Repentance (tawbah) III. On the Valley of Obstacles (awaiq) IV. On the Valley of Accidents (awarid) V. The Valley of Inducements (bawaith) VI. On the Valley of Factors That Impair and Ruin Worship (qawadih) VII. On the Valley of Praise (hamd) and Gratitude (shukr) Index of Quranic Verses Index of Ahadith General Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The Republic Unsettled is thick, sophisticated thinking, which should unsettle the comfortable certainties of French and American secularism and monoculturalism. . . . Anthropologists like Fernando comprehend the situation most fully, and we owe it to our fellow citizens and our own societies to get the message out as widely and loudly as possible." -- Jack David Eller * Anthropology Review Database *"The Republic Unsettled is invaluable not only for anthropologists and ethnographers but also for scholars wanting to deepen their understanding of how contemporary secularism functions as a theory of politics and society, including through its contradictions, tensions, inconsistencies, anxieties, and instabilities." -- Roshan A. Jahangeer * ReOrient *“By taking the debate away from the well-worn lines of whether or not ‘Muslims’ can be or are ‘integrated’ (in other words, whether or not Muslims are an unsettling presence or not in the republic), and by instead underlining how the republic itself is inherently ‘unsettled’, this book will no doubt rile many French secular republicans and become a key point of reference in future studies of the French Republic, laı¨cite´, and ‘non-normative’ identities.” -- Natalya Vince * French Studies *“The Republic Unsettled is a crucial and stimulating read for any scholar thinking about secularism and secularity, difference politics, contemporary France and Europe, and/or Western liberalism(s) and liberal (in)tolerance. The book (and especially its vivid, emotional, and purposeful introduction) can easily find resonance across a variety of social science, religion, and history disciplines.” -- Carol Ferrara * Journal of Church and State *“That her book ends with a legitimate comparison between William Connolly's notions of critical responsiveness and agonistic respect and the way in which her Muslim French interlocutors think shows that the history of colonization, immigration and the creation of diasporas does not have to lead to a conflict of civilizations or economically reductive globalization but can produce rich and complex hybrids or mouvements aberrants that can genuinely contribute to human progress. What The Republic Unsettled manages to convey is that those who seem marginal to the present could be central to a better future, and that is indeed a very remarkable achievement.” -- Nardina Kaur * Radical Philosophy *“The Republic Unsettled is a dense, but extremely well written book that exposes and 'unsettles,' as the title indicates, secular republicanism by laying bare its numerous inconsistences and paradoxes. … In the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo shootings, which has issued in an uncritically and self-gratulatory reinvigoration of secular republicanism in France, accompanied by a dramatic increase in anti-Muslim violence, Mayanthi Fernando’s book is more timely and urgent than ever.” -- Jeanette S. Jouili * Journal of the Society for Contemporary Thought and the Islamicate World *"Because Fernando makes a lucid argument based on extended ethnography and sophisticated reading in political theory, The Republic Unsettled will surely be read widely by all those engaged in thinking about the politics of diversity in Europe." -- John R. Bowen * American Ethnologist *"I offer the highest praise for The Republic Unsettled: it is a beautifully written book that readers will be eager to continue discussing long after they finish it." -- Jennifer Fredette * Anthropos *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction 1 Field Notes I: "Vive la Republique Plurielle" 29 1. "The Republic Is Mine" 33 2. Indifference, or the Right to Citizenship 69 Field Notes II: Friday Prayers 101 3. "A Memorial to the Future" 105 4. Reconfiguring Freedom 145 Field Notes III: A Tale of Two Manifestos 181 5. Of Mimicry and Woman 185 6. Asymmetries of Tolerance 221 Epilogue 261 Notes 267 References 285 Index 305

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Book SynopsisThe life and legacy of one of Mohammad’s closest confidants and Islam’s patron saint: Ali ibn Abi TalibTrade Review“Ali was a hugely gifted thinker and speaker, one of the earliest scribes and something of a poet. But it is hard to be objective about him. The evidence is often contradictory and he is shrouded by accretions, pious and otherwise. In The Prophet's Heir, Hassan Abbas - an enthusiast for his subject, and an objective enthusiast - pursues Ali on the ground. Fantastic.“—Tim Mackintosh-Smith, author of Arabs“An erudite and accessible biography of Ali, one that tells his life story, and discusses his teachings and values, and how his legacy continues to loom large over Muslim world.”—Vali Nasr, author of The Shia Revival"This erudite but readable book shows why the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law Ali is central to Islam today, and should be both an inspiration and a figure for reconciliation."—John McHugo, author of A Concise History of Sunnis & Shi'is

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Book SynopsisRecommended on The Rest is Politics and Empire 'A masterly engagement with the most delicate and important of subjects - filled with gentle empathy, learning and rare balance' Rory Stewart 'Rogerson is an original - eloquent and always fascinating' William Dalrymple 'Brilliant' Anita Anand 'This is not a book to be ignored' The Times At the heart of the Middle East, with its regional conflicts and proxy wars, is a 1400-year-old schism between Sunni and Shia. To understand this divide and its modern resonances, we need to revisit its origins, which go back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632, the accidental coup that set aside the claims of his son Ali, and the slaughter of Ali's own son Husayn at Kerbala. These events, known to every Muslim, have created a slender faultline in the Middle East. The House Divided follows these narratives from the first Sunni and Shia caliphates, through the medieval caliphates and empires of the Arabs, Persians and Ottomans, to the contemporary Middle East. It shows how a complex range of identities and rivalries - religious, ethnic and national - have shaped the region, jolted by the seismic shift of the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Rogerson's original approach takes the modern chessboard of nation states and looks at each through its particular history of empires and occupiers, minorities and resources, sheikhs and imams. The result is a book of wide-ranging empathy, understanding and insights.Trade ReviewA masterly engagement with the most delicate and important of subjects - filled with gentle empathy, learning and rare balance -- Rory StewartBrilliant -- Anita Anand * Empire *Rogerson is an original - eloquent and always fascinating -- William DalrympleA balanced, sweeping, hugely ambitious work that delves into the long and tangled roots of the modern Middle East * Literary Review *This digestible history of the restless region is a useful alternative to academic tracts ... it has answers to several of the basic questions: the difference between Sunni and Shia, how Turkey and Iran aren't Arab, but are important anyway, and, sometimes, just how much Britain has to answer for in the Middle East ... this is not a book to be ignored -- Richard Spencer * The Times *Impressive ... a highly readable, lovingly researched, romantic and engaging history * Spectator *This book is a tour de force. One of the best summary histories of Islam from its beginnings until today I have come across. Informative, engaging, and excitingly written, it is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the origins and development of a great world religion -- Ghada Karmi, author * In Search of Fatima *A lucid, vivid and sweeping history of the divisions within Islam and their destructive impact on the contemporary Muslim world. Barnaby Rogerson takes you to the heart of the arguments and battles, revealing some stark truths. This is history as a living entity. A dazzling achievement -- Ziauddin Sardar, author * In Search of Mecca *Rogerson is a master storyteller, equally at home sketching the intimacies of the Prophet's household as he is illuminating geopolitical trends across the world of contemporary Islam -- Matthew Teller, author * Nine Quarters of Jerusalem *Rogerson knows that things are much more complex than Sunni versus Shia. But in its depiction of the multiple cats' cradles of tensions, The House Divided is jauntily readable and thought-provoking about a Middle East still in the middle of global crises, and still, as so often, misunderstood -- Tim Mackintosh-Smith, author * Arabs: A 3,000-Year History of Peoples, Tribes and Empires *Praise for Barnaby Rogerson * : *Rogerson has a novelist's gift for filling out the characters of his main players -- Noel MalcolmRogerson is an excellent story-teller -- Norman StoneRemarkable - Barnaby Rogerson has succeeded in isolating all the different strands of North African history -- John Julius NorwichRogerson is eccentric and eclectic but always iconoclastic. He is not afraid to explore and elucidate the recondite in a way a more formal academic would not -- Ross Leckie

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Brilliantly edited and introduced by Giancarlo Casale. . . . Osman’s eye-opening reflections on the dilemmas of difference and identity make this a story curiously of our time." * Times Literary Supplement *"An excellent, lively English translation by Giancarlo Casale." * The Times *"Elegantly presented and scrupulously edited by Casale. . . . The reader should undertake this trip into time and place with Osman for both his exploits and his learning." * Middle East Quarterly *"Readers will enjoy the combination of Casale’s erudition and Osman Ağa’s straightforward but exciting story." * Asian Review of Books *"With an intimacy that recalls Ibn Battuta…Prisoner of the Infidels provides a useful and entertaining window into 17th-century Europe and the Ottoman-Habsburg wars. This memoir reveals a depth, nuance, and grittiness that standard historical accounts cannot hope to convey. It centers the human experience, covering everything from mosquito bites to separations from, and reunions with, family." * Reading Religion *"Besides being a splendidly enjoyable read, The Prisoner of the Infidels is also a valuable resource for both academic research and teaching." * Critical Inquiry *Table of ContentsList of Maps Acknowledgments xi A Note on Transcription from Ottoman Turkish A Note on the Translation Introduction: On Being Osman 1. Surrender 2. Ransom 3. Crime and Punishment 4. Death and Resurrection 5. Respite 6. Bonds of Love 7. To the Capital 8. A Friend in Need 9. An Unexpected Turn of Events 10. Into the Lion's Den 11. Grifters 12. To the Border 13. The End Appendix: The Main Characters in Osman's Narrative Notes Index of People Index of Places

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Book SynopsisIn this novel perspective on a much-maligned figure, Michal Biran explains the monumental impact Chinggis Khan has had upon the Islamic World, both positive and negative. Often criticised as a mass-slaughterer, pillager, and arch-enemy of the faith, Biran shows that his constructive influence upon Islam was also considerable - his legacy apparent in Central Asia even today. Covering Chinggis Khan's early career, his conquests, the enduring power of his descendents, and the numerous ways he is presented in different Muslim contexts, this accessible book provides a fascinating insight into one of the most notorious men in history.Trade Review"Michal Biran's study is thorough and extemely thought provoking… As an introduction to its subject, it should be considered as first choice" * Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society *Table of ContentsList of Maps, Figures and Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction: Why Chinggis? 1: Asia, the Steppe and the Islamic World on the Eve of the Mongols 2: Temüjin’s Mongolia 3: World Conquest: How Did He Do It? 4: The Chinggisid Legacy in the Muslim World 5: From the Accursed to the Revered Father and Back: Changing Images of Chinggis Khan in the Muslim World 6: Appropriating Chinggis: A Comparative Approach Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA vital resource for all those who not only have a questioning mind but also possess an intellectual curiosity to dig deeper before accepting or rejecting the faith in God outright.

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Book SynopsisWhat is so unique about Islam's scripture, the Quran? Who wrote it, and when? Can we trust its statements to be from Muhammad? Why was it written in Arabic? Does it command Muslims to fight Christians? These are a few of the thirty questions answered in this clear and concise guide to the history and contents of the Quran. Ayman Ibrahim grew up in the Muslim world and has spent many years teaching various courses on Islam. Using a question-and-answer format, Ibrahim covers critical questions about the most sacred book for Muslims. He examines Muslim and non-Muslim views concerning the Quran, shows how the Quran is used in contemporary expressions of Islam, answers many of the key questions non-Muslims have about the Quran and Islam, and reveals the importance of understanding the Quran for Christian-Muslim and Jewish-Muslim interfaith relations. This introductory guide is written for anyone with little to no knowledge of Islam who wants to learn about Muslims, their beliefs, and their scripture.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction: My Earliest Encounters with the QuranPart 1: The History of the Text of the Quran1. What Is the Quran?2. What Does "Quran" Mean?3. Are There Other Scriptures in Islam?4. What Do Muslims Believe about the Quran?5. Who Is Muhammad, the Recipient and Proclaimer of the Quran?6. Did Muhammad Really Exist?7. When and Where Did Muhammad Receive the Quran?8. What Is the Most Important Feature of the Language of the Quran?9. Why and How Was the Quran Compiled?10. Did Uthman Burn False and Forged Qurans?11. What Do Shiite Muslims Believe about the Collection of the Quran?12. Do Sunnis and Shiites Have the Same Quran Today?13. What Do We Know about the 1924 Royal Cairo Edition of the Quran?14. Are There Any Other Qurans?15. Are All Arabic Versions of the Quran the Same?Part 2: Content, Features, and Themes of the Quran16. How Should I Begin Reading the Quran?17. What Are the Recurring Features at the Beginning of All Suras?18. What Is Abrogation in the Quran?19. What Are the Satanic Verses in the Quran?20. What Is the Most Important Concept for Muslims in the Quran?21. Are Jews and Christians Infidels?22. Does the Quran Really Say the Bible Is Corrupt?23. Who Is Jesus in the Quran?24. Who Are the Prophets in the Quran?25. Did Muhammad Perform Miracles?26. What Does the Quran Say about Jihad and Fighting?27. How Do Muslims Treat the Quran's Verses on Violence Today?28. Who Are "the People of the Quran"?29. What Do Today's Non-MuslimScholars Say about the Quran?30. Concluding Question: How Does This All Fit Together?GlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisUsama Ibn Munqidh (1095-1188) was a Syrian poet and warrior whose life coincided with some of the most dramatic moments in Islamic history: the invasion of the Turks into the Middle East, the collapse of the Shi'ite political power, and above all, the coming of the Crusades. Often at the frontline of such events whilst on military service representing one of his many Lords, including on occasion the legendary Saladin, Usama was nonethless best-known to his contemporaries as a poet. Covering his exquisite anthologies of Arabic poetry, his witty and well- loved memoirs, and his political adventures, this comprehensive biography examines both the literary works of the famous "Arab- Syrian Gentleman" and the tumultuous life which inspired them. With a guide to further reading, a dynastic family tree and a glossary of the principal characters encountered in the book, it offers an indispensable window into Usmama's life, times and world of thought.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1 THE YOUTH AND THE CASTLE The setting of Shayzar Childhood Hunting at Shayzar Shayzar’s bad neighbors Nizaris attack Shayzar Relations with the Franks Quiet moments Exile Service to Zangi Last days in Hama 2 THE OUTCAST AND THE KINGS Damascus (1138–1144) Usama among the Franks Trouble in Damascus Egyptian adventures (1144–1154) The lesson of Ridwan A new patron An expedition to Syria Conspiracy in Cairo The final straw Damascus and Nur al-Din (1154–1164) Calamity 3 THE POET AND THE TOMB Diyar Bakr (1164–1174) Literary output Denouement in Damascus (1174–1188) Intellectual pursuits 4 ORDER AND CHAOS God’s will and the vicissitudes of Time Usama’s Islam Pious exemplars and the miraculous Women’s honor Male honor and social status The manners and customs of animals Conclusion 5 FRANKS AND MUSLIMS Usama, ethnographer Usama and the coming of the Crusades Usama on Antioch Social relations with the Franks Medicine Frankish justice Usama and Christianity Afterword Further reading Works cited Principal people encountered in this book Simplified lists of principal dynasties and rulers in Usama’s lifetime Index

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Book SynopsisConvinced that the veil is a symbol of unjust male authority over women, in The Veil and the Male Elite , Moroccan feminist Fatima Mernissi aims to investigate the origins of the practice in the first Islamic community.

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Book SynopsisThis work, written towards the end of Al-Ghazali's career as a philosopher, advances the idea that reason can serve as a connection between the devout and God. Exploring the boundary between philosophy and theology, it seeks to understand the role of reality in the perception of the spiritual.

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Book SynopsisDiscuss the Islamic Scriptures that form the basis for its political language, looks at the changes in modern Islamic politics, and analyzes the transformation of political terms.

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Book SynopsisCombining anthropology, history, and postmodern theory, this book examines the changing relation of writing and authority in a Muslim society from the late nineteenth century onwards. It raises important issues that are of comparative significance for understanding political life in other Muslim and nonwestern states as well.Table of ContentsILLUSTRATIONS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION PART I· AUTHORITY Chapter 1. Genealogies of the Text Chapter 2. The Pen and the Sword Chapter 3. Disenchantment PART II· TRANSMISSION Chapter 4. Audition Chapter 5. The New Method Chapter 6. Print Culture PART III· INTERPRETATION Chapter 7. Relations of Interpretation Chapter 8. Shari'a Society Chapter 9. Judicial Presence Chapter I0. Court Order PART IV· INSCRIPTION Chapter 11. Evidence of the Word Chapter 12. Spiral Texts CONCLUSION BIOGRAPHICAL GUIDE GLOSSARY NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

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Book SynopsisThrough its introductions and translations of this book allows scholars, students, and the general public to explore the earliest interactions between what eventually became the world's two largest religions, shedding new light on Islamic history and Christian-Muslim relations.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Prologue: The Year 630 Introduction Account ad 637 Chronicle ad 640 Letters, Isho'yahb III Apocalypse of Pseudo-Ephrem Khuzistan Chronicle Maronite Chronicle Syriac Life of Maximus the Confessor Canons, George I Colophon of British Library Additional 14,666 Letter, Athanasius of Balad Book of Main Points, John bar Penkaye Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius Edessene Apocalypse Exegesis of the Pericopes of the Gospel, Hnanisho' I Life of Theodute Colophon of British Library Additional 14,448 Apocalypse of John the Little Chronicle ad 705 Letters, Jacob of Edessa Chronicle, Jacob of Edessa Scholia, Jacob of Edessa Against the Armenians, Jacob of Edessa Kamed Inscriptions Chronicle of Disasters Chronicle ad 724 Disputation of John and the Emir Exegetical Homilies, Mar Abba II Disputation of Bet Hale Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAlong the Russian-Qing frontier in the nineteenth century, a new political space emerged, shaped by competing imperial and spiritual loyalties, cross-border economic and social ties, and revolution. David Brophy explores how a community of Central Asian Muslims responded to these historic changes by reinventing themselves as the Uyghur nation.Trade ReviewThis work on the Uyghurs, a 10-million strong Turkic Muslim minority residing mainly in Xinjiang in western China, is a welcome contribution to a recent rise in Uyghur studies…A remarkable account of a people searching for identity at the intersection of empire. -- M. Chakars * Choice *Nothing I have read in the last fifteen years comes close to this work in terms of intellectual breadth, rigorous analysis, and contribution to the field. This book will not only revolutionize thinking about the history of the Uyghur nation and the political history of Xinjiang during this period, it will set a new bar for future scholarship and inspire readers to think again about the processes, challenges, and opportunities within shifting political landscapes that lead to the creation of nations. -- Laura Newby, University of OxfordDrawing on sources in several languages, this book demonstrates how the idea of a Uyghur nation emerged in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Brophy shows how intellectuals in Taranchi and Kashgari communities along the Xinjiang–Russian border, inspired by academic writings on ancient Uyghurs, negotiated a new concept of Uyghur identity. This study is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the Uyghur national idea, and to Central Asian and Xinjiang studies. -- Ablet Kamalov, Institute of Oriental Studies, Almaty, KazakhstanUyghur Nation breaks new ground in the study of modern Xinjiang. David Brophy takes a transnational approach to the formation of a ‘Chinese’ ethnic group, offering a convincing account of the impact of tsarist and particularly Soviet institutions, evolutions, and interventions on the Qing and then Republican Chinese frontiers. He also demonstrates that the idea of a Uyghur nation had a conflicted, cross-border, twentieth-century history. Perhaps most important, he unites political, intellectual, social, religious, even economic history to create a story rooted in local conditions, not simple national or ethnic categories. He has written a strikingly original and impressive book. -- Jonathan Lipman, Mount Holyoke CollegeIn Uyghur Nation, Brophy transforms our understanding of the history of the Uyghurs. At the center of Brophy’s attention is the question of how the Muslims of Chinese Turkistan came to imagine themselves as Uyghur. He traces the emergence of Uyghurist discourse by placing Uyghur history firmly where it belongs—in the very center of Eurasia at the crossroads of three empires. Brophy relates the emergence of Uyghurist discourse to developments in Muslim societies of Xinjiang and beyond as they came to terms with pressures and influences from the Qing, the Russian, and the Ottoman empires. Prodigiously researched across many archives and in multiple languages, Uyghur Nation is a major work of transnational history that deserves a wide readership. -- Adeeb Khalid, Carleton CollegeDavid Brophy’s Uyghur Nation offers a fresh perspective on Uyghur history by using Russian, Chinese and Turkic sources to chart the development of the discourses that would ultimately produce the modern Uyghur identity… What is remarkable is that a ‘palimpsest of Islamic, Turkic and Soviet notions of national history and identity’ created by activists outside Xinjiang could have resonated so widely among Xinjiang’s diverse population. In this respect, the Uyghur case is probably unique, and David Brophy’s book thus deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in nation-building. -- Nick Holdstock * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisIslam came into being around AD 600 as a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion revealed through the Prophet Muhammad. Awareness of Islam in the West has grown dramatically in the twenty-first century, but there remains much misunderstanding of the interrelationship between Islam and Christianity, both their commonalities and differences.Andrei Younis elucidates esoteric reasons behind the emergence of Islam from the perspective of Steiner’s spiritual science. He draws on more than thirty years of studying Steiner’s work, as well as on first-hand knowledge gained from living in various Islamic countries and cultures. His purpose is to reconcile the origins, beliefs, and meanings of Islam and Christianity. Comprehending this anthroposophic perspective on the emergence of Islam is key to understanding why Islam manifests as it does today.Whereas this book will be enlightening and even surprising to most open-minded Western readers, it is not meant to be a foundation for beliefs (or non-belief), but as a springboard for thought and new avenues of understanding and compassion in a dangerous time.Table of ContentsPreface The Need to Understand Islam through Anthroposophic Wisdom Noteworthy contrasts between Christianity and Islam Reasons concealed behind the emergence of Islam as a new Yahweh Moon religion Influences on the descendants of Ishmael during the Kali Yuga period The critical situation 333 years after the coming of Christ The advent of Christ in relation to the crisis of 333: Lucifer’s involvement in blunting the Sorathic intervention Sorath’s intervention in AD 666 and the role of Ishmael’s descendants The Aftermath of the Invasion of the Gondishapur Academy Yahweh’s transformation into Allah: The beginning of the denial of spirit Further considerations on the absence of the concept of spirit in Islam: Confusion of three significant Hebraic terms What are the fundamental messages of the Koran? How did Muhammad’s verses influence pagan Arabs? Is the principle of freedom indicated anywhere in the Koran? Sharia law, the rule of retaliation, and the new principle of forgiveness in the Koran Are there any signs of the Christ impulse in the Koran? In what ways has Arabism been influential on Islam? Absence of the concept of spiritual freedom as a result of Arabism Absence of a concept of reincarnation Absence of the concept of karma and confined to the fatalistic concept of qadar Confusing Islam today with incidents and verses related only to Muhammad’s time What is Arabism? How are we to define it? What does Islam mean for Muslims, and how do they regard other religions? Muhammad as the last Prophet sent by Allah: Lucifer’s involvement in Islam Lucifer’s role in Arabism’s increase in power: The influence of luciferic morality on Islam Other reasons why the Koran has been misunderstood and misinterpreted Influence of apocryphal gospels on koranic verses and Islam: The influence of folk souls Is Islam related to Christ in any way? Consequences of the reappearance of Abraham’s monotheistic faith Why is the Antichrist (Dajjal) mentioned in Islam? How do Muslims interpret the Second Coming of Christ? How is Jesus of Nazareth conceived in Islam? Reasons behind the denial of the Holy Trinity and God’s Son What did Abraham’s monotheistic faith mean to Muhammad and to Muslims? The Prophet Muhammad’s two sons Further consequences of adhering to the old principle, “I and Father Abraham are one” Denial of the Crucifixion and its consequences Conclusion: Can Christianity and Islam find the key to reconciliation?Bibliography

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Book SynopsisTranslated from the 2d Urdu ed. by Maulvi Muhammad Yaqub Khan.

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Book SynopsisIn the late nineteenth century, as a consequence of imperial conquest and a mobility revolution, Russia became a crossroads of the hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. The first book in any language on the hajj under tsarist and Soviet rule, Russian Hajj tells the story of how tsarist officials struggled to control and co-opt Russia''s mass hajj traffic, seeing it as not only a liability but also an opportunity. To support the hajj as a matter of state surveillance and control was controversial, given the preeminent position of the Orthodox Church. But nor could the hajj be ignored, or banned, due to Russia''s policy of toleration of Islam. As a cross-border, migratory phenomenon, the hajj stoked officials'' fears of infectious disease, Islamic revolt, and interethnic conflict, but Eileen Kane innovatively argues that it also generated new thinking within the government about the utility of the empire''s Muslims and their global networks.Open Access editTrade ReviewThis is an impressively researched book, and many of the arguments are compelling. [Russian Hajj] makes an important contribution to debates around the reaches and limits of imperial rule in practice. * H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online *Eileen Kane’s account of the Russian Hajj taps into a fascinating story that Daniel Brower had once called 'a blind spot in studies of Russian colonial rule' (Daniel Brower, 'Russian Roads to Mecca,' Slavic Review 55(3) (1996): 568)... Kane does an excellent job providing evidence to support her account of the Russian Hajj as one of 'toleration' and 'sponsorship' in line with the past two decades’ 'imperial turn' in historiography. * Canadian-American Slavic Studies *[F]ascinating details of the organizational efforts behind Russia's sponsorship of the hajj are examined in this concise and informative volume on an often-overlooked chapter in Russian history. * AramcoWorld *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Russia as a Crossroads of the Global Hajj1. Imperialism through Islamic Networks2. Mapping the Hajj, Integrating Muslims3. Forging a Russian Hajj Route4. The Hajj and Religious Politics after 19055. The Hajj and Socialist RevolutionConclusion: Russian Hajj in the Twenty-First Century

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisSickness washes away the dirty of sins like soap, and cleanses. It is established in an authenticated hadith that illnesses are expiation of sins. It says, 'As ripe fruits fall from the tree when it is shaken, so the sins of a beliver fall away with shaking during illness.'

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