Islamic life and practice Books

Book SynopsisAt some level, so many of us have experienced emptiness. But very few people know why. And even fewer people know how to fill that emptiness. But we spend our lives trying...As flawed human beings, we so often cringe at our humanness. We try eveything to erase it. We look for any way to hide from our wounds and to numb the pain. But what if we didn''t have to hide? What if our wound became the door to a deeper understanding of ourselves and God? What if every wound served a purpose and the process of healing made us stronger?This life and our entire journey here, is not an end in itself. It is a purposeful process, designed by God to shape our hearts. To prepare our souls for the Final Meeting with Him. We must allow the process to refine and remake us. And our wounds are a part of that process. It will hurt. It will seem like the end so many times. But it is not the end. Our journey will keep going and we can rise out of our pain, stronger. And then in the End, it won''t be how we walked in the sun-but how we handled the storm-that will define us. It won''t be about how we ran. It will be about how we fell, and then got back up. This book is about finding strength in God and in our capacity to be both human and beautiful--both flawed and inspired. It is a journey to the understanding that we are flawed by design so that we can find strength and beauty in relying entirely on the Flawless. This book is about learning why we suffer and how to stop our pain from destroying us. It is a spiritual and psychological manual for healing and growth through our pain. It is about finding peace and purpose, no matter what we''ve been through.We live in a world where the moment we feel pain, we find ourselves surrounded by countless sedatives, promising to take it away. Sex, drugs, alcohol, materialism, consumerism are some of the many escapes we use to distract ourselves from what hurts in our lives. And some of us use other sedatives. Some of us try to lose ourselves in our work and our careers. Some people try to fill the void by living online. We disengage from our real life and our real relationships in order to hide in a false social media world, or in our devices and technology. We become dependent upon the immediate and temporary dopamine rush of social approval. We begin to covet likes and followers and share intimate aspects of our lives in the public sphere, waiting for commentary and praise. Waiting to be seen--even if it''s by perfect strangers. And yet all along, we only become more empty and even more isolated.?In order to thrive in this life and the next, we must have an understanding of healing. The first step in healing must be diagnosing the root cause of our pain. The second step is removing the barriers to healing. The third step is treating the wound with the necessary medicine. And finally we must keep the wound clean by ensuring our environment is not toxic.

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Book SynopsisBased on 216 in-depth interviews of Muslims in Britain, the book examines how British Muslim youths and young adults, 15-30 years old, define their identities, their values and their culture and whether these conflict either with those of their parents or with the dominant non-Muslim British culture.Table of ContentsForeword; Acknowledgements; List of Tables and Figures; List of Abbreviations; Glossary; Introduction; 1. The identity debate; 2. Muslims in Britain: An overview; 3. The religious and cultural dilemma; 4. To be or not to be British; 5. Is the media biased against Muslims?; 6. The niqab debate; 7. Indignation about proposal to include Shariah law in Britain; Conclusion: A humanitarian way forward; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisFrom Iran, where all banking is Shari''ah compliant, to Malaysia and the gulf, where Islamic financial institutions compete with conventional banks, Rodney Wilson examines how Islamic financial institutions are licensed and governed by common and civil law. Covering Islamic banks, takaful operators, fund management and Shari''ah-compliant securities, it examines how their assets and liabilities differ from their conventional counterparts and what the implications are for risk management.

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Book SynopsisBased on 216 in-depth interviews of Muslims in Britain, the book examines how British Muslim youths and young adults define their identities, values and culture and whether these conflict either with those of their parents or with the dominant non-Muslim British culture.Table of ContentsForeword; Acknowledgements; List of Tables and Figures; List of Abbreviations; Glossary; Introduction; 1. The identity debate; 2. Muslims in Britain: An overview; 3. The religious and cultural dilemma; 4. To be or not to be British; 5. Is the media biased against Muslims?; 6. The niqab debate; 7. Indignation about proposal to include Shariah law in Britain; Conclusion: A humanitarian way forward; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisShows how Arab Christians struggled to balance religious and nationalist identities in Palestine between 1917 and 1948. This title focuses on the relationship between Arab Christians and the nationalist movement in Palestine as the British Mandate unfolded throughout the first half of the 20th century.

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Book SynopsisWhat is it like to be a young Muslim in America? Many young Americans cherish an American dream, ''that all men are created equal. And the election of America''s first black President in 2008 has shown that America has moved forward. Yet since 9/11 Muslim Americans have faced renewed challenges, with their loyalty and sense of belonging being questioned. Nahid Kabir takes you on a journey into the ideas, outlooks and identity of young Muslims in Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Virginia. Based on around 400 in-depth interviews with young Muslims, discover the similarities and differences between ethnic and racial groups such as Iranians, Arab Americans and African Americans. Find out how they rate President Obama as a national and world leader, where they stand on the Israeli-Palestine issue and how the media impacts on them.Trade Review"'Young American Muslims: Dynamics of Identity is an incisive, informative and accessible study, written in well-organised and succinct chapters promoting dialogue and critical engagement. It reveals the author's connection and empathy towards issues affecting her interviewees while at the same time offering an astute critical analysis of a diversity of issues and attitudes. Giving voice to young Muslims living in America and a space to tell their stories, Kabir's study is ultimately optimistic in its appreciation of the maturity and fair-mindedness of the participants which are crucial for establishing as well as continuing constructive dialogues in American society.' (Maja Milatovic, LSE Review of Books)"

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Book SynopsisAn engaging introduction to one of the most visible, controversial and least understood emblems of Islam. This concise, easy-to-read and even-handed introduction explores the historical, religious and cultural background; contemporary debates about the veil; and the varied, shifting meanings the veil has had for Muslim women.

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Book SynopsisTwelver or Imami Shi'i Islam has long been understood through the concepts of the authority of jurists and political theology. However, building upon recent scholarship in the fields of religious studies and anthropology, this book argues that Imami Shi'ism is better understood as a discursive tradition, and that from the late Abbasid to the post-Ilkhanid period, Hillah, in southern Iraq, was a center of scholarship, debate and exchange, challenging the traditionally authoritarian view of the development of Shi'i Islam's largest sect.Aun Hasan Ali applies the techniques of social network analysis to bio-bibliographical sources to reveal the school of Hillah as a formative period where outstanding and landmark works were written in practically every field of classical Islamic scholarship. He uses state-of-the-art electronic databases to study the transmission of knowledge and networks of kinship, learning, and patronage to show the way that the school was socially, politically and histoTrade ReviewProfessor Ali’s book is a mammoth undertaking that interrogates the archival record to meticulously trace the relationships that existed between scholars and their texts. By recentering Hillah (from the twelfth to fourteenth centuries) as a key site for the formation of Twelver Shi'ism, he demonstrates the ways in which the intellectual tradition that flourished in this city continues to impact our understanding of Twelver Shi'ism until today * Nebil A. Husayn, Associate Professor, University of Miami, USA *A tour de force of Shi'i Islamic studies, Aun Hasan Ali’s The School of Hillah manages to combine historical precision with the larger theoretical interests of religious studies. Ali carefully outlines the evolution of Shi'i law, theology, and exegesis by untangling a pivotal and complex network of scholars. Above all else, the book’s clarity and intellectual vigor render it a sheer joy to read. * Cyrus Ali Zargar, Professor, University of Central Florida, USA *Aun Hasan Ali’s book provides an enlightening, comprehensive analysis of intellectual life at one of the most important centers of Shi'i scholarship during the formative period of Imami thought and practice. Surveying the pertinent scholarly networks, their controversies and literary contributions to the main disciplines and genres, the author demonstrates the extent to which the intellectual landscape of Imami scholarship of Southern Iraq between the twelfth and fourteenth century CE was determined by an underlying framework of disagreement. * Sabine Schmidtke, Professor, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, USA. *Aun Hasan Ali offers a long-overdue, in-depth and interdisciplinary examination of the careers and contributions of the Imami Shi'i scholars of this pivotal period in the history of the faith. The School of Hillah constitutes a masterful contribution to the field of Shi'i studies. * Andrew J. Newman, Professor, University of Edinburgh, UK *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements A Note on Conventions Chapter 1: Introduction Early scholarship on Imami law The development of Imami legal studies Recent scholarship on Imami law General observations about the field The Islamic tradition The Imami madhhab Conclusion Chapter 2: The School of Hillah in Islamic History The Seljuks and the late Abbasids The Ilkhanids The Jalayirids and the Qara-Qoyunlu The Mazyadids and Hillah Conclusion Chapter 3: The Learned Families of Hillah The family of Nama The family of Said al-Hudhali The family of Tawus The family of Fikhar The family of Mutahhar The family of Bitriq The family of Mu'ayyah The family of Rafi The family of Abd al-Hamid al-Nili The family of Wishah The family of al-A'raj The smaller families of Hillah Conclusion: the Mazyadids Chapter 4: The Literary Construction of the Imami Madhhab Imami authorities Rational sciences: philosophy, logic, and science Theology and doctrine Substantive law and jurisprudence Imami bio-bibliography Major compilations of Sunni hadith Sunni scholars Supplication and ritual Fada'il Quranic sciences and exegesis Arabic language and literature Uncategorized material, minor collections of hadith, and historical sources Conclusion Chapter 5: Substantive Law and Jurisprudence The early jurists of hillah Ibn Idris and al-Sara'ir The methodology of the later scholars Reason The greatest battle Conclusion Chapter 6: Bio-bibliography Jamal al-Din Ibn Tawus Ibn Dawud al-Allamah Conclusion Chapter 7: General Works of Hadith, Supplication and Ritual, and History and Genealogy General works of hadith Supplication and ritual History and genealogy Chapter 8: Exegesis and Fada'il Exegesis Fada'il Chapter 9: A Brief Excursus on Philosophy and Theology Chapter 10: Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIslam through Objects represents the state of the field of Islamic material cultural studies. With contributions from scholars of religion, anthropologists, art historians, folklorists, historians, and other disciplines, Anna Bigelow brings together a wide range of perspectives on Islamic materiality to debunk myths of Islamic aversion to material aspects of religion. Each chapter focuses on a single object in daily use by Muslimsprayer beads, coins, amulets, a cistern well, clothing, jewellery, bodily and domestic adornmentsto consider both generic and particular aspects of the object in question. These narratives will engage the reader by describing and analyzing each object in terms of its provenance, materials, uses, and history, as well as the broader history, variety and uses of the object in Islamic history and cultures. Temporal, regional, and sectarian variations in the styles, uses, and theological perspectives are also considered. Framed by an introTrade ReviewThis is a fascinating and often surprising contribution to the Bloomsbury Studies in Material Religion. * Religion, Collections and Heritage Group *By bringing together a multitude of perspectives and disciplines ranging from social and cultural anthropology to history, from folklore to art history and ecology, the volume offers a very inspiring contribution to widening the scope of Islamic studies … A collection of articles that abound in epic qualities and convey adventures and surprises of research. Some of the touching and truly breath-taking stories contained in this very enjoyable book will remain in the mind of the reader for a long time. * Die Welt Des Islams *This is a treasure box of exciting object-oriented analysesthat unpack how Islamic epistemes are enmeshed with the material world. Framed by Anna Bigelow’s sophisticated introduction, this volume does not only offer a ground-breaking contribution to theorizing materiality in the study of Islam. It also triggers new insights for conceptualizing material religion from the angle of Muslim engagements with things. * Birgit Meyer, Professor of Religious Studies, Utrecht University, The Netherlands *Writing against misrepresentations of Islam as an iconophobic, monolithic tradition, this eclectic volume explores how Islamic things ‘make sense’ to Muslims around the world. Chapters colorfully narrate how Muslim communities come to identify an object as Islamic, saturated with Islamic meaning and presence, as well as how such objects animate and orient the senses and sensibilities of Muslims. Fascinating! * Zareena A Grewal, Associate Professor of American Studies and Religious Studies, Yale University, USA *“This exciting edited collection of essays takes you on a journey to destabilize any notion you might have on ‘Islam’ through objects. An important book that will push you away from text to a world of things, beautifully illustrated—alive through the diverse lives of Muslims.” * Amanullah De Sondy, Head of Study of Religions Department and Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Islam, University College Cork, Ireland *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Thinking with Islamic Things, Anna Bigelow (Stanford University, USA) Part I: Tracing Images 1. Clothes of Righteousness: The MGT Uniform in the 20th Century, Kayla Renee Wheeler (Grand Valley State University, USA) 2. The Masonic Muhammad: Modern Franco-Iranian Visual Encounters in Prophetic Iconography, Christiane Gruber (University of Michigan, USA) 3. Relic Reproduction: Tracing the Lives of Muhammad’s Sandal, Richard McGregor (Vanderbilt University, USA) Part II: Identifying Objects 4. “The Greatest and Only Flag Known”: The Lapel Pin in American Islam, Michael Muhammad Knight (University of Central Florida, USA) 5. Tasbih in West African Islamic History: Spirituality, Aesthetics, Politics, and Identity, Ousman Murzik Kobo (Ohio State University, USA) 6. Caps, Heads, and Hearts, Scott Kugle (Emory University, USA) Part III: Objects in Practice 7. What Comes to Light When a Lamp Is Lit in Bektashi Tradition, Mark Soileau (Haceteppe University, Turkey) 8. The Agency of the Material Taviz (Amulet) in a South Indian Healing Room, Joyce Burkhalter Flueckiger (Emory University, USA) 9. The Life of a Tablet, Aomar Boum (University of California, Los Angeles, USA) Part IV: Circulatory Systems 10. Coins and Fish: Sovereignty, Economy, and Religion in the Islamicate Indian Ocean, Roxani Margariti (Emory University, USA) 11. The Aljibe del Rey, D. Fairchild Ruggles (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA) 12. Zamzam Water: Scales of Environmentality and Decolonizing Material Islam, Anna Gade (University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA) Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the salience of neo-traditionalism in Anglo-American Muslim communities, by tracing the scholarship and impact of the key public pedagogues (shaykhs) associated with this phenomenon Hamza Yusuf, Abdal Hakim Murad, and Umar Faruq Abd-Allah.Trade Review"Addressing the phenomenon of Islamic 'neo-traditionalism', Dr Quisay skilfully analyses not only the positions of its most prominent advocates and acolytes, but also the larger epistemological and ethical contexts in which it has developed. She brings out clearly the aspirations, as well as the disillusionment associated with these efforts to re-enchant the world." -Charles Tripp, SOAS University of London

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Book SynopsisA rare account of neoliberal Muslim female subjectivity in Turkey's elite Islamic bourgeois circles.

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Book SynopsisA useful introduction to the social, political, cultural and religious position of Muslims living in contemporary Europe. It describes the history of early European Muslims and outlines the causes and courses of 20th-century Muslim immigration.Table of ContentsPreface; 1. A Brief History; 2. France; 3. Germany; 4. United Kingdom; 5. The Netherlands and Belgium; 6. Scandinavia; 7. Southern Europe; 8. Family, Law and Culture; 9. Muslim Organisations; 10. European Muslims in a New Europe?; A Note on Statistics; Bibliographical Essay; Index.

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Book SynopsisBased on a political sociology of two families of religious scholars, al-Hakim and al-Khu'i, Elvire Corboz explains the internal workings of transnational leadership patterns in Shi'ism for the first time.

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating study which shows how, from the seventh century to the present day, the region's people have negotiated their distinctively Central Asian Islamic identity in the face of enduring external Islamic and non-Islamic dominations, ethnic nationalisms and, more recently, global transnational Islamic influences.

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Book SynopsisThrough case studies of academic institutions the volume illustrates how transmission of ideas is an extremely complex process, and the outcome of such efforts depends not just on the strategies adopted by backers of those ideologies but equally on the characteristics of the receipt communities.

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Book SynopsisThis collection is one of the first to explore the everyday lives, political engagements and social practices of Scotland s Muslim communities. Themes include: education, health and well-being; sexuality, gender and age; integration, multiculturalism and citizenship; and heritage, media and representation.

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Book SynopsisContrary to the stereotypical images of torture, narcotics and brutal sexual abuse traditionally associated with Ottoman or 'Turkish' prisons, Kent Schull argues that, during the Second Constitutional Period (1908 1918), they played a crucial role in attempts to transform the empire.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the various methods and trends in Hadith Studies across the globe. Bringing together contributions from 10 scholars of Hadith, it addresses the subject from a variety of methodological vantage points and historical premises.

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Book SynopsisArgues for the compatibility human rights and Islam, focusing on six controversial case studies: religious discrimination; gender discrimination; slavery; freedom of religion; punishment of apostasy; and arbitrary or harsh punishments.

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Book SynopsisExplores the social consequences of Britain's creation of an Indian Ocean empire that brought millions of Muslim subjects under a single political umbrella for the first time in the modern era.

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Book SynopsisExplores the ways in which Muslims relate various forms of religious oratory to authoritative tradition in 21st-century Islamic practice, while striving to adapt to local contexts and the changing circumstances of politics, media and society.

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Book SynopsisMany consider Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali the all-time greatest scholar of Islam. One of the great legal scholars of his time (1058-1111), he was, also, one of the foremost scholars of theology, philosophy and Sufism. In the realm of Sufism, his writings on the interrelation of law, theology and mysticism were central in establishing Sufism as a core dimension of Orthodox Islamic practice. Muslim communities all across the world today still base much of their practice of Islam on Ghazali's writings. Forty Foundations of the Religion is Ghazali's own summary of his magnum opus, The Revival of Religious Knowledge, which he described as the 'very essence of the knowledge of the Qur'an'. The Foundations are a brief and powerful summary of Islamic faith, worship, law and spirituality. This is the first publication of significant portions of the Foundations in English. Original translations of selected highlights are accompanied by insightful commentary that makes the core message of this great spiritual master relevant to anyone seeking a balanced understanding of Islam. This volume will ,also, attract those who are interested in Eastern spirituality, Sufism and interfaith dialogue. Foundations offers a concise and affordable alternative to the extensive (and expensive) translations of the original Revival of Religious Knowledge.Trade ReviewIslamic spirituality can be a trying thing in the modern day. Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Spirituality is a translated and annotated study of the work of this eleventh century Islamic scholar who discussed much fo the faith's early philosophy and theology, and whose work remains quite relevant even to the modern day. Sufism is a major element of orthodox Islam practices, and presents a great deal to consider. Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Spirituality is a core addition to any community and library Islamic and general religious studies collection. * Library Bookwatch *Table of ContentsForeword: Al-Ghazali and the Tradition of Islamic Renewal ix Introduction xv Al-Ghazali's Introduction 3 BOOK I The Science of Belief The First Foundation: Allah's Entity 9 The Second Foundation: His Sacredness 13 The Third Foundation: Allah’s Omnipotent Power 17 The Fourth Foundation: Allah’s Omniscient Knowledge 19 The Fifth Foundation: Allah’s Will 21 The Sixth Foundation: Allah’s Hearing and Seeing 25 The Seventh Foundation: Allah’s Speech 27 The Eighth Foundation: His Actions 29 The Ninth Foundation: The Last Day 33 The Tenth Foundation: Prophecy 37 Conclusion 39 BOOK II Outward Actions The First Foundation: Ritual Prayer 43 The Second Foundation: Poor Tax and Charity 51 The Third Foundation: Fasting 59 The Fourth Foundation: Hajj, the Pilgrimage to Mecca 63 The Fifth Foundation: Recitation of Qur’an 69 The Sixth Foundation: Regarding Remembrance of Allah Mighty and Majestic in Every State 79 The Seventh Foundation: Seeking the Permissible 85 The Eighth Foundation: Establishing the Rights of the Believers and Keeping Good Company 91 The Ninth Foundation: Commanding the Right and Forbidding the Wrong 99 The Tenth Foundation: Regarding Following the Sunnah 105 Conclusion: Regarding the Ordering of Your Litanies That Incline You Toward These Ten Foundations … 109 BOOK III Purification of the Heart The First Foundation: The Evils Related to Food 115 The Second Foundation: The Evils Related to Speech 121 The Third Foundation: Anger 131 The Fourth Foundation: Envy 135 The Fifth Foundation: Stinginess and Love of Wealth 141 The Sixth Foundation: Frivolity and Love of Prestige 151 The Seventh Foundation: Love of the World 163 The Eighth Foundation: Arrogance 171 The Ninth Foundation: Pride 181 The Tenth Foundation: Ostentation 187 Conclusion: The Entirety of [Blameworthy] Character Traits and the Places Where You Fall into Delusions with Regard to Them 205 BOOK IV Meritorious Character Traits The First Foundation: Repentance 213 The Second Foundation: Fear 219 The Third Foundation: Abstinence 225 The Fourth Foundation: Patience 233 The Fifth Foundation: Gratitude 241 The Sixth Foundation: Sincerity and Truthfulness 245 The Seventh Foundation: Reliance on Allah 257 The Eighth Foundation: Love 267 The Ninth Foundation: Contentment with Divine Destiny 281 The Tenth Foundation: Remembering Death and Its Reality, and the Categories of Spiritual Punishments 287 Conclusion 295 Epilogue 296 Notes 297 Selected Bibliography 300

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Book SynopsisThis book comprises responses by a Sufi master, Hadrat Sahib of the Naqshbandi tradition, to letters written by students of the master. The questions posed in these letters cover a wide range of issues including, financial problems, health issues, family matters, education and bereavement. The advice given by the master reveals a deep spirituality which places the particular student's problem in context and details a specific method of offering oneself to God at all times. It is difficult to find such detail relating to spiritual practices in Sufi literature. These letters are inspirational and timeless. They provide a cure to a world dominated by materialism and all its attendant miseries.

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Book SynopsisHow do we identify and judge beauty? Does it distract us from more pressing questions and issues? Is beauty the handmaiden of privilege? Or can it be found in everyday, ordinary things? Whatever happened to beauty in contemporary Islam? Do Muslims have a inkling of what beauty is and why is it significant? This issue of Critical Muslim looks at beauty from a number of perspectives -- from beauty in the Qur’an and the Beautiful Divine Names to racism and the beauty industry, politics of fashion, calligraphy, plastic surgery, female wrestling, Muslim beauty contests and the male and female gaze.

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Book SynopsisHow do we communicate meaning in the age of fake news? What is the difference between narrative and information; between ideology and political narrative; between ‘narrative fiction’ and a story? Will the narration continue forever? What is history and what is propaganda? What shall we do tonight? What might we believe tomorrow? We look at the past, present and future of narratives and tell a few tall tales ourselves.

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Book SynopsisThis title offers a concise introduction to the contemporary challenges and key issues facing Islam. This new introduction aims to present Islam through the lens of contemporary issues. Illustrated with examples and case studies taken from lived religion, each chapter looks at Islam in a modern context, and modern issues relevant to the religion. After an initial chapter providing an overview of the Islamic faith, its history and basic theological tenets, Ron Geaves moves through key contemporary themes: Islam and diversity, ethics and morality, gender, fundamentalism, and the relationship between Islam and the West. Concluding with a final section looking at the future for Islam, its relevance in modern times, the future for the religion in question and what it can contribute to society in terms of inter-religious dialogue and harmony between different communities. These useful guides aim to introduce religions through the lens of contemporary issues, illustrated throughout with examples and case studies taken from lived religion. The perfect companion for the student of religion, each guide interprets the teachings of the religion in question in a modern context and applies them to modern day scenarios.Trade Review"Primarily drawing on Muslim sources, Geaves discusses a range of contemporary issues, some contentious. Aware of Islam's diversity, he consistently avoids generalizations. Specialist and beginners alike will be interested in Geaves' contention that the West should listen to Muslim voices. Despite regrettable acts by some, he argues, most Muslims want to engage in constructive dialogue. Muslim criticism of Western materialism, social injustice and equality merits serious discussion. So does Muslim insistence that values have a place in public discourse. Geaves is equally clear that Muslims do not always translate ideals into practice. What emerges is balanced, sensitive, informed and insightful. Avoiding caricature and calumny, Geaves resists the opposite - apology for an idealized Islam. Focusing on Islam as a lived experience, Geaves is concerned with Muslim realities, not romanticized versions. I am delighted to recommend Islam Today as a positive contribution to literature on Muslim life and thought. Hopefully, it will achieve what it sets out to do - improve Muslim-non-Muslim understanding." - Professor Clinton Bennett, The State University of New York at New Paltz, NY, USATable of Contents1. Islam: the basics; 2. Islam and diversity; 3. Islam and ethics and morality: The challenge of textual interpretation; 4. Islam and Gender; 5. Islam and Fundamentalism; 6. Islam and the West; 7. Islam: the future; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe internet has profoundly shaped how Muslims perceive Islam, and how Islamic societies and networks are evolving and shifting within the twenty-first century. While these electronic interfaces appear new and innovative in terms of how the media is applied, much of their content has a basis in classical Islamic concepts, with an historical resonance that can be traced back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad. "I-Muslims" explores how these transformations and influences play out in diverse cyber Islamic environments, and how they are responding to shifts in technology and society. This book discusses how, in some contexts, the application of the internet has had an overarching transformational effect on how Muslims practice Islam, how forms of Islam are represented to the wider world, and how Muslim societies perceive themselves and their peers. On one level, this may be in terms of practical performance of Islamic duties and rituals, or on the interpretation and understanding of the Qur'an. On another level, cyber Islamic environments have exposed Muslims to radical and new influences outside of traditional spheres of knowledge and authority, causing long-standing paradigmatic shifts at a grassroots level within societies. "I-Muslims" looks at how these changes are taking place, including through social networking sites and the blogosphere. This book also explores how the internet has dramatically influenced jihad-oriented campaigns by networks such as al-Qaeda, and has made a significant difference to how forms of Islamic activism and radicalization have been engendered. This book concludes by determining the way forward for the articulation of diverse understandings of Islam online, and how Muslim networks will be further shaped through their relationships with the internet.Table of Contents1. iMuslims and Cyber Islamic Environments 2. Accessing Cyber Islamic Environments 3. De-coding the Sacred: Islamic Source Code 4. The Islamic Blogosphere 5. The Cutting-edge: Militaristic Jihad in Cyberspace 6. Digital Jihadi Battlefields: Iraq and Palestine 7. The Transformation of Cyber Islamic Environments

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Book SynopsisThe Dignity of Man: An Islamic Perspective provides the most detailed study to date on the subject of the dignity of man from the perspective of Islam. M H Kamali sets out the proclamations on human dignity found in the Qur''an and then discusses topics pertaining to or resulting from human dignity: the physical and spiritual nobility of man; God''s love for humanity; the sanctity of life; and the necessity for freedom, equality and accountability. Finally, the author examines the measures that the Sharia has taken to protect human dignity and to promote it in social interaction. The discussion is here presented in the light of the debate on the universality of human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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Book SynopsisThe Book of Love, Longing, Intimacy and Contentment is the thirty-sixth chapter of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali''s Revival of the Religious Sciences. This was the first treatise which established not merely the possibility but the necessity for the love of God. Ghazali argues that all the virtues and spiritual stages that precede love, like repentance, patience and thankfulness, lead to love; and all the spiritual stages that follow on from love are a result of it. Out of Ghazali''s pioneering treatment would emerge not only new trends in Sufi theory and practice, but an entire body of mystical poetry including that of the great Persian poets Rumi and Hafiz. The translation is preceded by an extensive introduction which sets the work in its historical and spiritual context.

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Book SynopsisIbn Taymiyya remains one of the most controversial Islamic thinkers today because of his supposed influence on many fundamentalist movements. The common understanding of his ideas have been filtered through the bits and pieces of his statements, which have been misappropriated by alleged supporters and avowed critics alike. However, most people still have limited access to his beliefs and opinions as expressed in his own writings. Epistle on Worship: Risalat Al-''Ubudiyya, aims to fill this gap by presenting an annotated translation of one of Ibn Taymiyya''s most important epistles on the theology behind the concept of worship. The introduction gives the reader an overview of his biography and situates Ibn Taymiyya in the broader world of Islamic intellectual history by explaining his methodological arguments and theological opinions. The annotated translation captures the immediacy of his ideas as they impacted his world as well as the relevancy they have for our times.

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Book SynopsisA Collection of Sufi Rules of Conduct (Jawami'' Adab al-Sufiyya) was written by one of the foremost early masters of Sufism and is considered as the first work devoted to the description of the way of life and the customs of the Sufis. It represents an early attempt to illustrate the conformity of Sufi beliefs and manners with the Qur''an and the example of the Prophet (Sunnah). A Collection of Sufi Rules of Conduct is therefore not only a pioneering work of ethics and mysticism, it is also a summary of the views of Sufis up till the eleventh century. It was a major influence on the development of Sufism from the eleventh century onwards.The translation by Dr Elena Biagi includes an introduction that places the author in his historical, literary and religious context, and a general glossary of Sufi technical terms.

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Book SynopsisAl-Ghazali on Invocations and Supplications is a translation of the ninth chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya'' ''Ulum al-Din). This chapter falls in the sections dealing with the requirement of religion. The present volume is probably the most widely read compendium of such material, popular not only for its comprehensiveness and beauty, but also for the analytical approach of its author, who explores the psychological and spiritual effects of prayer and the celebration of God''s name.This new third edition includes the invocations and supplications in Arabic for those readers who would like to use them in their prayers and a translation of Imam Ghazali''s own Introduction to the Revival of the Religious Sciences, which gives the reasons that caused him to write the work, the structure of the whole of the Revival, and places each of the chapters in the context of the others.

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Book SynopsisAl-Minhaj Al-Sawi is a milestone work, the first work of its kind for many centuries. It is a compendium of Prophetic Hadiths, categorised under a number of headings and compiled with clear relevance to the lives and situation of Muslims in the modern age. The work is authenticated by a rigorous and detailed process of Takhreej - referencing each hadith to its sources - from a study of over 300 authentic works of hadith. This work will be useful for academics in many relevant fields, whether researching the basis of orthodox Sunni belief and practice, or examining the contemporary Muslim response to religious extremism. It is split into 2 volumes: Prophetic Virtues and Miracles and Righteous Character and Social Interactions. The first part Prophetic Virtues and Miracles will prove invaluable to readers who wish to understand, in the light of the most authenticated and sourced classical Islamic materials, the responsibilities of Muslims in modern age, and the rights of others, and will provide clarity in relation to the Prophet Muhammad's virtues and life, his methods of worship and spiritual practice and other aspects of his Sunnah.Table of Contents-The Esteemed Majesty of the Messengership and the Honoured Station of the Chosen Prophet -Compendium of the Noble Virtues -Miracles and Miraculous Virtues -The Nobility of this Ummah -The Khawarij, the Apostates and the Denigrators of the Prophet

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Book SynopsisAl-Minhaj al-Sawi is a milestone work, the first work of its kind for many centuries. It is a compendium of Prophetic Hadiths, categorised under a number of headings and compiled with clear relevance to the lives and situation of Muslims in the modern age. The work is authenticated by a rigorous and detailed process of Takhreej - referencing each hadith to its sources - from a study of over 300 authentic works of hadith. This work will be useful for academics in many relevant fields, whether researching the basis of orthodox Sunni belief and practice, or examining the contemporary Muslim response to religious extremism. It is split into 2 volumes: Prophetic Virtues and Miracles and Righteous Character and Social Interactions. The second part Righteous Character and Social Interactions presents sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad concerning interactions with non-Muslims and non-Muslim communities, his method of prayer and spiritual devotion, his status and characteristics, and provides clarification of other important issues of the age, such as Jihad, Khawarijism, and Tassawuf.Table of Contents-Faith & Spiritual Excellence -Excellence & Knowledge of Sunnah -Sincere Devotion and Softening of Hearts -Piety, Affinity & Rights -Manners & Social Interactions -Peace & Mercy for Humanity (Including: Killing of Human Beings is one of the greatest sins; Unlawfulness of killing of non-combatants during warfare; -The rights and protection of non-Muslim citizens in an Islamic state) -Basic Acts of Worship -Merits of Righteous Actions -The Manner of the Prophet's Ritual Prayer -The [Ramadhan] ritual prayer of the Tarawih and the number of its cycles -Supplication [Du'a] after the Prescribed Ritual Prayers

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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