A brief guide to Islam : history, faith and politics : the complete introduction

A brief guide to Islam History, faith and politics : the complete introduction

Paul Grieve

Book - 2006

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Subjects
Islam.
Islam > History.
Islam > Relations.
Islam and politics.
Islam > Social aspects.
Published
New York : Carroll and Graf Publishers c2006.
Language
English
Main Author
Paul Grieve (-)
Edition
1st Carroll & Graf ed
Physical Description
ix, 433 p. : ill., maps ; 20 cm
Bibliography
Includes index.
ISBN
9780786718047
  • A Stroll Through the City of God
  • 1. In the Beginning
  • I. Muslims, Christians and Jews: Similarities
  • II. Muslims, Christians and Jews: Differences
  • III. The Torah, the Bible and the Qur'an
  • IV. The Nature of Islam
  • V. The Divide: Islam Misunderstood
  • 2. The Coming of the Prophet
  • I. Early History
  • II. Islam and the Torah
  • III. The Judeo-Christian Prophets and the Qur'an
  • The Messenger Isa
  • IV. The Life of Muhammad
  • Islamic Dating
  • Appendix 1. The Constitution of Medina
  • Appendix 2. Muhammad's Wives
  • 3. The Fundamentals of Faith
  • I. The Noble Qur'an
  • The Mysterious Letters
  • Qur'an Reciters
  • II. The Hadith and the Sunna of the Prophet
  • III. The Five Pillars of Islam
  • The Perils of the Pilgrimage
  • IV. The Commandments of Islam
  • At the Heart of Faith
  • Appendix 1. Examples of Secure Hadiths from al-Bukhari and Muslim
  • Appendix 2. Surah 1, Al-Fatiha (The Opening)
  • Appendix 3. Common Arabic Expressions Invoking the Name of God
  • Appendix 4. The Ninety-nine Beautiful Names of Allah
  • Appendix 5. Muhammad's Farewell Sermon
  • 4. Islam in the Modern World
  • I. The Spread of Islam
  • The Battle of Yarmuk
  • Islam in Medieval Europe
  • The Crusades through Arab Eyes
  • II. Islam beyond the Empire
  • III. The Arrival of the West in Dar al-Islam
  • IV. The Great War and the Cairo Conference
  • Piracy on the Tyne
  • V. Islam in the Modern World
  • Hiro as Hero
  • 11th September 2001
  • VI. Muslim Communities in the West
  • Appendix. The Balfour Declaration
  • 5. The Practice of Islam
  • I. Faith without Priests, Feasts without Sacraments
  • II. Understanding Shariah
  • Fatwas in modern times
  • III. Social Prohibitions
  • The Queen Boat
  • IV. Women in Islam
  • V. Islamic Banking
  • Shariah banking in Pakistan
  • VI. Jihad
  • 6. The Development of Islam
  • I. Movements within Islam
  • The Death of the Imam al-Husayn, Prince of Martyrs
  • That Turbulent Priest
  • The Oppressed and the Martyrs
  • The Life and Times of Brother X
  • II. What is a Fundamentalist?
  • III. The Future
  • Powerless in Gaza
  • Under the Lid
  • 7. Travelling in Dar al-Islam
  • I. Culture, Religion and Social Progress
  • II. God Without an Image
  • III. Mosque Architecture
  • IV. The Harams
  • The Mysterious Ending of al-Hakim bi-amr Allah
  • V. Ten Treasures of Islam
  • VI. Thirty-five Famous Muslims
  • VII. Face to Face
  • Appendix. Excerpt from The Life of Muhammad
  • Glossary
  • Index
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Grieve, a London-based writer and self-styled student and traveler of the Islamic world, puts forward a riveting book on Islam that decries and then corrects the widespread ignorance about the faith and its history. He consistently jolts the reader out of preconceived notions about Islam and Muslims, particularly concerning the Palestinian conflict. Grieve's precise insights into the Muslim worlds, past and present, are astonishingly accurate. He provides the real and surprising backstory on everything from the Crusades and colonialism to Muslim immigration to Europe and women under Islam. He also provides succinct introductory information on Islam, including recommending Qur'an translations and reviewing standard prayer techniques. Of the harsh reputation Islam has received in the West, Grieve writes: "The universal message of Christianity would be similarly diminished... if the faith were to be defined only by reference to sectarian murders in Northern Ireland, the history of the Spanish Inquisition, or the sad stories of lust and greed in modern television evangelism." His book is by no means an ode of praise to Islam; he is properly critical of the marginalization of women in Muslim societies, which he argues will hold the Muslim world back. If you read only one book about Islam this year, this should be it. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review

Grieve (Christ All-Sufficient: The Unveiling of the Messiah in John 1-12) starts his book with a look at the similarities and differences among the three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. From there, he explores the history of Islam and the foundations of the culture that grew out of the Islamic faith. Particularly good are his explanations of the history of the Middle East. For a reader unfamiliar with the region or the religion, the book offers an understandable historical overview of the area and a description of the belief system and practices of Islam. Included are short biographical sketches of important Islamic figures and descriptions of places of interest to Muslims. The last chapter offers helpful tips for anyone traveling to Muslim countries. The book is nicely written, objective, and well researched, but no references are given, and there is little information available on Grieve, who is described in the publisher's catalog as "an unbeliever; not a born-again Muslim, a proselytizer or a frustrated desert romantic." An appropriate addition to public libraries.-Jennifer Kuncken, Williamsburg Regional Lib., VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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