Product Description
The Crusades as seen through the eyes of Muslims

A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION to the understanding of the medieval holy wars between Christians and Muslims, this volume brings together the best and most complete eyewitness account of the Crusades from the perspective of a medieval Muslim writer. Focusing on twelfth-century Arab aristocrat Usama ibn Munqidh’s Book of Contemplation but also including extracts from The Book of the Staff and Kernels of Refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of I slamic perspectives on day-to-day existence, warfare, and the curious European invaders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Well translated and presented but deserves an asterik for what the work itself reveals
Paul M. Cobb seems to have done a great job translating the thoughts of medieval Muslim misfit Usama Ibn Munqidh. Many historians and anthropologists have studied this work as it gives us a glimpse into how the Islamic world was reacted to the influx of crusaders in the twelfth-century. The book is most revealing in its more subtle moments; for example Usama recording the dress, bathing habits and gender relations of the crusaders and how this fit (or didn't fit) into Usama's Muslim community. Much of the book however contains a great deal of confusing, often funny, contradictory trash-talking. Usama marvels at the discipline and bravery of Christian knights but then boasts of battling one warrior after another (often with nothing but his wits) and, of course, claiming victory at every turn. Like many of his contemporaries Usama was forced to live, work and trade with Christian emigrants who followed the Crusader armies and he fluctuates between pride in his ability to navigate this new world and denigrating his business partners and neighbors. While Usama champions Islam he does things like engage in sport hunting and runs through the woods slaughtering wild pigs on Ramadan; not exactly things condoned by even the most basic Islamic jurisprudence. In the end what we have is a very linear, very personalized view of the crusades and sketches of a number of localized skirmishes most of which cannot even be historically verified. In short, The Book of Contemplation is interesting read, but often for reasons outside the realm of real scholarship.

A fantastic translation
This work, translated by Paul Cobb, should be a staple in the library of any wishing to call themselves students of history. ... Read more

Product Description
In its first thousand years-from the revelations to Muhammad in the seventh century to the great Islamic empires of the sixteenth-Islamic civilization flourished. While Europeans suffered through the Dark Ages, Muslims in such cities as Jerusalem, Damascus, Alexandria, Fez, Tunis, Cairo, and Baghdad made remarkable advances in philosophy, science, medicine, literature, and art. This engrossing and accessible book explores the first millennium of Islamic culture, shattering stereotypes and enlightening readers about the events and achievements that have shaped contemporary Islamic civilization.Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair examine the rise of Islam, the life of Muhammad, and the Islamic principles of faith. They describe the golden age of the Abbasids, the Mongol invasions, and the great Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires that emerged in their wake. Their narrative, complemented by excerpts of the Koran, poetry, biographies, inscriptions, travel guides, and even a thirteenth-century recipe, concludes with a brief epilogue that takes us to the twenty-first century. Colorfully illustrated, this book is a wonderful introduction to the rich history of a civilization that still radically affects the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS, DRY WRITING
The golden first thousand years of Islamic history is the main subject here.It is a fascinating time, indeed. Unfortunately the story is told by these authors in writing as dry as the sands of Arabia.Every key event, from the rise of Muhammad to the Shia-Sunni split to the Ottomans, is described in the manner of a school report.With so many books out these days on Islam and its history, readers can afford to skip this one.The best part of this work is the illustrations.The photos in the inset are among the most beautiful I have seen in a while and keep the book from being a total washout.

The authors set out to counter negative views of Islam and encourage religious tolerance in the West.There is nothing wrong with this as such; boring readers to sleep will not assist the process however.

Great Book that Contains Accurate History of Islam
I ordered this book for a college course, and it was great front to back! Two chapters went more into detail than neccessary considering the "Golden Age" yet the book accurately describes the history of the Islamic World from the prophet Muhammed and before up to present day.A definate buy for those who want to know more about the history of the middle east concerning Islam.

Excellent Historical Overview and Background
In trying to better understand Islam, I bought this book on Amazon and have found it to be quite good- excellent, in fact.

I was not looking for an in-depth scholarly work, but an overview and perspective.Mission accomplished.Each chapter is neatly organized into topical information that follows logically and neatly dovetails into the previous chapters.

The full color photographs are excellent- I truly wish more books would offer up such visuals as well as Bloom and Blair have in this book.

If you're looking for depth ad naseum, this isn't your book.But if you're looking for an interesting read with a reasonable index and reasonable "cast of characters" outlined both in the book and in the index, give this one a shot.

History written by art historians
This book does not give an accurate or chronologicaly coherent description of the birth and rise of Islam.The authors of the book are not Islamic historians, they are art historians writing about an age and culture that did not produce significant works of art.To a person unfamiliar with Islam it seems complete and accurate.

This book explains it all!
This book is the companion to the PBS movie, Islam: Empire of Faith.I began reading this book, full of stereotypes against Islam.This book really opened my eyes.The whole History of Islam has been filled with misunderstanding.I would recommend this book to any person.It is extremely well written, and it would help anyone to better understand Islam! ... Read more

Product Description
How can caring Christians approach Islam? As relations between Islam and the West grow more polarized, many Christians are nervous about meeting Muslims. How can we possibly overcome years, if not centuries, of mistrust?

Christine Mallouhi, who married into a Muslim family and has lived much of her life in the Middle East, suggests we should emulate St. Francis, who during the Crusades went to be with the Muslims and even shared the gospel with the Sultan.

We should start by seeing Muslims as people, she suggests. "When Muslims are skeptical of our creed, confused by our message and wounded by our warfare, the most credible witness left is our lives. Muslims need to see Jesus, and the only way most of them will see him is in us." Here is a book that gives history, insight and much of the author's own story in offering the Prince of Peace to Muslims.

"The diagnoses in this provocative and challenging book are accurate, the recommendations are right, and the tone is optimistic. A 'must-read.'" Paul-Gordon Chandler, president, Partners International

"Christine Mallouhi has 'been there and done that,' having lived among Arab Muslims for twenty-five years. She and her husband have great empathy, insight and understanding of the struggles of Muslim peoples." Dr. Greg Livingstone, Muslim-Christian Relations, AD 2000 and Beyond ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

self analysis of developing stereotype
"This book was suggested by one my dear friend. Reading this book make me realized that we all hide prejudism with in us .Many times completely unaware of our inner secrets. This book makes you realize your own hidden prejudism towards other religions,people of different ethnicity and background.How we develope them through out our life span.Our source is Minipulative media images,misinformation and misrepresentation that becomes a cause of our stereotypeing others.Fears becomes a powerful force that create division,hatred towards others. Christine encourage others to self analyze,remove hatred and prejudism and connects with others on human level by following the footsteps of Christ and Fransis of Assisi. Good book to read also deals with political issues between palestines and isreal's relations.Cause of conflict is not merely political but fear, lack of understanding ,love, respect towards other faith.

Hard Read
As a sympathetic insider to the plight of oppressed peoples in the Middle East, the author shares tragic tales of victimization, war and poverty.As ardent and devoted followers of Christ in the Arab world, she and her husband have loved their Muslim neighbors and family members sacrificially.

Christine Mallouhi writes from her heart, and she doesn't try to present a balanced viewpoint.As a relatively inexperienced author, she meanders, repeats herself and dwells on discomforting details.So, this book is difficult to read from many perspectives.But in the end, its main thrust for Christians to seek to understand Muslims by interacting together on a personal level is noble and Christ-like.

Thought-provoking subject
Christine Mallouhi's beliefs about the relationships, or lack thereof, between Christians and Muslims are heartfelt and personal. They are based on years of living within the Muslim community.

Mallouhi's premise is that Christians don't know Muslims personally, are separated by fear, ignorance, and misunderstanding-and therefore are impacted negatively by what they read and hear. Her use of the beliefs and approach of St. Francis toward Muslims adds much to the book.

I love and embrace Mallouhi's call to wage peace on Islam. I believe that is what Jesus wants. It's through personal relationships that trust and understanding is built. I also admire Mallouhi's passion. I applaud her determination to encourage people to look past stereotypes.

Mallouhi's experiences are rich and full. They are, however, her experiences. One caution, followers of Christ may feel admonished by Mallouhi.

I would have felt more comfortable if both Christians and Muslims were called to wage peace against radicalism, of any kind.

Readers may find Mallouhi's relationship with Arafat disconcerting. Her experiences with him were kind and loving. That's not what is often portrayed in the media.

What I like about Mallouhi's book is the challenge to think differently, to strive to understand, to seek to have empathy, to love as Jesus would want us to love.

The book challenges the reader to understand, especially in a post 9/11 world that encourages us to remain vigilant.

Armchair Interviews says: A thought-provoking book that is a must-read.

Enlightenning
This book will go a long way towards helping the West understand the Middle-East from religious perspectives.I learned a tremendous amount and have been able to apply a lot of it.It was very, very eye openning and I believe should be read by especially by Christians who want a balanced view Christian-Muslim issues.It dealt with history, culture, and faith inter-twining the three to give a comprehensive picture.Bob Roberts - Author Glocalization & Transformation

War or Peace?
This book I think is about getting along with Muslims.It is written I thought to make one better understand them.A good writer ,well written,but I'm not sure if I agreed with everything this book had to say. check out my book about a similar topic-Sharper Than A Two Edged Sword-by Nadia N. Rehmani.you can find it on Amazon as well. ... Read more

Product Description
Virtually all the masterpieces of Islamic art-the Alhambra, the Taj Mahal, and the Tahmasp Shahnama-were produced during the period from the Mongol conquests in the early thirteenth century to the advent of European colonial rule in the nineteenth. This lavishly illustrated book surveys the architecture and arts of the traditional Islamic lands during this era. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Islamic Buyer
Came in time for my class. looks nice and new.Thanks for the book!

GORGEOUS ISLAM
Simply a spectacular book.The text is fascinating and the images are first rate.The art and architecture of Islam is elegant and beautiful, obviously when you think of Islamic Architecuture of this period you think of the Taj Mahal, which of course, is one of the most spectacular buildings in the world, but there are so many others.This book will make you really appreciate the Architectuere and Art of this wonderful religion.Highly recommended.

Un libro che permette di vedere l'altro volto dell'Islam
Testo fondamentale nello studio dell'arte islamica e in grado di mostrare anche ai meno esperti i tesori di un mondo troppo a lungo sconosciuto in occidente. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of stories and poems about Muslim children from a variety of backgrounds, focusing on the celebration of holidays and practices of Islam. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great book
I enjoyed this book. I do think this is a book for all children , it has great stiries for the whole family. I love to read this book to my daughter.

Hopeful
I can only hope that this brilliant book helpd educate muslims and non-muslims about the true beauty of Islam.

An excellent resource
My favorite short stroy is the Black Ghost.The children run from fear of her and her young son is dreadfully embarrassed until the black ghost rescues one of the boys.Reaching out from under her black abaya, the mysterious woman is soft and gentle.The young boys confront their friend, "You never told us you had such a nice mother."

Children's Nonfiction

Not only for muslim children
This book is so informative and well-written it should be in every muslim house.However, this book is not only very good for muslim children, it is also an excellent book for non-muslim children to read and learn more about islam.It can be used as an excellent tool in a classroom to dispel any misconceptions non-muslim children may carry against their muslim classmates.They will be able to learn more about prayer, fasting, eid and other things that their muslim classmates and friends follow in their lives.

Should be read by all educators and anyone who works with diverse populations.
This is a wonderful book. It's informative, non-judgemental, and non-proselytizing. I was especially impressed that the authors managed to tell a series of situational stories from a child's point of view. My favorite was the one about the little boy who becomes separated from his parents at Mecca and finds shelter with a kindly old man.This book covers such topics as Muslim minority children having to choose between adherences to their religion, e.g. forgoing observance of prayer times and dietary restrictions for the sake of convenience and fitting in with the crowd. I could feel the self-consciousness myself when a little boy overhears his friends mistaken his mother for a ghost after being frightened by her veil, and the guilt when a young girl succumbs to temptation and devours the delicious candies that contain pork byproducts.

... Read more

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1910 edition by Francis Griffiths, London. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Misrepresents Islam and spreads lies
This is a load of crock!
The author tries to spread lies about Islam by acting like Sufi is Islam. First and foremost, Sufi is a sect of Islam and is viewed by the majority of Muslims as a false faith. Second the author claims Islam has saints, but their is no such concept in Islam! ... Read more

Product Description
“We play heavy metal because our lives are heavy metal.”
—Reda Zine, one of the founders of the Moroccan heavy-metal scene

“Music is the weapon of the future.”
—Fela Kuti

An eighteen-year-old Moroccan who loves Black Sabbath. A twenty-two-year-old rapper from the Gaza Strip. A young Lebanese singer who quotes Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.” They are as representative of the world of Islam today as the conservatives and extremists we see every night on the news. Heavy metal, punk, hip-hop, and reggae are each the music of protest, and in many cases considered immoral in the Muslim world. This music may also turn out to be the soundtrack of a revolution unfolding across that world.

Why, despite governmental attempts to control and censor them, do these musicians and fans keep playing and listening? Partly, of course, for the joy of self-expression, but also because, in this region, everything is political. In Heavy Metal Islam, Mark LeVine explores the influence of Western music on the Middle East through interviews with musicians and fans, introducing us young Muslims struggling to reconcile their religion with a passion for music and a desire for change. The result is a revealing tour of contemporary Islamic culture through the evolving music scene in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Heavy Metal Islam is a surprising, wildly entertaining foray into a historically authoritarian region where music just might be the true democratizing force. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Heavy Metal Islam
Mark LeVine is a musician who had previously been with Mick Jagger but is now a professor of Middle Eastern history at the University of California - Irvine.The book is about heavy metal rock and rapper bands in the Middle East, from Morocco to Pakistan.He speaks of how these bands are seeking peace in the Middle East - but, from his descriptions of that peace, it seems to me that they are seeking a peace without Israel.Although he does claim that the most popular band in the Middle East is a Jewish band called Orphaned Land, consisting of Jewish men who never finished their military service (which indicates Dishonorable Discharges).While their music may be "saturated with religious and biblical themes," I wonder where they really stand in their loyalty to Israel.And Mark LeVine is also Jewish, so why does he concentrate so heavily on a peace without Israel?

Can heavy metal change the world?
Frankly I am baffled by the reviewers who described this book as dry, academic, and/or boring. To them I say, You haven't read much academic writing lately. Readers would be hard-pressed to find publications of any university press which match this title for sheer readability. LeVine does not inject much social theory into this book, nor does he write for a primarily academic audience.

To be sure, "HEAVY METAL ISLAM" is an imperfect text with its share of errors. (My personal favorite: the author thinks the French word for dockworkers--"dockers"--is actually a reference to the preppie American clothing line of the same name, and thus misinterprets a Moroccan poster to signify common cause between rockers and preppies. D'oh!) But assuming you have at least a high school education and care about topics beyond whether Cliff Burton or Jason Newstead was the best Metallica bassist, you may find that this book provides engaging food for thought despite such passing mistakes.

If there's a major flaw to "HEAVY METAL ISLAM," it has to do with its title and framing which are just a tad misleading. LeVine's analysis in fact extends to various Middle Eastern musicians (rappers, hip-hop artists, rockers and others) who have little or no connection to heavy metal. But I suspect the author made metal the book's titular focus for two reasons: one, he's clearly an aficionado of the genre, and two, he wanted to amp up the paradoxical, unexpected nature of his subject matter for potential readers ("Metalheads in the Middle East? Who knew?"). I used the same gimmick in titling this review.

And LeVine is fully aware that the cultural scene he documents in this book remains marginal, both in its popular appeal and its political significance. Yet his exploration of that scene enables him to get to the heart of several contemporary Middle Eastern societies, to experience the stifling frustration felt by young Arabs (and Persians, and Pakistanis) growing up under corrupt, authoritarian regimes, and to consider the means at their disposal for expressing and venting that frustration. Will metal music (or hip-hop, or rap, or what have you) change the world? Doubtful, but it can certainly change the way you think about the modern Middle East and its relationship to the West once you've read "HEAVY METAL ISLAM."

Interesting insight in a otherwise closed world
Mark LeVine is researching Islam and Heavy Metal and with his book he is granting an insight to those, that otherwise never would have been able to discover what really is happening in the Islam world of music.

He catches the vibes of the present time, the atmosphere of the people and musicians involved and presents their fear and their anger in an objective and in a subjective way.

I recommend to read this book for everyone who is interested and Islam and the arabian countries.

Better off watching "Heavy Metal in Baghdad"...
While the concept of the book, namely the rarely discussed role of musical counterculture in the middle East,certainly has potential, its execution is a disaster.Mark LeVine's writing has all of the excitement of an academic dissertation, with none of the depth or research behind it.He clearly knows little or nothing about heavy metal, and also clearly did little or no immersion into the music to learn about it.(The editor also did no fact checking--can't "high brow" books about a "low brow" topic at least have someone acquainted with the topic read it at some point prior to publication?)

Just about every mention about the actual music or bands involved is riddled with errors that a simple Google search would have corrected.Just a few: mentioning a Rage Against the Machine song as being called "F*** you, I won't do what you tell me", describing a poster of the "band" "Cowboys From Hell," and worst of all, discussing Iron Maiden's famous mascot, "Freddy".Come on, people--that is just sloppy!

Despite all of that, the biggest problem remains that LeVine is such an undistinguished writer that "Heavy Metal Islam" is a stultifyingly boring read.I couldn't help but imagine what the book would have been like by a compelling author (such as David Hadju, whose recent "Ten Cent Plague" makes the world of 1950's anti-comic book hysteria pop with life) who could have drawn out the passion and frustration in these people's stories.While it suffers from some of the same repetition as this book, the documentary "Heavy Metal in Baghdad" is a much more evocative depiction of the role of heavy metal in the lives of a group of young Iraqis struggling to fulfill their musical ambitions, while trying simply to survive.

Pretentious, irrelevant
This isapretty good example of what's wrong with academic studies of the Islamic world. LeVine is so impressed with his own theory (which is, in brief, "wouldn't it be, like, totally cool if music, like, liberated the people, man?!?) that he fails to see how utterly irrelevant this music is in the Islamic world. Pretty poorly written too--which is, in any event, standard for these sorts of polemics. A silly book. ... Read more

Product Description
"This is an original and, at times, groundbreaking piece of scholarship."--John L. Esposito, University Professor and Director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown UniversityDoes Islam call for the oppression of women? Non-Muslims point to the subjugation of women that occurs in many Muslim countries, especially those that claim to be "Islamic," while many Muslims read the Qur'an in ways that seem to justify sexual oppression, inequality, and patriarchy. Taking a wholly different view, Asma Barlas develops a believer's reading of the Qur'an that demonstrates the radically egalitarian and antipatriarchal nature of its teachings. Beginning with a historical analysis of religious authority and knowledge, Barlas shows how Muslims came to read inequality and patriarchy into the Qur'an to justify existing religious and social structures and demonstrates that the patriarchal meanings ascribed to the Qur'an are a function of who has read it, how, and in what contexts. She goes on to reread the Qur'an's position on a variety of issues in order to argue that its teachings do not support patriarchy. To the contrary, Barlas convincingly asserts that the Qur'an affirms the complete equality of the sexes, thereby offering an opportunity to theorize radical sexual equality from within the framework of its teachings. This new view takes readers into the heart of Islamic teachings on women, gender, and patriarchy, allowing them to understand Islam through its most sacred scripture, rather than through Muslim cultural practices or Western media stereotypes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Great... needs to be more mindful
Great book, of which not too many are written these days. She goes to the heart of all the important aspects of Quraan as well as being more balanced in her judgement. I was hesistant about reading this book as I felt it would potray a wrong image of Islam and the Quraan. Its a well known fact amongst muslim women that its not Islam that oppresses them BUT muslim men!

One major problem with the book was at times she makes sweeping jugments of Hadiths and their authors. Although I am sometimes critical of many hadiths that have gone mainstream I would certainly not discredit them with an off hand comment.

Overall an essential read for every muslim women trying to make sense of the Ummah and Shariah Law.

Biased, tedious, and incorrect
Although I would appreciate any effort to force Muslims to rethink their positions in the world, and in their own minds, this work is actually gravely erroneous in several points.Asma Barlas mistakenly states that the word "hijab", meaning veil, does not appear in the Qur'an.I don't know how she could have missed the words in the 33'rd Surah "and when you ask of women, ask them from behind "hijab"(veil)".In the same book, she condemns those who cast onto the Qur'an their personal opinions. What bolder opinion could one cast on the Qur'an than to tell a lie about it's contents?

I am sure it was just a mistake, but one of numerous historical, literary, and logical mistakes.Her skills would be better served to actually study the Qur'an, learn from a variety of sources its meanings and possible interpretations, and then see if she can open Muslim minds to doing better with their women.She may even do better as an activist that a writer, I don't know.

As for my wife and two daughters; they chose to wear hijaab and 'abaya(veil and outer garment) with no compulsion whatsoever.I actually never even asked them to.They are happy, intelligent, well-educated, and live life as free as anyone within the bounds of law, logic, conscience, social norms, and positive ethics, BOUNDS THAT ALL HUMANS LIVE WITHIN.

I applaud her willingness to make the effort, though.That in itself is a great virtue that there is not enough of!

Unfortunate
Among several other writings by Muslim women about the religion and its sacred sources, this one also is written by someone who, to my knowledge, does not have training in Arabic language. Feminist re-readings of the Qur'an, hadith, and fiqh works are best done by people who can read the originals. Anyone can put forth fresh interpretations, and even limit those to available English translated materials, but they will never carry the weight needed for influence over a wide variety of the world's Muslims. The writing style is cumbersome and not friendly for students' uses.

Not that great
She is coming from a biased perspective of the history of the relationships between women and men. The perspective that women have always been oppressed through out history. The way she regards hadiths is that she rejects most of them and even critizes the narrators to be sexist. She also criticizes the four Imams ie. Shafii, instead of being more balanced in her writing about the contributions of these four Imams.

There are indeed diverse interpretations within the views of Islamic scholars, both women and men, however, as human beings we can embrace them or if we do not agree with them, at least respect them and share our perspectives without degrading them.

Barlas another voice to listen to
There's an old arabic saying, loosely translated, which says that the heart is a mirror.

Usually this is taken to mean that we love those who love us but here I'm reminded of the rendering because Dr. Barlas not only brought her considerable intellect to bear on her reading of Qur'an but from the text of her book it's also clear that she brought her heart along as well.

Though there are admittedly those who believe that their reading should stop at the end of tafsir (an extended qur'anic commentary completed around a thousand years ago) and the ahadith (or extra qur'anic sayings of the prophet which was also completed about a thousand years ago), that should not prevent those, like Barlas, who wish to continue to write and reflect with their hearts on Qur'an. ... Read more

Product Description
Hailed in The New York Times Book Review as "the doyen of Middle Eastern studies," Bernard Lewis has been for half a century one of the West's foremost scholars of Islamic history and culture, the author of over two dozen books, most notably The Arabs in History, The Emergence of Modern Turkey, The Political Language of Islam, and The Muslim Discovery of Europe. Eminent French historian Robert Mantran has written of Lewis's work: "How could one resist being attracted to the books of an author who opens for you the doors of an unknown or misunderstood universe, who leads you within to its innermost domains: religion, ways of thinking, conceptions of power, culture--an author who upsets notions too often fixed, fallacious, or partisan."In Islam and the West, Bernard Lewis brings together in one volume eleven essays that indeed open doors to the innermost domains of Islam. Lewis ranges far and wide in these essays. He includes long pieces, such as his capsule history of the interaction--in war and peace, in commerce and culture--between Europe and its Islamic neighbors, and shorter ones, such as his deft study of the Arabic word watan and what its linguistic history reveals about the introduction of the idea of patriotism from the West. Lewis offers a revealing look at Edward Gibbon's portrait of Muhammad in Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (unlike previous writers, Gibbon saw the rise of Islam not as something separate and isolated, nor as a regrettable aberration from the onward march of the church, but simply as a part of human history); he offers a devastating critique of Edward Said's controversial book, Orientalism; and he gives an account of the impediments to translating from classic Arabic to other languages (the old dictionaries, for one, are packed with scribal errors, misreadings, false analogies, and etymological deductions that pay little attention to the evolution of the language). And he concludes with an astute commentary on the Islamic world today, examining revivalism, fundamentalism, the role of the Shi'a, and the larger question of religious co-existence between Muslims, Christians, and Jews.A matchless guide to the background of Middle East conflicts today, Islam and the West presents the seasoned reflections of an eminent authority on one of the most intriguing and little understood regions in the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Islam is nothing to do with West, Like wise, West is nothing to do with Islam
All seem that Islam is in conflict with West and vise versa. But the thruth is Muslim Arabs(not Islam) and West has long been rivals, poilitically and economically, since the raise of Islam as a religion in Arabs's land. The conflict is a rather power struggle than a belief in Islam as religion. Unfortunately, since arabs are muslim majority, it seems that the problem lies on the Islam as a religion. This is very dangerous for humankind.

No Matter whatever the writer try to explain. All idea that position Islam a religion, or any other religion, against something, i.e, West, is bad idea.

West agaist Islam
One understands the relationship and the conflict between the Christian west and the Islam east.Good study.

Well written and interesting
This book is an introduction to the history of Islam's interactions with the West.It begins with an overview of the advances of Muslim armies into Europe and explains that Western voyages of discovery soon led to the West surpassing the Muslim world economically and then militarily.And we see that in the century prior to the end of World War One, the Muslims were in steady retreat against Europeans.Lewis shows how in Western eyes, the Ottoman Empire went from being regarded as wicked and threatening to being mysterious but weak.

That brings up the issue of how Muslims live under non-Muslim rule.And we discover that the major issue is simply whether or not Muslims are free to practice their way of life.

Lewis then brings up the issue of translating Arabic terms.In most cases, translations are not a big problem.But there are some concepts which are not really the same in Arabic as they are in Western languages, such as "state," "freedom," "democracy," or "revolution."The author shows how the meaning of these words relates to Muslim behavior when Muslims have Western allies in wartime.

Perhaps the most interesting section is the one on Orientalism.Here, the author describes the frightful politicization of Middle East studies.Lewis shows how politics, generally antizionist politics, has often substituted for scholarship in this field.In my opinion, this understates the problem.The academic world has to maintain standards to be of value.If these standards are abandoned in one part of history, that will bring down the esteem and value of the entire discipline.

This is a very informative book, and it's easy to read.I highly recommend it.

Disjointed, but some interesting insights
Bernard Lewis, of course, is the well-known Princeton professor (emeritus) who emerged, after 9/11, as the principal "interpreter" of the world of Islam for U.S. audiences. In the introduction to this book, he proposes that he will illustrate the way that the worlds of Christendom and Islam view each other. Unfortunately, as noted by the previous reviewers, this is a collection of essays (several of which were previously published) rather than a de novo work, and the individual parts are only variably subordinate to the overarching goal. Despite this limitation, which gives the book a disjointed feel, there are some valuable insights here. The first essay is a very brief review of the history of the interaction between Islam and Christendom, which makes the important point that, for much of the history of that interaction, the European kingdoms were of only peripheral interest to the vastly greater civilization of Islam. Subsequent essays briefly review the history of the Shi'a, and the problems of cross-cultural communication illustrated by the difficulties encountered in attempting translation of Islamic texts. There are effective critiques of the late Edward Said's theory of Orientalism, which claims that the study of non-Western, and particularly Islamic, history by Westerners constitutes cultural imperialism masquerading as historical analysis. But the most useful insight to be gleaned from these essays is the explication of the role that religion plays in the world of Islam, and the contrast between Islamic and non-Islamic views of the proper relation between religion and the State. Although we are slowly becoming more aware of this fundamental difference between our own view of the place of religion in the affairs of man and that of many, perhaps most, in the Islamic world, Lewis manages to make this difference explicitly clear. The insight would be most valuable to those seeking to build new polities in the Middle East.

pretty good comparsion
In Islam and the West, Lewis takes a look at the relationship between Islam and the West. The have had conflict for since the early days of Islam. Lewis takes a look at conflicts such as the crusades, the three Muslim invasions of Europe-Moors in the Iberian Peninsula, Ottamans in Eastern Europe and the Tartars in Russia. He also looks at how the Muslim world in North Africa and the Middle East was one time more advanced then the Europe and how the two have reveresed positions.

What Lewis spends a lot of time on is the perceptions of Islam had of the West and the perceptions that the West had on Islam. He looks at each side tried to discredit the other and how each perceivced themselves. Lewis also deals with the rise of political Islam in the 20th century after the end of WWI after the break up of the Ottaman empire.

Overall, a pretty good comprision and hsitory like Lewis's other works. ... Read more

Product Description
Until September 11, 2001 few Westerners had ever heard of "Wahhabism." Now most of us recognize the word as describing an austere and puritanical type of Islam, mentioned frequently in connection with Osama bin Laden and Saudi Arabia and often named as the inspiration behind the 9/11 terror attacks. The word "Wahhabi" stems from the name of the founder of this system of thought, Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1702-1791), companion and religious adviser to Muhammad Ibn Saud, founder of the House of Saud. In this book Natana DeLong-Bas offers an in-depth study of the written works of al-Wahhab. She focuses on four areas: theology, legal theory, proselytizing through education and jihad, and law on women. Through a close reading of al-Wahhab's texts she demonstrates that many aspects of 20th- and 21st-century Wahhabi extremism do not have their origins in his writings. Examples of this extremism include the emphasis on jihad, martyrdom and militancy, and misogyny.The strict division of the world into dar al-Islam and dar al-kufr, according to which only Wahhabi adherents are considered to be true Muslims and all others are non-Muslims who must be fought, is entirely absent from al-Wahhab's work. Instead, argues DeLong-Bas, all of these themes were only added to Wahhabi teachings in the 19th century following armed engagement with the Ottoman Empire. DeLong-Bas's study fills an enormous gap in the literature about Wahhabism by returning to the original writings of the founder of the movement. She debunks the common journalistic portrayal of Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab as an illiterate, rural bumpkin with no scholarly formation. Her revisionist reading of al-Wahhab's thought will be controversial but impossible to ignore. The book will be essential reading for students and scholars of Islam as well as for those interested in the background of this dangerous modern ideology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Interesting book, strange argument
The author provides interesting new source work by translating writings of Ibn Abd al-Wahhab's that had not previously appeared in English.The translations deal withwomen and jihad.However, her argument that Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and other extremist groups today aren't Wahhabist based strictly on their failure to adhere to the writings of Ibn Abd al-Wahhab is just strange.Though she acknowledges that the Wahhabi ulama co-opted Ibn Taymiyya's more aggressive view of jihad to justify the Saudi invasion of the Hijaz, she argues that Bin Laden is not a Wahhabist because his views are more on point with those of Ibn Taymiyya and Sayyed Qutb.She does the same thing with women, stating that the current state of women in Saudi Arabia is not attributable to Wahhabism because Ibn Abd al-Wahhab's writing indicate a more generous view of women, ignoring the fact that the Wahhabi ulama has co-opted these views on women into their ideology over time.Apparently the Wahhabi movement died with Ibn Abd al-Wahhab or the Wahhabists who currently legitimate the Saudi royal family aren't really Wahhabists, as, like Bin Laden, they don't adhere to the writings of Ibn Abd al-Wahhab.

If you'd like to read what Ibn Abd al-Wahhab had to say about women or jihad, buy the book.If you want a coherent argument about al-Qaeda's religious ideology, look elsewhere.

Bucking the system
Natana J. DeLong-Bas here writes the definitive book on the life and worldview of Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab.
What did Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab do which made him both feared and admired during his lifetime and so misunderstood now? Arguably, the 18th century scholar's most controversial achievement was to remind Muslims that "the Prophet Muhammad himself had expressly forbidden people to make graves places of celebration, or to venerate tombs and that prayer should never be conducted in a shrine, mausoleum or cemetery." It's hard to imagine, but when this rural Arabian scholar recalled this simple truth it sparked a firestorm that still rages to this day. Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab also believed in leading by example. In the city of al-Ayaynah a number of trees grew upon which the local Muslim populace would hang things in order to request the trees' blessing or intercession on their behalf. As was his way, Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab talked to people about it first. He even pointed out how the act contradicted what was taught in the Quran. After a while he cut the largest "sacred" tree down. This practical application of Quranic philosophy desperately frightened and infuriated the people in power (in what is now Saudi Arabia) even though they claimed to be monotheistic.

Some other highlights of Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab's career that critics don't mention:

-Suggested that all Muslims read the Quran (surprisingly revolutionary at the time and angered the religious elite)
-Never promoted martyrdom
-Believed that literal rather than contextual interpretations of the Quran could be dangerous.
-Illuminated how archaic and unjust tribal laws governing things like property and the rights of women had subtly been woven into Islamic jurisprudence
-Denounced manipulation of religious authority for personal gain
-Spoke publicly about how land owners and the powerful manipulated the system under the guise of Islam to generate wealth and crush opposition.
-Advocated that the works of early Islamic scholar's be open to critique and criticism
-Believed that individual Muslims are responsible not only for his or her own faith but also the effects of his or her behavior on others
-Insisted that Muslims support one another and take serious what the Quran said about helping the poor.
-Taught that Muslims should evaluate the content of a Hadith (testimonies by Muhammad's companions and wives) with the teachings of the Quran and not merely rely on the interpretations of "experts".
-Rejected the notion that any person possessed secret, special or hidden knowledge of the Quran, even if they could trace their lineage back to the prophet Muhammad.
-Emphasized comprehension of the Quran over its memorization.
-Preferred conversion through education and dialogue and not violence
-Taught that fighting and war should only be used as a last resort.
-Showed that corruption and nepotism among the wealthy, political and religious hierarchy had a very real impact on every day people.
-Expressed that religious experts (ulama) should be able to back their opinions up, and not just rely on someone else's opinion who came before them.
-Taught that if a Hadith had a strong chain of transmitters but contradicted the Quran; it should be declared inauthentic
-Rejected imitation of the Islamic past and believed the distortion of historical reality could be dangerous.
-Considered himself a reformer and not a radical

What's worth noting is that in spite all of the criticism and denouncements and even perversions of Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab's beliefs, very few people actually take the time to investigate the historical record as Natana J. DeLong-Bas has. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab rocked the status quo and challenged the prevailing power structure during his lifetime. The wealthy and powerful were particularly wary of him and when he wouldn't stay quiet about corruption they tried to bribe him, apostatize him, academically discredit him, defame him and even assassinate him. It's funny, but if you look at who feels most threatened by Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab today you might say that not much has changed.

This book is less about perceived modern bastardizations of Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab's worldview and more of a biographical profile of a simple, sensitive, inquisitive man who advocated for women, worked for social reform and firmly believed it was his duty as a Muslim to re-introduce simple, everyday Islamic practices to simple, everyday people. Natana J. DeLong-Bas writes convincingly and with passion about a person who has been completely misinterpreted and misunderstood by too many people to count. Here, finally, Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab, gets a fair shake.

On the source of Wahhabism and not its modern manifestations
An important and well-executed work about the thought of Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, and not specifically about what is now called "wahhabism". Contrary to the way he is presented in current public and scholarly discourse, the author's Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab emerges as a moderate, enormously well read, progressive expounder and interpreter of Islamic doctrine. The founder of the Wahhabis was anything but the wild-eyed, puritanical naïf hailing from some remote sand-locked province of Muslimdom he is painted to be. Author Delong-Bas has accomplished what no western critics of Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab--and eastern ones too for that matter--have ever attempted: she has actually read his work, all fourteen of his books along with his legal opinions. The weight of the evidence, then, is on her side. She has simply read her subject's own works and the historical record of his passing and reported what she found there. In so doing, she has rendered an invaluable service by distilling the works of Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, which are difficult to obtain outside of Saudi Arabia, for readers who may in any case not be able to read the Arabic.

To convince doubters, of whom there will be many, the author embarks upon a detailed and methodical examination of the views of Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab as recorded in his own voice and not as imputed to him by others. Her emphasis throughout is on the hot-button issues so dear to critics of all stripes, notably the principles of interpretation of the sacred texts, the rights of women, and the place of violence and jihad.

According to his own words and deeds, Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab preached and practiced flexibility in interpretation of Islamic doctrine, tolerance of different creeds alternative to it, and forbearance toward those who disagreed with his views or who apostatised.Accused of rigid literalism, Ibn Abd al-Wahhab to the contrary openly broke with exegetes, doctors of law, and compliers of Prophetic traditions whenever and wherever he found their pronouncements to be lacking in principled reasoning, based upon faulty interpretation, or displaying outright ignorance or dishonesty.He urged his followers and indeed all believers to practice these same principles to the furthest extent to which they were able.

Where it came to matters concerning relations between the sexes, Ibn Abd al-Wahhab's inclination was always to assert the rights of women, according them more rights and less stricture in the conduct of their own affairs than he accorded to men.So too was he insistent upon women's right to participation in public life and access to public space. Underlying any of his judgments was his keen preoccupation with protecting and preserving human life and dignity.His written record demonstrates a consistent concern for such things. This hardly conforms to the image of Wahhabism that is bandied about nowadays, in which Wahhabis are portrayed as vicious misogynists.While there may be such types amongst Muslims, they cannot be called adherents of the thought of Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab.

Neither can those who call for the indiscriminate killing of innocents and non-combatants, justifying this in the name of jihad. Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab was very careful in his use of this term and set out clear guidelines for the proper conduct of armed struggle, largely employing the Arabic term qitaal `fighting' rather than jihad.The reason for that was that while there may be many good reasons for fighting, there are only a few situations in which fighting can be declared jihad.In those, and indeed in any other form of combat, strict parameters were to be observed as to how the fighting is to be conducted.One was that killing itself was to be kept to the absolute minimum.Indeed, Ibn Abd al-Wahhab specified only three situations in which jihad can legitimately be carried out, those being 1) when two groups of combatants (clearly, one Muslim and one not) meet face to face, 2) when an enemy leaves its own territory (intending aggression), and then 3) only if the spiritual leader of the community actually declares jihad (the imam, as distinguished from the amir, who is the political leader--an important distinction, as many latter-day jihadis swear their allegiance to an amir).When declared, jihad is only to be prosecuted until the enemy retreats.Women, children, the aged, and others who are incapable of fighting by means of infirmity or social status are not to be killed.

A flatter contradiction of conventional opinion could scarcely be imagined. In the face of all this, the inapt question, What went wrong? aimed scattershot at the entire Muslim world might profitably be redirected to the much narrower range of central Arabia. Neither the House of Saud nor the angry-eyed global Islamic radicals come out well in the author's portrayal of them. Both groups have perverted the nature of true Wahhabi doctrine (i.e., that propounded by Ibn Abd al-Wahhab himself) into narrow, literalistic interpretations of Islamic texts recruited to advance their own political agendas; for the Saudis, this was the conquest and consolidation of political rule in the Arabian peninsula and for the global jihadis it is purported to be the conquest of the world (although no-one knows for sure).

After the work of DeLong-Bas, it will simply be incorrect to tar Muslim conservatives with the brush of Wahhabism or indeed to condemn militants by branding them jihadis, as what they are endorsing is not jihad. The hidebound conservatism of some Muslim literalists or the ravings and horrendous deeds of maniacal psychopaths who happen to call themselves Muslims must now be awarded some other pejorative, as they are entirely inconsistent with the thought of the broad-minded reformer who was Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab.

This book will certainly be a boon to scholars, but it is to be hoped that it would also attract the attention of critics of Islam (whose arguments in any case can now be debunked for their not having read it) or indeed of the wider public.

An Apologetic Work for the Wahhabi movement
It is very unfortunate that Oxford press decided to publish a book that is basically an apologetic work on the Wahhabi movement in particular, the life and writings of Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab.

It is clear from the classical Sunni sources during Ibn Abdul Wahhab's time up until now, that the Wahhabi movement is far from being a reform movement.From the it's very inception, the Sunni mainstream scholars condemned this movement as not being part of the mainstream orthodox community.Over two hundred works have been written by top level scholars to refute this movement's teachings and doctrine.

If you look at the sources in this book, it is primarily from Saudi Pro-Wahhabi sanitized revisionist history and apologetic works, not the mainstream criticisms of this movement by a vast list of literature.

People who read this book who do not have detailed research on this topic will come out thinking Wahhabism was a good thing.This is contrary to what mainstream Muslim scholars have said.

A detailed exposition of the source of Wahhabism, slightly misleading title
First, this book is not about modern politics of terrorism or jihadi war or whatever, but it is about Ibn al-Wahhab and his writings.

Although the previous reviewer makes some very important points that call into doubt some of the author's choices of sources, I still feel that this is a very dynamic and thorough brush on this topic.

First, the book does not pretend to discuss the merits of those extremists who think they are or are labeled "Wahhabists" in the modern world, nor does it discuss what others currently view or percieve "Wahhabism" to be.Thankfully, such topics are not considered as they are highly political.

What is considered is the views, rulings, and opinions of the man who founded what is today, in my opinion, not "Wahhabism", but simply a more unifying and simplistic view of Islamic belief. The books demonstrates that the term "Wahhabism" is a complex term, and that the ideas of Ibn al-Wahhab were quite well developed. He was not an extremist or fundamentalists or zealot, but simply a religious interpreter who's views are often misunderstood.The books also shows, through its in-depth discussion of Wahhab's views, that the extremist and militant movements of today often labeled or known as "Wahhabism" should be called, and the author has firmly convinced me of this, Tamiyaism, who was a medieval islamic scholar that is cited by extremists as much as Wahhab.

I do not pretend to be a scholar on Islamic theology and thought, but this book is a great source for understanding the foundation beliefs of Islam and the interpreting view of Ibn al-Wahhab. He was a man that was principly concerned with "shirk", which was considered falsely believing in something.This was a concern similar to the iconoclast in Eastern Byzantine Orthodox in the middle ages.Here an example that concerned Wahhab was muslims praying to a certain tree, which he regarded as praying to something other than god.

The author writes very fluidly and does cite from Wahhab's works extensively and also does an analysis of Wahhab's own citations of preceeding islamic scholars in his original works, highlighting who he most often agreed/disagreed with.

I highly recommend this book for people with at least a basic understanding of Islamic thought such as Hadiths, Surahs, Fiqh, and the doctrine of Tawhid and even Sufiism and its veils.

I encourage the other reviewer to at least suggest some more books on the topic that can further clarify this topic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great book
Highly recommended and a must read for all of us to become more informed on this important subject.

interesting reading
I purchased this for my own reading pleasure and I have enjoyed it very much.Very informative.

Excellent!
A well written book that sounds the alarm on the culture of Mohammad and how the satanic-inspired ideology continues to thrive in today's realm of spiritual darkness.Watching from a front row seat here in Helmand province, Afghanistan, right smack in the middle of satanic-inspired Mohammad Islamists I want to warn you --the Christian world is in the biggest fight of it's life.America had better wake up and support Israel 100% as God's blessing or His curse is upon us as foretold in Bible prophecy...we are fast approaching, if not already in, the "Latter Days."Keep your eye on Israel.This book brings it all together.I've already ordered Book 2.

Comfort zone disturbed
If you want to leave your comfort zone and find out what is really going on in the world today then stop and read this book.Whatever faith you profess this book should open your eyes to the reality of our world.The struggle for your soul, heart, mind, and physical body is going on right now.You might want to know about it.

Easy reading but read carefully as this is the most important topic in the world right now.When you are finished you will have a definite feeling of a call to action to read more and to be informed.

Highly recommended.I would even say you would regret not reading this now, instead of later.

A Captivating Read
A thorough background of the Muslim faith and its influence on current and future events. Dr. Murk does an excellent job of keeping the subject biblical and non-sensationalized. A must-read for those concerned about terrorism and the spread of Islam. ... Read more

Product Description
Virtually every contemporary Western leader has expressed the view that Islam is a peaceful religion and that those who commit violence in its name are fanatics who misinterpret its tenets. This widely circulated claim is false.

Relying primarily on Islam's own sources, Religion of Peace? Islam's War Against the World demonstrates that Islam is a violent, expansionary ideology that seeks the subjugation and destruction of other faiths, cultures, and systems of government. Further, it shows that the jihadis that Westerners have been indoctrinated to believe are extremists, are actually in the mainstream.

"A fascinating thesis." - William F. Buckley Jr. Founder, National Review

"A valuable, well-argued contribution to the public understanding of Islam...it manages to convey in a short space what the West needs to know about Islam: that its violent aspects are not the result of deviance but of orthodoxy"' - Robert Spencer, The Politically IncorrectGuide to Islam (and The Crusades)

"A very important work at a very important time. Anyone interested in understanding the growing violence on the world scene today must read this book. Its message for America and the West is, `Wake up before it's too late.'" - Gary Bauer, President, American Values

"This book provides a timely reality check to those still inclined to believe in the dichotomy between a "real" Islam and its allegedly aberrant violent fringe. That delusion costs lives and threatens the very existence of those affected by it. The refusal of the elite class to open its eyes to reality and protect Western nations from the threat is the biggest betrayal in history. It reflects a problem of cultural and spiritual decay that is the synthesis of all others." - Serge Trifkovic,The Sword of the Prophet and Defeating Jihad ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

High price for not being the 'final version' of the book!!
I'm currently reading the Kindle version and find it will written and interesting.However when the Table of Contents concludes with this parenthetical statement:
"(PLEASE NOTE:The final book will have appendices, a glossary, and an index.)"
Then why does this publisher, World Ahead Publishing, allow this?Furthermore, when do they plan on publishing and printing the final version since the copyright is 2006?This is true for both the hardcover and the Kindle versions.
Fortunately there at least is a modicum of Notes in the rear of the book.However do not let this keep you from purchasing it, since the author (at this point in my reading) seems knowledgeable and anticipates the questions that arise from my mind playing devil's advocate.I hope it continues to be as good to the end.Please note:my final review will have an appendix to verify my opinions stated at the moment.

An important read
Dr. Davis' book is a very important read.I've never believed that Islam is a religion of peace, now I have facts and analysis to back up my suspicions.

Must educate yourself
It's funny how information totally changes your perspective.

What struck me was the idea that Islam should not receive equal protection under the law because it is more than a religion. It is a political system and a religion, and you cannot separate the two. And the idea that one shouldn't tolerate something that is intolerant struck a nerve.

I have done my fair of research to try to get the most unbiased information I can about the religion of Islam. I have even taken the time to read the Koran. I continue to find ways to believe that Islam is a peaceful religion, but the research just does not support that claim.

What's even more frustrating that none of my friends want to do the research and spend the time to study the topic. They are so sold on the politically correct ideas of Islam, so apologetic, so sensitive to stepping on the toes of everyone that they won't even spend the time and energy to look into it.

Ignorance goes both ways. People have convinced themselves that speaking ill of any religion is ignorant WITHOUT having done the research about the religion themselves. Somehow, you are automatically considered not ignorant if you are tolerant and apologetic.

The Outcome of Pretending to Know the Unknowable
It is simply time for us to wake up and hold religious views accountable for their claims of authority to rule over others. As Andrew Newberg said, Maintaining religious belief systems that cause hate and anger will cause brain damage. I think it's important for anyone to deeply consider this statement made by a neuroscientist.
Rahasya Poe, [...]

An Important Question With a Simple Answer
For some time, especially during the years after 9/11, a popular myth has been promulgated by Muslim community leaders, Islamic apologists, politicians, academics and media figures. Namely, that Islam is a religion of peace. George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Karen Armstrong, John Esposito, Christiane Amanpour and many others have repeated the assertion that Islam is essentially peaceful in nature. Gregory M. Davis proceeds to dismantle this notion in this slender but pithy volume.

For virtually the entirety of its fourteen centuries of existence, Islam has been anything but a "religion of peace". Davis illustrates this first by providing quotes from the Qur'an which dictate hostility towards non-Muslims. Passages such as: Sura 8 Verse 39; Sura 9 Verse 5; and Sura 9 Verse 29. Davis also discusses the concept of abrogation, whereby earlier Qur'anic verses are repealed by later ones(see Sura 2 Verse 106). Alas, the peaceful and tolerant verses occur in the earleir chronological record, while Muhammad was still merely a "warner and a messenger", whereas the belligerent verses occur later, after Muhammad secured a position of authority and influence.

Davis also discusses the hadith literature, which is perhaps more confrontational in tone than the Qur'an. The hadiths, together with the sira, or early biographies of Muhammad, discuss in detail the sayings and deeds of the Prophet. For example, we learn of the fate of the Jewish Banu Quraiza tribe, whose adult male members were put to the sword, right down to the last man, whereas the women and children were pressed into slavery. We also learn of the assasinations of intellectual opponents of Muhammad, such as Asma bint Marwan, a young mother, and Kab ibn Ashraf, an elderly man. This provided the basis for the fatwas against Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Taslima Nasrin and others. Islam legitimizes slavery, mass murder, assasination, lying, robbery, theft and child rape via the example of Muhammad through the hadith and the sira.

This volume also examines the concept of Jihad. Davis makes it abundantly clear that Jihad means more than personal struggle or moral improvement. Throughout the centuries, Jihad has meant armed struggle and conquest. Davis provides examples of Jihad conquest such as the conquests of Persia and Byzantium. Also examined is the concept of Dhimmitude, in which non-Muslims residing in a Muslim land are afforded an inferior status, as per Islamic Shari'a law. Throughout Islamic history, the peoples of the lands conquered by Islam were presented with a choice between conversion, death or acceptance of an inferior status known as dhimma. The dhimmi peoples faced with many burdens. They were excessively taxed (i.e. the Jizya); they were forced to were distinctive clothing and markers, such as yellow stars; they were forbidden from bearing arms or riding horses; they were often forbidden from constructing new churches and synagogues, or from renovating old ones; they were forbidden from prostletyzing, or from practicing their faiths in public; and they were forbidden from protecting themselves from abuive behavior from Muslims, such as slapping and kicking. We can see the results of this mentality from the sufferings of the Christians of Sudan and Pakistan.

Davis then discusses how the belligerent nature of the Qur'an and hadith relates to events in the modern era. Usama bin Laden and his kind are not hijackers of a great faith; they are in fact putting Jihad and the Qur'an into practice. Events over the past few decades have provided ample evidence that terrorism is a logical product of the Jihad mentality. From the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran, to the bombing of PanAm Flight 103, to the bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, to 9/11, to the events in Beslan, to provide a paltry few examples, militant Muslims have been waging a global war in accordance with the sources of their religious tradition.

In my opinion, the only major flaw of this book is the chapter titled "What Is To Be Done?". When reading the chapter, I expected the author to provide some ideas, some concrete steps, to combat the spread of militant Islam in the West. Such ideas are not offerred, so the name of the chaper is a bit of a misnomer.

Other than that, Gregory M. Davis has succeeded in his mission. He has answered the question of whether Islam is a peaceful religion, and the answer is a stern and resounding NO. The Arabic word islaam does not mean peace, but submission, and the two are very different things.
... Read more

Product Description
An unprecedented, sympathetic, and wide-ranging exploration of the mysterious world of Islamic women-the people behind the veils-by female writers and Christian workers.

More than half a billion women live their entire lives peeking out from behind heavy veils. Theirs is a mysterious, misunderstood life often lived without hope and under great persecution.

This groundbreaking book is written by evangelical Christian women who have seen the other side. Ranging from missionaries in Islamic countries, to former reporters and columnists, the contributors give a powerful and unsilenceable voice to the women behind the veil. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Christian Fundamentalists are Behind this Veil
If you are looking for a truthful book about Muslim women's lifestyle, as I was, do not buy this book. This is a totally biased Christian view of the Islamicculture by those who want to convert Muslim women to Christianity. Big disappointment for me.

Not a Muslim, I have traveled extensively in Muslim countries and have seen how restricted women are compared to men. But this missionary approach comparing quotes from the Bible and Quran, is a good example of narrow minded diatribe from missionaries who don't see that their brand offundamentalism is as destructive as that of Muslims they criticize.

Sad that truth in this book goes unreported.
The true problem is that the religion and experiences described in this book are so offensive to some that they attack the author and ignore the truth that the book exposes.I have studied the Quran and teaching since Sept 11th 2001 and find Dr. Caner view to be correct.The interesting lame attack by a man that has most likely even met Dr. Caner tells you more about this book and its validity than anything I can say.In the nature of true disclosure let me state I have met and listen to many sermons from Dr. Caner and find him to be the the light of the earth.I also noticed that the negative reviews of this book were name calling unsubstantiated mumblings of those with nothing informative to say..

not un-biased; not subtle.
I am so sorry that this book had to end up presenting Christianity as the answer. Its biased content in opposition of Islam is blatant, and I am afraid that the few people who read it without reading or studying anything else end up writing reviews (such as those here that are quite embarrassing in their snobby, ignorant hatred) or just spouting their opinions wherever they happen to converse with another. It's negative talk like this, which is false on more counts than not, that will pull us all apart.

Islam does not promote the mysogeny many of you reviewers you describe. Poor interpretation of it does (unfortunately the same poor interpretation happens in many Christian churches and organizations, also). Original Islam has been noted throughout history as supportive of female progress through education and equal treatment. You can find many books and articles on this right here on Amazon.com. There are many muslim countries in which women do not have to wear a veil, and there are many muslim men who wouldn't think of having more than one wife, let alone more than one girlfriend (my loving and devoted boyfriend -- andhusband -- being one of them).

Before you believe that you have a good knowledge of the experience of the Muslim woman after reading just this book, please, please read more. Just look at the many titles here on this site. Read from various orientations-- left and right wing, religious, etc.. Then you can form an educated opinion. Don't just parrot the one thing that you've read, please! It promotes prejudice and even hatred.

Jesus is my huggie-bear?
The case stories are really interesting, but none of the Christian women telling the stories in this anthology knows enough about their own faith to make the book really captivating. It is not enough to say things like "Jesus loves me and He wants to love you too!" This does not work in the real world, and is probably also why Moslems in general have a hard time taking the popularized and Westernized version of Christianity seriously. To argue against Islam from an emotionalistic point of view and to do the "Jesus loves you" chant is to portray Christianity in a distorted way. And it is not convincing to portray God as a spiritual huggie-bear. On the contrary, Christianity is reality, it is the Truth - a Person. We need comparative publications done by people who not only care for mission - which is something this book does emphasise - but who also know Christian Theology, and is able to investigate the issues of Islam a little deeper than this book does.

Reveals Islam
I am glad someone has finaly written a book that exposes how islam rapes and degrades women. Islamic law says that if a woman refuses to have sex with a man that he is ALLOWED TO BEAT HER!! This book is excellent in pointing out how islam puts women on the level of animals and cattle. I hope we all wake up and see what kind of evil cult is spreading in our country. Will it take another Waco to wake us up? ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Balanced
This book eruditely and factually reports on the many sides of this issue and lets the reader draw his or her own conclusions.

Looking Behind the Veil
You will find an excellent review and analysis of the controversial law passed in France in 2004 which banned clothing with clear religious affiliation from being worn in public schools.The creation of this law, which targeted the Islamic headscarf, has raised discussion in France and elsewhere about the definition and limits of "freedom of religion" in the public context.

How did the policy come to pass in French legislation?How did the particular school incidents escalate to national attention?This book will answer these questions informatively and engagingly.I read this for a class at Northern Arizona University, and from an anthropology undergrad's perspective, I rank this among the better books I've read.

An Anthropology of Public Reasoning
Three years after the facts, is it still worthwhile to revisit the French government's decision to ban Islamic headscarves and other religious signs from public schools? Should we not rather just let go, have time heal whatever wounds may have been caused, and move on to something else? If John Bower chose to dedicate a book to that decision and to the deliberations that led to it, it is not just because the law seems strange to outsiders and cannot be easily interpreted starting from a liberal viewpoint. It is, above all, because he felt that "its passage was one of those key moments in a country's life at which certain anxieties and assumptions come to the surface, when people take stock of who they are and of what kind of social life they wish to have."

To be true, the French are adept at staging such debates about themselves. The nation that invented the salons philosophiques and the art of conversation has a passion for probing into its own identity and entertains the belief that all social ills may be amenable to abstract reasoning and enlightened lawmaking. This is not only a matter of belief, but of social organization: the author finds that "French politicians, writers about public affairs, television 'talking heads', and philosophers are much more likely to read one another's work, be related to one another, or indeed be the same person than is the case in most other countries." These literati tend to base their opinion about social trends on anecdotes and media commentary, not hard data or sociological evidence. In a strange twist of cartesian thinking, they believe that if a theory is refuted by facts, then you have to change the facts, not the theory.

The theory here is that schools are a sanctuary of republican values, a sacred institution whose mission is to create a universal social morality in the minds of French pupils and to mold them into autonomous, rational and public-minded citizen. Philosophically, this conception is rooted in a certain brand of political philosophy originating with Jean-Jacques Rousseau, one that emphasizes general interests and shared values over individual interests and pluralism. Historically, it is associated with the figure of the hussard noir de la Republique, the schoolteacher in rural districts who was the designated agent to turn "peasants into Frenchmen" and have the Catholic church abdicate its control over the minds of primary school pupils. The reality is that state schools in contemporary France have to integrate an increasingly diverse population, notably the children of immigrants from North Africa, and that they cannot really cope with all the social requests that are imposed upon them.

It is in this context that wearing headscarves in state schools came to be seen as a threat to the central values of the Republic and a challenge to three hard-won battles: the fight to keep religion from controlling young minds, the struggle to forge a common French identity, and the promotion of gender equality in public and private life. The law banning headscarves in schools can therefore be seen as a product of a historical trajectory as well as a political response to the perceived threats of Islamism, communalism and sexism. Explaining that law, as the author does, "requires unpacking a great deal about France, including France's very particular history of religion and the state, the great hopes placed in the public schools, ideas about citizens and integration (and the challenges posed by Muslims and by Islam to those ideas), the continued weight of the colonial past, the role of television in shaping opinion, and the tendency to think that passing a law will resolve a social problem." That the author does so without losing a sense of sympathy and understanding for the young girls most directly affected by this measure is a testimony to his humanity and to his skills as a storyteller. ... Read more

Product Description
"In a commanding and detailed overview of the contemporary Middle East, Asef Bayat provides a unique account of the region today, in terms of ideologies, social movements and state power. Almost alone amongst scholars of the region in having expertise on both Iran and the Arab world, and with a deep commitment to combining regional knowledge with social theory, Bayat has produced a work of originality and quality. His exploration of the category 'post-Islamism.' when so many in the Middle East and the West stress the impact of Islamism itself, sets this work apart from so many prevailing, repetitive and introverted, discussions of the region."
--Professor Fred Halliday, London School of Economics, Fellow of the British Academy

"Unquestionably the best book I have read on Islamic trends in Iran and Egypt. Bayat, combining sociological sophistication with sharply detailed observation, offers hearty fare for those who are tired of the thin gruel served up elsewhere."
--Richard W. Bulliet, Columbia University, author of The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization

"Asef Bayat's lucid and authoritative study sheds much-needed light on the vexed topic of Islam and democracy. Though Bayat sees no necessary hostility between the two, Muslims in the Middle East are in practice caught between authoritarian regimes, authoritarian Islamist oppositions, and foreign military occupation. Nonetheless, focusing on Iran and Egypt, he sees grounds for hope, mainly in post-Islamist social movements which may establish a presence in civil society sufficient to force concessions from the regimes. Since their problems have recently become our problems too, this excellent book should be very widely read."
--Michael Mann, University of California, Los Angeles, author of Sources of Social Power

Whether Islam is compatible with democracy is an increasingly asked question, but ultimately a misguided one. In this book, Asef Bayat proposes that democratic ideals have less to do with the essence of any religion than with how it is practiced. He offers a new approach to Islam and democracy, outlining how the social struggles of student organizations, youth and women's groups, the intelligentsia, and other social movements can make Islam democratic.

Making Islam Democratic examines in detail those social movements that have used religion to unleash social and political change, either to legitimize authoritarian rule or, in contrast, to construct an inclusive faith that embraces a democratic polity. It provides a fresh analysis of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution--how it has evolved into the pervasive, post-Islamist reform movement of the early twenty-first century, and how it differed from Egypt's religious "passive revolution."

Focusing on events from the Iranian Revolution to the current day, with a comparative focus on Islamism, post-Islamism, and active religious expression across the region, Bayat explores the highly contested relationship between religion, politics, and the quotidian in the Middle East. His book provides an important understanding of the great anxiety of our time--the global march of "Muslim rage"--and offers a hopeful picture of a democratic Middle East. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Must-Read for all those interested in Democracy and Islam
The best book on the subject of Islam and Democracy. Finally an account that looks at how ordinary Muslims find ways to reconcile faith and democratic norms in their daily lives and fight for democratic change in Egypt and Iran. Carefully researched. The author lived for many years in both countries - so much of the book is based on primary sources in Persian and Arabic. For all those interested in the question of Islam and Democracy, it is a must-read. The introduction in particular is powerful.

A key acquisition for any college-level collection
MAKING ISLAM DEMOCRATIC: SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND THE POST-ISLAMIC TURN is a key acquisition for any college-level collection strong in Middle East studies. It offers a focus on events from Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution to modern times, considering religion, politics and everyday life in the Middle East and providing a fine analysis of the contemporary Iranian revolution and its evolution. Asef Bayat is Academic Director of the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World, and lends authority and insight to his review of the modern Middle East world.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch ... Read more

Product Description

In this gripping narrative history, Lesley Hazleton tells the tragic story at the heart of the ongoing rivalry between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam, a rift that dominates the news now more than ever.
 
Even as Muhammad lay dying, the battle over who would take control of the new Islamic nation had begun, beginning a succession crisis marked by power grabs, assassination, political intrigue, and passionate faith. Soon Islam was embroiled in civil war, pitting its founder's controversial wife Aisha against his son-in-law Ali, and shattering Muhammad’s ideal of unity.
   
Combining meticulous research with compelling storytelling, After the Prophet explores the volatile intersection of religion and politics, psychology and culture, and history and current events. It is an indispensable guide to the depth and power of the Shia–Sunni split.

Customer Reviews (25)

Quick, easy and enlightening read
In "After the Prophet", Lesley Hazleton turns a complex and crucial part of Muslim history into a compelling story. Distilling accounts of some of the earliest Muslim historians -- particularly al-Tabari (d. 923) -- she vividly paints the key characters, their interests and ethical perspectives, as well as their choices and actions during the Prophet's final days, and the fifty crucial years following his death that would shape the Muslim world and faith for centuries to come.

At times, I did find myself critical of some of the narrator's simplistic assumptions of what motivated key characters, and the conveniently clear lines of causality drawn between events that unfolded 14 centuries ago and the present-day Middle East. While the historical connection is undeniable, much has happened in the intervening centuries that has contributed to shaping forces in today's Muslim world. In any case, a complete treatment of these subjects was clearly beyond the scope of this book.

A work that delves into these earliest formative years of Muslim history is bound to spur discomfort among entrenched Shia and Sunni camps. But in reading this book, any moderate-minded Muslim -- Shia, Sunni or otherwise -- will be enlightened by a historical narrative that strives for balance, objectivity and fidelity with credible Islamic sources.

Easy read on this fascinating history
After the Profit by Leslie Hazleton is a page turner.Easy to follow the different personalities that led to the Shia - Sunni split. There are events that took place that Shia and Sunni interpret differently - she gives both versions in an unbiased way.Is it a pretty accurate recount of this history?I am not well read on this subject in the least bit, but by reading the negative reviews, the readers complaints are merely technicalities so based on that I believe this is an accurate account of the decades after the Profits death.It was very interesting for me to read about the cities that are historically important to Islam, and that many of them are in Iraq.I plan on rereading this book because Mrs. Hazelton did such a great job in bringing to life the various personalities involved in this fascinating history.

Uneasy mixture of two books
I found reading this book to be a somewhat frustrating experience, but it may have suffered in comparison with Mir Tamim Ansary's "Destiny Disrupted," which I'd read immediately prior to picking this one up.

In describing the origins of the Shia/Sunni split the author indulges in what I felt to be some rather highly colored speculation on (for example) how Aisha, as "a spirited city teenager," "must have savored every detail" of discovering "the fabled purity of the desert" (page 20). I've no idea whether Hazleton's projections of the emotions or reactions of the actors, especially Aisha, are grounded in the lore surrounding them, and how much may be creative synthesis on the part of the writer.This fictionalized the story for me to an extent and decreased my willingness to "follow along."

In contrast, some of the discussion in the later portion of the book about specific ways in which this history's emotional resonance is engaged in motivating current political thinking in the Middle East I found to be interesting and informative.

Over-all, my feeling is that this book could be usefully placed in high school libraries as a "young adult" introduction/overview.

Excellent. Now I Understand
In The Ayatollah Begs to Differ: The Paradox of Modern IranHooman Majd describes the Rosah which are annually performed by Iran's Shi'a to commemorate the Battle of Karbala. These are retellings or recreations of events that continue to inspire.People cry and shiver in sadness at these performances year after year as they remember and relive the suffering of the Prophet's grandson and his supporters.If you don't know the background of the Sunni-Shi'a split, it seems to be a strange custom.

The reasons cannot be told in sound bites. Their sadness results from the disrespectful treatment of the Prophet's family for two generations. The complex series of events culminates in extreme cruetly at Karbala.

Leslie Hazelton makes the history and its participants come alive. She gives the people character and shading so that you can understand what they do and possibly why.Barnaby Rogerson in The Heirs of Muhammad Islam's First Century and the Origins of the Sunni-Shia Splittells the same story but not in a way that helped me to understand the passion of the Shi'a. Now, through Hazelton, I finally understand the split and passion of the Shi'a and why, even today, why this story remains so stirring.

This telling of the story is favorable to Ali and his children and suggests there is an alternative Sunni interpretation.

This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to really understand the story.

Keep an open mind when reading this book!
Although a very interesting book and almost a page-turner, reflecting on the book afterward, I was somewhat dismayed and disillusioned. She had masterfully broken down the divinity of the characters, into mere humans with real emotions, real political and real environments. But I felt that at some points, she took it too far and tried too hard. She made complex situations simple, taking into account only a few factors and often inserting her own opinion. I was often torn between fact, fiction and opinion. I would definitely recommend this book, but I would caution the reader to keep an open mind and take into account the authors perception of history into account as well. ... Read more

Product Description
A fascinating, well illustrated and thoroughly documented response to the relentless anti-Christian propaganda that has been generated by Muslim and marxist groups and by Hollywood film makers.As Karl Marx declared:"The first battlefield is the re-writing of history!""Slavery, Terrorsim and Islam" is an eye opening, positive and practical handbook to empower you to respond effectively to the challenge of Islam today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The cost of information?
This book is very informative and has brought much to light for me.However, i was charged $33.94 for a $15.00 paperback, that I received from naturalenergyworks.net.When I saw the amount I was charged I assumed I would be receiving a hardcover textbook.I have submitted an e-mail to naturalenergyworks.net, and am awaiting a reply.It's been about a week now, and I still have not received an answer.

Islamic history
I often see black people professing Islam as them religion of choice.They might think again if they read this book.It relates how historically the blacks were ravaged, killed sold into slavery by the millions by Islamic raiders in Africa.This book was certainly an eye-opener.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0958454981/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title
Allows one to see the salvery issue in a whole different light.
80% of the slaves went to the Middle East and the EU. 15% to the Caribean and only 5% if slaves ended up in the USA....Facinating.

A complete and honest publication about the threat of Islam
If you were to invest in one book about Islam...this is the one. I started researching about the Muslim belief system in earnest since 911. I have read books and viewed media and have come to the knowledge that Islam is a religion that will not be satisfied until it has world dominance. This book tells the whole truth about Islam. It comes from the perspective of Peter Hammond, a white African, who has lived among the oppression of the Islamic belief system. He himself has been imprisoned and threatened with his life for his speaking out of this truth through 'Frontline Fellowship' the name of his agency. This book explains the history of what was actually the first crusade, the brutality of the slave trade with interesting facts about America's involvement. It describes in great detail about the types of terrorism used to force people into the Islamic belief system. It tells of the destruction of whole countries and peoples once Islam has gained the seat of power in government. My only complaint is that when I wanted to buy more copies of this book from Amazon there was only one used copy for $460!?!? I then went to Frontline Fellowship's website and found they have brand new editions of this book for $10 a piece!!...Amazon, what's up with that?

An Insight to Islam's Slave Trade
"Slavery, Terrorism, and Islam" is now in its second edition.
Although written from a Christian Missionary perspective, the text is useful for secular analysts researching a civilizational force on the march.

Unlike the academics who debate whether a clash of civilizations is even in progress, Hammond, writes from the perspective of one decisively engaged in that civilizational fight.

His area of emphasis is Africa, Nigeria and the Sudan. He starts with the strategic perspective (Islam as a doctrine) and drills down to specifics: Islam's hostilities with the non-Islamic world in general and Christianity in particular. He specifically addresses jihad, women's issues, slavery, and the strategies and techniques of modern day Islamic expansion.Significantly, although this text is written from a religious (Christian) perspective,there is abundant material for secular researchers dissecting an aggressive ideology.

Hammond, who is located in Africa, brings a remarkably fresh perspective on the issue of Slavery.At a time when Slavery is assessed as an American birth defect with the finger of political correctness pointing at Washington as a slave owner, Hammond reminds usthat Muhammad, the founding father of Islam, was a slave owner, and that under Islamic stewardship, slavery becamea highly developed, civilizational-level, industry that, over 14 centuries, drainedAfricaofan estimated 140 million people.Islam was the procurement and trafficking institution for 15th Century Spain, 16th Century Portugal, 17th Century England, and 18th Century American slavery and was a self-producing consumer of slavery throughout the Islamic world into the 21st century. Hammond reminds us that slavery was formally abolished in Saudi Arabia only in 1962 and yet continues in the 21st century (See "Slave: My True Story", by Mende Nazer describing her 1992 capture and 2002 escape).

Slavery, Terrorism and Islam is a slim volume that is an invaluable desk reference and primer for analysts addressing Islam as an ideological force. The contents of Hammond's second edition is described below.

"Slavery, Terrorism, and Islam" by Peter Hammond

Contents

1. The Scourge of Slavery
Contrasts in Captivity
The Absence of Arabic Abolitionists
The pagan Origins of Slavery
The Christian Roots of Liberty
The Islamic slave Trade
An eyewitness Account
Christian Slaves- Muslin Masters
The European Slave Trade
The American Slave Trade
The African Slave Trade
Wilberforce's War
Set Free to Serve Christ
Livingstone's Travels
A Trade in Human Misery
Sharia Law and Slavery
Slavery Today
The Law of Liberty
2. Uprooting Terrorism.
Terrorism's Missionary Vision
A Global Agenda
"Africa for Islam"
Understanding Jihad
Ouranic Roots of Jihad
The Benefits of Jihad
Sharia and the House of War
The Many Faces of Jihad
Jihad and "The Crusades"
Jihad and Colonialism
Jihad and Slavery
The Sudan Connection
Jihad Against Christians
A Christian Response
Preparing for Eternity
3. Resisting Sharia in Nigeria
Christians Persecuted
The Islamic Agenda
"All the Christians Must be Shot"
Churches Burned, Christians Murdered
Africa's Largest Nation
Missionary Heritage
Turbulent Times
Spectacular Church Growth
Great Needs, Great Opportunities
The Free Market in Nigeria
Driving on the Other Side
Market Place Airports
Contrasts and Queues in an Oil Rich Country
Dynamic Churches
Supporting Tyrants
Slaughter Under Shari'a
Resistance in Jos
Christian Courage in Gboko
Between Cross and Crescent
4. Jihad- Islamic Holy War
5. Islam According to the Reformers
6. The Sources ofIslam
The Authority of Islam
Arabian Sources of the Quran
Jewish Sources of the Quran
Christian Sources of Islam
Zoroastrian Sources of the Quran
Egyptian Sources of the Quran
How the Quran was Revealed
Evaluating the Quran
Conclusion
7. Muhammad, the Caliphas and Jihad
Muhammad
The Miraj
The Hijrah
Jihad
Assassinations
Mass Murders and Mass Rapes
The Polygamous Prophet
The Caliphas
Muslim Massacres
"The Bloodiest Story in History"
"Unfinished Business"
Spain Under the Moors
The Pact of Umar
The House of War
Churches Demolished, Pilgrims Persecuted
The Crusades are launched
Antioch Liberated
To Jerusalem
The Crusaders Take Jerusalem
Saladin and Richard the Lionhearted
The End of the Crusades
Dynasties, Decadence and Decline
The Fall of Constantinople
"The Blood Levy"
The Tide Turns
Corruption and Cruelty
A New Wave of Muslim Massacres
The Scandalous Alliance
The Forgotten Holocaust
Slaughter in Smyrna
The Curse of Neutrality
"An Unmitigated Cultural Disaster"
Intellectual Dishonesty
Sharia in Saudi
Jihad Seeks to Conquer Our Souls
8. Women in Islam
Polygamy Degrades Women
The Example of the Caliphass
"Temporary Marriages"
"Deficient in Intelligence"
"Capricious" and "Corrupting"
Physical Abuse of Women
Selling Children
Female Mutilation
Discrimination Under Saudi's Sharia
Stoning to Death a Victim of Rape
Death of a Princess
Judicial Gang Rape
Raped in the Name of Allah
Murder in the Family
Burned Alive in Afghanistan
Battered in Saudi Arabia
Forced Back Into a Burning building
Abuse, Assault and Blaming the Victim
Serial Polygamy
A Taboo Subject
9. The Challenge of Islam
Points of Agreement and Contradiction
Historical Errors in the Quran
Faith and Practice of Islam
10. Comparing the Bible With the Quran
11. Challenging Muslims
12. Guidelines for Muslim Evangelism
General Guidelines for Muslim Evangelism
The Gospel and Abraham
13. Slavery today and the Battle over History
14. Muslim Evangelism in Universities
Ministering to Muslims
Terrorism Defended
Suicide Bombing Justified
Firsthand From Sudan
A Testimony of Salvation in Christ
Only a Muslim Can Quote from the Quran
The Atheist Holocaust
Evangelizing Muslims
15. The Crusades and Jihad
What Preceded the Crusades?
Myths and Misconceptions
The Merciful Saladin
What did the Crusades Achieve?
A Reaction to Jihad
Defensive Wars
Thinking the Unthinkable
Christian Love and Self Sacrifice
Against All Odds
A Judgment of God
Learn to Discern
Who Cares About Geography?
This is a True Story- Only the Facts Have Been Changed
Twisted Theology
Insults to Intelligence
Crusade Against Christianity
Entertainment or Exploitation?
The Facts of History
Logistics and Economics
There's More to Life Than Money
The Missing Jihad
Muhammad vs. Christ
Jihad vs. The Gospel
16. The End of Islam
Muslim Myths
Just the Facts
A Trail of Destruction
"The Bloodiest Story in History"
Spain Under the Moors
Carnage in Constantinople
The Forgotten Holocausts
Intolerant and Inconsistent
Intellectual Dishonesty
Double Talk
Divisions and Dissension
Changes in the Quran
Destroying Qurans
Many Versions
Islamic Racism
The Islamic Slave Trade
Christian Roots in Africa
Africa's Agony
Cultural Disaster
Plundering Progress
Tyrants Overthrown
More Defeats for Islam
Shaking Foundations
The Threat of Freedom
A1. (A1= Appendix 1) Glossary of Islamic Terms
A2. Who's Who In Islam
A3. Proselytizing To Peace- Jihad In Action
A4. The Spread of Islam According to Islamic Sources
A5. Percentage of Muslims by Country
A6. Population Density of Muslim
A7. Muslim Population by Country
A8. Muslim Growth Rate
A9. Military Spending vs. National Prosperity
A10. Churchill on Islam
A11. Death Threats From Muslim Extremists
Muslim Mob at Missions Week
Hostile Phone Calls
Death Threat Fatwa By Fax
Expect to be Shot on Sight
Freedom of Speech Under Fire
Freedom of Religion Threatened
Who is Being Intolerant?
Too Controversial
Telling the Truth in Love
Where is This Going to End?
Blame the Victim
Tolerating Intolerance
The Great Commission is our Priority
Reaching the Unreached
A12. Islamic Attacks on Christ and the Bible
Regarding the Bible
Concerning Jesus
Mocking the Deity of Christ
Regarding Christians, Their Faith, and Teachers,
an Absurd Picture is Presented
Muslim's duty
And How we Can React
A13. Reformation or Islamisation
Europe is in Danger of Falling to Islam
The Blessings of the Gospel
Another Generation
Aborting Europe
The Turkish Connection
Eurabia
Europe is Being Targeted by Islam
Rejecting God's Law
Aborting Her Future
What is the Solution?

... Read more

Product Description
Since the beginning of modern history, experts have been trying to predict when the end of the world will come.They have created terms such as the antiChrist, the 666 Mark of the Beast, End Times, and Rapture common in society, but they may have overlooked the most important ancient prophecy that ties Islam, todays current events, and the worlds response to the exact timing of the end times.In his shocking and revealing book, Islam in the End Times, Islamic relations expert and scholar Ellis Skolfield unlocks the key to understanding all the end time prophecies and Islams role in bringing them about.Ellis expertly maps ancient prophecies with current events to demonstrate that the current Islamic aggression against the world in general and Israel specifically relates to the exact year of the beginning of the end.Skolfield reveals the most shocking prophecy of all, the key to understanding all other end time prophesies. It is a mathematical number that provides the exact year of what is called theAbomination of Desolation -- a cataclysmic event in the timeline of human history.In Islam in the End Times, Skolfield statistically documents where the world is in relationship to the end times, and what Islams role is now and in the future. Skolfield uses mathematics and ancient prophecies to demonstrate how Islam is involved in the prophecy called theAbomination of Desolation, the key to unlocking end time prophecies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Thought provoking to say the least
I appreciate the scholarship and the thoroughness used in writing this book. We differ on a few areas but the overall jist is worth consideration and even rethinking a pre-tribulation rapture theory.

Finally someone has pieced together Daniel & Revelation
I stumbled upon Skolfield's work on the Internet. I've read the Bible for sometime and lot's of End Time scenarios. Skolfield is the first I've seen who put all the pieces together, all while sticking to the Bible for interpretation (wow! what a concept!). I bought one and then another two to give away. Thank you mister Skolfield.

Unbelievable
The author doesn't take into consideration the present corruption in our society within the U.S., the fact that all major religions have at some point in time been the cause of wicked behavior amongst groups of individuals, and that our creator is bigger than religions. Capitalism has created so many ills that the author fails to acknowledge. Our lives aren't about religious beliefs, our lives are about taking care of one another, loving one another. When we face our creator, what matters is how we treated our fellow human being. Everything else is useless. The author seemed more interested in writing a book to make a profit than to truly educate individuals. This books breeds hate and anger. The same emotions that it condemns.

I will never forget reading his first book, utterly astounding.
This author is absolutely incredible.I believe it was in 1979 I read "The False Prophet" or was it the "Hidden Beast"?Not sure which I had read first, but I assure you which ever one it was it utterly astounded me!One must consider, back then his book came against all the "experts" But it was completely amazing and I was excited and in a state of shock about what I had learned. I immediately purchased his second book, and his third which was "Hidden Beast2", which is basically the same as the original "Hidden Beast" with a little added information, and lastly "Islam in the End Times". Skolfield exposed the profound Islam connection back in 1979.Only now are other authors catching up with him.I cannot praise Ellis Skolfield enough.His first book published in 1979 is relevant today.It is interesting that he prices his books to make them affordable.There is so much nonsense out there, and at high prices.Skolfield is extremely informative, and way ahead of his time.Rather, it appears, the Holy Spirit guided him early on, very early on.

Signs of the times
This latest book by Ellis Skolfield is a must read for anyone who is interested in the roots and progression of political events today. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Tactful and Dispassionate
This book attempts to address, from the Christian position, the substantial differences between the two major world faiths in a humble, honest and diplomatic manner.
It provides the Christian proselytizer with a handy overview into the vast cultural and religious differences and how best to address them in a way as to avoid offense.

While it is almost impossible to cover this topic without offending either side whilst affirming the validity of one, this book goes as close as is possible.
The author shows the many points at which Islam contradicts the Bible and Christ's teachings. He points out the many false assertions that many Muslims have of Christianity and the Bible.

Because the ultimate aim of this book is to be a guide for those Christians who wish to discuss their faith with Muslims, I recommend that it should not be read by Muslims. Invariably they would be put off by reading why Islam is a false religion, much in the same way a Christian would also be uncomfortable hearing incessantly that we are wrong.


This book is only designed to be a general overview for the average Christian. It is not a comprehensive and scholarly study of the two religions. For that reason it is quite an easy read for any Christian.
For those who have only a cursory interest in Islam, then this book is perfect. In fact most Christians should become familiar with Islam and all it's various religious and cultural idiosyncrasies. Because, in the multicultural society that we live in today, it is only a matter of time before we have some form of relationship with somebody of the Muslim faith.

Authoritative Commentary
Islam and the Bible is an authoritative commentary concerning the differences and similarities between Islam and Christianity. Mr. Goldmann spent over 20 years in Morocco, and the book is a gold mine of information about the tenents, customs, and doctrines of Islam. I highly recommend this book.

A User-Friendly Comparison
This book is very informative and has an excellent method of presenting the facts which compare the Bible to Islam. The author is obviously well-informed. ... Read more

Product Description
Thumb through any newspaper, listen to any newscast, and the terms "Islamic Al Jihad" or "Shi'ite Muslims" will inevitably be linked with bombings, hijackings, and other terrorist acts. What do you know about this religion that boasts "the greatest joy is to kill and be killed for Allah"?

In Islam Revealed, Dr. Anis Shorrosh explains the driving force behind the fanatical, as well as the moderate and conservative sects of Islam. Drawing on his experience as a Palestinian-born Arab Christian and years of research and study, Dr. Shorrosh takes a hard look at an ever-growing religion that currently numbers 900 million members.

Through comparisons of Islam's Quran and the Hebrew-Christian Bible, Dr. Shorrosh outlines the contradictions and inaccuracies that form the basis for the Muslims' beliefs, and contrasts the turbulent life of Muhammad with the life of Jesus. In light of recent terrorist activities in America and the continuing tensions in the Middle East, Islam Revealed is a timely reference to the belief system of one in five people on earth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Not worth more than 60 cents!
Plenty of contradictions stated in this piece. Not worth more than 60 cents! I would rather read books by REAL historians such as Marmaduke Pickethall, british historians who lived for an extensive period of their lives in Muslim countries rather than countries that incorporate religious mixtures.

Islam exposed
reading this book gives you comparisons.As a Christian,we need to be as informed as possible to other mindsets. Nadia REhmani author of Sharper Than A Two Edged sword,that is my story of my walk into Islam and out.Read it.Nadia

A GREAT BOOK IF YOUBELIEVE IN GOD
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK IS THAT IT TELL THE DIFFERENT
BETWEEN A CHRISTIAN AND A MUSLIM AND HOW GOD IS A SPIRITS
AND MUHAMMAD IS A MAN AND ON PAGE 102 IT TELL YOU THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN JESUS AND MUHAMMAD READ THIS PAGE AND YOU TELL ME IS THIS A FIVE STAR BOOK.

Islam Unveiled and Defied
When a Muslim scholar Ahmed Deedat claimed before the audience in Birmingham Hall, England, that Jesus promised his followers the coming of his successor, Muhammad, it was Dr. Anis A. Shorrosh who challenged Mr. Deedat to a debate on the divinity of Jesus. Two debates then ensued between the two religious scholars. The second, centered on the topic `Is Jesus God?' resulted in a setback to the Muslim veteran. Dr. Shorrosh's book Islam Revealed: A Christian Arab's View of Islam (Thomas Nelson Inc, Tennesse, 1988) is inspired by this experience.

With a foreword by Dr. Adrian Rogers, Islam Revealed is divided into two main parts. The first part presents an overview of Islam as a religion, the life of Muhammad, Islamic convictions on Jesus and crucifixion, and the validity of Quran versus Bible. Dr. Shorrosh brings to light the turbulent life of Islam's last prophet touching on his polygamy, alleged holy wars, literacy, and strategies adopted to expand his circle of influence. Startling secrets are revealed by the Christian Doctor of Ministries as he refers to some unspoken-of historical happenings. Comparing Muhammad's life with that of Jesus, the author attempts to prove the divinity of the latter. Interesting connections are revealed between Quran and earlier Arabic texts; connections that challenge the divine claim to Islam's most revered book.

The second part of the book presents the readers with main points from the arguments of both debaters and rebuttals of both sides. While both show logical slips in their arguments against refuting each other's position, Dr. Shorrosh maintains his composure and a greater degree of reason against his Muslim contestant. Questions for thought about God, Jesus, and crucifixion add to the flavor of this interesting religious debate.

Islam Revealed carries endnotes, bibliography, and a glossary of Arabic terms with English meanings makes it easy for a Non-Arab to apprehend the points taken up in Dr. Shorrosh's arguments.

Islam TRULY Revealed . . .
I have just reviewed Robert Spencer's PIG To Islam and I made the following points below (sorry for repeating myself)

Firstly, can I say as an actual purchaser of this book from Amazon, I feel I have the right to review it.

The reason I say this is that on many muslim websites there is an ongoing campaign against many writers :
Craig Winn, Robert Spencer,Ibn Warraq, Mark Gabriel, Bat Ye'or, Serge Trifkovic and Anis Shorrosh, to name but a few.

Amazon reviewers should be aware of this.

Thus regarding muslim "reviewers", I think we can safely conclude that :
a) they have never BOUGHT the book, and
b) they have never even READ the book ...

This is obvious from their PROPAGANDA about their "great"muslim "scholars", Deedat and Badawi, please do watch the Videos (if you can hear Anis words over the catcalling "ALLAH AKBAR to drown him out).

If I have a choice between Western Scholarship and muslim scholarship, I would choose the former... reason, Deedat and Badawi when they are against Shorrosh, blatantly lie... their favourite GET-OUT clause is that NO-ONE can ever understand 7th Century Arabic, in other words the 2 muslim "scholars" can tell us that the Quran means whatever THEY decide it means !
(Even when Shorosh has the support of renowned Arab dictionaries !!!)

Anis Shorrosh is a Palestinian born Arab Christian, I think therefore he he has a genuine understanding of Islam and Islamic societies. He doesn't have to PRETEND to be an Arab, like many muslims throughout the world (who incidentally despise him because he debates wearing his Familys tradional ARAB costume !)

If you wish a book on The Religion of Islam, then this would be a good buy.

Anis Shorosh is a good and loving human being, as becomes clear through his writings. I wish our muslim "reviewers" would bear this in mind and refrain from cheap ad hominem remarks. ... Read more