The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy TerrorIn his first book since What Went Wrong? Bernard Lewis examines the historical roots of the resentments that dominate the Islamic world today and that are increasingly being expressed in acts of terrorism. He looks at the theological origins of political Islam and takes us through the rise of militant Islam in Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, examining the impact of radical Wahhabi proselytizing, and Saudi oil money, on the rest of the Islamic world. The Crisis of Islam ranges widely through thirteen centuries of history, but in particular it charts the key events of the twentieth century leading up to the violent confrontations of today: the creation of the state of Israel, the Cold War, the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan, the Gulf War, and the September 11th attacks on the United States. While hostility toward the West has a long and varied history in the lands of Islam, its current concentration on America is new. So too is the cult of the suicide bomber. Brilliantly disentangling the crosscurrents of Middle Eastern history from the rhetoric of its manipulators, Bernard Lewis helps us understand the reasons for the increasingly dogmatic rejection of modernity by many in the Muslim world in favor of a return to a sacred past. Based on his George Polk Award–winning article for The New Yorker, The Crisis of Islam is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what Usama bin Ladin represents and why his murderous message resonates so widely in the Islamic world. |
Contents
DEFINING ISLAM | 3 |
THE HOUSE OF | 29 |
FROM CRUSADERS TO IMPERIALISTS | 47 |
DISCOVERING AMERICA | 64 |
SATAN AND THE SOVIETS | 82 |
DOUBLE STANDARDS | 103 |
A FAILURE OF MODERNITY | 113 |
THE MARRIAGE OF SAUDI POWER AND WAHHABI TEACHING | 120 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accepted Afghanistan allies American Arab Arabia attack authority became become began British brought caliphate called cause century Christian civilization clear concern countries course Crusaders defeat dominated early economic Egypt Empire ended enemy established Europe European example expressed faith finally followed force French fundamentalists God's groups hand holy human imperial important interest Iran Iraq Islam Islamic world Israel Italy Jews jihad killed kind known Ladin lands later leader less major means Middle East Middle Eastern military movements murder Muslim notably offer Organization Ottoman Palestine period Persian political practice present Prophet Qur'an regime region religion religious remained representative result rule rulers Saudi seen sense shah significant Soviet Union struggle success Syria term terrorism terrorists threat tion traditions Turkey Turkish United West Western