Islam: A Very Short IntroductionIslam dominates the news, often in stories filled with images of violence. Yet these disturbing images are at odds with a faith that most adherents--who now number over a billion worldwide--would regard as no less pacific than Buddhism or Christianity. Indeed, the word Islam in Arabic means "self-surrender" and is closely related to salaam, the word for peace. In this thoroughly revised new edition, Malise Ruthven offers a balance, compact, and reliable overview of Islam. An internationally recognized authority on Islam, Ruthven offers essential insights into this major world religion, examining such issues as why Islam has such major divisions between movements such as the Shi'ites, the Sunnis, and the Wahhabis, and the central importance of the Shar'ia (Islamic law) in Islamic life. He also provides fresh perspectives on contemporary questions: Why is the greatest Jihad (holy war) now against the enemies of Islam, rather than the struggle against evil? Can women find fulfillment in Islamic societies? How must Islam adapt as it confronts the modern world? For the new edition, Ruthven brings the text up-to-date, shedding light on some of the most significant changes in the Muslim world in recent years; from the emergence of al-Qaeda and the attacks on New York and Washington on 9/11 and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. Ruthven includes a new chapter on "Globalized Islam," which examines the effects of economic globalization, the impact of international events in Middle Eastern countries, the questions surrounding Islam and democracy, and the reception and perception of Islam in the West. -- Publisher description. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
according activity adopted al-islam Algeria Allah Arab Arabian argued Ash'ari authority Ayatollah became becomes believer brotherhood Caliph century Christian clergy cultural dar al-harb dar al-islam Divine Unicity doctrine Egypt élite ethical faith female fiqh forbidden God's hadith hadith literature Hajj Hasan historical holy human Hussein Ibn Arabi ideology ijma ijtihad Imam increasingly India institutions interpretation Iran Iraq Islamic law Islamic World Islamist Isma'ilis jahiliya Jews jihad jurists khamr Khan Khomeini kinship known leader leadership Makka male Malise Ruthven marriage Maududi means Messenger modernist mosque movements Muhammad mujtahid Muslim societies Muslim world mystical non-Muslim Ottoman pagan Pakistan pilgrimage political prayer pre-modern Prophet punishment Quran Ramadan religion religious revealed ritual rulers rules sacred Saudi Sayyid scholars sexual Shari'a Shi'a Shi'i Shi'ism social spiritual Sufi Sufism Sunna Sunni Syria tawhid theological tradition ulama Umar urban veil verses Western woman Women and Family