Islam: Religion, History, and Civilization

Overview

In this informative and clear introduction to the world of Islam, Seyyed Hossein Nasr explores the following topics in depth:

*What Is Islam?

*The Doctrines and Beliefs of Islam

*Islamic Practices and Institutions

*The History of Islam

*Schools of Islamic Thought

*Islam in the Contemporary World

*Islam and Other Religions

*The Spiritual and Religious Significance of Islam

Editorial Reviews

Nasr, a professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University, is probably America's leading Islamicist, and he lives up to his reputation with this short yet comprehensive primer on Islam. Nasr presents the religion of more than a billion people today without prejudice or preference. In eight short chapters, he surveys all that can be described as "Islamic"-the theology, people, history, cultures and more. His descriptions of how Islam spread through black Africa and China are concise and clear. Although certain readers may prefer a book that speaks more directly to the concerns raised by the attacks of 9/11 or that addresses hot topics like the treatment of women under Islam, Nasr unapologetically lays out a classical and timeless text. He is at his most engaging when discussing Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, a topic that is usually underrepresented in similar books. Nasr also dives headfirst into Islam's more abstract and intellectual underpinnings, much to the satisfaction of the reader who seeks spiritual guidance in addition to education. "To understand Islam today," Nasr cautions, "it is first of all important to realize that the histories of different religions do not all follow the same trajectory." Readers who desire more than a simple current events profile, and who want to understand the core of the world's second-largest religion, will appreciate this introduction that manages to be sweeping in scope yet accessible in style. (Jan.) Forecast: The Islamic bookshelves are getting quite crowded these days, and America's rush to obtain a remedial education on Islam seems to have abated. That's a shame, because this book deserves a wider readership than it may get in today's glutted market. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information. -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.

Author Information

Bio of Seyyed Hossein Nasr

Seyyed Hossein Nasr was born in Tehran, Iran. He received his advanced education at M.I.T. and Harvard University, and returned to teach at Tehran University from 1958 to 1979, where be also served as dean of the Faculty of Letters and vice chancellor. He founded the Iranian Academy of Philosophy and served as its first president, and was also president of Aryamehr University for several years. Since 1984, he has been university professor of Islamic studies at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and president of the Foundation for Traditional Studies.

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Additional Info

Imprint

Harper San Francisco

Filesize

815.51 KB

Number of Pages

224

eBook ISBN

9780061556463