Showing posts with label islam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label islam. Show all posts

The House of Wisdom: How the Arabs Transformed Western Civilization Review

The House of Wisdom: How the Arabs Transformed Western Civilization
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The House of Wisdom: How the Arabs Transformed Western Civilization ReviewAn excellent story teller, Lyons uses the curiosity, conversations and travels of Adelard of Bath to provide a historic context for Arabic influence on European thought. Traveling to the east from his home in England's West Country, Adelard hoped to increase his knowledge by learning the teachings of the Arabs. As the story of the wandering Adelard unfolds, the reader gleans some knowledge of the dominant beliefs of the middle ages, the philosophical debates of the day, of Church ideology in shaping views of the Muslim world, the crusaders, and the incorporation of Arab innovations by some of the Christian conquerors. Adelard returns home after seven years of travel with knowledge gained about Euclidean geometry, alchemy, and astrology. His publication of "On the Use of the Astrolabe" provides the west with an aid to timekeeping, navigation and measurement of the physical world as well as an introduction to astronomy.
One of the great centers of knowledge dissemination was the House of Wisdom. Located in Baghdad, it housed a library and translation/research center, and brought together from afar scholars as well as a very large collection of Persian, Sanskrit, and Greek texts of science and philosophy which became the bases of further advances in arithmetic, astronomy, medicine. For example, the Hindu "9 number system plus zero", which we use today, was explicated by Al-Khwarizmi, who later wrote "The Book of Restoring and Balancing", a study in algebra.
In like manner, Cordoba in Muslim Spain became an important center for the dissemination of knowledge. Bordering directly on Christian Europe, ideas, poetry, fashions, and foodstuffs flowed from east to west. In al-Andalus, the innovations included sophisticated agronomy and engineering to ensure successful crops of fruits and foods previously unknown in a region and climate quite different from India and Persia. Eventually translators from European countries followed Adelard in pursuing Arab knowledge, returning with their translations and original works to build or enhance universities in Bologna, Paris and Oxford.
This book is very accessible. It is written in so lively a prose the readers will hear Pope Urban II urging his crusaders to overcome the infidel Muslims and later will envision the scholars working together in translating ancient texts!
The House of Wisdom: How the Arabs Transformed Western Civilization OverviewFor centuries following the fall of Rome, Western Europe was a benighted backwater, a world of subsistence farming, minimal literacy, and violent conflict. Meanwhile Arab culture was thriving, dazzling those Europeans fortunate enough to visit cities like Baghdad or Antioch. There, philosophers, mathematicians, and astronomers were steadily advancing the frontiers of knowledge, as well as keeping alive the works of Plato and Aristotle. When the best libraries in Europe held several dozen books, Baghdad's great library, The House of Wisdom, housed four hundred thousand. Jonathan Lyons shows just how much "Western" ideas owe to the Golden Age of Arab civilization.

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Journey to Freedom - Moroccan Stories Review

Journey to Freedom - Moroccan Stories
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Journey to Freedom - Moroccan Stories ReviewThrough Hell is a dialogue from the heart of an innocent child. The vivid details of small events, paint a deep understanding of feelings, hopes and expectations in a very complex world.
The contrast of a life established in the well ordered 'paradise' of Germany, with the chaotic 'Hell' of Morocco in the 1960's and 70's could not be more clearly explained. It is nothing short of a miracle that such an intelligence managed to survive in such an environment!
While the book narrates the experiences of Morocco, it is a story for anyone interested in what it is like to live under a repressive regime. If you have lived through it - here is your sole mate; and if you are just curious - here is a very rare and comprehensible explanation of a world you normally (quite literally) wouldn't read about.
Anyone interested in getting off the mainstream and reading a real story by a real person should read this book. If this is ever picked up by a publisher and professionally edited, it will almost definitely become a best seller. But before this happens, here is a chance to read a story from the heart, un-processed, raw and full of vitality.
While the book is definitely about a Hell on earth, I at least am left with a lasting feeling that: life's good.
Also well worth considering: He Who ConquersJourney to Freedom - Moroccan Stories OverviewIn 'Journey to Freedom - Moroccan Stories' Sascha von Bornheim talks about his childhood, which ended abruptly when his family -including Sascha's certifiably insane stepfather- moved to Rabat, Morocco.Life among the Muslim population, with its unfamiliar customs and traditions, was hard enough, but made nearly unendurable by Sascha's mother and stepfather, who did their best to put their kids through a living hell. Poverty, hunger, psychological and physical abuse did their part in slowly destroying the children's psyche... until the family emigrated to Canada three years later, where the now-grown children could finally live their own lives and free themselves from the demons of their past.Download a sample TODAY!

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El Coran (Spanish/Arabic Edition) Review

El Coran (Spanish/Arabic Edition)
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El Coran (Spanish/Arabic Edition) ReviewI would like to post this as a response to the previous post by Mr. Rivas, who obviously has a very uninformed background on Islam and the Qur'an.
As a Western, Non-Muslim student of Islam, I understand the confusion that can arise when you first pick up the text. It does not follow a specific chronology (either within or between chapters), nor does it always speak with directness (opting for analogies, as the Bible often does). It is important to know that the Qur'an as a printed, bound book is not really THE Qur'an, as was revealed by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh); back then, the text was recited orally, and the relevant passages were quoted as needed. But a book, of course, must have a beginning and an ending, so when the Qur'an was finally written down, an order was chosen in which the chapters were arranged more or less from longest to shortest.
It is not advisable that you should read the Qur'an alone, without the help of a teacher or a commentary. Farid Esack's "The Qur'an: A User's Guide" and Ingrid Mattson's "The Story of the Qur'an" are two useful introductions.
As for Mr. Rivas' comment about murder, paradise, and "72 virgins," you will not find this in the Qur'an. In fact, you will not find that any such promise was ever uttered by the Prophet Muhammad. Instead, it is a perversion of Islam used by radicals who prefer to draw upon their own region's non/pre-Islamic cultural traditions than listen to the guidance of the actual religion they claim to follow.El Coran (Spanish/Arabic Edition) OverviewOne of the great masterpieces of world thought, a work of immense religious and literary value, the Qur'an, or Cor'an in the present version, is read and studied by Muslims, spiritual seekers, and students of religion, history, and Middle Eastern culture. Considered a direct message from Allah to humanity, transmitted through the Prophet Muhammad, it extends beyond spiritual concerns to social codes of conduct, scientific knowledge, political and legal wisdom, and even prophecies of future events. Julio Cortes's Spanish translation uses a thoughtful, sensitive style to bring to life both the poetry and the wisdom of this seminal work that has been, and remains, a guiding work in the lives of millions of people in many cultures, past and present.

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The Holy Qur'an Color Coded Translation with Arabic Text Review

The Holy Qur'an Color Coded Translation with Arabic Text
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The Holy Qur'an Color Coded Translation with Arabic Text ReviewWhat can I say for this review? I loved receiving this in the mail and opening it up for the first time. Seeing how the Arabic words and English words will match up together while also studying the Qur'an.The Holy Qur'an Color Coded Translation with Arabic Text Overview

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The Yacoubian Building: A Novel Review

The Yacoubian Building: A Novel
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The Yacoubian Building: A Novel ReviewBad news first:
I found this book a little difficult to get into for a couple of reasons. One, I am not at all familiar with landscape of Egypt. Second, although I am marrying an Egyptian, and have somewhat of a familiarity for Arabic names, it was still a bit confusing to keep track of each of the characters -- especially with most of them having a nickname or title attached to their name in various parts of the story. I found myself having to back track during the first 30 or so pages to keep each character straight, which was a bit frustrating for a seasoned reader with a supposedly high comprehension level. I know, I know: what should I expect from a book translated from Arabic, about Arabic people, and taking place in an Arabic world? Still, I thought that it merited a warning...
Good news:
This was still an absolutely gripping novel. For those like me who may struggle with the names or places and get a bit frustrated in the initial pages, the story is well worth it. I was soon immersed in the lives of the characters, and began to care for them as if I knew them personally. I was able to relate it to what I know of Egyptian culture, and it opened my eyes to aspects of the culture which I have not personally seen.
In the larger scope of things, it really makes you think about the political/religious/ethnic and just general social issues that surround us. It allows one to think outside of the box and experience a life or lives that you ordinarily would not be able to. Although very sad in parts, it also contained great happiness, and allows you to truly see a beautiful culture at its best, at its worst, at its most twisted, and at its most innocent. A very honest, and very enthusiastic 5 stars.
The Yacoubian Building: A Novel Overview
This controversial bestselling novel in the Arab world reveals the political corruption, sexual repression, religious extremism, and modern hopes of Egypt today.

All manner of flawed and fragile humanity reside in the Yacoubian Building, a once-elegant temple of Art Deco splendor now slowly decaying in the smog and bustle of downtown Cairo: a fading aristocrat and self-proclaimed "scientist of women"; a sultry, voluptuous siren; a devout young student, feeling the irresistible pull toward fundamentalism; a newspaper editor helplessly in love with a policeman; a corrupt and corpulent politician, twisting the Koran to justify his desires.

These disparate lives careen toward an explosive conclusion in Alaa Al Aswany's remarkable international bestseller. Teeming with frank sexuality and heartfelt compassion, this book is an important window on to the experience of loss and love in the Arab world.


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Dictionary and Glossary of the Koran: In Arabic and English Review

Dictionary and Glossary of the Koran: In Arabic and English
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Dictionary and Glossary of the Koran: In Arabic and English ReviewAn excellent resource for those interested in translating passages from the Koran. To my knowledge the meaning of every Koranic word is found here. Using Penrice's work is certainly more convenient than going through Hans Wehr, which does not always provide the classical meaning of words. Lane's Lexicon is obviously a better source, but since it is multivolumed, it is both inconvenient to carry around and quite expensive.
Although this dictionary was first published in 1873, its merit has not diminished since.Dictionary and Glossary of the Koran: In Arabic and English OverviewPreface by R. J. Serjeant.

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Pop Culture Arab World: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle (Popular Culture in the Contemporary World) Review

Pop Culture Arab World: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle (Popular Culture in the Contemporary World)
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Pop Culture Arab World: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle (Popular Culture in the Contemporary World) ReviewWhoa! I am impressed at the breadth and depth of this lucidly written tome. Pop Culture Arab World!-Media, Arts, and Lifestyle by Andrew Hammond offers an brilliant and thorough analysis of the interactions and dynamics that are at the center of events in the Arab world. It explores what people think of the Bush administration's policies, Islam, and the war on terror. Not only that, but it takes a fascinating and insightful look at all aspects of popular culture, from pop music and film to the Arabic language and media, including satellite channels, like Al-Jazeera, which are reshaping the broadcast scene in new and interesting ways. Definitely a must-read for anyone interested in this part of the world.Pop Culture Arab World: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle (Popular Culture in the Contemporary World) Overview

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Sibawayhi (Makers of Islamic Civilization) Review

Sibawayhi (Makers of Islamic Civilization)
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Sibawayhi (Makers of Islamic Civilization) ReviewThe Author has done a good job of bringing to light the life of one of the earliest grammarians of Arabic Language. Overall, the book is a good read, although a reader who does not have some background in Arabic Grammar will feel lost after the first few terms. This book is also a very good primer for anyone who wants to delve into the intricacies of Sibawayhi's Al-Kitab since the author has very diligently described various chapters/parts of Al-Kitab and how the work helped in the growth of a nascent Arabic grammar.
All in all, a work well done.Sibawayhi (Makers of Islamic Civilization) OverviewThe eighth century scholar Sibawayhi was the first grammarian of Arabic. Carter discusses his origins and background, his relationship with his teachers, the intellectual context of his grammatical ideas, and how his general concept of language shaped his approach to Arabic. Sibawayhi's monumental work--known simply as "the Book"--embodies a universality that is still being uncovered. So thorough is the work that it remains to this day the great authority on classical Arabic.This biography provides a superb introduction to the subject of Arabic linguistics and to the life and times of its founder.

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The Sheltered Quarter: A Tale of a Boyhood in Mecca (Modern Middle East Literature in Translation) Review

The Sheltered Quarter: A Tale of a Boyhood in Mecca (Modern Middle East Literature in Translation)
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The Sheltered Quarter: A Tale of a Boyhood in Mecca (Modern Middle East Literature in Translation) ReviewHamza Bogary's The Sheltered Quarter is a wonderful novel about the days before oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia. It details the life of Muhaisin AL-Baliy, a boy growing up raised only by his mother due to his father's death beofre he was born. The book tells of his trials in school with bullies and the like and that he does very well there and becomes an avid reader, so much so that he reads by a streetlight by night because his house doesn't have a proper light. You learn about Auntie Asma, a friend of his mother's who gives her advice on things concerning Muhaisin. She is also a strange women who believes in many superstitions and practices odd rituals. Other characters encountered are Amm Ustad, a freemason, and Muhaisin's likn to the changing world outside Mecca. Overall The Sheltered Quarter is a funa nad interesting read that can enjoyed by anyone looking for a book with good descripttive language and a fascinating story to tell. I know i sure enjoyed reading this wonderful tale, plus it enlightened me to some of things about the Saudi culture i didn't know.The Sheltered Quarter: A Tale of a Boyhood in Mecca (Modern Middle East Literature in Translation) OverviewHamza Bogary describes a bygone way of life that has now irreversibly disappeared. He speaks of life in Mecca before the advent of oil. Only partly autobiographical, the memoir is nevertheless rich in remembered detail based on Bogary's early observations of life in Mecca. He has transformed his knowledge into art through his sense of humor, empathy, and remarkable understanding of human nature. This work not only entertains; it also informs its readers about the Arabia of the first half of the twentieth century in a graphic and fascinating way. The narrator, young Muhaisin, deals with various aspects of Arabian culture, including education, pilgrimages, styles of clothing, slavery, public executions, the status of women, and religion. Muhaisin is frank in his language and vivid in his humor. The reader quickly comes to love the charming and mischievous boy in this universal tale.

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The Sufis Review

The Sufis
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The Sufis ReviewTerry W. Williams, Ph.D., Del Mar, CA.
Idries Shah's The Sufis, first published in 1964, is the seminal work of this famous Afghan author and a first-of-its-kind modern statement on Sufism. A famous Sufi once said, "Previously Sufism was a reality without a name. Now it's a name without a reality." One meaning of this saying is that there was a time when the science and procedures of learning the meaning of mankind's existence were clearly understood and formed an essential part of human life. However, that meaning has been lost by humanity and only the name remains. In The Sufis, Idries Shah has made a monumental contribution to bringing this precious meaning back into the life stream of humanity.
This book, written after years of travel, research, and collection of an amazingly diverse array of materials, presents the reader with a series of startling revelations concerning the basis of the knowledge structure of Western and Eastern thought. The idea of an advanced knowledge in the custody of, for the most part, unknown and mysterious people with strange powers, may seem at first glance to be an absurdity. The idea that the unified knowledge of the Sufis concerning the developmental and evolutionary potential of mankind influenced or lay behind the organization and theories such as those of Chivalry, St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, Roger Bacon, Geber, Hindu Vendantist teachings, the Troubadours, in Shakespeare, the Rosicrucians, the techniques of Japanese Zen, in Chaucer - to name only a few - is sure to clash with the conditioned thinking inculcated by submersion in conventional thought and maintained by our environment.
In the book, Shah states: "Sufism, in one definition, is human life. Occult and metaphysical powers are largely incidental, though they may play their part in the process, if not in personal prominence or satisfaction. It is axiomatic that the attempt to become a Sufi through a desire for personal power as normally understood will not succeed. Only the search for truth is valid, the desire for wisdom the motive. The method is assimilation, not study."
"The Sufi life can be lived at any time, in any place. It does not require withdrawal from the world, or organized movements, or dogma. It is coterminous with the existence of humanity. It cannot, therefore, accurately be termed an Eastern system. It has profoundly influenced both the East and the very bases of the Western civilization in which many of us live - the mixture of Christian, Jewish, Moslem and Near Eastern or Mediterranean heritage commonly called `Western.' Mankind, according to the Sufis, is infinitely perfectable. The perfection comes about through attunement with the whole of existence. Physical and spiritual life meet, but only when there is a complete balance between them. Systems which teach withdrawal from the world are regarded as unbalanced."
"When, and where, did the Sufi way of thinking start? This is, to most Sufis, slightly irrelevant to the work at hand. The "place" of Sufism is within humanity....' The practice of the Sufis is too sublime to have a formal beginning," says the Asrar el Qadim wa'l Qadim (Secrets of the Past and Future). But as long as one remembers that history is less important than the present and future, there is a great deal to be learned from a review of the spread of the modern Sufi trend since it branched out from the areas which were Arabized nearly fourteen hundred years ago. By a glance at this period of development, the Sufis show how and why the message of self-perfection may be carried into every conceivable kind of society, irrespective of its nominal religious or social commitment."
"Sufism is believed by its followers to be the inner, `secret' teaching that is concealed within every religion; and because its bases are in every human mind already, Sufic development must inevitably find its expression everywhere. The historical period of the teaching starts with the explosion of Islam from the desert into the static societies of the Near East."
Thus, Idries Shah takes us on a developmental journey through the past fourteen hundred years, from the angle of how, when, and where the Sufic stream was in operation in the East and West. Thought provoking and written like a finely crafted mystery, The Sufis is an astounding and unparalleled source of information on the totally unexpected basis of Eastern and Western thought. It will appeal to those interested in spiritual and metaphysical ideas, as well as those with a yearning to discover the impulses which are the basis of our humanity.The Sufis OverviewA unique and little-known religion, Sufism follows a mystical teaching and a way of life that has had an enormous though largely unrecognized impact on both the East and West for four thousand years. This authoritative book fills a colossal gap in Western documentation of Eastern subjects.

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Quranic Studies: Sources and Methods of Scriptural Interpretation Review

Quranic Studies: Sources and Methods of Scriptural Interpretation
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Quranic Studies: Sources and Methods of Scriptural Interpretation ReviewWansbrough is often mentioned as a pioneer in literary/textual criticism of the Koran. After reading a number of works on the origins and content of the Koran (by Ibn Warraq, Robert Spencer, and others), after reading the Koran itself several times, and after considerable time spent in literary/textual criticism of the Bible, I thought it was time to tackle Wansbrough. To my disappointment, however, I found his book quite unreadable. His English is obscure and laced with words that would stump a Scrabble champion. Then there are the hundreds of passages or terms in the original Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, Greek, and German. Perhaps there is merit buried in this tome, but it might as well have been written in cuneiform.Quranic Studies: Sources and Methods of Scriptural Interpretation OverviewOne of the most innovative thinkers in the field of Islamic Studies was John Wansbrough (1928-2002), affiliated throughout his career with London University's School of Oriental and African Studies. Critiquing the traditional accounts of the origins of the Quran (Koran) as historically unreliable and heavily influenced by religious dogma, Wansbrough suggested radically new interpretations very different from the views of both the Muslim orthodoxy and most Western scholars. He maintained that the entire corpus of early Islamic documentation should be interpreted as literature written in the service of religious faith, not as objective history describing events as they really happened. This new edition contains a valuable assessment of Wansbrough's contributions by Andrew Rippin (professor of history, University of Victoria) and many useful textual notes by Herbert Berg (associate professor of philosophy and religion, University of North Carolina at Wilmington).

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Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong in Islamic Thought Review

Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong in Islamic Thought
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Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong in Islamic Thought ReviewCook has achieved something special in this work. He demonstrates that he is a rare and gifted scholar with an awesome ability to intregrate vast seas of thought into one coherent whole. This work covers "Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong" from its origins in the Koran up until modern times, though he focuses upon the classical period throughout the vast majority of his book. All sects with a significant body of material are represented. Why this topic?-- Basically, this doctrine has historically proved to be the major foundation of any Islamic social ethic; therefore, how it is concieved usually predetermines how one thinks justice ought to be established in this word or by whom it should be established. Cook possesses a talent for giving seemingly distant and irrelevant doctrines a timely relation to today insofar as his studies illuminates how two different cultures approach moral actions in their respective societies. Parts of this book are vast and copiously detailed; however, it was exhaustively documented and extremely efficiently organized throughout. Thus, it is enormously accessible and immensely useful for reference as well. The high price is unfortunate, but it is without a doubt worth the money for anyone interested in Islamics.Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong in Islamic Thought OverviewWhat duty do we have to stop others from doing wrong? The question is intelligible in almost any culture, but few seek to answer it in a rigorous fashion. The most striking exception is found in the Islamic tradition where "commanding right and forbidding wrong" is a central moral tenet. Michael Cook's comprehensive and compelling analysis represents the first sustained attempt to chart the history of Islamic reflection on this obligation and to explain its relevance for politics and ideology in the contemporary Islamic world.

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The History of Islamic Political Thought: From the Prophet to the Present Review

The History of Islamic Political Thought: From the Prophet to the Present
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The History of Islamic Political Thought: From the Prophet to the Present ReviewI stumbled upon this book for one of my early research papers about Islam, and I was amazed. This is truly an academically honest masterpiece. It covers everything from the political system created in Islam right after Muhammad's death to the contemporary Salafi movement including the work of Maududi, Qutb, and Khomeini. It also references common hadiths, fikh, and the Sira, which is a breath of freash air because recently everybody believes they are an Islamic scholar but they've only remotely studied books about the Qur'an (not even the Qur'an itself, seriously it's frustrating in academia).
The bottom line is if you're a student (informal or formal) of Middle Eastern and Islamic politics you need this book.The History of Islamic Political Thought: From the Prophet to the Present OverviewThis book provides a complete history of Islamic political thought from early Islam (c.622-661) to the present.This comprehensive overview describes and interprets all schools of Islamic political thought, their origins, inter-connections and meaning. It examines the Qur'an, the early Caliphate, classical Islamic philosophy, and the political culture of the Ottoman and other empires. Major thinkers such as Averroes (Ibn Rushd) and Ibn Taymiyya are covered as well as numerous lesser authors, and Ibn Khaldun is presented as one of the most original political theorists ever. It draws on a wide range of sources including writings on religion, law, philosophy and statecraft expressed in treatises, handbooks and political rhetoric.The new edition analyses the connections between religion and politics, covering the most recent developments in Islamic political thought and the current historical scholarship. It ends with a critical survey of reformism (or modernism) and Islamism (or fundamentalism) from the late nineteenth century up to the present day. In this, the only book to cover the whole of Islamic political thought, past and present. Key Features of the Second Edition:-Revised and updated throughout-A new final section on Islam and the West-New bibliographies of primary and secondary sources

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Aunt Safiyya and the Monastery: A Novel (Literature of the Middle East) Review

Aunt Safiyya and the Monastery: A Novel (Literature of the Middle East)
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Aunt Safiyya and the Monastery: A Novel (Literature of the Middle East) ReviewThis is the first book I read for Bahaa' Taher, an author previously unknown to me. His novel is describing the life in a southern village in Egypt where Copts (Egyptian Christians) and Moslems (Egyptian Moslems) lived together in peace and harmony for centuries. Suddenly, a rumor was injected by some unknown source, in order to create hatred between the villagers. Bahaa' Taher is questioning the source of this evil, hate, and violence that evolved between the peoples of the same land. Bahaa's style reflects his tender feelings and a sense of nostalgia for the past, the 'good old' and peaceful days. This book should be a must read for all schoolchildren in Egypt to teach them about Egyptian history of tolerance and peace. The novelist's style is so tender and his words flow soft like clouds. (It would be great if he would consider writing a romance). I must acknowledge Barbara Romaine for her translation of this book, it is simply flawless. This is a fascinating novel by a fine and very distinguished writer.Aunt Safiyya and the Monastery: A Novel (Literature of the Middle East) Overview

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Islamic Philosophy and Theology Review

Islamic Philosophy and Theology
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Islamic Philosophy and Theology ReviewCovers the history of Islamic theology including the four sunni schools of thought and even gives a little extra importance to the minority Hanbali school (unusual for most books) and covers some of the controversy of ibn Taymiyyah. The book also goes on to cover some of the more later day theological developments.
In philosophy it covers the main characters of Islamic philosophy though in not as much detail.
Still, it is short and to the point. Well worth buying.Islamic Philosophy and Theology OverviewThis is the standard general account in English of Islamic philosophy and theology. It takes the reader from the religio-political sects of the Kharijites and the Shiites through to the assimilation of Greek thought in the medieval period, and onto the early modern period. Watt concludes with an analysis of Western influences on modern Islamic theology.--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) Review

The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
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The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) ReviewI have approximately six different translations at home, including translations from Dawood (biased), Pickthall (a bit antiquated), Asad (great translation, a bit too rationalist) and one from Riyadh (not bad but definitely Wahhabi influenced).
So why another one? I picked it up from my local library and was moved. It is the easiest reading Qur'an I've seen yet but it does not take away from the impact of what it says. It really flows nicely and I find it reads so much more quickly than some others. I found no struggles to understand old English terms (Pickthall's) and no fighting with bracketed words (Asad and the Riyadh version) whose purpose is to help explain the deeper elements of the original Arabic. While in a few places, I longed for some of the more grand terms found in some of the other translations, on the whole this is a refreshing new translation in plain English.
A few footnotes in some pivotal places keep certain verses in context and help explain certain terms whose force may otherwise be missed. The introduction is brief but informative as the author goes into some detail about the difficulties in translating. My guess is that this is accurate and top notch as it is issued by Oxford and in his acknowledgments it is clear he has had many people ensure his accuracy. This is one to keep and should be one against which others should be measured.The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) OverviewOne of the most influential books in the history of literature, recognized as the greatest literary masterpiece in Arabic, the Qur'an is the supreme authority and living source of all Islamic teaching, the sacred text that sets out the creed, rituals, ethics, and laws of Islam. Yet despite the growing interest in Islamic teachings and culture, there has never been a truly satisfactory English translation of the Qur'an, until now.This superb new translation of the Qur'an iswritten in contemporary language that remains faithful to the meaning and spirit of the original, making the text crystal clear while retaining all of this great work's eloquence. The translation is accurate and completely free from the archaisms, incoherence, and alien structures that mar existing translations. Thus, for the first time, English-speaking readers will have a text of the Qur'an which is easy to use and comprehensible. Furthermore, Haleem includes notes that explain geographical, historical, and personal allusions as well as an index in which Qur'anic material isarranged into topics for easy reference. His introduction traces the history of the Qur'an, examines its structure and stylistic features, and considers issues related to militancy, intolerance, and the subjection of women.Clearly written and filled with helpful information and guidance, this brilliant translation of the Qur'an is the best available introduction to the faith of Moslems around the world. About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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This Heavenly Wine: Poetry from the Divan-E Jami Review

This Heavenly Wine: Poetry from the Divan-E Jami
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This Heavenly Wine: Poetry from the Divan-E Jami ReviewFor people who appreciate Persian culture and poetry this book is an absolute gem and a treasure. Lovers of Rumi and Hafez, for example, will feel right at home here, and as if they have made a new and quite wonderful friend. Sometimes poetry will point you beyond the words that are printed on the page to something sublime. That is true here. Sometimes when reading poems you will not feel that the poet lived centuries ago and is now gone, but rather that he is somehow quite alive and present in your heart. That is true here. I give this book my highest recommendation. The only thing I might wish for is that the orignal Farsi the author translated from be made available in the book, perhaps on facing pages. As a student of Farsi, it would have helped me tremendously to have the poems in their original language also available. The author does point the reader to books and pages where the original Farsi poems can be found, and I am grateful for that.This Heavenly Wine: Poetry from the Divan-E Jami OverviewThis is a heart-opening poetry of longing and love from the last great poet in the classical Persian tradition. Following in the footsteps of the Persian mystical poets Rumi, Hafez, Nizami and others, the timeless works in this collection express the poet's overwhelming devotion to and longing for the Divine Beloved.

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Islamic Ethics of Life: Abortion, War, and Euthanasia (Studies in Comparative Religion) Review

Islamic Ethics of Life: Abortion, War, and Euthanasia (Studies in Comparative Religion)
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Islamic Ethics of Life: Abortion, War, and Euthanasia (Studies in Comparative Religion) ReviewIslamic Ethics Of Life: Abortion, War, And Euthanasia is a collection of scholarly essays compiled by Jonathan E. Brockopp (Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Pennsylvania State University) and representing the observations of nine expert authors dealing with the critical interaction between Islamic faith and Islamic thought with reference to three specific ethical issues of life and death -- abortion, war, and euthanasia. The diverse essays are each are devoted to the volatile and controversial subjects while keeping in mind both the Islamic perspective and practical issues in daily life affecting such matters. A diversely interpretive yet thoughtful and highly recommended collection, Islamic Ethics Of Life is a critically important contribution to personal and academic Islamic Studies collections.Islamic Ethics of Life: Abortion, War, and Euthanasia (Studies in Comparative Religion) OverviewIslamic Ethics of Life considers three of the most contentious ethical issues of our time—abortion, war, and euthanasia—from the Muslim perspective. Distinguished scholars of Islamic studies have collaborated to produce a volume that both integrates Muslim thinking into the field of applied ethics and introduces readers to an aspect of the religion long overlooked in the West. This collective effort sets forth the relationship between Islamic ethics and law, clearly revealing the complexity and richness of the Islamic tradition as well as its responsiveness to these controversial modern issues.The contributors analyze classical sources and survey the modern ethical landscape to identify guiding principles within Islamic ethical thought. Clarifying the importance of pragmatism in Islamic decision making, the contributors also offer case studies related to specialized topics, including "wrongful birth" claims, terrorist attacks, and brain death. The case studies elicit possible variations on common Muslim perspectives. The contributors situate Muslim ethics relative to Christian and secular accounts of the value of human life, exposing surprising similarities and differences.In an introductory overview of the volume, Jonathan E. Brockopp underscores the steady focus on God as the one who determines the value of human life, and hence as the final arbiter of Islamic ethics. A foreword by Gene Outka places the volume in the context of general ethical studies, and an afterword by A. Kevin Reinhart suggests some significant ramifications for comparative religious ethics.

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Memoirs of a Woman Doctor Review

Memoirs of a Woman Doctor
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Memoirs of a Woman Doctor ReviewIn most societies in this world, it is a positive to be born a man. Being born a man will automatically give a person more chances in life than being a woman. 'Memoirs of a Woman Doctor' is the story of an Egyptian girl planning to become a doctor. She lives in a society where a woman's chances of climbing the socio-economic ladder are slim to none. Being the only woman in her medical school, she constantly tries to denegrate men and sometimes scolds humanity in general. She feels men are not the "Gods" that her mother thought they were. She tries to rationalize humanity, saying they are no better than animals. In all this time, she seems to have no attachment to humanity; all she seems to care about are her studies and her career. The ending of the book can be interperted in two ways. Some will feel it is a cop out (like I did) and others will feel she learned a very important lesson about this life. Nonetheless, it is a facinating read into the heart and mind of a smart, but frustrated woman living in a socitey dominated my males.Memoirs of a Woman Doctor Overviewautobiography, Egypt, tr Catherine Cobham

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Decisive Treatise and Epistle Dedicatory (Brigham Young University - Islamic Translation Series) Review

Decisive Treatise and Epistle Dedicatory (Brigham Young University - Islamic Translation Series)
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Decisive Treatise and Epistle Dedicatory (Brigham Young University - Islamic Translation Series) ReviewIbn Rushd or Averroes is one of the most important philosophers in the Islamic tradition, and also one of the most important of all commentators on Aristotle. And Charles Butterworth is one of the premiere translators of Averroes.
This particular text is a very important defense of philosophy against those (in Averroes's specific case, Muslims) who argued that philosophical reasoning is a violation of religious law. Such issues are still alive, more or less (for example, in the struggle between science and religion), so this book has more than merely antiquarian interest.
The translation is very clear, and, for those who read Arabic, it's helpful to have the original text on the facing page. Given the quality of the work, too, the book is surprisingly inexpensive.
Highly recommended.Decisive Treatise and Epistle Dedicatory (Brigham Young University - Islamic Translation Series) OverviewAverroës (Ibn Rushd, 1126-1198) emerged from an eminent family in Muslim Spain to become the first and last great Aristotelian of the classical Islamic world; his meticulous commentaries influenced Christian thinkers and earned him favorable mention (and a relatively pleasant fate) in Dante's Divina Commedia. The Book of the Decisive Treatise was and remains one his most important works and one of history's best defenses of the legitimate role of reason in a community of faith. The text presents itself as a plea before a tribunal in which the divinely revealed Law of Islam is the sole authority; Averroës, critical of the anti-philosophical tone of the Islamic establishment, argues that the Law not only permits but also mandates the study of philosophy and syllogistic or logical reasoning, defending earlier Muslim philosophers and dismissing criticisms of them as more harmful to the Islamic community than the philosophers' own views had been. As he details the three fundamental methods the Law uses to aid people of varied capacities and temperaments, Averroës reveals a carefully formed and remarkably argued conception of the boundaries and uses of faith and reason.

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