Introducing Islam

ISBN-13: 9780415533423 / Angielski / Twarda / 2014 / 424 str.

William E. Shepard

Opis

Just what is Islam and what does it mean to be a Muslim in the world today? Since the events of 9/11 and 7/7, Islam has become one of the most controversial and misunderstood religions in the world. Introducing Islam encourages students to put aside their preconceptions and explore this fascinating religion. William Shepard traces the history of Islam from its origins in the life and career of Mohammed, through its classical expressions, to its interactions with the West in the modern world. A chapter is devoted to each major topic, including The Quran, Islamic law, Islamic theology, and the Sufi movement, as well as community rituals and Islamic art and culture. There is a survey of modern developments and four chapters are dedicated to individual countries, Turkey, Iran, Egypt and Indonesia. Fully revised and updated, the second edition of this core textbook adds crucial material on contemporary issues such as women in Islam and democratization and human rights. Illustrated throughout, the book also includes learning objectives, a glossary of key Arabic terms, comprehensive further reading lists and critical thinking boxes, helping students to critically engage with the material in each chapter. Further teaching and learning resources are available on the companion website at www.routledge.com/cw/shepard .This book continues to be essential reading for students of Islam worldwide.

Spis treści

List of Illustrations Acknowledgements  Preface to the Second Edition  Notes on Transliteration and Pronunciation  1. Introduction: Approaching the Subject  Part One: History of the Community  2. On the Eve of Islam  3. The Beginnings of Islam  4. Expansion and Flowering: of Islam  Part Two: Aspects of Islam  5. The Qur'an  6. The Prophet Muhammad  7. Rituals and Ceremonies  8. Divisions in the Umma and Political Thought  9. Scholars and learning  10. To Know God's Will: Islamic Law  11. Theology and Philosophy  12. The Sufi Path to God  13. A Philosopher, a scholar-mystic, and a Reformer  14. Culture and Counter-culture  Part Three: Modern Developments  15. Western Imperialism and Muslim Response  16. Turkey: Secularist Reform  17. Egypt: Between Secularism and Islamism  18. Iran: From Secularism to Islamic Revolution  19. Indonesia: Islamic Society or Islamic State?  20. Globalisation: Challenge and Opportunity  21. Three Cultural Flashpoints: Gender, Democracy and Human Rights  Appendix I: Glossary  of Names and Terms  Appendix II: Chronology  Appendix III: The Islamic Calendar  Appendix IV: Classical Arabic Names  Appendix v: Muhammad's Wives  Further Reading  References  Index  

O autorze

WilliamE. Shepard is Associate Professor, Retired, of Religious Studies at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. His previous publications include The Faith of a Modern Muslim Intellectual (Ahmad Amin)(1982), Sayyid Qutb and Islamic Activism (1996) and numerous articles and translations.