The Call of the Minaret [Paperback]

Kenneth Cragg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000

'From dawn to after sunset the clock in the mosque punctuates the life of Islam with the consciousness of God.' First published in 1956, The Call of the Minaret remains one of the most acclaimed works in the field of Muslim-Christian relations. Now Kenneth Cragg brings the discussion into the twenty-first century in this third edition of his seminal work, complete with new material including an updated bibliography. Taking the Muslim call to prayer as his starting point, the author unravels the significance of the muezzin's haunting cry, considering prophethood, prayer, politics and community to present a more complete understanding of Islam. It becomes clear that the Islamic call to prayer transcends the boundaries of religion, containing a summons for Christians and Muslims alike. Drawing upon both scholarship and his own abiding spirituality, Kenneth Cragg's study of the two faiths pays homage to both, drawing them out of the shadows of enmity and into the light of mutual understanding.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is unrivaled in the field." -Lamin Sanneh, Harvard University -- Lamin Sanneh, Harvard University

"This book is unrivalled in its field... The Call of the Minaret marks a watershed in Christian-Muslim relations." -- Lamin Sanneh, Yale University

This book is unrivalled in its field... The Call of the Minaret marks a watershed in Christian-Muslim relations. -- Lamin Sanneh, Yale University

About the Author

Kenneth Cragg has written extensively on the subject of Muslim-Christian relations, and his books have become classics in their field. Bishop Cragg has held academic and ecclesiastical posts in the UK, Jerusalem, Beirut, Cairo, Nigeria and the USA; in retirement he serves as Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Oxford. He is an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Oneworld; 3 edition (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1851682104
• ISBN-13: 978-1851682102
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Call of the Minaret - by Kenneth Cragg, December 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Call of the Minaret (Paperback)

This book by Kenneth Cragg is superb. Cragg has a heart for people, all people, and at the same time, a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ, King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is an articulate and scholarly Mother Theresa.

The first half of the book describes Islam and its beliefs. He apparently has the approval of Muslims, who say that his descriptions are accurate. He does not shrink from spelling out the problems and issues within Islam, nor its radical differences from Christianity.

The second half of the book describes how Christians can helpfully relate to Islam. It ought to be required reading for missionaries and all Christians for its powerful perspective on how to reach out to persons of other beliefs.

Cragg wrote the book in 1955, when Islamic peoples were just coming into modernity and finding their own national identities, largely because of WWII and the collapse of the colonial empires. Charges of terrorism were even then being leveled. The book is a superb introduction to the Islamic world leading up to the present confrontation with terrorism from within their ranks.

Cragg does not deal with the issues of terrorism as we see it half a century later, but he does help the reader understand how Islam must inevitably drift in that direction. Allah is a distant deity, whom one never gets to know personally, never as "Father". One gets to know only the law of Allah. That kind of distant, almost deist, deity is guaranteed to inspire deep feelings of resentment and anger in its worshippers. Just as with a human father of like character. It is a religion without grace in the Christian understanding of the word.

Cragg describes the plight and yearnings of the Muslims with great sensitivity, and with clarity on how Christians can maintain their worship of the Triune God and at the same time reach out with social and political as well as religious integrity.

It would be hard to imagine a better introduction to Islam, especially in light of the current spiritual warfare developing (yet once again) between Islam and Christianity. Christians are very ill equipped to deal with spiritual warfare on almost any front. They would do well to learn about Islam from someone who sees their need for Christ, and at the same time loves them deeply.

Blessings,
Earle Fox

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Call of Minaret - into the heart of Islam, April 3, 2009

By 

David Tomkinson - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Call of the Minaret (Paperback)

This is a fantastic book that leaves behind the sterile law-focused caricature of the devout Muslim. A beautiful read that provides the "outsider" a unique inside glance at the faith experience and expression of Islam.