God's Terrorists: The Wahhabi Cult and the Hidden Roots of Modern Jihad (Paperback)

by Charles Allen (Author)
Key Phrases: chota godown, military cantonment, frontier tribes, Syed Ahmad, Ibn Saud, Shah Waliullah (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
British author Allen (Soldier Sahibs) argues persuasively that violent Islamic extremism isn't as new as we might think, but unfortunately, his book doesn't do much to explain the phenomenon. Carefully drawing distinctions between mainstream Islam and the fanaticism that spawned al-Qaeda (which he calls "as much a threat to Islam as to the West"), Allen goes back to the 18th-century founding of Wahhabism, a strain of Islam fostered in the Arabian desert that now serves as the Saudi state religion. Fixated on removing any hint of deviation from their interpretation of Muhammad's teachings, violent Wahhabists have traditionally killed more Muslims than non-Muslims. A Central Asia expert, Allen focuses on the form of Wahhabism that developed against the backdrop of waning British imperialism in that area, gradually leading up to Osama bin Laden's arrival. But his rapid-fire account is littered with names and battles, explaining little about how an ideology always rejected by most Muslims, and whose proponents were nearly annihilated on many occasions, managed to survive so spectacularly. Nor does he explain why Wahhabists' anger has shifted from supposed infidels in their midst to citizens of the West. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
"A story of intransigence, hatred of modernity, millennial dreams, bloody massacres and invariably disappointed hopes." -- The Independent, 3/3/06

"Allen is a gifted narrative historian." -- Book Review Digest, 3/1/07

"Allen lifts his narrative off the pages of history and into the latest headlines." -- The Agonist, 6/5/06

"Allen tells his complex story with concision, insight and wide-ranging vision…[and] throws new, if uncomfortable, light on our world." -- London Sunday Times, 2/19/06

"It is filled with understanding of past events, key to understanding modern jihad." -- California Bookwatch, November 2006

"Of use to those seeking to understand the origins and growth of Islamic extremism." -- Kirkus Reviews, 7/15/06

"Offers a moving account of the famous [Sepoy] revolt…Allen’s work should be welcomed by Muslim readers." -- Asharq Alawsat, 5/22/06

"Outstanding...Provides excellent groundwork for a beginning of enlightenment." -- The Advocate, 9/23/2006

"With a scholar's eye for detail and a popular historian's flair for the dramatic, [Allen] does a remarkable job." -- (Infodad.com, 10/12/2006)

"[A] valuable narrative of the growth of a radical cult and their ideology." -- Military.com, 10/3/2006 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1st Da Capo Press Ed edition (September 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306815702
• ISBN-13: 978-0306815706
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #208,309 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #21 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Theology
  #61 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Theology > Fundamentalism
  #87 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > History

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A warning to Western Civilization - the roots of terror, January 3, 2007

By	Concerned about our future "In memory of J. G... (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God's Terrorists: The Wahhabi Cult and the Hidden Roots of Modern Jihad (Hardcover)

Interesting historical look at the spread of radical Islam throughout colonial India and its ties back to the rise of radical Islamic theology in the declining Ottoman Empire. It exposes roots to terrorist movements like al Qaeda and ties the roots of this radical movement to the House of Saud like few other accounts have.

There are clearly lessons to be learned here and insights about what the West is up against - particular in this region of the world where Bin Laden is believed to be given safe-harbored but I was completely let down by the author's brief and poorly argued conclusion. It seemed thrown-in as an after thought.

Otherwise it was a fascinating historical read that I would highly recommend.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God's Terrrorists, February 22, 2009

By	Ohgahd (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God's Terrorists: The Wahhabi Cult and the Hidden Roots of Modern Jihad (Hardcover)

Don't be confused by a previous review. Terrorism and Wahhabism are indeed synonymous. That terrorism is currently being played out by the spawn: Taliban and al-Qaeda. This is a well-researched book albeit it a difficult read for the novice of Islam. If you are curious about how our civilization got into this mess, read this accounting of Muslim history. The reading has left me frustrated about how global terrorism will ever be conquered because of this fundamentalism rooted in Wahhabi teachings. Take young men, send them to Wahabbi madrassahs, teach them to administer sharia law to include beheading and mutilation of the apostate and infidel populations with a goal of martyrdom and you come up with the challenge of the 21st century!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Gods Terrorists: The Wahabi Cult and the Hidden Roots of Modern Jihad, January 26, 2009

By	Phil C. Billerwell (Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: God's Terrorists: The Wahhabi Cult and the Hidden Roots of Modern Jihad (Hardcover)

The subject appealed but I found this book to be more a History of the the British and their problems with the various Muslum sects in India up until the mid 1900' rather than what I expected from the title.

It does however give the historical background as to how the Wahabi's commenced and their link, from the early past to the present day, of their strong links, and control to some extent, with the house of Saud.