Customer Reviews

Islam: Religion, History, and Civilization

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book turned out to be exactly what I was looking for, a historical book on Islam. The author is an Islamic scholar, and his credentials impress me a little more than Karen Armstrong, though I hold no grudge against her. I wanted to get an inside, learned perspective on the religion itself, without the preaching, and that's exactly what this book offers. I highly recommend it.

The negative review from "AtheistWorld.Com Book Review" is actually posted by Solomon Tulbure, as you will find by doing a simple Yahoo! search. That is truly sad.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr concisely describes the rich diversity of the Islamic faith in the world. Nasr explains in plain English how the different Islamic communities came to life, spread and evolved over time (pg. 18 - 24). Nasr's journey through Islamic history usually shines through both its brevity and clarity (pg. 115-152).

Unlike Bernard Lewis in his superb book "What Went Wrong? The Clash between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East (pg. 96-116)," Nasr does not always explain clearly to his (non-Islamic) readers why Islam, unlike Christianity, has not experienced the need to separate the spiritual from the temporal (pg. 26-28, 110-113, 173-177). Nasr rightly reminds his readers of the unique contribution that Islamic science made to the development of Western science (pg. XXI - XXII, 121, 126). Regularly, this immensely important contribution of Islamic scientists through their own observations, experiments and ideas, is ignored. For example, in his otherwise excellent book, "The Essential Drucker," Peter F. Drucker mentions the contribution of China, but not that of Islam, to the development of the West's technological lead by the end of the Middle Age (pg. 338). Unlike China, Islam at its apex created a world civilization: poly-ethnic, multiracial and intercontinental as Lewis states (pg. 6).

Nasr does a good job at illustrating the rich interdependence that exists among the Qur'an, the art of calligraphy and architecture (pg. XIX, 40, 121 and 126). Nasr clearly explains which relationship the Prophet had with Allah and his human nature and how the Qur'an came to life through Divine guidance given to its Messenger (pg. 37-43, 62-64). Nasr goes on in showing how the Hadiths and their codification happened over time and which role the Shariah fulfills in an Islamic society (pg. 54-58, 75-80). Nasr also expands on the Schools of Islamic Thought and their history (pg. pg. 153-172).

Nasr rightly reminds his audience that the Qur'an has codified from the beginning a number of women's rights that were unheard of for a long time in the West, a point that is often conveniently forgotten (pg. 67-70). The further emancipation of women in the Islamic world, unfortunately, is not perceived as modernization but as westernization that amounts to a betrayal of true Islamic values in some Islamic quarters. Unlike Lewis in his book mentioned above (pg. 101-102), Nasr apparently does want to acknowledge that the Holy Law of God, promulgated by revelation, has evolved in practice under the guise of tradition and reasoning (pg. 80). Muslim rulers have added or subtracted rules over time.

Nasr also illustrates the six pillars of the Islamic faith: Declaration of faith and acknowledgement of Muhammed, the Messenger of God, praying, fasting, pilgrimage, almsgiving as well as the widely misunderstood and abused jihad in the Islamic societies (pg. 3, 91-110). Nasr's overview of Islam is ultimately an invitation to better know one of the major faiths whose influence is still far-reaching.

Seyyed Hosseein Nasr is the most profound and eloquent spokesman of Islamic thought in the United States today. This book is a mere introduction into the ocean of his thought. The other reviewer is simply trying to peddle his own book. The George Washington University, where Dr. Nasr is a professor, organized a conference in 2001 honoring his unparalled contributions to Islamic studies. Check out the site, ....., if you would like to have a sense of the depth and breadth of Nasr's thought.

Syyed Nasr knows his subject thoroughly and argues forcefully from a Muslim believer's point of view. However, as a Westerner, I felt more rebuked than appealed to by his somewhat condescending tone. The scholarship delivers more of an apology than an objective analysis. It is valuable to someone who seeks a Muslim's view of his own religion. [...]

The funny the author of the book he is willing to mention to you everything for you about Islam except the ones is the most important, read all of his book and try to find chapter 5 verse 14:From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the day of judgment.Yusuf Ali Translation, or chapter 9 verse number28 -29 which ordering the Muslims to keep us away out of the city of Mecca because we are dirty and I quote for you from the book The Deception of Allah Volume 1 (study in depth of Islam, investigating Muhammad and Islam, volume 1) from the interpretation of Ibn Kathir "(O you who believe! Verily, the Mushrikin are impure. So let them not come near Al-Masjid Al-Haram after this year) "Unless it was a servant or one of the people of Dhimmah.'' Imam Abu `Amr Al-Awza'i said, "Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz wrote (to his governors) to prevent Jews and Christians from entering the Masjids of Muslims, and he followed his order with Allah's statement," in verse number quran9: 29 "Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth among the People of the Scripture, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.) Therefore, when People of the Scriptures disbelieved in Muhammad , they had no beneficial faith in any Messenger or what the Messengers brought. Rather, they followed their religions because this conformed with their ideas, lusts and the ways of their forefathers, not because they are Allah's Law and religion. Had they been true believers in their religions, that faith would have directed them to believe in Muhammad , because all Prophets gave the good news of Muhammad's advent and commanded them to obey and follow him" how come he did not show us this about his religion in his book? Or what about this"(Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth among the People of the Scripture,)" this is why my friend advice you not to buy book made by Muslims, as an example Jizyia for the author is nothing more than a text in the same time in all Islamic books which he himself have to learn his religion from its is the following:interpretation of Ibn Kathir "Paying Jizyah is a Sign of Kufr and Disgrace (and feel themselves subdued.), disgraced, humiliated and belittled. Therefore, Muslims are not allowed to honor the people of Dhimmah or elevate them above Muslims, for they are miserable, disgraced and humiliated. Muslim recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said, (Do not initiate the Salam to the Jews and Christians, and if you meet any of them in a road, force them to its narrowest alley.)" Ask yourself how come none of those very important things is not exist in any Islamic book made by Muslims? Because simply they cannot say the truth I advice you if you like to learn about Islam for real, get this book The Deception of Allah Volume 1 (study in depth of Islam, investigating Muhammad and Islam, volume 1) and then you can say that you have a real book about the real Islam.

Islam: Religion, History and Civilization (2002) is an excellent, up-to-date, easy to read and comprehend overall introduction to the complex subject that is Islam. Hats off to Seyyed Hossein Nasr for writing an easy introduction for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. This is the sort of level-headed prose that goes leaps and bounds in helping us all understand a subject that is so much in the world news these days. Some examples of topics covered in the book include: What is Islam?, Doctrines and Beliefs of Islam, Islamic Practices and Institutions, History of Islam, Islam and Other Religions, and Spiritual & Religious Significance of Islam.

The book was helpful for me to gain an understanding of the Muslim point of view. However it definetly was biased in its view without any recognition of the wrongs that Islam has inflicted on society for the last 1400 years.

Very good book but NOT as good as "Islam Exposed" by Solomon Tulbure

The author is trying very hard not to step on toes and as a result leaves many important details out.