Islam: Beliefs and Observances [Paperback]

Caesar E., Ph.D. Farah (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1994

This concise study examines Islam as a world religious, cultural, and political force, beginning with its founding by the prophet Muhammad in the early seventh century, A.D. Islam's fundamental scripture, the Quran, is explained in detail, and the core of Islamic beliefs and obligations are presented. Among the many other aspects of Islam explored in this book are its numerous sects, its dissemination throughout the world, and its present religious and political strength and influence in every sensitive area of the world.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This concise study examines Islam as a world religious, cultural, and political force, beginning with its founding by the prophet Muhammad in the early seventh century A.D. Islam?s holy scripture, the Qur?an, is explained in detail, and the core of Islamic beliefs and obligations are made clear. Also explained in detail are Islam?s many sects, its relationship to Europe?s medieval Christian culture, its dissemination throughout the world, and its present worldwide religious and political dynamism. In this new edition, the author provides information on the present day?s most militant sects and their power centers in countries that include Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Indonesia, among others. He also offers a post-September 11th analysis of motivations that inspire some extremist Islamic factions.
* Footnotes * Glossary * Bibliography * Index

New in this edition: Motivations that inspire Islamic extremist factions --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Caesar Farah, Ph.D., is a widely respected scholar of the Islamic faith and its social history. He is on the faculty at the University of Minnesota. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 434 pages
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc; 5th edition (July 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812018532
• ISBN-13: 978-0812018530
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,209,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction to Islamic Subcultures, March 14, 2006

By 

C. J. Hardman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Islam (Paperback)

What I like best about Caesar Farah's "Islam: Beliefs and Observances" is the variety of information provided on the different sects of Islam. The author interestingly enough, published the first edition of this book in 1967! The sixth edition contains its own forward by Farah, dated 1999. This updated edition does away with some of the errors included in previous editions, including the urban legend propagated by some Islamic proselytes that famed oceanographer Jaques Cousteau converted to Islam (he didn't--this was disproven in 1991--Cousteau passed away in 1997 and his funeral was held in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris).

At 468 pages, this volume offers information on the time and place into which Muhammad was born, raised, married, had a family, came into his beliefs, and rose to found a religion and rule an empire. Farah offers the early history of the Islamic movement as driven by Muhammad, his struggles, his personal life, influences upon him. Farah is generally thorough in the space offered, but doesn't delve into some of the better known major controversy concerning the Quran's historicity (for more on this, please see "23 Years: A Study of the Prophetic Career of Mohammad" by Ali Dashti). He does however approach other subjects touchy to many Muslims, explaining the story of the so-called "Satanic Verses" originally included in the Quran and later expunged by Muhammad, though he fails to discuss the modern controversy caused by the well-known author of fiction, Salman Rushdie due to his work of fiction by the same name.

Author Caesar Farah explains not only the basics such as what Muslims believe, who Muhammad was, etc., but also why there are different sects in Islam, how those sects came about, what they believe, why they strive against one another, and vital information concerning other prominent leaders of different Islamic movements through the ages. Among the various groups expounded upon are the Kharijites, Ismailis, Shia, Qarmatians, Assassins, Druze, Nusayris, Matawilah, Zaydis, Shiah extremists, Sunnism, as well as the various sources of Islamic power and the main schools of Islamic jurisprudence (legal precident). Too numerous to name here, concepts such as sunnah, Adat, Jihad, and a number of others are explained in detail, including common as well as radical interpretations. Farah offers an independant history for each, including names of prominent scholars and the dates of their founding.

Farah also covers the span of knowledge from the formal (fundamentalist) to free thought (sufi). He explains the ultra conservative radical Wahhabism founded in 1744 by Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahab, its spread, and the challenge to modernists, rationalists and reformers. Pertinent to our times, Farah explains the "church and state" conflict in nations where the majority of the populace are Muslims, such as Turkey. He covers current trends to the date of publication (1999), and explains in an understandable way the modern conflicts that have arisen between Quranic literalists and modernists, covering issues such as women, technology, governmet in brief but succinct fashion. I liked the fact that Farah was not simply parroting generalities, but actually footnoted his sources throughout the book. He does a good job of explaining each topic in its historic and religious context, thankfully avoiding the tendancy of many authors on this subject to give short all-encomapssing explanations based upon their own personal belief.

There is an excellent bibliography containing a variety of diverse sources, as well as a helpful glossary of common Islamic terms and an index. If you want just one book to understand the basis of Islamic thought and culture over time and in the present day, this is the book to read.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sound introduction to the world of Islam, May 5, 2000

By 

Stephane Larochelle (Gatineau, Quebec, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Islam (Paperback)

As a Christian, I always viewed Islam with skepticism. To be honest I knew some of their theology and it did not make sense to me. However, after reading MR Farah's book, I have come to understand Islam better. The Author takes you right back to the beginning and guides you through the history of Islam. You get a front-row seat on how every period and certain individuals have influenced this world religion. I wish there was a book like this on Christianity! The book is unbiased in it's presentation of facts. You also understand alot better the rivalries between the sunnies and Shia muslims (and how it came to be) and the various sects of Islam that have come and gone.

A very well written book, altough I only gave 4 stars because sometimes you get lost in the details of the story and the author does occasionally go on to unrelated side stories which seem irrelevant. Otherwise a very good book to understand islam better (even if [like me] you aren't interested in becoming a Muslim).

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A basic introduction to Islam with a positive approach to the faith, September 1, 2005

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Islam (Paperback)

Like all guides in the Barron's Educational Series, this is meant as a brief introduction to its subject; in this instance it is Islam. Prof. Caesar Farah teaches History at the University of Minnesota and earned his Ph.D from Princeton in 1956. It is not meant to be controversial, political, or anything more and less than a helpful brief overview for those trying get a handle on a given topic. The tone here may seem supportive of Islam, but that is simply because it refuses to be negative and to take Islam on its own terms. This is appropriate for someone who is learning about Islam in order to, say, engage in business in an Islamic country or to engage an Islamic group in America. One must understand its roots and principles in a way that will not give offence, or why bother learning about it.

Prof. Farah takes us on a whirlwind tour of Muhammad and his founding of Islam, his successors. He explains the Qur'an and how it came to be and written down over a hundred years later. There are other sources of interpretation for Islamic law and these are explained as well. The five principles of Islam are also explained.

The goal of the book seems to be to make Islam seem less foreign to the Western reader. However, it can get a bit bewildering when Farah explains over a dozen different sects of Islam and how they came to be with their various claims. The author also gives us a very fast tour of Islam in its various forms around the globe.

If you want a basic book on Islam and are willing to accept the premise of Islam as a legitimate religion with positive things to offer, then this is a good book for you.