Customer Reviews

Islam Today: A Short Introduction to the Muslim World

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

 

 

I found this book to be very well written. For the first time I have a picture of the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam and what the Islamic countries and peoples are going through in modern times as well as giving a consise history of the Islamic empires of the past. The author does not present a lop sided picture at all but strives to show the problems that Islam faces from both within and without. It most definitely made the Islamic people more human to me.

I gave this book 5 stars more for what it did for me rather than simply literary analysis. This book became the begining of my conversion to Islam. After reading this book it allowed me to open myself to look at Islam much more seriously than I had before. On a literary basis, the author is not as objective as I believe he tries to come accross. He is clearly pro-islam and consequently some of his arguments/observations sound contrived.

The good news is that I have learned quite a bit of factual information about Islam, and gained some understanding and increased respect for this religion as a result of reading this book.

The bad news is that the Pollyanna-ish tone in discussion of some of the difficult issues undermines the author's credibility. While he does a clear job of explaining the facts of the Shia/Sunni split, for instance, he makes it sound as if this split is the subject of a polite debate over cups of tea, rather than a war fought with machine guns. I think this comes from a well-meaning desire to show a positive face to the non-Muslim world--something we Jews refer to as "Not in front of the goyim."

This wimping-out in the face of uncomfortable subjects reminds me of the cancer patient-education pamphlets I've seen: "Some patients may find that chemotherapy causes a certain degree of discomfort."

Really, I think my respect for Islam would be enhanced rather than reduced if the author portrayed the internal and external conflicts of this and other religions with the full depth of the passions that they engender. I can take it, Doc, just tell me the truth.

This book is not of the same quality as his earlier book "Postmodernism and Islam". I felt let down, but maybe the contents match the title "a SHORT INTRODUCTION to the Muslim World" i.e. he sacrifices breadth for depth. Having read the earlier book I get the impression that Ahmed spent just a few weekends typing this one up. Why? Because, to name a few, (1) the structure of thoughts is not clear - you don't get a clean idea of what path he plans to take through the book; (2) there are so many spelling mistakes that could have been avoided by running the manuscript through a spell checker; (3) there aren't references for many of the very grand and important things he says; (4) he picks Iran, Turkey and Pakistan as Muslim countries to write about the past but does not spend much time on those countries with the largest Muslim populations e.g. India, Indonesia, Bangladesh etc.

I run QED, a UK non-profit making company, which addresses barriers facing South Asian communities in playing full role in Britains economic, social and political life. One of the major barrier is the negative perception of Muslim community amongst non-muslims. I feel this book addresses this issue in a positive way. I would recommend those who have negative views about Muslims to read this book. It will help them to understand the Muslim community and develop meaningful dialogue with it.

I met Professor Ahmed in a convention where he was showing the documentary on Jinnah (the book and movie are highly recommended) His arguments in Islam Today deal with complex issues that have been shown in a false picture in the west. All the stereotypes that the Western countries and media have propogated are demolished my Prof. Akbar's concise explanation and reasoning. He is one Muslim thinker that must be read by all people in the world and Islam Today should be read by anyone who has every tried to understand what true Islam really is. A must buy!

In 237 pages, the author Akbar S. Ahmed, attempts to explain Islam, or moreso the religious-political world of Muslims today. It is a short introduction, and as I've not read anything else (yet) about this topic, it is somewhat difficult for me to review this book. It became very clear to this white, German-Irish American-born male that there is no 'one' Islam practiced in this world... and that those who identify as Muslim in this world can be very different from one another, depending on which country they live in whether it's in Europe, the Middle East, Far East or the United States. They actually can be very different from each other in the SAME community. But that should not be surprising since Jews and Christians throughout the world practice their faith and politics in many ways (many which are not peaceful and compassionate to each other, or to others). I can't image trying to sum up Christianity in 237 pages, and so I think Mr. Ahmed (who I've since seen speaking in PBS and History chanel documentaries on Islam) does a good job of 'painting in broad strokes' and giving you specific example, of how Islam is being lived out in various parts of the globe. Ahmed is a moderate (from what I can tell) and so I think he honestly voices justified criticism at both the Muslim world(s) and the Western Euro-American world(s). At times the book is a little 'cut and paste' in how the author draws from his other writing... and it can be a little dry here and there... but for the most part I found the subject matter to be interesting and well-presented.

Alittle out of date but a good overview of Islam. Does take the perspective of a Muslim in some cases puts a slant that does not fully tell the whole story. When the author mentions Muhammad's wives he tells how most were over forty but did not tell the age of his favorite wife who was extremely young when married.

Written shortly before 9-11, this book is still probably the best single volume for introducing Islam and the Muslim world today!

Consider the daunting task. Who can find or would presume to write one book explaining Christianity and politics and society of the entire Christian world in one short volume? Ahmed does this rather well for the Muslim world.

Of course everyone would have alternative emphasis or focus and the broad coverage and discussion necessarily leaves out things that may have been of interest or `hot' news items. Understanding, not sound bits: maturity, not hypercritical unbalance focusing on Armenian persecution or a cottage industry of hate that sees little but dhimitude (whose followers ought better study "democide" that is much worse, much more common, and much more relevant)is achieved. It is likely that a reviewer suggesting taqiyya (in ay case largely a Shia not Sunni practice) suffers from such a perspective.

Ahmed is not apologetic but rather critical of many faults in the Muslim world. If anything, he `lets off' the interventions and policies of the US and of Israel with too little criticism while emphasizing both Muslim and social-anthropological roots of problems.

Although the selection of Ottoman, Mughal, and Saffavid Empires as background seems peculiar to an Arab and post 9-11 Osama obsessed American it is entirely valid, helps understanding the political and social issues and provides necessary perspective. There is no space for significant thought centers and the large Muslim population of Indonesia however. The book is current if the goal is understanding. (Although the perspective is not that of international relations that is wanted by some readers who don't first have understanding of the countries involved.)

Arab countries are discussed largely in the topical essays about democracy, family, and identity. Central Asia is surveyed. Muslims as minorities in various areas are described. The observations and opinions are always worth consideration and reflection. Coincidentally, and usefully, one will always form a somewhat personal view while reading.

Some Islam phobes will miss focus on key pet polemics, but they will find honest if brief discussions of favorite critiques about such things as women's rights and even their "pet" crimes like mutilation. Sorting out what is Islamic and what is not - whether literalist or from understanding of principles and spirit of Islam is useful.

My own major criticism would be that the treatment of Western media is too forgiving and he has not opportunity to deal with the perverted impact of polemic, ignorance, and the extreme forms of `orientalism' and neoCons so pervasive in government, among pundits, and reviewers who are multiple `experts' hateful and/or believing all attacks on Islam help their `causes' a book of this kind is much needed. (Readers would do well to read "Why America's Top Pundits are Wrong" for analysis and critiques of Huntington (by extention Lewis's "Rage".)

This should be the first book for the "general reader" and for others exposed to only the popular media. Many concerned Christians would also do well to read this book as would American 'patriots'who may not appreciate how fortunate they are.

I just finished this book. I was expecting something more objective. The author works hard to excuse things that are inexcusable. For example his defense of the fatwa against Rushidie was disturbing. Nowhere does he suggest that such a thing is barbaric. He simply says that we don't understand how much such books bother Muslims. That isn't the point. Killing someone for exercising free speech is a violation of universal human rights. Also he overlooks the current violent persecutions of Christian minorities in nations ruled by Muslim majorities. The Copts in Egypt would not say they are treated fairly and equally. And in Saudi Arabia there is no religious freedom at all. Even when he waxes poetic about Muslim Spain he doesn't seem to understand that the Spanish didn't necessarily enjoy being ruled by foreigners. The ones he lauds are the least Islamic, so what does that say? Why is Islamic colonialism acceptable, but Western colonialism is not? Would Islam have treated the Aztecs better then the Spanish did? I doubt it. They had no problem doing to the St. Sofia's in Constantinople what the Spanish did in the new world. Would he sympathize with Greeks who mourn the loss of their Empire to the sword of Islam? He doesn't seem too. These are just a few places where he neglects to challenge the Muslim side. This leads to the book presenting a one-sided picture that fails in what it says it tries to do. That doesn't help increase mutual understanding. Instead it shows that even a well-educated Muslim who teaches at Cambridge still doesn't understand us. That is quite sobering.