Jihad in Classical and Modern Islam: A Reader (Princeton Series on the Middle East) [Paperback]

Rudolph Peters (Author)

Book Description

Series: Princeton Series on the Middle East | Publication Date: March 1996

Jihad, or "Holy War" is very much alive in the Islamic world, and plays a prominent political role. Western observers usually associate jihad with fanaticism, while Islamists emphasize its mission as a crusade against drugs and other societal scourges. Expanded Edition with a new chapter on Jihad in the 21st Century.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

To Americans and Europeans, the word jihad conjures up fanatical Arab warriors overwhelming a Crusader citadel. Jihad ("struggle") denotes holy war for Islam, and in this sense is comparable to crusade, holy war for Christianity. But there is much more to jihad than this. One may struggle not only against an enemy outside Islam, but against heretics within, social evils like poverty and crime, and unbelief in oneself. Peters, a professor at the University of Amsterdam and the director of the Netherlands Institute in Cairo, has collected previously published information (six translations of Arabic texts, and two of his own articles) to help us understand the wider social and moral senses of jihad. While Peters terms this material "basic," it is both highly technical and complex, and presupposes some familiarity with Islam and its history. It will appeal to the scholar and specialist, not to the casual reader.?James F. DeRoche, Alexandria, Va.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Helps us understand the wider social and moral senses of Jihad." -- Library Journal --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 225 pages
• Publisher: Markus Wiener Pub; 1ST edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558761098
• ISBN-13: 978-1558761094
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #778,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best available introduction to the subject, October 27, 2005

By 

R. Green (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jihad in Classical and Modern Islam: A Reader (Princeton Series on the Middle East) (Paperback)

At a time when "scholars" and journalists are churning out books on Islam like clockwork, it has become alarmingly difficult to find an broad, balanced survey of Jihad, with its many meanings and applications. Rudolph Peters presents a diverse, yet coherent selection of sources on the topic. His own analyses are well-informed and highly respectful of how nuanced the institution of Jihad is.

Especially refreshing is the absence of a post-9/11 agenda, in contrast to other recent books. The book traces the evolution of Jihad throughout Islamic history by presenting a progression of sources from various times and places.

Admittedly, this is a relatively short read and therefore limited in scope. But the sources are well-chosen and provide an effective foundation for further study.