Customer Reviews

The Rough Guide History of Islam

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What I found interesting about this book is its year-by-year look at the history of Islam. Starting with the Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) birth it notes some Islamic-related event occuring each year up through 2002. Earlier years have less events noted than later years. Islamic events covered occur throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Not only are Islamic religious events noted, but so are other Islamic-related subjects: politics, all types of Muslim personalities, countries, women, military campaigns, coups, Balkan Wars, Copts, etc. Not a whole lot of "depth" to any subject; but at least besides noting that some event happened it provides a brief one-sentence "why" some Muslim leader did what he did. Its a small paperback, about the size of your hand; but a good inch thick! (This is nothing like Esposito's "The Oxford History of Islam" which provides extensive chapters on specific subjects.) At first I thought that there was simply toooo much mind-bogling history of Islam covered in this paperback, but that is exactly was makes it so useful with its 1,400 "snippets" of Islamic history. Lots and lots of Islamic trivia data for a few dollars.

If you want the most conscience and easy to understand history of Islam, this is the book you need. From explaining the political situation in which Islam rose, scientific achievements, wars against itself and Christians, as well as it's impact outside the Middle East, this is one of the best books I have seen on the subject. A dynamic history and faith, this book delievers both the glory and controversy in which the religion of Islam still brings todays.

I am trying to gain a balanced and objective understanding of Islam. This is not easy with all of the ignorance and prejudice that abounds these days, even among academics. I have several of the Rough Guides, so I thought I would check this one out.

After reading the Introduction given above and coming across the phrase "Islam spread its tentacles still further" in one of the early paragraphs, I decided that I would pass on this Rough Guide. Talk about biased language from the get-go! Maybe you should pass on this title as well.

Also, the endlessly rehashed innaccurate stereotype about Islam being a religion spread by the sword boggles my mind especially since the religion that best fits this description is Christianity--not Islam. Just think Crusades, Thrity Years War, and on and on.

Of course, many people will probably be checking out this book and a big deal will probably be made of it being banned in Malaysia on the premise that it has been deemed "prejudicial to public order under the Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984".

What else would you expect? In even the introduction reproduced above, the book repeats the age-old orientalist claim that Islam was spread by the sword. Do you really expect this to go over well in Malaysia? The people there know quite well that this is false since they have many muslims there, yet a muslim army never invaded Southeast Asia-- The British, Spanish, and Dutch, yes, yes, and yes; the arabs, turks, and persians, no.

Many of the book claims made are not even controversial, they are just factually incorrect and libelous. There are many better books available.

The book has been banned by Malaysian government in November 2003, this action itself provide the world a best showcase as regards how bigot and ignorant the Modern Islamic communitty really is.

Crusaders, ready to call to arms to the islamic world!!!!