Islam: A Short History (Modern Library Chronicles)

Karen Armstrong, in Islam: A Short History (Modern Library Chronicles); and Bernard Lewis and Buntzie Ellis Churchill, in Islam: The Religion and the People, give valuable insight into Islam for those of us who were not brought up within an Islamic culture. Just as we who grew up in America, even those of us who are not Christians, know a great deal about Christianity, so even one not of Islamic faith who grows up in a predominately Islamic country will almost inevitably get to know far more about Islam than most Americans ever do. Hence the need for us to read books such as these, which are both excellent and which nicely complement each other; Armstrong tells us more about the history of Islam, and Lewis & Churchill tell us more about Islam today. Both are fairly brief (Armstrong 187 pages of text + 15 of glossary; Lewis & Churchill 167 + 55)It can be quite difficult to get a correct understanding of another religion, because so many of the books and articles written about it are either by devout followers of that faith or by persons committed to disparage that faith as error and superstition.As you read these two books, you may be surprised at the parallels between Islam and Christianity, both good and bad. For example, both Jesus and Muhammad had very enlightened, egalitarian attitudes toward women (Muhammad often consulted with women about what to do, and Jesus made a woman his number one apostle, called apostula apostolorum, the apostle to the apostles*). Neither would have approved of the repression of women that has been so common in both Christianity and Islam. The teachings of Jesus and Muhammad are often ignored or worse by their "followers": e.g. the many murders employed in deciding who would be Muhammad's successors; "Muslim" suicide bombers indiscriminately killing the innocent even with no assurance that any guilty will be among the victims (I had to put "Muslim" in quotes, because by the very act mentioned, they render themselves unworthy of being called Muslim^); the Crusaders who would "rape and kill for Jesus"; the systematic raping of Muslim women by "Christians" in Kosovo and thereabouts.; the insistence of the "Christian" Bush administration on continuing use of torture (which was surely what prompted the slogan "WWJT? - Who Would Jesus Torture?). Clearly, both Jesus and Muhammad have been "followed" where they never led and never would have. (for more on this, see Charles Kimball, When Religion Becomes Evil: Five Warning Signs (Plus)I have one problem with Lewis & Churchill. On page 163 they write: `Another term that is sometimes used, "Islamofascism." Is very naturally resented by Muslims in general, as combining in a single word the name of their faith with that of the most universally execrated of modern movements. For the same reason, this term is seen by others as accurately defining these movements and indicating their place in true Islam.' Now the first two sentences are true, but the final sentence is problematical. Some may think the term is accurate, but it is most definitely not. Fascism has no place in Islam. Fascism is authoritarian corporatocracy, essentially a takeover of government by big business, generally led by a dictator. Fascism is thus the antithesis of the communitarian principles of Islam as set forth by Muhammad. The self-contradictory term "Islamofascism" was coined as a put-down of Islam and of Muslims, an attempt to discredit and demonize both. As such, it is quite properly resented, not only by those of Islamic faith, but non-Muslims such as myself, who value human decency and are disgusted by attempts to incite religious hatred. For their failure to unambiguously reject this offensive term, I cannot give Lewis & Churchill the 5 stars they would otherwise deserve.Armstrong, 5 stars, Lewis & Churchill, 4¼.Watziznaym@gmail.com* Richard J. Hooper,The Crucifixion of Mary Magdalene: The Historical Tradition of the First Apostle and the Ancient Church's Campaign to Suppress It, page 57.^ A Muslim is defined to be anyone (of Islamic faith or not) who lives by Allah's rules of behavior, as set forth in Islamic scripture, the Quran. Allah is an Arabic phrase meaning "The God."

Before any Westerner gets all excited and jumps on the bandwagon of Islam-bashing, read several histories. Then, you just might be glad that you didn't say anything stupid. This book offers a brief history of Islam, one of the three monotheistic faiths of the world (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), wandering across time via numerous imams and Islamic leaders, telling their good points and bad points, explaining how each thought, what they believed, what they did that was good and what they did that was harmful or ill-thought or immoral. Armstrong repeats a mantra, trying to show that the basic tenets of Islam demand tolerance for other faiths, social justice to all, and the equality of all (male and female, rich and poor, Muslims and those who practice other faiths). I found it interesting how so many factions started out with good ideals, but ended up becoming harmful or elitist or untrue to the founder's ideals. She began with Muhammed and ends with the turn of the millennium (16 years ago and pre-9/11). It is nice to get a pre-9/11 fair explanation of Islam. There are other books out there now that will be clouded by the airplane hijackers and the beheadings and bombers and shooters of the modern era, but this one isn't clouded by their hijacking of Islam. Read it for yourself. Hi-light areas you find interesting. I did. Here are a few things I picked up (just a few). "Islam" in Arabic means "surrender." Islam does not encourage attempting to convert others (contra, Christianity), but teaches adherents that each person's particular faith will lead them to God. For over a thousand years, Muslims did NOT hate Jews; that grew after the state of Israel was created in 1948 (following WWII) and Arabs were kicked out of their land, and the world applauded. Islam has experienced divisions and disagreements for the entirety of its existence, often resulting in battles and assassinations. I want to add one final thing, something that seems to imbed much of this book. I must be careful NOT to equate Islam with the current violent expressions that a few of its members engage in, but look at the totality of its existence and how it has been able to help people live in a tough world with unfair things that happen each day. As soon as I choose to ignore this, then I must apply the same standard to Christianity, and remember that Christians invaded Jerusalem and killed 30,000 Muslims and Jews, because someone felt that it would be a good thing to do (the list of Christian injustices is very, very long). Read the book See what you think.

This is a good read for anyone wanting to learn more about Islam and it's fascinating history

I have accumulated both written and audio book works of Ms Karen Armstrong and this addition is another winner, in my opinion. It does as the title suggests, a short (Major Points) in the history of Islam. A subject, I have recently become very interested in, and Karen Armstrong's books have provided me with the overview and knowledge and directions for further study of this very relevant subject. I enjoy her style and find the material easy to absorb and thought provoking.In all a most enjoyable read of an otherwise (For some?) rather dry subject.

Armstrong's sympathy to Islam colors everything written in this book. The book covers a great deal of territory historically, but the bias by the author also colors what is and is not discussed. By chapter 5, the last chapter, she is more of an apologist for Islam than a neutral chronicler of the history of Islam. Understanding this before reading will make this a moderately useful book for understanding the history of Islam.

Karen Armstong would like to believe in the Prophet Mohammad, not because of his visions or poetry or even his special relationship to God, but because of his ability to create a compassionate and unified movement out of the chaotic tribalism of sixth century Arabia. She also wants to believe that Islam is at least as much social experiment--in equality, compassion, and surrender to God--as it is doctrines or rituals. For Muslims, Armstrong writes, "salvation does not mean redemption from sin, but the creation of a just society." That's a long way from hanging the burned body parts of Americans on public bridges, but that's exactly why this book should be on every American voter's reading list. It's not so much to find out the objective facts of Islam (though there are plenty of those), but to understand the religion's deepest yearnings and view of the world. If you've bought into the American party line on Islam, the last 40 pages of this book are going to be hard to swallow--Armstrong's litany of Western imperialism and meddling are unflinching and humbling. Violent Islamicists also come in for their own share of criticism. Alarmed by the failure of Western materialism to satisfy spiritual needs, Armstrong fears that Islam will fail in its calling to justice and compassion. The broad premise of this calling--that religion might provide an enduring improvement in social life--is the possibility Armstong is most interested in, the desire that makes sense of past and present. Muslims carry this sense and desire into every part of their lives. It may not be important for us to do the same, but refusing to recognize its grip on Muslim hearts and minds is where the battle of Fallujah really began.

Armstrong is a scholar and an authority on religion in general. It isn't possible to grasp what is going on in the Middle East and other Islamic lands out of the context of their history and geography. For that matter, it is necessary to have a working knowledge of Christian and Western history too, to put things in perspective. Armstrong has done that brilliantly. It is necessary to wade through the various leaders and who assassinated whom to get to the meat of the book. Her points on agrarian culture and democracy; fundamentalism and also the impact of the Mongol invasion are worth the price of the book. Readers have a really hard time getting beyond nationalistic and political interests to try to understand this important and influential part of the world. USA is a young country, but if we trace our history to Europe (I know not everyone came from Europe, but European influence is primary) we would realize we share a common humanity with all its creativity and also violent episodes. It's hard to feel morally superior without ignoring the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, Nazi Germany just to name a few.

Islam: A Short History (Modern Library Chronicles)This book has gotten some bad 'press' here. "It's too much History" - well that's just what it is! It is clear, concise and well presented. It contains just what most people would want to know about the "what, where, and why" of Islam. It contains a glossary of Arabic terms, notes, suggestions for further reading, an index and study questions. All in all a very well thought out and presented work that all non-Muslim peoples could benefit from reading./Rev. Scholtes

Excellent book to read by an unbiased author. Well researched.

Islam: A Short History covers a lot of ground, tracing the long and complex history of Islam and its interactions with Western politics. What I found particularly valuable was how the book helped me see the difference between the true teachings of the Quran and the way some aspects, like Shariah law, have been interpreted over time. It reinforced the idea that while Islam as a religion is perfect, Muslims themselves are flawed, just like everyone else.Reading this book actually deepened my love for Islam in a way I didn’t expect. It gave me a better understanding of the religion’s history and the intentions behind its teachings, which has been really eye-opening. Armstrong also does a great job of explaining the impact of events like the Crusades and Western interventions in the Islamic world, showing that many conflicts we often blame on religion are really more about political power and how religion gets used as a tool.One of the most interesting parts of the book was its take on secularism. While I’m not against secular governments—countries like France and Turkey come to mind—Armstrong points out that secularism has its own history of violence and oppression. It’s easy to think of secularism as a peaceful alternative to religion, but the book shows that it can be just as oppressive when it tries to control or suppress religious expression.The book also sheds light on the colonial legacy of Western powers, especially Britain, in places like India and Syria. It’s a good reminder that while we often criticize the Islamic world, the West has its own share of responsibility for the conflicts we see today. This really made me rethink the idea of the West being on a moral high ground—it’s more complicated than that.But what I really appreciated was how Armstrong also highlights the good things about the democratic West. A lot of us want to enjoy the freedoms, democracy, and cultural richness of Europe and the U.S., but without giving up our religious identity. The book shows that this balance is possible, and that many in the West already respect the rights of Muslims and other religious groups to practice their faith.Armstrong also touches on a positive response from President George W. Bush after 9/11, when he called Islam a great and peaceful religion and made it clear that Osama bin Laden didn’t represent Muslims. It’s inspiring to see how some people, instead of reacting with anger, took that tragedy as a chance to learn more about Islam. This gives me hope that we can keep moving forward, with more understanding and less division.It’s important to recognize, though, that while the West isn’t the only cause of extremism, its actions have sometimes contributed to it. The book emphasizes that harmony doesn’t come from suppressing religion, but from mutual respect and understanding. History has shown that when secular governments or other forces try to stamp out religion, it often backfires and leads to more intolerance and conflict.In the end, Islam: A Short History is a thought-provoking read that really challenges the way we think about both religion and politics. It’s helped me see Islam in a new light and understand the complex relationship between religion and the world we live in. I’m hopeful that as we move forward, we can find a way for different religions to live together in peace, learning from the past to build a better future.

Good back ground

Ótima fonte de conhecimentos gerais sobre o surgimento e desenvolvimento do Islã para quem é novato. Visão dentro do contexto histórico,político e religioso.

Die Kritik vom Rezensent mit einem Stern ist nicht nachvollziehbar, es liegt eher nahe, dass er dem Thema per se nicht offen gegenüber steht. Offenbar hat er das Buch nicht ernsthaft gelesen. Propaganda das ein Gott existiert...also bitte. Das ist der Erzählstil in dem Buch. Würde sich auch schwer lesen, wäre alles in Konjunktiv geschrieben worden.Zum Buch:1. Kurze Einführung zur Entstehung des Islams2. Schwerpunkt jedoch auf post Mekka und Medina: Ausbreitung des Islams außerhalb der arabischen Halbinsel3. Clash mit der ModerneBei Punkt 2 ging es zwischendurch tatsächlich etwas zu schnell. Weshalb ich dem Buch eher 4,5 statt 5 Sterne geben würde.Wer die Gegenwart verstehen will, muss die Vergangenheit kennen. Wer dieses Interesse hat, dem kann ich dieses Buch sicher empfehlen.