Islam For Dummies

Front Cover
John Wiley & Sons, Mar 10, 2011 - Religion - 384 pages
7 Reviews
Many non-Muslims have no idea that Muslims worship the same God as Christians and Jews, and that Islam preaches compassion, charity, humility, and the brotherhood of man. And the similarities don’t end there. According to Islamic teaching, Muhammad founded Islam in 610 CE after the angel Gabriel appeared to him at Mecca and told him that God had entered him among the ranks of such great biblical prophets as Abraham, Moses, and Christ.

Whether you live or work alongside Muslims and want to relate to them better, or you simply want to gain a better understanding of the world’s second largest religion, Islam For Dummies can help you make sense of this religion and its appeal.  From the Qur’an to Ramadan, this friendly guide introduces you to the origins, practices and beliefs of Islam, including:

  • Muhammad, the man and the legend
  • The Five Pillars of Wisdom
  • The Five Essentials beliefs of Islam
  • The different branches of Islam and Islamic sects
  • The Qur’an and Islamic law
  • Islam throughout history and its impact around the world

Professor Malcolm Clark explores the roots of Islam, how it has developed over the centuries, and it’s long and complex relationship with Christianity. He helps puts Islam in perspective as a major cultural and geopolitical force. And he provided helpful insights into, among other things:

  • Muhammad, the Qur’an and the ethical teachings of Islam
  • Muslim worship, customs, and rituals surrounding birth, marriage, and death
  • Shi’ites, Sunnis, Sufis, Druze, and other important Muslim groups
  • Islam in relation to Judaism and Christianity

In these troubled times, it is important that we try to understand the belief systems of others, for through understanding comes peace. Islam For Dummies helps you build bridges of understanding between you and your neighbors in the global village.

 

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LibraryThing Review

User Review  - MarthaJeanne - LibraryThing

Good basic desription, but without any emotion behind it, as the writer is not a Muslim. Tried to be very up-to-date at the time of writing, which makes it outdated 10 years on. Read full review

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - dickmanikowski - LibraryThing

Over the years, I've wondered about the fervor with which so many Muslims adhere to their religion. Living in metro Detroit and having worked in both academic and public libraries, I've been ... Read full review

Selected pages

Contents

Title
Approaching Islam
Tracing the Path of Islamic History
Submitting to
What Muslims Believe
Standing Before God Heaven and Hell
Muhammad The Man the Book and Rules of
The Book The Quran
Sufis
Exploring LesserKnown Sects Linked to Islam
Islam in America
Sufis in America
Considering Islams Concept of Abrahamic Religions
Seeking Common Ground
Meeting the Challenge of Modernity
The Part of Tens

Islamic Tradition and
Becoming Familiar with Muslim Daily Life
Observing Other Religious Rituals and Customs
Muslim Ethics Living the Good Life
Recognizing That All Muslims Arent the Same
Physics Specifically Optics
Ten Islamic Regions in the News Today
Appendixes
Glossary
Resources Digging Deeper

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About the author (2011)

Professor Malcolm Clark taught in the Department of Religion at Butler University for 30 years.

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