Religious Groups Studies

  • Disney Tinkerbell 2024 Calendar, Month To View Slim Wall Calendar, Official Product

    2024 Disney Tinkerbell Slim Calendar. Each month contains stunning illustrative pictures of everyone’s favourite Disney Fairy Tinkerbell along with inspirational quotes. The format of this calendar is ideal for smaller wall spaces but still has plenty of space for your notes and appointments for 2024.

    Product Dimensions: 420 X 149 MM

    Danilo is the leading publisher of officially licensed calendars, diaries, greeting cards, gift wrap and gift bags in the UK. We are a family run company that’s been operating for more than 40 years. Our licenses range from baby to adult. All the paper we use is responsibly sourced and we only work with suppliers and manufacturers that meet our stringent ethical requirements.

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    £6.70
  • In God’s Path: The Arab Conquests and the Creation of an Islamic Empire (Ancient Warfare and Civilization)

    06
    In just over a hundred years–from the death of the Mohammed in 632 to the beginning of the Abbasid Caliphate in 750–the followers of the Prophet swept across the whole of the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain. The conquered territory was larger than the Roman Empire at its greatest expansion, and it was claimed for the Arabs in roughly half the time. How they were able to engulf so many empires, states, and armies in such a short period of time is a question which has engaged historians since at least the ninth century. Most recent popular accounts have been based almost solely on the early Muslim sources, which were, in short, salvation history, composed for the purpose of demonstrating that God had chosen the Arabs as his vehicle for spreading Islam throughout the world.

    While exploiting the rich biographical and geographical information of the early Muslim sources, this groundbreaking work delivers a fresh account of the Arab conquests and the establishment of an Islamic Empire by incorporating different approaches and different bodies of evidence. Robert G. Hoyland, a leading Late Antique scholar, accomplishes this by first examining the wider world from which Mohammed and his followers emerged. For Muslim sources, the revelation of Islam to Muhammad is the starting point for their history, and modern university departments have tended to reinforce this approach. Late Antique studies have done us the service of shedding much needed light on the 4th to 6th centuries, thus giving us a better view of the nature of Middle Eastern society in the decades before the Arab conquests. In particular, Hoyland narrates the emergence of a distinct Arab identity in the region of the Roman province Arabia and western (Saudi) Arabia, which is at least as important for explaining the Arab conquests as Muhammad’s revelation. The Arabs are the principal, almost sole, focus of the Muslim conquest narratives, and this is the norm for modern works on this subject. Yet, in the same period the Khazars, Bulgars, Avars and Turks established polities on the edges of the superpowers of Byzantium and Iran; in fact, the Khazars and Turks continued to be major rivals of the Arabs in the seventh and eighth centuries. The role of these peripheral states in the Arab success story is underscored in the narrative. Innovative and accessible, In God’s Path is a welcome account of a transformative period in ancient history.

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    £7.00
  • Irena’s Gift: An epic World War II memoir of sisters, secrets and survival

    03

    If we seal off the past, how will we ever know the truth?

    In 1942, in Nazi-occupied Poland, a Jewish child was smuggled out of the Warsaw ghetto in a backpack. That child was Karen Kirsten’s mother, but she knew nothing about this extraordinary event until one day a letter arrived from a stranger.

    Irena’s Gift weaves together a mystery, history and memoir to tell the story of a family torn apart by war. From the glittering concert halls of interbellum Warsaw to the vermin-infested prison where a Jewish woman negotiates with an SS officer to save her sister’s child, Irena’s Gift is about the lies we tell to survive and what happens when those lies unravel. It is about the remarkable resilience of three generations of women, and the sacrifices made for love.

    ‘One of the best second-generation Holocaust books ever published’ ARIANA NEUMANN

    ‘An extraordinary story of how secrets and lies can tear a family apart’ MAYA LEE

    ‘A story of love, healing, hope and humanity that will tug at your heartstrings’ SUE SMETHURST

    ‘A true story of extraordinary women, survival and sacrifice. A must read’ TARA MOSS

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    £2.90£9.50
  • Islam and the West

    06
    Hailed in The New York Times Book Review as “the doyen of Middle Eastern studies,” Bernard Lewis has been for half a century one of the West’s foremost scholars of Islamic history and culture, the author of over two dozen books, most notably The Arabs in History, The Emergence of Modern Turkey, The Political Language of Islam, and The Muslim Discovery of Europe. Eminent French historian Robert Mantran has written of Lewis’s work: “How could one resist being attracted to the books of an author who opens for you the doors of an unknown or misunderstood universe, who leads you within to its innermost domains: religion, ways of thinking, conceptions of power, culture–an author who upsets notions too often fixed, fallacious, or partisan.”
    In Islam and the West, Bernard Lewis brings together in one volume eleven essays that indeed open doors to the innermost domains of Islam. Lewis ranges far and wide in these essays. He includes long pieces, such as his capsule history of the interaction–in war and peace, in commerce and culture–between Europe and its Islamic neighbors, and shorter ones, such as his deft study of the Arabic word watan and what its linguistic history reveals about the introduction of the idea of patriotism from the West. Lewis offers a revealing look at Edward Gibbon’s portrait of Muhammad in Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (unlike previous writers, Gibbon saw the rise of Islam not as something separate and isolated, nor as a regrettable aberration from the onward march of the church, but simply as a part of human history); he offers a devastating critique of Edward Said’s controversial book, Orientalism; and he gives an account of the impediments to translating from classic Arabic to other languages (the old dictionaries, for one, are packed with scribal errors, misreadings, false analogies, and etymological deductions that pay little attention to the evolution of the language). And he concludes with an astute commentary on the Islamic world today, examining revivalism, fundamentalism, the role of the Shi’a, and the larger question of religious co-existence between Muslims, Christians, and Jews.
    A matchless guide to the background of Middle East conflicts today, Islam and the West presents the seasoned reflections of an eminent authority on one of the most intriguing and little understood regions in the world.

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    £11.40
  • Islam For Dummies

    08

    From the Qur’an to Ramadan, this friendly guide introduces you to the origins, practices and beliefs of Islam

    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, 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.

     

     

    P.S. If you think this book seems familiar, you’re probably right. The Dummies team updated the cover and design to give the book a fresh feel, but the content is the same as the previous release of Islam For Dummies (9780764555039). The book you see here shouldn’t be considered a new or updated product. But if you’re in the mood to learn something new, check out some of our other books. We’re always writing about new topics! .

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    £16.70£19.90

    Islam For Dummies

    £16.70£19.90
  • Islam: A Very Short Introduction 2/e (Very Short Introductions)

    08
    Islam features widely in the news, often in its most militant versions, but few people in the non-Muslim world really understand the nature of Islam.

    Malise Ruthven’s Very Short Introduction contains essential insights into issues such as why Islam has such major divisions between movements such as the Shi’ites, the Sunnis, and the Wahhabis, and the central importance of the Shar’ia (Islamic law) in Islamic life. It also offers fresh perspectives on contemporary questions: Why is the greatest ‘Jihad’ (holy war) now against the enemies of Islam, rather than the struggle against evil? Can women find fulfilment in Islamic societies? How must Islam adapt as it confronts the modern world?

    In this new edition, Ruthven brings the text up-to-date by reflecting upon some of the most significant changes in the Muslim world in recent years; from the emergence of al-Qaeda and the attacks on New York and Washington on 9/11 and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. Ruthven includes new material surrounding the concept of a globalized Islam, bringing into question the effects of economic globalization, the effect of international events in Middle Eastern countries, the issues surrounding Islam and democracy, and the reception and perception of Islam in the West.

    ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

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    £7.10£8.50
  • Islamic History: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

    08
    Does history matter? This book argues not that history matters, but that Islamic history does. This Very Short Introduction introduces the story of Islamic history; the controversies surrounding its study; and the significance that it holds – for Muslims and for non-Muslims alike.

    Opening with a lucid overview of the rise and spread of Islam, from the seventh to twenty first century, the book charts the evolution of what was originally a small, localised community of believers into an international religion with over a billion adherents.
    Chapters are also dedicated to the peoples – Arabs, Persians, and Turks – who shaped Islamic history, and to three representative institutions – the mosque, jihad, and the caliphate – that highlight Islam’s diversity over time.

    Finally, the roles that Islamic history has played in both religious and political contexts are analysed, while stressing the unique status that history enjoys amongst Muslims, especially compared to its lowly place in Western societies where history is often seen as little more than something that is not to be repeated.

    Some of the questions that will be answered are:

    · How did Islam arise from the obscurity of seventh century Arabia to the headlines of twenty first century media?
    · How do we know what we claim to know about Islam’s rise and development?
    · Why does any of this matter, either to Muslims or to non-Muslims?

    ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

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    £6.00£8.50
  • Jewish History and Judaism: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of: A history of the Jewish people, their religion and philosophy, traditions and practices, … with over 1000…

    01
    This book offers an account of the 4,000-year history of the Jews, from the ancient Patriarchs and Kings through to modern times. It also explores the Jewish faith, its traditional beliefs and practices, its festivals and celebrations, and the way of life of Jewish people today. Divided into two volumes, The History of the Jews, details how the Jewish people flourished over time, creating the Hebrew Bible, before enduring centuries of persecution, culminating in the mass migration from Europe to America, and the eventual return to the Promised Land of Israel. The second volume, Judaism, explores the variety of religious forms of Jewish existence. The central tenets of Jewish belief are outlined and all aspects of religious life are described including the Sabbath, festivals, and home ceremonies. This 512-page history of the Jewish people, their religion and philosophy, traditions and practices, is fully illustrated, and the perfect home reference and mitzvah gift.

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    £19.30£23.80
  • Living a Jewish Life, Revised and Updated: Jewish Traditions, Customs, and Values for Today’s Families

    02

    The classic guide to the cultural and spiritual treasures of Judaism is now updated for the first time in 15 years to reflect changes in the modern Jewish community.

    Living a Jewish Life describes Judaism as not just a contemplative or abstract system of thought but as a blueprint for living fully and honorably. This new edition builds on the classic guide, which has been a favorite among Jewish educators and students for years. Enriched with additional resources, including online resources, this updated guide also references recent changes in the modern Jewish community.

    Addressing the choices posed by the modern world, Living a Jewish Life explains the traditions and beliefs of Judaism in the context of real life. It explores the spectrum of liberal Jewish thought, from Conservative to Reconstructionist to Reform, as well as unaffiliated, new age, and secular. Celebrating the diversity of Jewish beliefs, this guide provides a wealth of information that allows readers to make informed choices about how to incorporate Judaism into their lives.

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    £12.60£14.20
  • Lost Islamic History: Reclaiming Muslim Civilisation from the Past

    07
    Over the last 1,400 years, a succession of Muslim polities and empires expanded to control territories and peoples stretching from southern France to East Africa and South East Asia. Yet many of the contributions of Muslim thinkers, scientists and theologians, not to mention statesmen and soldiers, have been overlooked. The bestselling Lost Islamic History, now in a new updated edition, rescues from oblivion a forgotten past, charting its narrative from Muhammad to modern-day nation-states. From Abbasids and Ottomans to Mughals and West African kings, Firas Alkhateeb sketches key personalities, inventions and historical episodes to show the monumental impact of Islam on global society and culture.

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    £12.30
  • Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia

    “The standard work in English on the Taliban” (Christopher de Bellaigue, New York Review of Books) and its impact on Afghanistan
     
    A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
     
    “Indispensable.”—Steve Wasserman, Los Angeles Times Book Review
     
    “An excellent political and historical account of the movement’s rise to power.”—Katha Pollitt, Nation
     
    “[A] valuable and informative work.”—Richard Bernstein, New York Times
     
    Ahmed Rashid, called “Pakistan’s best and bravest reporter” by Christopher Hitchens, brings the shadowy world of the Taliban and its impact on Afghanistan and the Middle East and Central Asia into sharp focus in this modern classic. Rashid offers an authoritative account of the Taliban’s rise to power, its role in oil and gas company decisions, and the effects of changing American attitudes toward the Taliban. He also describes the new face of Islamic fundamentalism and explains why Afghanistan has become the world center for international terrorism.

    In this updated edition, Rashid examines how the Taliban regained its strength; how and why the Taliban spread across Central Asia; how the Taliban helped Al’Qaida’s spread into Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Far east; and more.

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    £3.30
  • The Islamic Enlightenment: The Modern Struggle Between Faith and Reason

    04

    SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE 2017

    ‘An eye-opening, well-written and very timely book’ Yuval Noah Harari

    ‘The best sort of book for our disordered days: timely, urgent and illuminating’ Pankaj Mishra

    ‘It strikes a blow…for common humanity’ Sunday Times

    The Muslim world has often been accused of a failure to modernise and adapt. Yet in this sweeping narrative and provocative retelling of modern history, Christopher de Bellaigue charts the forgotten story of the Islamic Enlightenment – the social movements, reforms and revolutions that transfigured the Middle East from the early nineteenth century to the present day. Modern ideals and practices were embraced across the region, including the adoption of modern medicine, the emergence of women from purdah and the development of democracy.

    The Islamic Enlightenment looks behind the sensationalist headlines in order to foster a genuine understanding of Islam and its relationship to the West. It is essential reading for anyone engaged in the state of the world today.

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    £11.40£12.30
  • The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (And the Crusades) (The Politically Incorrect Guides)

    04
    “The courageous Robert Spencer busts myths and tells truths about jihadists that no one else will tell.” —MICHELLE MALKIN

    While many choose to simply blame the West for provoking terrorists, Robert Spencer’s new book The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)™ reveals why it is time to ignore political correctness and identify the enemy – if we hope to ever defeat them.

    In a fast-paced, politically incorrect tour of Islamic teachings and Crusades history, Spencer reveals the roots of Islamic violence and hatred. Spencer refutes the myths popularized by left-wing academics and Islamic apologists who justify their political agendas with contrived historical “facts.”

    Exposing myth after myth, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)™ tackles Islam’s institutionalized mistreatment of non-Muslims, the stifling effect Islam has on science and free inquiry, the ghastly lure of Islam’s X-rated Paradise for suicide bombers and jihad terrorists, the brutal Islamic conquests of the Christian lands of the Middle East and North Africa, and more.

    InThe Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)™, you will learn:

    • How Muhammad did not teach “peace and tolerance”—instead he led armies and ordered the assassination of his enemies
    • Why American Muslim groups and left-wing academics are engaged in a huge cover-up of Islamic doctrine and historyHow today’s jihad terrorists following the Qur’an’s command to make war on Jews and Christians have the same motives and goals as the Muslims who fought the Crusaders
    • Why the Crusades were not acts of unprovoked aggression by Europe against the Islamic world, but a delayed response to centuries of Muslim aggression
    • What must be done today—from reading the Qur’an to reclassifying Muslim organizations—in order to defeat jihad terrorists

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    £12.30£14.20
  • Travelling Home: Essays on Islam in Europe

    08
    In our age of globalisation and pandemic, how should we react to the new Islamophobic movements now spreading in the West? Everywhere the far right is on the march, with nationalist and populist parties thriving on the back of popular anxieties about Islam and the Muslim presence. Hijab and minaret bans, mosque shootings, hostility to migrants and increasingly scornful media stereotypes seem to endanger the prospects for friendly coexistence and the calm uplifting of Muslim populations. In this series of essays Abdal Hakim Murad dissects the rise of Islamophobia on the basis of Muslim theological tradition. Although the proper response to the current impasse is clearly indicated in Qur’an and Hadith, some have lost the principle of trust in divine wisdom and are responding with hatred, fearfulness or despair. Murad shows that a compassion-based approach, rooted in an authentic theology of divine power, could transform the current quagmire into a bright landscape of great promise for Muslims and their neighbours.

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    £14.70£17.10
  • Women and the Fatimids in the World of Islam

    This first full-length study of women and the Fatimids is a groundbreaking work investigating an unexplored area in the field of Islamic and medieval studies. The authors have unearthed a wealth of references to women, thus re-inscribing their role in the history of one of the most fascinating Islamic dynasties, the only one to be named after a woman. At last some light is thrown on the erstwhile silent and shadowy figures of women under the Fatimids which gives them a presence in the history of women in medieval and pre-modern dynasties. Basing their research on a variety of sources from historical works to chronicles, official correspondence, documentary sources and archaeological findings, the authors have provided a richly informative analysis of the status and influence of women in this period. Their contribution is explored first within the context of Isma’ili and Fatimid genealogical history, and then within the courts in their roles as mothers, courtesans, wives and daughters, and as workers and servants. Throughout the book comparison is drawn with the status and roles of women in earlier, contemporary and subsequent Islamic as well as non-Islamic courts.

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    £57.00

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