Islamic History: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
£6.00£8.50 (-29%)
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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Additional information
| Publisher | Illustrated edition (21 Jan. 2010), OUP Oxford |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 157 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0199545723 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0199545728 |
| Dimensions | 17.02 x 10.92 x 1.02 cm |
by Dr A Raza
I am a big fan of the books from Oxford series, as they are thoroughly researched and stand up to the scholarly standards of publication. However, there’s something that has put the authenticity of the material in this book to question! In the beginning, author has mentioned that Alexander the Great is considered to be a “ prophet “ in the Islamic tradition, which is, by no means, true. There is no authentic source or narration ( Quran and Hadith of the Holy Prophet SAW) that suggests this. Some exegetes have “ presumed “ Dhulqarnain to be Alexander, but in all probability, that’s not the case and can’t be considered a FACT. First, Dhulqarnain was not a prophet, but a king. Second, The Quranic description of Dhulqarnain and persona of Alexander are in stark contrast and by no means have any similarity. I hope authors will review this statement and remove it from this otherwise valuable resource of knowledge.
by Muse
The author has had a very difficult task of consolidating a complex history of Islam. I give it only 4 stars because there is need for editing in presentation: it could be improved in clarification without subtracting the details.
Many of the Islamic religious terminology could also have been consolidated in an appendix, or explained in footnotes on subsequent pages, as I suspect that, like most other readers, one cannot recall meanings of unfamiliar concepts that one has not lived with (like a Muslim) most of one’s life.
However, I would still recommend reading this text before reading anything else on Islam: it will provide a far more balanced perspective in subsequent readings of the subject.
When read properly, with fundamental interest, as well as understanding the terminology, one will find that it is apolitical: the conclusion at the end of the book has surprising explanations that will show this to be the case. This ending made the whole book worthwhile reading. One would have to read the book from the beginning though, because the ending is not a summary.
by alex123
Interesting , superb , easy to read and the content is breathtakingly well written.
by Peter Lake
Lively, informative and, within the confines of space, written with authority whilst, at times, being almost playful. Everything you want titles in this series to be. Up there with the VSI to Modern China in terms of being a fantastic primer and a really engaging read.
by Sha
Somewhat neutral narration of Islamic history! Distorted facts in certain places and efforts belittle the contribution of muslims to the advancement of the modern advancements of the world! Page 17 para 1 and page20 for example
by Mr. C. J. Cooper
Great book. I have to warn you that the book is not merely about the history of Islam, but focuses much more on the relevance of Islamic History to Muslims and Non Muslims. Great if that’s what you want.
by Harvey Miller
An abridged expose of Islamic History. Silverstein’s lucid account documents Islams cultural and military rise. An Invaluable resource for the beginner.
by Hesham Al-Awadi
I liked the book and recommended it my students. It’s concise but condensed with ideas. It attempts to speak to a western mind in basic terms as if one is living the period discussed. It artistically uses the past to reflect on present practices. Well done.
Hesham Alawadi