Islam

The intended readership for this eleven-chapter introductory textbook, according to the author’s introduction (pp. 17–22), consists of undergraduates taking courses in several aspects of global Islam or comparative faiths, and general readers, especially non-Muslims, seeking information on the core beliefs, culture, and practices of Islam from its advent in Arabia in the 7th century to date. In Chapter 2 (pp. 23–57), the life and mission of the Prophet Muhammad is the subject of discussion. Sources on him, the views of Muslims and nonMuslims on his life and message in historic and contemporary contexts are also examined. These include the 9th century vilification of him which gave birth to the “Martyrs of Cordova” narrative, the 1988 Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses saga, and the 2006 “Danish Cartoons” imbroglio. The foundational text of Islam, the Qur’an, is the subject matter of Chapter 3 (pp. 58–88). The nature of the Book, its history, language, style, major themes, and narratology in regard to prophets and prophecies are examined. Other issues discussed include the concept of i[jaz (inimitability) of the Scripture, (il)legitimacy of translation into other languages, and its contemporary value as a life manual. The five pillars of Islam, namely, shahadah (declaration of the oneness of Allah), salat (canonical prayer), zakat (compulsory charity), sawm (fasting), and hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) are discussed in Chapter 4 (pp. 89–113)....