ISLAM, CULTURE AND EDUCATION

Muslims were a dominant world power for a thousand years; the last of them was the Ottoman Empire which fell in WWI by siding with Germany. This book begins with advent of Islam heralding the onset of reason with faith and includes views of American Founding Fathers along with other Western intellectuals. It then describes the ascendency of Islamic civilization based on the pursuit and promotion of knowledge. It was the Prophet Muhammad(p) who received Divine guidance and set in motion the Islamic caliphate that lasted until the dawn of modern world. Islam is against the concept of church, and oligarchy, or an individual or group holding position of superiority, and advocates a system of life based on consultation (shura) and consensus (Ijma).
With more than 1.8 billion followers worldwide, Islam is one of the world’s largest religions, but it is also one that is poorly understood by many Americans. Islam Explained offers an informative overview of the faith, helping those who are new to Islam foster cultural awareness while also providing those already familiar with it the opportunity to deepen their understanding.
Exploring Islam is a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the foundations of the Islamic faith, including its history, theology, and spiritual practice. The book also deals with issues such as jihad, the status of women, and the various sectarian divisions in Islam. Most distinctive about this work is its analysis of the lived experience of Muslims in modern American life.