Beliefs > Islam

(Books and DVDs.)

Books:

The Qur'an : modern Muslim interpretations, by Massimo Campanini ; translated by Caroline Higgitt.
Offers a guide to how Muslims have read the Qur'an in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It explores the radical ideas of Sayyid Qurb and his followers, a significant part of what is known as political Islamism, and investigates the idea of exegesis as a liberation theology, through the work of Esack and Wadud. Students taking courses on the interpretation of the Qur'an will find this an invaluable aid to their study, and it is essential reading for all those interested in how Muslims have understood the Qur'an in the contemporary period. (drawn from the book jacket)

Being Muslim, by Haroon Siddiqui. (2010) "This balanced, concise book is an excellent resource for social studies or debate class. Siddiqui explores the current political, religious, and secular aspects of being a member of the world's fastest-growing religion. He challenges Western assumptions about Islam and assigns blame to both the West and Islamic fundamentalists for fanning the flames of Islamophobia. Although he tackles stereotypes, the author is not a Muslim apologist - he describes the tenets of the religion in objective, non-proselytizing prose, acknowledging the need for reforms ...Sidebars illustrate Islamic contributions to popular culture (e.g., Muslim stand-up comics and hip-hop artists), and the index, notes, bibliography, and illustrative charts are all useful.. (drawn from School Library Journal, courtesy of Syndetics)

Islamic mystical poetry : Sufi verse from the mystics to Rumi, by edited with translations and introduction by Mahmood Jamal. (2009)
Poetry has been the most powerful vehicle for conveying Sufism-the mystical dimension of Islam-from the early flowering of mystical Islam in Baghdad to the later heights it reached through Jalaluddin Rumi (d. 1273) and Jami (d. 1492). Starting with the writings of eighth-century mystics, this anthology moves through the twelfth century with Ibn Arabi in Spain and Ibn Farid of Cairo, then onto the Maghrib prayer of Abul Ala Al Maari, Aynul quddat Hamddhani of Persia, Yunus Emre of Turkey in the fourteenth century, and many others, culminating in the early twentieth century. The result is a soaring collection of verse from across the Islamic world and over centuries of inspiration. (Syndetics)

The butterfly mosque, by G. Willow Wilson. (2010)
In this satisfying, lyrical memoir of a potentially disastrous clash between East and West, a Boulder native and Boston University graduate found an unlikely fit living in Cairo, Egypt, and converting to Islam. Wilson embarked on a yearlong stint working at an English-language high school in Cairo right after her college graduation in 2003. ... she and her roommate, barely eating because they did not know how to buy food, were saved by Omar, an educated, English-speaking physics teacher at the school. Through her deepening relationship with Omar, she also learned Arabic and embraced the ways Islam was woven into the daily fabric of existence, such as the rituals of Ramadan and Friday prayers at the mosque. ...her work proves a tremendously heartfelt, healing cross-cultural fusion" -- drawn from Publishers Weekly.

Introduction to Sufi doctrine, by Titus Burckhardt ; foreword by William C. Chittick.
This masterpiece by Titus Burkhardt examines the essence of Islamic mysticism, or Sufism, presenting its central doctrines and methods to a Western audience in an intelligible form.

The future of Islam , by John L. Esposito. (2010)
President Barack Obama travelled to Cairo in June 2009 to promise a new beginning between the US and the Muslim world based on 'mutual interest and mutual respect'. In The Future of Islam, John Esposito has written the handbook for this new age of engagement. Intolerant of the extremists bent on provoking a clash of civilisations - western Islamophobes and violent Islamists alike - Esposito's book is a calculated appeal to the moderate middle ground upon whom the success of Obama's policies depends. Esposito is the right man for the job: he is a leading scholar of modern Islam, with more than 35 books on the subject to his credit, and heads a centre for Christian-Muslim understanding at Georgetown University... (drawn from the publisher)

Happiness in life and after death : an Islamic Sufi view, by Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri. (2010)
Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri provides a lucid and inspiring account of life, death and the hereafter, according to an Islamic Sufi perspective. The book opens with a wide-ranging sweep of death and dying as viewed in other cultures and religions --from ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Zoroastrian sources through to Judaism and Christianity. (Syndetics)

Historical dictionary of Islam , by Ludwig W. Adamec. (2009)
Written for both the layperson and the scholar, this ... is a concise resource on the history of Islam as a religion, a philosophy, and a political movement. Its dictionary-style entries are cross-referenced and include short biographies of the individuals who shaped Islam in its formative stages during the Middle Ages. Written by Adamec, who is considered an authority on the history and politics of the Middle East region, it includes a chronology, a map of the Islamic world, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, and a brief introduction to the world of Islam. An extended bibliography suggests resources for more in-depth research on all the topics discussed. BOTTOM LINE this clearly written and thoughtfully organized resource by an expert is most suitable for public libraries; academic libraries may consider it as a basic introduction to the field. (drawn from Library Journal, courtesy of Syndetics)

The Qur'an : an introduction, by Anna M. Gade. (2010)
Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the final revelation of God. In this stimulating study, Anna M. Gade provides a comprehensive primer to this multifaceted text, exploring the many ways in which Muslims approach it. With extensive extracts, illustrations, and detailed insights into its textual history, this will prove an invaluable resource for both students and general readers interested in Islam. (publisher's description)

Images of Muhammad : narratives of the prophet in Islam across the centuries, by Tarif Khalidi. (2009)
With scholarly authority, Khalidi explores how the 'biography' of Muhammad has been constructed, reconstructed, and utilized in various Islamic cultures, and traces the influences that have shaped his image, including the profound effect of negative perceptions promulgated by the West. As he describes the great variety of Islamic beliefs and practices, Khalidi illuminates the values and ideas shared by the Sunni, Shia, and Sufi sects, as well as the differences among them, providing Western readers with a clear, objective perspective on the current conflicts within the Muslim world as well as their global repercussions. (publisher's description)

A new introduction to Islam, by Daniel Brown. (2009)
This thought-provoking book introduces students to the history and development of Islamic studies as a discipline, showing how it has shaped our understanding of Islam ; examines how the vibrant religious culture of the Near East produced a unique and brilliant intellectual and religious tradition spanning the fields of Islamic law, theology, philosophy and mysticism ; surveys the ways in which Islamic tradition has enriched the world and in turn been enriched by interaction with other civilizations, from the Mongols to the modern West ; considers the opportunities and challenges facing Muslims today" -- Book jacket.

Islam : an illustrated history, by G.S.P. Freeman-Grenville and Stuart Christopher Munro-Hay. (2006)
"This illustrated work by two renowned scholars narrates the history of the spread of Islam all over the world, from its birth in Arabia in the seventh century to the present day. With its 180 maps, 200 illustrations, and carefully prepared text, the book brings clarity and understanding to a religious and cultural force of great contemporary significance." (book jacket)

Islam in the world today : a handbook of politics, religion, culture, and society, by edited by Werner Ende and Udo Steinbach. (2010)
Editors Ende and Steinbach are distinguished professors of Islamic and Middle Eastern studies in Germany, and the 40-plus contributors come from equally distinguished academic backgrounds. The volume is divided into three parts; the first is a historical overview of the Islamic world from its beginnings in the seventh century to the present, including a description of the different sects and movements of Islam and their influence in the world today. The second, and most extensive, section discusses the political role of Islam in the modern world, Islamic economics, social systems, and law. Each of 24 essays covers a Muslim country, or a country with a significant Muslim population, in depth; communities in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe are included. ... The volume has few pictures and is very text dense, but the language is engaging and the translation is excellent. (drawn from Library Journal, courtesy of Syndetics)

Islam in New Zealand : the first mosque : a short history of the New Zealand Muslim Association & the Ponsonby Mosque, by Abdullah Drury. (2006)
Muslims have been living in this country for over a century. The first mosque in New Zealand, and the definitive heart of Islam in this country, was built twenty years ago in 1979 in Ponsonby, central Auckland. The building marks the collective turning point from being a group of migrants to the New Zealand Muslim community.

A new introduction to Islam, by Daniel Brown. (2009)
This thought-provoking book introduces students to the history and development of Islamic studies as a discipline, showing how it has shaped our understanding of Islam ; examines how the vibrant religious culture of the Near East produced a unique and brilliant intellectual and religious tradition spanning the fields of Islamic law, theology, philosophy and mysticism ; surveys the ways in which Islamic tradition has enriched the world and in turn been enriched by interaction with other civilizations, from the Mongols to the modern West ; considers the opportunities and challenges facing Muslims today" -- Book jacket.

Science & Islam : a history, by Ehsan Masood. (2008)
Between the 8th and 15th centuries, scholars and researchers working from Samarkand in modern-day Uzbekistan to Cordoba in Spain advanced our knowledge of astronomy, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, medicine and philosophy to new heights. It was Musa al-Khwarizmi, for instance, who developed algebra in 9th century Baghdad; al-Jazari, a Turkish engineer of the 13th century whose achievements include the crank, the camshaft, and the reciprocating piston; ibn Sina, whose textbook Canon of Medicine was a standard work in Europe's universities until the 1600s. These scientists were part of a sophisticated culture and civilization that was based on belief in God - a picture which helps to scotch the myth of the 'Dark Ages' in which scientific advance faltered. Science writer Ehsan Masood weaves the story of these and other scientists into a compelling narrative... (drawn from amazon.com)

Studying Islam, by Clinton Bennett. (2010)
Including historical foundations, scripture, society, thought, ethics, rituals, spirituality and aesthetics, this is the ideal study aid for those approaching Islam for the first time.

Arguing the just war in Islam, by John Kelsay. (2008)
How has the concept of jihad been understood over the course of Islam's history? Do Islamic militants have any justification in defending their actions as necessary elements of jihad? These are the kinds of questions Kelsay (religion, Florida State Univ.) addresses. Kelsay notes that, historically, authoritative religious reasoning was done primarily by religious scholars and jihad was understood in terms of Islamic just-war criteria. In the last two centuries, however, individuals have claimed the right to do religious reasoning apart from scholars and to justify jihad in nonwar situations. ... A thought-provoking work; a valuable addition to all libraries (Drawn from Library Journal, courtesy of Syndetics)

The Qur'an, by Mona Siddiqui. (2007)
"Mona Siddiqui considers how the Qur'an has been understood by Muslims in the intellectual traditions of Islam as well as in popular worship. ... She also considers head on what the Qur'an says about gender, jihad, and about the role of ritual in Islam. Siddiqui's central concern is that Muslims must look to the Qur'an to breathe new life into the social and ethical relations between Muslims and non-Muslims. ..." -www.allenandunwin.com

The messenger : the meanings of the life of Muhammad, by Tariq Ramadan. (2007)
"A biography of the Prophet Muhammad, highlighting the spiritual and ethical teachings of one of the most influential figures in human history".

The face behind the veil : the extraordinary lives of Muslim women in America, by Donna Gehrke-White. (2008)
"This nonscholarly, sympathetic study of Muslim women in the US is divided into four parts of different sizes, each containing between 8 and 25 chapters. Each chapter tells a different story of a Muslim woman. Journalist Gehrke-White essentializes her subject by using the term Muslimah to refer to Muslim women in the US; these women come from varied backgrounds and have very different experiences. ...(drawn from Choice review, courtesy of Syndetics)

My soul is a woman : the feminine in Islam, by Annemarie Schimmel ; translated by Susan H. Ray. (2006)
The author challenges commonly-held misconceptions about women in Islam and demonstrates the equality between the sexes in the Quran, in Islamic mystical traditions and in the role of holy women as manifestations of God.

The Qur'an : a biography, by Bruce Lawrence. (2006)
The author “describes the origins of the faith in seventh-century Arabia and explains why the Qur’an needs to be both memorised and recited by its followers. Lawrence also discusses the book’s many doubters and commentators… and assesses its influence in societies and politics today”.

What do Muslims believe?, by Ziauddin Sardar. (2004)
"Ziauddin Sardar examines the true teachings of Islam and explores the reality of the Muslim world today. Emphasizing the diversity of Islam and its ideals, he assesses the role Islam plays in the lives of ordinary Muslims and shows how Islamic beliefs and practices help Muslims understand the modern world."

DVDs:

Introduction to Islam with Bilal Dannoun.
Voice of Islam presents Islam through its television programs, lecture tours, DVDs and other books and publications in a correct manner as a reminder and education for Muslims, and to show non Muslims the correct manner in which we should be acting and practising our religion. (drawn from the booklet)

Sufi soul : the mystic music of Islam, Songlines MWTV for Channel 4 (2008).
For hundreds of millions of Sufi followers worldwide, music is at the heart of their tradition and a way of getting closer to God. From the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey to the qawwali music of Pakistan, Sufism has produced some of the world's most spectacular music celebrated by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Dalrymple's film traces the shared roots of Christianity and Islam in the Middle East and discovers Sufism to be a peaceful, tolerant and pluralistic bastion against fundamentalism"--Container

Muhammad, legacy of a prophet, (DVD) (2003)
Tells the story of the seventh century prophet who changed world history in 23 years, and continues to shape the lives of more than 1.2 billion people. Three years in the making, the film takes viewers not only to ancient Middle Eastern sites where Muhammed's story unfolds, but into the homes, mosques and workplaces of some of America's estimated seven million Muslims to discover the many ways in which they follow Muhammad's example.