Islam: The Religion and the People, CourseSmart eTextbook

For most Westerners, Islam remains a mystery. In this brief, exceptionally readable book, Bernard Lewis reveals Islam to the rest of us: what its adherents believe, how their faith has shaped them, and the rich and diverse cultures and politics they have created over nearly 1,400 years. Lewis is the world's leading expert on Islam: his views have influenced world leaders for decades. Now, he's written the definitive introduction to Islam for the rest of us. Islam is indispensable reading for everyone who wants to understand the faith, culture, and peoples of Islam and respond effectively to the global challenges that involve Islam, from terror to oil. Drawing on a lifetime of scholarship, Lewis answers questions like: What are the pillars of the Islamic faith? What does Islam really say about jihad? About the differences between men and women? About tolerance and the rights of non-Moslems? What are the differences between Sunni and Shi'a? Can there be Islamic democracies? What does the Prophet say about free enterprise and profit? What really caused the rise of radical Islam? How can Moslems live their faith in societies that are largely non-Moslem, such as Europe and the U.S.? Whatever your political, personal, or religious views, you need to get past the common myths about Islam, and understand its reality. In that quest, there's no better guide than Bernard Lewis, and there's no better book than Islam.

            Preface  xv

            Introduction  1

 

Chapter 1        The Faith and the Faithful  7

Chapter 2        The Pillars of the Faith  13

Chapter 3        Scripture, Tradition and Law  25

Chapter 4        The Mosque  39

Chapter 5        Diversity and Tolerance  51

Chapter 6        Sunni, Shi‘a and Others  61

Chapter 7        Some History  71

Chapter 8        Government and Opposition  81

Chapter 9        Wider World of Islam  91

Chapter 10      Islam and the Economy  97

Chapter 11      Women in Islam  111

Chapter 12      Dress  127

Chapter 13      Language and Writing   137

Chapter 14      War and Peace  145

Chapter 15      Radical Islam  155

 

            Conclusion  165

            Appendix: Some Practical Matters  169

            Terms and Topics  179

            Index  225