Islam For Dummies

Front Cover
John Wiley & Sons, Sep 11, 2019 - Religion - 400 pages

From the Qur’an to Ramadan, this friendly guide introduces you to the origins, practices and beliefs of Islam

Many non-Muslims have no idea that Muslims worship the same God as Christians and Jews, and that Islam preaches compassion, charity, humility, and the brotherhood of man. And the similarities don’t end there. According to Islamic teaching, Muhammad founded Islam in 610 CE after the angel Gabriel appeared to him at Mecca and told him that God had entered him among the ranks of such great biblical prophets as Abraham, Moses, and Christ.

Whether you live or work alongside Muslims and want to relate to them better, or you simply want to gain a better understanding of the world’s second largest religion, Islam For Dummies can help you make sense of this religion and its appeal, including:

  • Muhammad, the man and the legend
  • The Five Pillars of Wisdom
  • The Five Essentials beliefs of Islam
  • The different branches of Islam and Islamic sects
  • The Qur’an and Islamic law
  • Islam throughout history and its impact around the world

Professor Malcolm Clark explores the roots of Islam, how it has developed over the centuries, and it’s long and complex relationship with Christianity. He helps puts Islam in perspective as a major cultural and geopolitical force. And he provided helpful insights into, among other things:

  • Muhammad, the Qur’an and the ethical teachings of Islam
  • Muslim worship, customs, and rituals surrounding birth, marriage, and death
  • Shi’ites, Sunnis, Sufis, Druze, and other important Muslim groups
  • Islam in relation to Judaism and Christianity

In these troubled times, it is important that we try to understand the belief systems of others, for through understanding comes peace. Islam For Dummies helps you build bridges of understanding between you and your neighbors in the global village.

P.S. If you think this book seems familiar, you’re probably right. The Dummies team updated the cover and design to give the book a fresh feel, but the content is the same as the previous release of Islam For Dummies (9780764555039). The book you see here shouldn’t be considered a new or updated product. But if you’re in the mood to learn something new, check out some of our other books. We’re always writing about new topics! .

 

Contents

Introduction
1
MUHAMMAD THE MAN THE BOOK
4
UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS 7
9
Tracing the Path of Islamic History
15
The Golden Age
24
Submitting to God
37
What Muslims Believe
47
Standing Before God Heaven and Hell
63
Sufis
221
Exploring LesserKnown Sects Linked to Islam
239
Islam in America
251
Considering Islams Concept of Abrahamic
265
Seeking Common Roots Abrahamic
267
Seeking Common Ground
283
Meeting the Challenge of Modernity
295
The Part of Tens
305

Muhammad The Man the Book
77
The Book The Quran
99
Islamic Tradition and Law
119
Becoming Familiar with Muslim Daily Life
137
Observing Other Religious Rituals and Customs
163
Marking Lifes Transitions
171
Observing Everyday Customs
179
Muslim Ethics Living the Good Life
185
Recognizing That All Muslims Arent the Same
203
Ten Noteworthy Muslims Past and Present
315
Ten Islamic Regions in the News Today
325
APPENDIXES
339
Glossary
345
Resources Digging Deeper
351
INDEX
357
Islam For Dummies
358
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2019)

Professor Malcolm Clark taught in the Department of Religion at Butler University for 30 years.

Bibliographic information