Islam

By Huston Smith

Book Overview

In a world where one in five people is a Muslim, understanding the Islamic faith is more important than ever.

Yet, as acclaimed author and scholar of world religions Huston Smith notes, no religion is more misunderstood by the West. This book, drawn from his seminal work The World's Religions, is a direct response to the urgent need for a clear and concise introduction to Islam.

Huston Smith provides the essential background for anyone seeking to comprehend the foundations of this global religion. Moving beyond the headlines and stereotypes, he presents the core tenets of Islam with clarity and respect. The author explores the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the spiritual and historical significance of the Koran, and the key theological concepts that anchor the Muslim worldview.

This concise and authoritative guide clearly explains the foundations of the Islamic faith:

The Prophet Muhammad: Follow the story of his life and the divine revelation that launched a global religion.The Five Pillars: Understand the core tenets of a Muslim's life, from the confession of faith to the pilgrimage to Mecca.Core Theological Concepts: Grasp the essential teachings on God (Allah), Creation, the human soul, and the Day of Judgment.Essential Social Teachings: Explore the Koran's perspectives on economics, family, the status of women, and justice.The Sufi Path: Discover the rich mystical tradition within Islam, focusing on the soul's direct encounter with the Divine.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060095571
• ISBN13: 9780060095574
• Release Date: December 2001
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Islam 101: A course in Islamic Studies.

This book, although short in terms of number of pages, is nevertheless extremely rich and amazingly eloquent in its presentation and explanations of Islam, from the life of Muhammad, to the Quran, to Islamic teachings and philosophy, and ending with a brief introduction to Sufism (Mysticism).This book highly builds on the chapter that was dedicated to Islam in Huston Smith's The World's Religions. But Mr. Smith, after extracting that chapter and making a separate book out of it, adds to its contents discussions that relate to current world events such as the New York and Washington events in September 2001. He also adds many useful discussions regarding misconceptions about Islamic teachings like the issue of Women, Jihad, Polygamy, and many other issues that should highly interest any reader who seeks basic - but strong - foundations in Islamic Theology and Philosophy.The bibliography and the "suggestions for further reading" part at the end of book is extremely helpful for anyone who persues an academic background in Islamic Studies.This book will no doubt start to appear in college courses that cover the issue of Islam as a required reading assignment.All in all, an excellent and a highly recommended book that is considered a masterpiece in the field of Comparative Religion Scholarship.

A Muslim perspective ... Thank you Huston

As an American Christian who diligently studied Islam, lived with Muslims abroad, and then became Muslim himself, I found this book a positive introduction to Islam for the modern, Western mind. Huston Smith has described Islam in a respectful and fair manner in a way that is difficult to find among nonMuslim authors. In my study of Islam I found that even many life long Muslim writers from outside the Western cultures are not able to describe Islam with such effectiveness.Islam is often viewed only in negative ways, or in detail of its physical forms alone. Huston Smith is able to see beyond the ignorant sterotypes and begin to express the emotional depth and value of Islam's spiritual wisdom.The book is intended as an introduction, and is exactly that. It only takes about ninety minutes to read, but sheds much light on a complex subject. Hopefully it is enough to inspire readers to learn more about Islam through even more effective and thorough channels, such as speaking with Muslims at a local mosque. The best source is always the direct source.So I thank Huston Smith, and recommend this book to all those interested in beginning to understand the true nature of Islam.