In the case of Islam, there has been much recent confusion in the Western world centered on distorted portrayals of its core values. Born of ignorance, such confusion feeds the very problem at hand.In The Heart of Islam one of the great intellectual figures in Islamic history offers a timely presentation of the core spiritual and social values of Islam: peace, compassion, social justice, and respect for the other. Seizing this unique moment in history to reflect on the essence of his tradition, Seyyed Hossein Nasr seeks to "open a spiritual and intellectual space for mutual understanding." Exploring Islamic values in scripture, traditional sources, and history, he also shows their clear counterparts in the Jewish and Christian traditions, revealing the common ground of the Abrahamic faiths.Nasr challenges members of the world's civilizations to stop demonizing others while identifying themselves with pure goodness and to turn instead to a deeper understanding of those shared values that can solve the acute problems facing humanity today. "Muslims must ask themselves what went wrong within their own societies," he writes, "but the West must also pose the same question about itself . . . whether we are Muslims, Jews, Christians, or even secularists, whether we live in the Islamic world or in the West, we are in need of meaning in our lives, of ethical norms to guide our actions, of a vision that would allow us to live at peace with each other and with the rest of God's creation." Such help, he believes, lies at the heart of every religion and can lead the followers of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) as well as other religious and spiritual traditions to a new future of mutual respect and common global purpose.The Heart of Islam is a landmark presentation of enduring value that offers hope to humanity, and a compelling portrait of the beauty and appeal of the faith of 1.2 billion people.

    Taking a wholly different view, Asma Barlas develops a believer's reading of the Qur'an that demonstrates the radically egalitarian and antipatriarchal nature of its teachings.Beginning with a historical analysis of religious authority and knowledge, Barlas shows how Muslims came to read inequality and patriarchy into the Qur'an to justify existing religious and social structures and demonstrates that the patriarchal meanings ascribed to the Qur'an are a function of who has read it, how, and in what contexts. She goes on to reread the Qur'an's position on a variety of issues in order to argue that its teachings do not support patriarchy. To the contrary, Barlas convincingly asserts that the Qur'an affirms the complete equality of the sexes, thereby offering an opportunity to theorize radical sexual equality from within the framework of its teachings. This new view takes readers into the heart of Islamic teachings on women, gender, and patriarchy, allowing them to understand Islam through its most sacred scripture, rather than through Muslim cultural practices or Western media stereotypes.

    Allah (swt) is the Lord of the entire Universe, and Muslims have been entrusted with the duty of conveying His message to all humankind. Alas, most Muslims today have become callous towards this duty! While accepting Islam as the best way of life for ourselves, most of us are unwilling to share this knowledge with those to whom the message has not yet been conveyed. The Arabic word ‘Da’wah’ means ‘a call’ or ‘an invitation’. In Islamic context, it means to strive for the propagation of Islam.

    This book is one of the many Islamic publications distributed by Ahlulbayt Organization throughout the world in different languages with the aim of conveying the message of Islam to the people of the world.

    So, more than ever, it is incumbent upon us to talk to our youth, and even we adults should reflect on the greatness of our great Muslim heroes from our Islamic past, who built the most glorious and powerful civilization of all, who took a crass society of measly people and gave them Islam that dramatically improved their lives.Darussalam is presenting this book to our youth hoping that they will find in it great examples, persons and models to follow and develop their own personalities accordingly.

    This impressive biographical work deftly weaves translated accounts from authentic Ottoman Turkish texts with ancient lore, resulting in a compelling, unforgettable portrait of the founder of Islam as seen through the eyes of Muslims around the world.

    Falling into three categories, the first 40 sayings each have a full, unbroken chain of transmission that goes back to God through the medium of the Prophet Muhammad. The second category are sayings mostly taken from well-known written collections. The final section is drawn from similar books, with Ibn 'Arabi adding one extra hadith, orally transmitted. Comprised of a full introduction explaining the meaning of Hadith, the text stresses the importance of this tradition in Ibn 'Arabi's writing.

    Seekers learn ancient spiritual practices to overcome the destructive characters such as anger, jealousy, malice, laziness, stinginess, greed, cowardice, and more. Through this training: one’s ego is subdued, the heart is filled with light, and dark thoughts and tendencies are eradicated. In this new state, one learns the hidden secrets reserved for very few about their true self, the life of this world and all creation, and existence in the Eternal Reality, where one is blessed beyond imagination.

    Seekers learn ancient spiritual practices to overcome the destructive characters such as anger, jealousy, malice, laziness, stinginess, greed, cowardice, and more. Through this training: one’s ego is subdued, the heart is filled with light, and dark thoughts and tendencies are eradicated. In this new state, one learns the hidden secrets reserved for very few about their true self, the life of this world and all creation, and existence in the Eternal Reality, where one is blessed beyond imagination.

    This book mentions the different aspects of Makkah, and recorded the most important historical events that have direct effect on the establishment and sacredness of Makkah as well as its religious weight.This Book also highlights the sites that are highly important whenever Makhah is mentioned like the Black Stone, Zamzam Well, and others.A great part of the book has been dedicated to in speaking about the Holy Ka’bah and the Holy Mosque updating the extensions and the improvements, that have taken place from the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to the Saudi era.At the end of the book there is a complete guide about Hajj and its rites.

    This work contains exterior shots of mosques, including Beijing's 1,000-year-old Niujie Mosque and Al-Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem, as well as portraits of individuals. It includes photos from much of the Muslim world, including West Africa, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Turkey.

    Whether the stories of Nasrudin are studied for their humour alone, or for their hidden wisdom, they help us to understand our world and ourselves.

    It is a two-volume compilation of several books, primarily written by the Indian scholar Muhammad Zakariya Kandhlawi His title Shekul Hadees. An English translation of the title is The Virtues of Good Deeds.The text consists of selected verses of the Qur'an, Hadiths, commentary thereon, and other material. The book is a compilation of different previous books written by same author. It has been translated into English, Persian, Bengali, and many other languages. It is popular in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and among South Asian immigrants in the United States and UK. It is mainly used by the Tablighi Jamaat for taalim (teaching) purposes. Objective of which is to bring Ehtesaab (consider the rewards of good deeds before committing them) into ones life.This book provides basic information of Islam. It is credited with transforming lives of numerous people wordwide and bring serenity and peace in the hearts.It is said to be the most widely read book about Islam after Quran and the Sihah Sitta.Contents of Volume 1:- Hikayat-e-Sahabah (Stories of the Sahabah) - Fazail-e-Quran (Virtues of the Quran) - Fazail-e-Namaz (Virtues of Salah) - Fazail-e-Zikr (Virtues of Dhikr) - Fazail-e-Tabligh (Virtues of Tabligh) - Fazail-e-Ramadhan (Virtues of Ramadan) - Musalmano-ki-Maujudah-Pasti-ka-Wahid-Ilaj (Muslim Degeneration and its Only Remedy) by Ihtisham ul-Hasan KandhalviSome publishers append an additional book:Fazail-e-Durood (Virtues of Durood) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fazail-e...

    Everybody at some time or another ask themselves the question why do I exist? The variety and complexity of the intricate systems which constitute the fabric of both beings and the world in which they exist indicate that there must have been a supreme being who created them.

    Less well-known is that India has its own brand of negationism. A section of the Indian intelligentsia is still trying to erase from the Hindus' memory the history of their persecution by the swordsmen of Islam. The number of victims of this persecution surpasses that of the Nazi crimes. The Islamic campaign to wipe out Paganism could not be equally thorough, but it has continued for centuries without any moral doubts arising in the minds of the persecutors and their chroniclers. The Islamic reports on the massacres of Hindus, destruction of Hindu temples, the abduction of Hindu women and forced conversions, invariably express great glee and pride. They leave no doubt that the destruction of Paganism by every means, was considered the God-ordained duty of the Moslem community. Yet, today many Indian historians, journalists and politicians, deny that there ever was a Hindu-Moslem conflict. They shamelessly rewrite history and conjure up centuries of Hindu-Moslem amity; now a growing section of the public in India and the West only knows their negationist version of history. It is not a pleasant task to rudely shake people out of their delusions, especially if these have been wilfully created; but this essay does just that.

    The first treatise, Mutual Reminding, distils the ethic and content of offering good counsel to one another. The second treatise, Good Manners, discusses the manners recommended of the spiritual wayfarer as he or she takes the path to spiritual felicity.

    The concept of purification of the soul as a whole is and always be central to the message of Islam and to the welfare of humans, both in this life and the hereafter.

    Includes Urdu calligraphy, translation, explication, roman transliteration and extensive lexicon and glossary; bibliography. Artistic renditions by Sadequain.

    It covers many lessons under 18 chapters. List of detailed topics can be found below: Table of Contents Preface To The First Edition Important Points To Consider Before Reading Foreword Introduction Lesson One Surat Al-Fatihah And Other Short Surahs Surat Al-Fatihah Surat Az-Zalzalah Surat Al- Adiyat Surat Al-Qari'ab Surat At-Takathur Surat Al-Asr Surat Al-Humazah Surat Al-Fil Surab Quraish Surat AI Ma'un Surat Al-Kawthar Surat Al-Kafirun Surat An Nasr Surat Al-Masad Surat Al-Ikhlas Surat Al-Falaq Surat AnNas Lesson Two The Pillars Of Islam. Lesson Three The Pillars And Branches of Faith Lesson Four The Categories Of T'awhid And Shirk Lesson Five Ihsan The Levels Of Ihsan Lesson Six The Conditions For Prayer Lesson Seven The Pillars (Arkan) of Prayer Lesson Eight The Obligatory Elements Of Prayer Lesson Nine An Explanation Of The Tashahhud Lesson Ten The Sunan Elements Of Prayer Sajdah As-Sahw: The Prostration For Forgetfulness Actions That Are Disliked During The Prayer Lesson Eleven Actions That Nullify One's Prayer Lesson Twelve The Conditions Of Wudhu' (Islamic Ablution) Lesson Thirteen Elements That Are Obligatory (Fardh) In The Wudhu' Lesson Fourteen Actions That Nullify One's Ablution Lesson Fifteen Every Muslim Must Adorn Himself With Manners That Are Legislated By Islam Lesson Sixteen Taking On Islamic Manners Lesson Seventeen A Warning Against Shirk (Associating partners with Allah) And Different Kinds Of Sins Lesson Eighteen Preparing The Dead Person's Body, Praying Over Him, And Burying

    In Men & Women, Hamza Yusuf makes clear the positions and roles of men and women in society according to the Quran and Sunnah and sheds much-needed light on several often misunderstood Quranic verses and hadiths concerning the relationship between the two. His eye-opening discussion of issues such as the hijab, marital rights, and domestic violence, will prove invaluable for all listeners, particularly couples who want to improve understanding in their marriages and individuals who want to be reassured of Islam's honor of women.Recorded at the MSA gathering, ISNA, 2002.Description: 1 audio disc : digital

    These coveted lectures from the head of the world's largest Sufi spiritual order and descendant of the popular poet and mystic Rumi, Shaykh Nazim teaches how to guard from jealousy, envy and greed, manage stress and anger, and provides practical steps to acquire genuine inner peace.

    Each letter conveys not only words of advice and guidance, but serves as a simple reminder of the teachings of the Quran and the example [sunnah] of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The letters are interwoven with examples from the life of the final Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), the Noble Companions, and those who followed their path. The current volume (volume I) is a selection of twenty-four letters from the original work.

    This book includes practical steps to find your "true identity" and tune in to your individual spiritual powers, which complete the universal scheme.

    The sin of shirk - or associating partners with Allah - is the most reprehensible act that a person can do. It is for this reason that this sin is the one sin that Allah has promised He will never forgive. Unfortunately, many Muslims who are unaware of the reality of shirk fall into it out of ignorance. This short treatise is an ideal work for the Muslim in order to understand the essence of shirk, and thus essential reading for the one who wishes to avoid falling into the greatest trap of Shaytan. The explanation of the work of Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Wahhab has been taken from the works of Ibn Jibrin, Salih Al al-Shaykh, and other major scholars.

    Sufism And Islam By Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller [Pb 32Pp Wakeel Books Amman Hearts, Spiritual, Spirituality, Sufi, Prayer, Dua]

    The author insists on reading this book every year before the arrival of Ramadan Sharif.

    Book by Ibn al'Arabi

    Iksir al-'arifin, or Elixir of the Gnostics, is unique among Sadra's writings in that it reworks and amplifies an earlier Persian work, the Jawidan-nama (Book of the Everlasting) by Afdal al-Din Kashani, or Baba Afdal.The underlying theme of Sadra's amplification is emblematic of Muslim philosophy: the importance of self-knowledge in an individual's journey of "Origin and Return," the soul's origins with God and its eventual return to Him. Everything, Sadra says, is on such a path, gradually disengaging from the material world and returning to a transcendent essence—all leading to a final fruition in which everything in the universe returns to God and finds permanent happiness. Philosophy, Sadra argues, is the most direct means to self-knowledge—and thus the best tool for navigating this journey.

    For the heart is both the seat of intelligence and understanding, and the locus of faith and spirituality; it is the quintessential faculty by which man may come to know his creator, and seek nearness and intimacy with Him. The heart's spiritual sustenance lies in its being receptive to the effusions of divine grace and guidance, without which the veils that cover it will continue to corrupt its primordial purity, gradually rendering it dysfunctional! Each veil- a metaphor for heedlessness, sins and distraction- that is melted away by the rays of faith and spiritual endeavour, allows vital qualities such as love of Allah, as well as hope, fear, remembrance, and reliance upon Him, are referred to in the religious vocabulary as spiritual stations; only when the heart embraces these stations is it said to be truly sound. The Majestic Qur'an informs: 'The day when wealth and sons avail not, save him who brings to Allah a heart that is sound.'

    A bestselling author explains how on September 11th an ancient fight-to-the-death conflict exploded on the shores of the United States.

    Such societies have existed in the past, in the golden eras of Islamic civilization, and we have the hope that, if Allah wills, such a society may appear again.In The Ideal Muslim Society , Dr. Muhammad ‘Ali al-Hashimi gives us a detailed picture of what this society would look like. Drawing on his extensive research of Islamic history and contrasting the ideal with the sorry state of affairs in human societies today, he explores the religious, political, economic, social and other facets of this ideal society, illustrating everything from the responsibilities of those in authority to the interactions between individuals on the humblest levels. For those who are longing to see a better world, this book offers practical ideas and hope.

    In this unique work, the Quranic narratives concerning such prophets as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Lot, Joseph, Job as well as the Arab prophets of the same time frame: Hud, Saleh, and Shuayb are supplemented with relevant ahadith and the interpretations of classical and contemporary scholars. Hundreds of footnotes, occasional appendices and maps add detail and color to the text. This work reflects a traditional Islamic understanding of the messengers of God and their role in shaping human civilizations.

    With wisdom that rings well with the heart, this volume answers the questions What do the mystical traditions of the Christian East and Sufism have in common? and Is there a dialogue that can promote a deep and lasting bond between Christianity and Islam? Amongst others, the contributors include Gray Henry, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and Huston Smith.

    money. Money has since grown to become one of the most prized possessions of mankind, and like so many elements of the dunya, serves to test the obedience of Allah's servants by challenging their system of priorities.Therefore, due to the fact that the Muslims of today are preoccupied with the seeking of money to an extent almost unparalleled in Islamic history, I felt the need to compile a short treatise explaining the manner in which Allah (swt) and His Messenger described how Muslims could increase their money. The focus of this book is upon encouraging Muslims to procure money through halal means and to abstain from haram gains.Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi was born in Houston, Texas, but completed his primary and secondary education in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston, after which he was accepted as a student at the Islamic University of Madinah. After completing a diploma in Arabic, he graduated with a B.A. from the College of Hadith and Islamic Sciences. He is presently doing an M.A. in Islamic Theology (Aqeedah) from the College of Da'wah at the University. Of his published works are: Riyaa: Hidden Shirk; An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur'an; An Explanation of the Four Principles of Shirk; Du'a : The Weapon of the Believer; and others.

    The author asserts that all too often "non-native" Muslims, in their well meaning zeal, throw away the very parts of their identity that, not only led them to Islam in the first place, but ultimately make them who they are- - in so doing creating the impossibility of a true and vibrant connection with God. Not simply an exposé on the difficulties to be found within the Islamic community, Believing as Ourselves, is packed with advice for those who find themselves struggling to reconcile the gap between the sometimes, bitter, reality of actual life within the faith, and the Islamic ideal they so cherish. In the words of Dr. Jeffrey Lang, author of the books, Struggling to Surrender, and Even Angels Ask, She (the author) reaches out to them with practical, hard earned wisdom and carefully thought out advice on how they can overcome the many distractions and hardships, and reclaim that "initial determination, internal strength, and sense of authentic faith that was once theirs." -And they so deserve. Lynn Jones is a writer and mother of two. She lives in a modest home under the shadow of a grove of giant cedar trees in suburban Washington state.

    Using an easy-to-follow question-and-answer format, Reasoning from the Scriptures with Muslims covers issues, including...Muhammad and Jesus Christ—what are their roles?the Quran and the Bible—what kind of inspiration and authority do they have?Islam today—what different groups exist, and how can Muslims be reached with the good news?Each chapter examines a Muslim belief and compares it with biblical Christianity. Readers will find this an invaluable tool for discussing and sharing the words and life of Jesus Christ with Muslim friends and acquaintances.

    Will take 25-35 days

    Includes over 100 cartoons covering such topics as: The War on Terrorism, Islamism, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, George W. Bush, Leftists, Economics, Politics and more. Packed with hard-hitting, black-and-white cartoons from an individualist perspective. Also includes authors' commentaries and an interview.

    He begins each session with an examination of a passage from the Quran, followed by the session's main topic. The various topics he covers include choosing a spouse, the legal rulings of the marital contract, life inside the home, childrearing, and the legal rulings of divorce. People who attended the course said that it gave them a greater appreciation of their spouse, improved the quality of their marriage, and many remarked that it was a life transforming experience. This set is invaluable for couples desiring a marriage that reflects affection, compassion, and spiritual harmony. "And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect" (Qur'an 30:21)

    Henri Stierlin discusses Islamic architecture and architectural decoration from the frontiers of Iran to the heart of India and places it within the historical context. Lavish illustrations of Islam's monuments. ceramics. jewelry. miniatures. textiles. mosaics. enamels and ivories enable us to use art as a window into Islamic culture. The final section of the book presents in depth nine great masterpieces of Islamic architecture. including the Friday Mosque in Isfahan. the Registan in Samarkand. the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri and Agra's miraculous Taj Mahal. Contents: History and ArtThe Spread of the Persian Style from Isfahan to the Taj Mahalp. 8Mapp. 14The Rebirth of Iranp. 20Muslims in India and Mongols in Iranp . 40Samarqand and the Masterworks of the Timuridsp. 56The Evo...

    Arguing pro and con on Liberal Islam according to Indonesian Muslim intellectuals engaged with the issues of global modernity.

    It traces the mention of people called Arabs in all relevant ancient sources and suggests a new interpretation of their history. It is suggested that the ancient Arabs were more a religious community than an ethnic group, which would explain why the designation 'Arab' could be easily adopted by the early Muslim tribes. The Arabs of antiquity thus resemble the early Islamic Arabs more than is usually assumed, both being united by common bonds of religious ideology and law.

    Aziz Esmail's translation is suggestive of the depth of religious thought, feeling and imagination out of which this poetry was born, and the lyrical beauty of the form in which this experience found a voice. The poetry of the Ginans illustrates an historically and culturally specific conception of the world, and of the norms peculiar to that culture, as well as a religious perception that forms a significant part of the religious experience of mankind. This volume will appeal both to specialists and more general readers, including Indologists, scholars of Islam in the Subcontinent, students of Comparative Religion, Comparative Literature, and those with an interest in mystical or devotional poetry.

    The author discusses the evidence to be found for these concepts in the Qur'an and Sunna, and reviews the interpretations of the earlier schools of law. The work also looks at more recent contributions by Muslim jurists who have advanced fresh interpretations of freedom, equality and justice in the light of the changing realities of contemporary Muslim societies. Freedom, Equality and Justice in Islam is part of a series dedicated to the fundamental rights and liberties in Islam and should be read in conjunction with The Dignity of Man: An Islamic Perspective and Freedom of Expression in Islam.

    Roger S. Greenway has compiled and edited ten of Zwemer's best chapters, all taken from books long out of print, and has added an introduction providing an overview of Zwemer's life and work. "Because his insights are not dated," writes Greenway, "Zwemer needs to be heard again." Islam and the Cross makes available "some of Zwemer's insights regarding Islam, the basic differences between Islam and Christianity, and a sense of love for Muslim people and a passion for their salvation."

    Expounding the series, coveted lectures from the head of the world's largest Sufi spiritual order and descendant of the popular poet and mystic Rumi offer guidelines to developing heightened spiritual awareness and overcoming negative influences that impede happiness.

    This book represents a concise review of Islam's viewpoint toward love.It explains the following questions that Muslim often ask:-What is love?-Does Islam acknowledge this phenomenon called love?-What is the wisdom behind this phenomenon?-What are the various classifications of love?-Which type of love is the most sacred in Islam?-What is the Islamic stance towards Uzri or chaste love and flirting?These questions will be answered in detail in the pages of the book, without any confusion or ambiguity.

    In this work, the origins of religions and the experience of freedom and unification which is the essence of religion are examined and clarified, and the stages and conditions necessary to reach this state are carefully described.

    This work, in its accessible question-and-answer format, offers profound insights into the practical day-to-day aspects of the master-disciple relationship.

    This book provides a blueprint for working consciously with this energy, which has the potential to heal the planet and revolutionize life more than we can imagine.

    These characters, though unrenowned today, inspired messianic fervour that at times seized the whole Jewish, Christian, Muslim and even secular worlds. The stories of these fifty Messiahs, both male and female, are unknown -- suppressed by Jewish religious authorities or ignored by historians of all religions. Until now. In this book, these Jewish Messiahs are remembered, and now their forgotten stories -- whether humorous, bizarre, tragic or solemn -- are finally told. The Messiah who killed the Pope; The Messiah who was saved from the Inquisition when the Pope hid him in the Vatican; The Messiah who demanded that his head be cut off in order to prove his immortality The Messiah who defied the Holy Roman Emperor; The 17th century Messiah whose followers continued their secret society into the 20th century. And to contemporary times and the story of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, and how he inspired a passionate and devoted following. Above all, Fifty Jewish Messiahs examines humanity, not divinity, and history rather than theology. Taken together, these intriguing stories paint a vivid portrait of the universal and timeless human need for optimism, and hope in a better future.

    Maliki book of fiqh

    The essays focus on texts available in English translation and explore with great theoretical sophistication the relationship of these authors' texts to contemporary phenomena of feminism, nationalism, postcolonialism, war, transnationalism, andsocietal change.

    Hunwick (Northwestern U.) and Powell (U. of Georgia) seek to begin to correct the dearth of research by presenting a collection of primary materials related to the Islamic enslavement of the peoples of Central Africa. Documents are organized under the headings: basic texts on slavery, Muslim views on slavery, perceptions of Africans in Arabic and Turkish writings, slave capture, the Middle Passage, slave markets, eunuchs and concubines, domestic service, agricultural labor, military service, religion and community, freedom and post-slavery, abolition of slavery, and a slave narrative. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

    In postulating a positive theory of the hijâb, the author challenges with great sophistication both the commonly held view of Muslim women being subjugated by men, as well as the liberal feminists' who criticize the choice of women to cover themselves as ultimately unliberating. The author argues that in a culture of consumerism, the hijâb can be experienced as a liberation from the tyranny of the beauty myth and the thin "ideal" woman. In dispelling some widely held myths about Muslim women and the hijâb, the author introduces respectability to the voice of believing Muslim women, claiming that liberation and the equality of women are fundamental to Islam itself.

    The book was published by Abdul Naeem for the Islamic Book Service.

    Ashutosh Varshney examines three pairs of Indian cities—one city in each pair with a history of communal violence, the other with a history of relative communal harmony—to discern why violence between Hindus and Muslims occurs in some situations but not others. His findings will be of strong interest to scholars, politicians, and policymakers of South Asia, but the implications of his study have theoretical and practical relevance for a broad range of multiethnic societies in other areas of the world as well. The book focuses on the networks of civic engagement that bring Hindu and Muslim urban communities together. Strong associational forms of civic engagement, such as integrated business organizations, trade unions, political parties, and professional associations, are able to control outbreaks of ethnic violence, Varshney shows. Vigorous and communally integrated associational life can serve as an agent of peace by restraining those, including powerful politicians, who would polarize Hindus and Muslims along communal lines.

    We can learn much from the history of this second caliph of Islam, who was faced with unprecedented challenges but met them successfully within the frame work of shari'ah and in accordance with the true spirit of Islam.For those who would be leaders, this book offers the model of an ideal Muslim leader, one who felt responsible before Allah for the well being of all those under his rule, including his troops, women, infants, non-Muslim subjects and even animals. ‘Umar was a 'hands on' leader who kept himself informed and consulted scholars and experts before every major decision.For the rest of us, this book offers a window into an exciting and important period of Islamic history, and it also reminds of an important lesson, that our strength comes not from wealth or money or status, but from our submission to Allah and our commitment to the path of Islam.

    A monumental study of Islamic architecture through materials and the aesthetics of ornamentation, this book discusses the history of Islamic architecture, the materials and techniques employed, the ornamental designs as well as the aesthetics of ornamentation.It documents in brilliant color photographs the unparalleled heights of expression achieved throughout the Islamic world.

    Amin's extensive research confirms that Reza Shah's controversial attempt to forcibly westernize Iranian women, and not the pre-revolutionary 1970's, marked the turning point for the woman question in Iran. Drawing on a combination of archival data, oral history, diplomatic sources, and contemporary press reports, Amin's is the first book to explore the Women's Awakening Project in such detail. By illustrating Reza Shah's efforts both to emancipate and to control Iranian women, the book raises new questions about the relationship between the Iranian state and its female citizens. Amin breaks new ground in the study of Iranian history by examining the links between state policy, popular culture, and individual memory. This highly readable book also provides crucial background for understanding the current debate between hardliners and reformers in Iran.

    One type of endowment, the public soup kitchen (>imaret) served travelers, scholars, pious mystics, and local indigents alike. Constructing Ottoman Beneficence examines the political, social, and cultural context for founding these public kitchens. It challenges long-held notions about the nature of endowments and explores for the first time how Ottoman modes of beneficence provide an important paradigm for understanding universal questions about the nature of charitable giving.A typical and well-documented example was the imaret of Hasseki Hurrem Sultan, wife of Sultan S�leyman I, in Jerusalem. The imaret operated at the confluence of imperial endowment practices and Ottoman food supply policies, while also exemplifying the role of imperial women as benefactors. Through its operations, the imaret linked imperial Ottoman and local Palestinian interests, integrating urban and rural economies.

    The book's main purpose is to expose the miracles of the Holy Qur'an and the Hadith in embryology. Discussion involves the embryological terms used in the Holy Qur'an and Hadith, reproduction, the male reproductive system, the female reproductive system, meiosis, fertilization, a brief look into the history of embryology, the nutfah, the alakah, the modgha, bone and flesh formation, the sex of the embryo, giving the shape and form, development of the ears and eyes, and more.