Now, in his first book written for a wide audience, he offers a marvelous biography of the Prophet Muhammad, one that highlights the spiritual and ethical teachings of one of the most influential figures in human history.In the Footsteps of the Prophet is a fresh and perceptive look at Muhammad, capturing a life that was often eventful, gripping, and highly charged. Ramadan provides both an intimate portrait of a man who was shy, kind, but determined, as well as a dramatic chronicle of a leader who launched a great religion and inspired a vast empire. More important, Ramadan presents the main events of the Prophet's life in a way that highlights his spiritual and ethical teachings. The book underscores the significance of the Prophet's example for some of today's most controversial issues, such as the treatment of the poor, the role of women, Islamic criminal punishments, war, racism, and relations with other religions. Selecting those facts and stories from which we can draw a profound and vivid spiritual picture, the author asks how can the Prophet's life remain -- or become again -- an example, a model, and an inspiration? And how can Muslims move from formalism -- a fixation on ritual -- toward a committed spiritual and social presence?In this thoughtful and engaging biography, Ramadan offers Muslims a new understanding of Muhammad's life and he introduces non-Muslims not just to the story of the Prophet, but to the spiritual and ethical riches of Islam.

    Butros, a Christian man with a heart for the church. Ahmed, Mustafa and Hassan, devout Muslims until their hearts are changed by the Truth of Scripture. Salima, a rich young woman who loses everything when she falls in love with Jesus. How can Christianity flourish in the face of Sharia law? How can Christ's love win Muslims? What price will these believers pay for their faith?

    The same morning--the first of a new Muslim century--hundreds of gunmen stunned the world by seizing Islam's holiest shrine, the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Armed with rifles that they had smuggled inside coffins, these men came from more than a dozen countries, launching the first operation of global jihad in modern times. Led by a Saudi preacher named Juhayman al Uteybi, they believed that the Saudi royal family had become a craven servant of American infidels, and sought a return to the glory of uncompromising Islam. With nearly 100,000 worshippers trapped inside the holy compound, Mecca's bloody siege lasted two weeks, inflaming Muslim rage against the United States and causing hundreds of deaths. Despite U.S. assistance, the Saudi royal family proved haplessly incapable of dislodging the occupier, whose ranks included American converts to Islam. In Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini blamed the Great Satan--the United States --for defiling the shrine, prompting mobs to storm and torch American embassies in Pakistan and Libya. The desperate Saudis finally enlisted the help of French commandos led by tough-as-nails Captain Paul Barril, who prepared the final assault and supplied poison gas that knocked out the insurgents. Though most captured gunmen were quickly beheaded, the Saudi royal family responded to this unprecedented challenge by compromising with the rebels' supporters among the kingdom's most senior clerics, helping them nurture and export Juhayman's violent brand of Islam around the world. This dramatic and immensely consequential story was barely covered in the press in the pre-CNN, pre-Al Jazeera days, as Saudi Arabia imposed an information blackout and kept foreign correspondents away. Yaroslav Trofimov now penetrates this veil of silence, interviewing for the first time scores of direct participants in the siege, including former terrorists, and drawing on hundreds of documents that had been declassified on his request. Written with the pacing, detail, and suspense of a real-life thriller, "The Siege of Mecca" reveals how Saudi reaction to the uprising in Mecca set free the forces that produced the attacks of 9/11, and the harrowing circumstances that surround us today.

    With an emphasis on Taqwa (God-consciousness) and Ikhlas (sincerity), Agenda To Change Our Condition is an indispensable handbook for all Muslims striving for excellence in character and self-refinement. Topics covered include: Taqwa: Its Definition and Its Benefits, The Heart and its Treatment, Practical Steps to Change Our Condition, a series of exercises for achieving Taqwa as well as three new appendices.In this updated for 2008 new edition of "Agenda to Change Our Condition," Shaykh Hamza Yusuf chalks out a program for all Muslims who want to rectify their current state of apathy and heedlessness of Allah's commands. The book includes sections on Practical Steps to Change Our Condition, Taqwa: Its Definition and its Benefits, The Heart and its Treatment (by Qadi Abu Bakr ibn al-`Arabi), culminating with a series of exercises on how to attain taqwa.

    A comparative analysis of the concept of GOD between the major Religions of the World: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism.

    Quran plagiarized from the BibleIshmael or Isaac?First Miracle of Jesus (pbuh)Original SinProhibition of AlcoholProphet Muhammad (pbuh) in the BibleDifference Between Mary and MiriamJesus (pbuh) did not dieIs not the Quran written by satan?

    Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the major role played by the early Muslim world in influencing modern society, Lost History fills an important void. Written by an award-winning author and former diplomat with extensive experience in the Muslim world, it provides new insight not only into Islam's historic achievements but also the ancient resentments that fuel today's bitter conflicts.Michael Hamilton Morgan reveals how early Muslim advancements in science and culture lay the cornerstones of the European Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and modern Western society. As he chronicles the Golden Ages of Islam, beginning in 570 a.d. with the birth of Muhammad, and resonating today, he introduces scholars like Ibn Al-Haytham, Ibn Sina, Al-Tusi, Al-Khwarizmi, and Omar Khayyam, towering figures who revolutionized the mathematics, astronomy, and medicine of their time and paved the way for Newton, Copernicus, and many others. And he reminds us that inspired leaders from Muhammad to Suleiman the Magnificent and beyond championed religious tolerance, encouraged intellectual inquiry, and sponsored artistic, architectural, and literary works that still dazzle us with their brilliance. Lost History finally affords pioneering leaders with the proper credit and respect they so richly deserve.

    Studied for centuries in the Muslim world, Al-Fiqh al-Akbar offers a layered understanding of divine oneness (tawhid), the underpinning of Islamic belief. It helps to refine ones understanding of the Creator, messengers, and divine communication, and enables one, moreover, to gain insight into the realities of this life and the events of the life hereafter.This translation of Al-Fiqh al-Akbar is an unprecedented contribution to a subject in English. A lucid rendering, unhampered by sterile literalism, it draws on a number of commentaries to unlock for the general English-speaking readership a subject that has been largely inaccessible to them, both because of the subjects complexity and the lack of reliable works in English. This definitive edition, combining Maghnisawis basic commentary with numerous notes carefully selected from 'AlI al-Qari's super-commentary and the entire Kitab al-Wasiyya of Abu Hanifa, is the English readers essential guide on the intellectual and rewarding journey through Islamic creed.

    Addressing both her devotion and her leadership roles in Mecca, this book shines light on a figure who is an inspiration to women, both Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

    Learned women enjoyed high public standing and authority in the formative years of Islam. For centuries thereafter, women travelled intensively for religious knowledge and routinely attended the most prestigious mosques and madrasas across the Islamic world. Typical documents (like class registers and ijazahs from women authorizing men to teach) and the glowing testimonies about their women teachers from the most revered ulema are cited in detail. An overview chapter, with accompanying maps, traces the spread of centres of hadith learning for women, and their eventual decline. The information summarized here is essential to a balanced appreciation of the role of women in Islamic society.

    Insisting upon a return to the ways of the ancient wisdom tradition, which saw the quest for knowledge of the soul, the world, and God as a unifying spiritual discipline, Chittick maintains that the study of Islamic texts cannot be treated separately from self-understanding. Fascinating, radical, and a true challenge to modern trends in academic study, this book opens a new debate in Islamic thought.

    Sufism is the poetry and mysticism of Islam. This mystical movement from the early ninth century rejects worship motivated by the desire for heavenly reward or the fear of punishment, insisting rather on the love of God as the only valid form of adoration. Sufism has made significant contributions to Islamic civilization in music and philosophy, dance and literature. The Sufi poet Rumi is the bestselling poet in America. But in recent centuries Sufism has been a target for some extremist Islamic movements as well as many modernists. The Garden of Truth presents the beliefs and vision of the mystical heart of Islam, along with a history of Sufi saints and schools of thought.In a world threatened by religious wars, depleting natural resources, a crumbling ecosystem, and alienation and isolation, what has happened to our humanity? Who are we and what are we doing here? The Sufi path offers a journey toward truth, to a knowledge that transcends our mundane concerns, selfish desires, and fears. In Sufism we find a wisdom that brings peace and a relationship with God that nurtures the best in us and in others.Noted scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr helps you learn the secret wisdom tradition of Islam and enter what the ancient mystics call the "garden of truth." Here, liberate your mind, experience peace, discover your purpose, fall in love with the Divine, and find your true, best self.

    Be firm; steadfast and balanced; and journey [to Allah] in the beginning of the day, the end of the day, and a portion of the latter part of the night. Moderation, moderation! Through this you will attain your goal!"He also recorded this hadith in another place with the wording, "This religion is easy, none makes it hard upon himself except that it overwhelms him; therefore be firm, steadfast, and balanced; upon which have glad tidings! Seek help in this by journeying [to Allah] at the beginning of the day, at the end of the day, and a portion of the latter part of night."He also records on the authority of 'A'ishah that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Be firm, steadfast and balanced; know that your actions alone will not be a cause for your to enter Paradise and that the most beloved actions to Allah are those that are done continuously and persistently, even if they be few."These noble ahadith detail a great and important principle from which stem many issues related to the journey of Allah while wayfaring along His Path.

    

    He substantiates and qualifies his arguments with examples from the Qur'an, Sunnah and the lives of the Salaf - the pious predecessors. He shows how guidance for others can come in the form of a kind word, letter and even a tape recording. He demonstrates how this is one of the best ways to help lost souls and gain blessings from Almighty Allah.

    Hamza Yusuf provides clarity through this detailed and scholarly work that decisively makes the case for sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye, as has been the Islamic tradition for 1,400 years. This is essential reading for anyone seeking guidance on this important and sacred matter.Prior to the advent of electricity, every night held the possibility of a celestial light show. People in even the most urban environments were exposed to the awe and majesty of the heavens, which clearly "proclaim the glory of God." The contemplation of the celestial orbs and their movements provided early man with the most direct connection to his Lord. In the Qur'anic story of Abraham, it is his observance of heavenly phenomenon that leads him to his certainty of God's unity and transcendence. Since the time of the Seljuq Turks, the crescent moon has been a sign of Islam.

    Shaykh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah (1917-1997) was a leading scholar in the field of hadith and strove in not only narrating Prophetic traditions but also making them a living reality. This book discusses essential adab (manners) and covers the following areas: The Scope of Islamic Manners,ImportanceofAppearance, Entering and Leaving a House, The Manners of Visiting, The Manners of Conversation, Social Manners, Communicating with non-Muslims, The Manners of Eating, Weddings, Visiting the Sick, Condolences.

    The Hanafi Legal School that he founded has become the most widely followed among the world's Muslims. Based on primary sources, this study of the life and legacy of Abu Hanifah also surveys the evolution of Hanafi legal reasoning (fiqh) in different regions of the Islamic world and assesses its historical distinctiveness.Mohammed Akram Nadwi is a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, and is the author of several works including al-Muhaddithat: the Women Scholars in Islam (2007).

    An essential introductory text for the study of the Qur'an, its content, and its place in Muslim society.An insightful and authoritative introduction to the book at the heart of Muslim life, written by a well-known Islamic scholarExamines the doctrines contained in the Qur'an, providing a comprehensive explanation of their significance to individual Muslims and the societies in which they liveSurveys the key themes of the Qur'an, its most significant historical interpretations, and some of the most significant figures who transmitted and taught the sacred scripture over the centuriesConsiders the influence of the Qur'an on all major aspects of Muslim society, including personal relationships, popular culture, law, art and architecture, political movements, science, and literatureHelps the reader to understand the Qur'an, while throwing a much-needed light on what it means to be a Muslim.

    This book provides a lucid English translation and an edited Arabic text of this beautiful and powerful prayer. It includes a transliteration for those unable to read Arabic, who wish to recite the prayer in the original language. Showing the importance of Ibn 'Arabi's devotional teaching, the book explores the prayer's contemporary life, properties and historical transmission. It gives full details of generations of well-known scholars and Sufi masters who have transmitted the prayer, providing an intimate and fascinating insight into Islamic history.

    Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to know the foundations of these cultures, the differences between them as well as understanding islam correctly taken from its pure sources. In this book, the author highlights these aspects of the two cultures whilst also giving a detailed explanation of the core beliefs of Islam.

    The Book of Hadith captures not only the practical and profound wisdom of the Prophet, but his human side as well. Contains Arabic text as well.

    Chittick, distills the essence of this leading scholar's thoughts on the subjects of Islam, Sufism, Tradition, and the Environmental Crisis.

    Their ignorance has led them to reject the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This text covers all of the most important areas of the discipline of Hadeeth in a simplified language and with sufficient examples.Dr. Bilal Philips writes: "The Prophet’s sayings and actions were primarily based on revelation from Allah and, as such, must be considered a fundamental source of guidance second only to the Qur’an."According to Dr. Philips, the Hadith, the record of these sayings and actions, plays a vital role in that it transmits revelation, tafseer (exegesis of the Qur’an), Islamic law, and the Islamic moral ideal. For instance, the Prophet’s "...character and social interactions became prime examples of moral conduct for Muslims. Consequently, the daily life of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) as recorded in the hadith represents an ideal code of conduct. It is largely due to the science of hadith that the final message of Islam has been preserved in its original purity for all times."In Usool al-Hadeeth, the reader will embark on a course of study that will, Allah willing, enable him or her to make critical and intelligent use of the body of Hadith literature in his or her daily life.

    George Saliba follows the rise and fall of the Islamic scientific tradition, and the relationship of Islamic science to European science during the Renaissance.

    Based on Quranic teachings, the Speaker argues that: * Swords can win territories but not hearts, force can bend heads but not minds; * The role of women is not of concubines in harems nor a society imprisoned in the four walls of their homes; * Richer nations provide aid with strings attached and yet the flow of wealth continues to be in the direction of the rich while the poorer sink deeper in the red; * Religion does not need to be the predominant legislative authority in the political affairs of a state; * Irrespective of the thawing of the Cold War, the issue of war and peace does not only hang by the thread of superpower relationship; * Without God there can be no peace. It also contains comprehensive discussion on interest; financial aid; international relations; and the role of Israel, America and the United Kingdom in a new world order. Its message is timeless and relates to the future prospects for peace. It is a compulsory read for non-Muslims as well as for those Muslims who have forgotten the true message of Islam.

    First, the author has restricted his bases for fiqh to the Qur’an and the authentic Hadith of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Dr. Abdul-Azeem Badawi has avoided using any of the weak or rejected hadiths that are so often included in other books of fiqh. The author has also restricted his discussion to what is most directly derived from the Qur’an and the Sunnah and, therefore, above dispute. This book is thus valuable both as a work of fiqh and as a collection of sound hadiths. The topics which are dealt with include purity, prayer, fasting, zakah, pilgrimage, marriage, business transactions, permissible and impermissible foods, inheritance, criminal offenses, and jihad -- covering all the major fiqh issues in a Muslim's life.

    With additional information taken from extensive sources of Islamic jurisprudence and history, Ali ijnal's translation provides extensive explanations of the divine message.

    Harmony is central. There are two key aspects to the visual structure of Islamic design, calligraphy using Arabic script-one of the world's great calligraphic traditions-and abstract ornamentation using a varied but remarkably integrated visual language. This art of pure ornament revolves around two central themes; crystalline geometric patterns, the harmonic and symmetrical subdivision of the plane giving rise to intricately interwoven designs that speak of infinity and the omnipresent center; and idealized plant form, spiraling tendrils, leaves, buds and flowers embodying organic life and rhythm.1. WIDE APPEAL: Anyone interested in science, mathematics, design, architecture, and the natural world.2. AUTHORITATIVE: A compelling blend of scholarship and visual presentation, packs an enormous amount of information into a short space.3. BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE: A bargain at $10.00. Winner of First Prize for Nonfiction at the New York Book Show4. SERIES PURPOSE: All are aimed at bringing ancient wisdom forward into the 21st century.5. INSPIRING: The perfect entrée into a challenging topic; will inspire other reading.

    

    This book charts the origins, development and functions of these two texts through the lens of canonicity. It examines how the books went from controversial to indispensable as they became the common language for discussing the Prophet's legacy among the various Sunni schools of law. The book also studies the role of the hadith canon in ritual and narrative. Finally, it investigates the canonical culture built around the texts as well as the trend in Sunni scholarship that rejected it, exploring this tension in contemporary debates between Salafi movements and the traditional schools of law.

    On the individual level, Christ-followers within Islam have traditionally been encouraged by Christians to break away from their Muslim communities. Chandler boldly explores how these two major religions--which share much common heritage--can not only co-exist, but also enrich each other.

    Its predecessors such as the Torah, Psalms, and Gospels have all been superseded. It is an obligation – and blessing – for all who hear of the Qur’an and Islam to investigate it and evaluate it for themselves. Allah has guaranteed that He will protect the Qur’an from human tampering, and today’s readers can find exact copies of it all over the world. The Qur’an of today is the same as the Qur’an revealed to Muhammad (saas).” (Emphasis mine). Are Muslims ready for such an investigation and evaluation of the Qur’an? It is a challenge we must take up. Author G.J.O. Moshay approaches this “investigation” with level-headed gentleness, but nonetheless holds nothing back. He shows that the Qur’an does not stand up under such scrutiny. His logic is both quiet and irresistible. He quotes what the Qur’an says about itself, and then asks questions that simply cannot be answered. He goes on to list many of the surprising contradictions found in the Qur’an. He shows how the Qur’an claims that Allah can say one thing today, and then change it tomorrow. Is Allah error free? Of interest are the statements in the Qur’an which clearly connect people who even secular history reveal lived over 1,000 years apart. Make no doubt: Moshay is writing from a Christian perspective. What makes him unique is his in-depth knowledge of the Qur’an and its problems.

    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.

    Thousands of young Blacks and Latinos have pledged allegiance to the philosophy of the Five Percenters. Their influence has permeated throughout the streets of urban America, the school system, rap music and the penal institutions. The origins of the Five Percenters can be traced to its founder the late Clarence 13X Smith a.k.a. "Allah." A former member of Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam, he studied under Minister Malcolm X at the Harlem Mosque in the early 60's. He left the organization and subsequently founded a youth movement based on the core doctrine of the NOI and his own lessons referred to as "Supreme Mathematics" and "Supreme Alphabets." The name and ideology of the Five Percenters are derived from NOI teachings that describe the population into three categories. The 85% are misled to believe in a "mystery god," the 10% teach lies to master the poor and superstitious, and alas the 5% are the "poor righteous teachers" of "freedom, justice and equality" who teach that the true and living God is the "Black Man of Asia." During his short reign as leader of the Five Percenters, Clarence 13X (Allah) faced many challenges but accomplished many objectives. Unfortunately in June of 1969, he was gunned down by unknown assassins. He left a legacy of countless youth who embraced the concepts of the Five Percenters which are evident in the conscious youth of today that identify with his teachings. Until now, there has yet to be a comprehensive history written in regard to the man called Allah and the Five Percenters. This information has now been compiled and presented as an anthology by a member of the movement over the past 25 years. "In The Name of Allah: A History of Clarence 13X and the Five Percenters" is a must have for anyone who desires to know more about the controversial movement.

    

    By comparing this original view with modern theories of physics and cosmology, Mohamed Haj Yousef constructs a new cosmological model that may deepen and extend our understanding of the world, while potentially solving some of the drawbacks in the current models such as the historical Zeno's paradoxes of motion and the recent Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox (EPR) that underlines the discrepancies between Quantum Mechanics and Relativity.

    It aims to be the most accessible introduction yet to the perspective of the Perennial Philosophy.

    Today we know that the baby undergoes three stages of embryonic development while it is in the mother's womb. But this information, which it has taken long years of research to attain with the help of modern technology, was made known in the Qur'an 1400 years ago. These scientific facts are revealed in this verse: ... He creates you stage by stage in your mothers' wombs in a threefold darkness. That is God, your Lord. Sovereignty is His. There is no god but Him. So what has made you turn away from Him? (Qur'an, 39: 6)read it online at:http://www.harunyahya.com/creation.php

    This tafsir is based on the principle of coherence, and is perhaps the first sustained and successful attempt to demonstrate such coherence and to refute the oft-repeated allegation of the lack of order or integrity in the Quran. Without recognising and appreciating the coherence of the Quran, one may gain knowledge of certain commandments and teachings but will remain ignorant of the Quranic wisdom (hikmah) contained in its beautifully integrated and holistic message. The Urdu original was first published in 1967, the result of the life-long work of Amin Ahsan Islahi (1904-1997), a pre-eminent scholar of the Quran.

    It explicitly rejects the authority of the clergy to determine the likely meaning of disputed passages.It uses logic and the language of the Quran itself as the ultimate authority in determining likely meanings, rather than ancient scholarly interpretations rooted in patriarchal hierarchies. It offers extensive cross-referencing to the Bible and provides arguments on numerous philosophical and scientific issues. It is God's message for those who prefer reason over blind faith, for those who seek peace and ultimate freedom by submitting themselves to the Truth alone.Book Details: Format: Paperback Publication Date: 1/1/2007 Pages: 684

    This important survey—which features outstanding production values, an oversized volume, a foil-trimmed cover, and special five-color printing—celebrates the remarkable diversity of Muslim art, from beautiful textiles and peerless ceramics to awe-inspiring architecture and exquisite metalwork. With superb photography throughout, this guide marries the religion’s artistic legacy with its rich history, travelling from the royal mosque at Isfahan to the beauty of Quranic illumination.

    Al-Imam al-A’zam Abu Hanifah Nu’man ibn Thabit wrote it. It comprises Ahadith that connect directly back to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam (marfu’), those which stop short at a Companion or one of the Followers (mawquf) and those which are attributed to the Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam directly by one of the Followers or Followers of the Followers without attribution to a Companion (mursal).His companions Imam Abu Yusuf, Imam Zufar, Imam Muhammad, Imam al-Hasan ibn Ziyad, Imam Hammad ibn Abi Hanifah the Imam’s son, Hafs ibn Ghiyath and others narrated it from him.In the version before us, Imam Muhammad, himself a mujtahid, narrated each tradition from Imam Abu Hanifah and then followed each with some explanatory material, sometimes confirming and occasionally differing with his Imam.

    The Prophet (s) stands before us a fountain, a point of origin for all creation, a root source of all we know or can imagine. While the theories of modern scientists seek to deftly calculate the state and position of matter and energy of the primordial universe, the Prophet (s) sees and comprehends the cosmos at its cutting edge, its actual emergence from non-existence to existence. Thus, beyond bouncing electrons and jets of plasma, an superhuman intelligence is brought into the picture. Creation unfolds in a series of all-encompassing Divine Names. This floods into the realm of our world as it passes by the Perfect Messenger. He sees, he understands and he passes on to us its secrets. Drawing on the teachings of his spiritual master, Shaykh Hisham Kabbani explores the implications of this doctrine and brings it to us in terms of today's conditions.

    Women of Courage shares an intimate look at the inspiring women who are forging a new future in Afghanistan and playing a crucial role in the changing landscape of this turbulent nation.

    When the heart is humble, so too is the hearing, seeing, head, and face; indeed all the limbs and their actions are humbled, even speech. This is why the Prophet ﷺ would say in his bowing (rukuʾ), "My hearing, sigh, bones, and marrow are humbled to You," another narration having, "and whatever my foot carries."One of the Salaf saw a man fidgeting in his prayer and remarked, "If the heart of this person was humble, so too would his limbs be." The source of khushuʾ that takes place in the heart is the gnosis of Allah's greatness, magnificence, and perfection. The more gnosis a person has of Allah, the more khushuʾ he has. The greatest action of worship which manifests the khushuʾ of the body to Allah is the prayer. Allah has praised those who have Khushu, in the prayer.al-Hasan said, "When you stand in prayer, stand in due obedience as Allah has ordered you, beware of negligence and looking (here and there), beware that Allah is looking at you while you are looking at something else, asking Allah for Paradise and taking refuge with Him from the Fire; yet your heart is heedless, not knowing what the tongue is saying." And Hudhayfah said, "The first thing you will lose of your religion will be khushuʾ and the last thing you will lose of your religion will be the prayer; and it is well possible that there is no good in a person who prays; and soon will come a time when you shall entre a large Masjid and not see a single person with khushuʾ."This small treatise deals with the correct and accurate meaning of khushuʾ, along with three extremely beneficial appendixes.

    This title includes the original Arabic text alongside the English translation, as well as a note from the publisher and a preface by the translator, Ali Quli Qara'i.

    The Mamluk sultans originated as a slave-based caste rose to rule in the mid-13th century. Accordingly, they designed their capital to be the heart of the Muslim world. It became the focus of their enormous patronage of art and architecture, the stage for their ceremonial rituals, and a memorial to their achievements.  This history of Mamluk architecture spans three centuries and examines the monuments of the Mamluks in their social, political and urban context, during the period of their rule (1250 – 1517). The book displays the multiple facets of Mamluk patronage, and also provides a succinct discussion of the sixty key monuments built in Cairo by the Mamluk sultans.  The unique strength of Doris Abouseif’s work lies in its scholarly yet engaging presentation of original material, diligently researched in the waqf (Islamic endowments) archives including architectural plans and personal records. A richly illustrated volume with colour photographs, plans and isometric drawings, it will be an essential reference work for scholars and students of the art and architecture of the Islamic world as well as art historians and historians of late medieval Islamic history. Cairo of the Mamluks received a Commendation from the 2008 BRISMES book awards.

    This revealing book draws together in a single vision those symbolic teachings and spiritual insights familiar to many Western readers today through the classical mystical poetry of Rumi, Hafez, and Attar. The historical context and language of this study are marked by the confluence of classical Islamic philosophy and spirituality, including Sufi thought, and their scriptural sources. But Elahi's thought integrates those influences and marks them with the magisterial imprint of his own profound spiritual experience and characteristic simplicity, openness, and directness of expression. This volume offers a singular masterpiece of recent spiritual thought, opening up fundamental human perspectives and possibilities too often clouded by the distractions of current events. The emphatic universality of both the subject and presentation of Knowing the Spirit points the way to unsuspected bridges between different civilizations and religious traditions, indeed to the prospect of an inclusive science of spirituality based on the common ground of each person's spiritual life and experience.

    1328) is famous for polemic against Islamic philosophy, theology and rationalizing mysticism, but his positive theological contribution has not been well understood. This comprehensive study of Ibn Taymiyya s theodicy helps to rectify this lack. Exposition and analysis of Ibn Taymiyya s writings on God s justice and wise purpose, divine determination and human agency, the problem of evil, and juristic method in theological doctrine show that he articulates a theodicy of optimism in which God in His essence perpetually wills the best possible world from eternity. This sets Ibn Taymiyya s theodicy apart from Ash ar divine voluntarism, the free-will theodicy of the Mu tazil s, and the essentially timeless God of other optimists like Ibn S n and Ibn Arab ."

    Where were they in the 90s? Unholy Terror provides the answer, with all its terrifying implications for our world today. This book provides the missing piece in the puzzle of al-Qa’ida’s transformation from an isolated fighting force into a lethal global threat:  the Bosnian war of 1992 to 1995.  John R. Schindler reveals the unexamined role that radical Islam played in that terrible conflict--and the ill-considered contributions of American policy to al-Qa’ida’s growth.  His book explores a truth long hidden from view:  that, like Afghanistan in the 1980s, Bosnia in the 1990s became a training ground for the mujahidin.  Unholy Terror at last exposes the shocking story of how bin Laden successfully exploited the Bosnian conflict for his own ends--and of how the U. S. Government gave substantial support to his unholy warriors, leading to blowback of epic proportions.

    However, such simplification, Ruggles contends, denies the sophistication and diversity of the art form. Islamic Gardens and Landscapes immerses the reader in the world of the architects of the great gardens of the Islamic world, from medieval Morocco to contemporary India.Just as Islamic culture is historically dense, sophisticated, and complex, so too is the history of its built landscapes. Islamic gardens began from the practical need to organize the surrounding space of human civilization, tame nature, enhance the earth's yield, and create a legible map on which to distribute natural resources. Ruggles follows the evolution of these early farming efforts to their aristocratic apex in famous formal gardens of the Alhambra in Spain and the Taj Mahal in Agra.Whether in a humble city home or a royal courtyard, the garden has several defining characteristics, which Ruggles discusses. Most notable is an enclosed space divided into four equal parts surrounding a central design element. The traditional Islamic garden is inwardly focused, usually surrounded by buildings or in the form of a courtyard. Water provides a counterpoint to the portioned green sections.Ranging across poetry, court documents, agronomy manuals, and early garden representations, and richly illustrated with pictures and site plans, Islamic Gardens and Landscapes is a book of impressive scope sure to interest scholars and enthusiasts alike.

    Based on the "Qur'an" and "Sunnah", this book explains the Islamic code of conduct, which should govern social relations.

    Dealing with themes of love, passion and mysticism, the versions presented in this book are the first sustained offerings of Attar s lyric poetry in English. Award-winning Iranian-born poet, Ali Alizadeh, and Persian specialist, Kenneth Avery, have collaborated on this project which aims to bring this remarkably vigorous yet subtle poetry to an English reading audience. The translations are accompanied by the Persian texts themselves, and explanatory notes, and are set in the context of his life and times by an illuminating introductory chapter. An original analysis of Attar s poetic language and thought is also offered. Attar, who lived in Nishapur until his death in 1220, was a complex personality, a brilliant storyteller and poet in both lyric and epic forms, and a creative and original Sufi thinker. His ideas range over the whole spectrum of Persian mysticism and religious philosophy, and his writing paved the way for the triumphs of Rumi and Hafiz. His ideas and exquisite verse deserve a wider circulation than has been accorded them until now, and this book seeks to present his poetry in an attractive way.

    In this book, the first chapter concerns the lower world and its pleasures and an explanation of its reality; the second chapter encourages walking on this path and explains its benefits, mentioning the praiseworthy qualities that lead to perfection; the third chapter explains the veils between the slave and his Lord; the fourth chapter explains the commanding self, its walking, its world, its location, its state and what it perceives. It also explains its ugly qualities and how to get rid of them and how to ascend to the next station where the self becomes reproachful; the fifth chapter explains the reproachful self and its beautiful and ugly qualities; the sixth chapter explains the inspired self and how it gathers good and evil with the beautiful qualities, but is nonetheless the loci of danger; the seventh chapter explains the tranquil, secure self and its perfection compared to the lower levels; the eighth chapter explains the satisfied self and its beautiful qualities; the ninth chapter explains the pleased self and its marvelous qualities; the tenth chapter explains the perfect self and its nearness and boundless servitude; the eleventh chapter explains the guide."

    The book tells the tale of a Muslim child born towards the end of the Ottoman Empire in Eastern Europe. He was destined to become an inspiration for the entire Ummah including the scholars and great leaders.The book represents a story of a modest beginning for the young man, his education and character building, leading up to his great services to the Muslim world that he offered. He had an excellent memory which allowed him to memorize many ahadith of the Prophet and become a great Muhadith of our time.Finally, the book presents a picture of the legacy of knowledge that As-Sheikh, Al'Allaamah Abu Abdir-Rahman Muhammad Nasiruddin Al-Albani (1332H - 1420H - 2nd October, 1999 - May Allah's mercy be upon him) left, including his students, books and guidance.Book written by: Abu Nasir Ibrahim Abdul Rauf & Abu Maryam Muslim AmeenVerified by: Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ameen Al-Haleel Abu Abdil Musawwir (A student of Shaikh Al-Albani)

    This is the transcription of a speech given by Sheikh Abu Nawar - May Allah have mercy on him and grant him the most beautiful Jannah, delivered after his release from the prisons of the Tyrants of Yemen early December in 2007

    Embraced and revered heads of state and common citizens of diverse faiths and cultures alike, Shaykh Nazim speaks straight to the heart, reconnecting the reader with their forgotten spiritual roots. These coveted lectures from his world travels transport us to a time rich in simplicity and spiritual focus. LIBERATING THE SOUL VOLUME SIX presents practical steps to rid the heart of doubt; build self-confidence in one's unique identity; overcome negative characteristics such as anger, greed, and jealousy; express gratitude for unlimited divine bounty; develop intimate communion with the Creator; learn to respect and appreciate all creation; develop tolerance for others, and much more.

    New edition with all Urdu removed and transliterations for Arabic added.

    It takes the form of a letter or a speech addressing the townsfolk, and contains a complete, clear description of the prayer. It includes detailed observations of the mistakes which Imam Ahmad observed during his time in that town. It was and remains an invaluable work for all Muslims, detailing many common errors made during prayers, some of which are serious enough to invalidate the act of worship. The book includes explanatory notes by the translator, Sameh Strauch.

    It goes beyond the mind, beyond feelings, beyond emotions and beyond the study of behavior and beyond science. It goes to the core of who we are. Why we came to this world. How to return to a place within us that is untouched by the world. The One that created us is the One who takes us through this journey within. This book is revolutionary and unlike any book you have ever read. It is God s Psychology. It can change your life. It will bring true peace. The extraordinary discourses in this book, God's Psychology, were spoken in Tamil by Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen while he was residing in Colombo, Sri Lanka. They were given over a ten-day period, from March 7, 1982 to March 16, 1982.

    Debunking the conventional wisdom, which continues to assert that Muslim animosity toward Jews is entirely a 20th-century phenomenon fueled mainly by the protracted Arab-Israeli conflict, leading scholars provide example after example of antisemitic motifs in Muslim documents reaching back to the beginnings of Islam. The contributors show that the Koran itself is a significant source of hostility toward Jews, as well as other foundational Muslim texts including the hadith (the words and deeds of Muhammad as recorded by pious Muslim transmitters) and the sira (the earliest Muslim biographies of Muhammad). Many other examples are adduced in the writings of influential Muslim jurists, theologians, and scholars, from the Middle Ages through the contemporary era. These primary sources, and seminal secondary analyses translated here for the first time into English - such as Hartwig Hirschfeld's mid-1880s essays on Muhammad's subjugation of the Jews of Medina and George Vajda's elegant, comprehensive 1937 study of the hadith - detail the sacralized rationale for Islam's anti-Jewish bigotry. Numerous complementary historical accounts illustrate the resulting plight of Jewish communities in the Muslim world across space and time, culminating in the genocidal threat posed to the Jews of Israel today.

    What was this understanding? Was it the understanding that Allah existed and was One? They already believed in this. They believed that He was the Creator, Nourisher, Sustainer, in His hands was the control of all affairs, and in His hands was life and death.It was said to al-Hasan, ‘People say that whoever says, ‘None has the right to be worshipped,’ shall enter Paradise.’ He said, ‘Whoever says, ‘None has the right to be worshipped save Allah,’ and fulfills its obligations and meets its requirements shall enter Paradise.’Wahb ibn Munabbih was asked, ‘Is not the testification that “none has the right to be worshipped save Allah” the key to Paradise?’ He replied, ‘Of course, but every key has its teeth: if you bring a key that has teeth, the door shall open; but if not, it will not.’My brothers! Strive, today, to your utmost in actualizing Tawhid, for nothing else can take you to Allah. Be desirous for establishing its rights for nothing else will save you from the punishment of Allah. The testification of Tawhid has many great benefit, it is not possible to enumerate them all, however, the author mentions fifty-five benefits of it.This small treatise deals with the correct and accurate meaning of the testification of Tawhid and with an extremely beneficial appendix –- The Types of Hearts -– by al-Hafidh Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah.

    

    Despite this, there exists a long-felt lack of research tools for English first-language speakers who wish to access the Qur'an in the original Arabic. The Dictionary of Qur'anic Usage is the first comprehensive, fully-researched and contextualised Arabic-English dictionary of Qur'anic usage, compiled in accordance with modern lexicographical methods by scholars who have a lifelong immersion in Qur'anic Studies. Based on Classical Arabic dictionaries and Qur'an commentaries, this work also emphasises the role of context in determining the meaning-scatter of each vocabulary item. Illustrative examples from Qur'anic verses are provided in support of the definitions given for each context in which a particular word occurs, with cross-references to other usages. Frequently occurring grammatical particles are likewise thoroughly explained, insofar as they are used in conveying various nuances of meaning in the text.

    Compiled and translated by Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf."A Perfect Companion Book to Prayers for Forgiveness"The greatest source of blessings and mercy for the Muslim and for all of mankind is Muhammad, the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), sent as a Mercy to the Worlds. Muslims, as the most privileged recipients of this mercy, are required to invoke blessings (salat) upon him, and doing so holds great reward; the Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah will send ten blessings upon him” (Muslim). Abu Muhammad al-Marjani says, “Your invoking blessings upon him is in reality praying for yourself since the benefits of it are returning to you.”According to the hadith master, Shams al-Din al-Sakhawi, the benefits of sending blessings on Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) are numerous: Allah, His angels, and His Messenger send mercy upon the one who invokes blessings. Such a person’s wrongdoings are expiated, his good deeds increased and purified, and his status elevated. Whoever makes it his complete regimen by day and night, both his worldly and otherworldly matters are taken care of. He is shown his abode in Paradise before his death, his wealth is increased, and more than one hundred needs of his are fulfilled . . .This short manual consists of fifty invocations of blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), most transmitted from the Messenger s himself. It also includes another ninety-nine invocations, composed by Shaykh Yusuf Motala, which beautifully couple the Names of Allah with attributes of His Beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace). Set out in vowelled Arabic script, with facing English translation, this handy edition also includes transliteration for ease of use.

    A work in progress at the time of the author's death, this publication features selected verses that have been culled from previously unpublished writings. The translation emphasizes the spirituality and universal message at the heart of the Qur'an, and on facing pages the original Arabic text is presented, giving readers the opportunity to read the translation while fully viewing the original sacred text.

    Christian readings of the Qur'ān have in consequence typically been depicted as tedious and one-dimensional exercises in anti-Islamic hostility.In Reading the Qur'ān in Latin Christendom, 1140-1560, Thomas E. Burman looks instead to a different set of sources: the Latin translations of the Qur'ān made by European scholars and the manuscripts and early printed books in which these translations circulated. Using these largely unexplored materials, Burman argues that the reading of the Qur'ān in Western Europe was much more complex. While their reading efforts were certainly often focused on attacking Islam, scholars of the period turned out to be equally interested in a whole range of grammatical, lexical, and interpretive problems presented by the text. Indeed, these two approaches were interconnected: attacking the Qur'ān often required sophisticated explorations of difficult Arabic grammatical problems.Furthermore, while most readers explicitly denounced the Qur'ān as a fraud, translations of the book are sometimes inserted into the standard manuscript format of Christian Bibles and other prestigious Latin texts (small, centered blocks of text surrounded by commentary) or in manuscripts embellished with beautiful decorated initials and elegant calligraphy for the pleasure of wealthy collectors.Addressing Christian-Muslim relations generally, as well as the histories of reading and the book, Burman offers a much fuller picture of how Europeans read the sacred text of Islam than we have previously had.

    This book is the first wave in a counterattack to reclaim that history.

    Examining not only the life of Al-Suri but also the world that gave rise to him, the author reveals al-Suri's skill for maximizing the political impact of jihadi violence.

    It is best for students who studied Islamic Studies through "I Love Islam" series in their primary years 1st to 5th. This volume contains lessons that cover lively character building themes extracted from the Qur'an, Hadeeth, faith, Seerah and other authentic sources. The Islamic themes and concepts are presented in an exciting and creative manner. The book includes five units and around forty chapters and lessons. The units' titles are: 1. The Wonderful Unseen World 2. Faith and Miracles: The Story of Prophet Musa 3. Al-Qur'an-ul-Kareem: The Last Holy Book 4. Prophet Muhammad Calls for Peace 5. Pray and Give Charity Each chapter includes the outlines, relevant Islamic vocabulary, succinct and objective material, and relevant stories. To make the material meaningful and action oriented, the themes of the book are supported by highlighted passages from the Qur'an and relevant Hadeeth of the Prophet. Additionally, the "Faith in Action" sections encourage students to put what they learn in every chapter into actions. Pictures, illustrations and brilliant layout design makes studying Islam an exciting endeavor for students of this age group. The review sections encourage students to consolidate their knowledge and to analyze and discuss concepts.

    Yet Islam's holy book gave birth to one of the most powerful and enlightened civilizations the world has ever seen. By the sixteenth century, Muslim culture stretched from India to Africa to Europe, preserving with it the ancient learning that helped spawn the Renaissance. With its interwoven ideas of faith and reason, justice and mercy, the path of Islam--which literally means "surrendering to God's will"--offers a uniquely focused and balanced approach to living life with a profound awareness of God.With gentleness and insight, Sohaib N. Sultan leads you through the central themes of both the Qur'an and the collected sayings of Prophet Muhammad, known as hadith. These teachings dispel common misconceptions about Muslim beliefs and offer practical guidance for your own spiritual journey, from understanding the merciful nature of God; to cultivating peace and justice in the self, family, and society; to answering questions about the afterlife and how to attain it.Now you can experience the wisdom of Qur'anic teachings even if you have no previous knowledge of Islam or Muslim writings. Insightful yet unobtrusive facing-page commentary explains the texts for you, allowing you to enter into the path of surrender to God.

    This story traces the physical and spiritual journey of the well-known Companion of the Prophet in his search for truth.

    Moving beyond simplistic answers, Anouar Majid argues that the Islamic world and the United States are both in precipitous states of decline because, in each, religious, political, and economic orthodoxies have silenced the voices of their most creative thinkers—the visionary nonconformists, radicals, and revolutionaries who are often dismissed, or even punished, as heretics. The United States and contemporary Islam share far more than partisans on either side admit, Majid provocatively argues, and this “clash of civilizations” is in reality a clash of competing fundamentalisms. Illustrating this point, he draws surprising parallels between the histories and cultures of Islam and the United States and their shortsighted suppression of heresy (zandaqa, in Arabic), from Muslim poets and philosophers like Ibn Rushd (known in the West as Averroës) to the freethinker Thomas Paine, and from Abu Bakr Razi and Al-Farabi to Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. He finds bitter irony in the fact that Islamic culture is now at war with a nation whose ideals are losing ground to the reactionary forces that have long condemned Islam to stagnation. The solution, Majid concludes, is a long-overdue revival of dissent. Heresy is no longer a contrarian’s luxury, for only through encouraging an engaged and progressive intellectual tradition can the nations reverse their decline and finally work together for global justice and the common good of humanity.

    Book contains cartoons and caricatures from Nov. 2006 to Sept. 2007., an interview by cartoonist Daryl Cagle, developmental sketches and more.

    However, those same religions also contain the cures for the very misogyny they have created and abetted. The contributors to this volume, all of whom are experts in their religious traditions, mine their religion's lost moral treasures and marshal them against the violence of sexism.

    During this time literary aspects greatly influenced writing and works about Islam, thus protecting Islam from these things had become of foremost importance to Imam Ibn Maajah and other scholars of this time.Ibn Majah also traveled extensively to verify the authenticity of the ahadith he was narrating. His quest of knowledge left him with many teachers and students. Like other scholars of hadith, to avoid showing off, he did not write down his stories of traveling, otherwise, we would have invaluable resources to learn from.Scholars have highly praised Ibn Majah. Al-Khaleeli said, "His leadership in knowledge is agreed upon, for he was well-versed in Hadeeth and it's memorization and he was widely read in this field." Adh-Dhabhabi said about Ibn Maajah, "He is the Haafiz, the authority, the well-versed in Tafseer, the leading hadith scholar of Qazween during his time; trustworthy in hadith and widely read."

    His Epistle is probably the most popular Sufi manual ever. Written in 437/1045, it has served as a primary textbook for many generations of Sufi novices down to the present. Al-Qushayri has given us an illuminating insight into the everyday lives of Sufi devotees of the eighth-eleventh centuries C.E. and the moral and ethical dilemmas they were facing in trying to strike a delicate balance between their ascetic and mystical convictions and the exigencies of life in a society governed by rank, wealth, and military power. In al-Qushayri's narrative, the Sufi 'friends of God' (awaliya') are depicted as the true, if uncrowned, 'kings' of this world, not those worldly rulers who appear to be lording it over the common herd of believers. Yet, even the most advanced Sufi masters should not take salvation for granted. Miracle-working, no matter how spectacular, cannot guarantee the Sufi a 'favorite outcome' in the afterlife, for it may be but a ruse on the part of God who wants to test the moral integrity of his servant. In the Epistle, these and many other Sufi motifs are illustrated by the anecdotes and parables that show al-Qushayri's fellow Sufis in a wide variety of contexts: suffering from hunger and thirst in the desert, while performing pilgrimage to Mecca, participating in 'spiritual concerts', reciting the Qur'an, waging war against the 'infidel' enemy and their own desires, earning their livelihood, meditating in a retreat, praying, working miracles, interacting with the 'people of the market-place', their family members and peers, dreaming, and dying. The reader is invited to explore the fascinating world of Islamic ascetic and mystical piety carefully assembled for us by this talented Sufi writer.

    Cokesbury Gift Bibles offer these helpful features: 28-page section of Bible helps 32-page revised dictionary/concordance Subheadings and references within the text • Footnote references • Presentation page and full-color end sheets • Gold page edges • In-text line maps and section introductions • Subject index Excellent for recognition, promotion, or appreciation gifts.

    This book is one of the first edited volumes to focus on domestic violence in Muslim families. Bringing the experiences of diverse domestic violence advocates to the table, voices in this text include religious leaders, service providers, and researchers from multiple disciplines. Four survivors also share their stories, illustrating some of the challenges they faced, as well as their paths to healing. This volume illuminates unique domestic violence issues that Muslims face, and emphasizes Islam s intolerance to abuse. Muslim and non-Muslim domestic violence advocates, social service providers, mental health professionals, religious leaders, community leaders, activists, scholars, public agencies, advocacy organizations, hospitals, doctors, judges, and attorneys, among others, will find this book beneficial. It is also an essential text for university courses in women s studies, social work, mental health, sociology, and criminology departments.

    With these chilling words, the Mongol warlord Genghis Khan declared his intention to destroy the Ismailis, one of the most intellectually and politically significant Muslim communities of medieval Islamdom. The massacres that followed convinced observers that this powerful voice of Shi'i Islam had been forever silenced. Little was heard of these people for centuries, until their recent and dramatic emergence from obscurity. Today they exist as a dynamic and thriving community established in over twenty-five countries. Yet the interval between what appeared to have been their total annihilation, and their modern, seemingly phoenix-like renaissance, has remained shrouded in mystery. Drawing on an astonishing array of sources gathered from many countries around the globe, The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, A Search for Salvation is a richly nuanced and compelling study of the murkiest portion of this era. In probing the period from the dark days when the Ismaili fortresses in Iran fell before the marauding Mongol hordes, to the emergence at Anjudan of the Ismaili Imams who provided a spiritual centre to a scattered community, this work explores the motivations, passions and presumptions of historical actors. With penetrating insight, Shafique N. Virani examines the rich esoteric thought that animated the Ismailis and enabled them to persevere. A work of remarkable erudition, this landmark book is essential reading for scholars of Islamic history and spirituality, Shi'ism and Iran. Both specialists and informed lay readers will take pleasure not only in its scholarly perception, but in its lively anecdotes, quotations of delightful poetry, and gripping narrative style. This is an extraordinary book of historical beauty and spiritual vision.

    Drawing upon his years living in the region and more than eighty in-depth interviews, Loren Lybarger offers a riveting account of how activists within a society divided by religion, politics, class, age, and region have forged new identities in response to shifting conditions of occupation, peace negotiations, and the fragmentation of Palestinian life.Lybarger personally witnessed the tragic days of the first intifada, the subsequent Oslo Peace Process and its failures, and the new escalation of violence with the second intifada in 2000. He rejects the simplistic notion that Palestinians inevitably fall into one of two camps: pragmatists who are willing to accept territorial compromise, and extremists who reject compromise in favor of armed struggle. Listening carefully to Palestinians themselves, he reveals that the conflicts evident among the Islamists and secular nationalists are mirrored by the internal struggles and divided loyalties of individual Palestinians. Identity and Religion in Palestine is the first book of its kind in English to capture so faithfully the rich diversity of voices from this troubled part of the world. Lybarger provides vital insights into the complex social dynamics through which Islamism has reshaped what it means to be Palestinian.

    Their approaches to religion couldn’t be more diverse: from a rapper of Korean and Egyptian descent to a bisexual Sudanese American to a converted white woman from Colorado living in Cairo and wearing the hijab. These individuals, whether they were born to the religion or came to it on their own, have made their own decisions about how observant they’ll be, whether or not to fast, how often to pray, and what to wear. Though each story is unique, each is also seen through the searching eyes of Melody Moezzi, herself an American Muslim of Iranian descent. She finds that the people she interviews are horrified that, in a post-9/11 world, they have seen their religion come to be represented, in the minds of many Americans, by terrorism. These thoughtful and articulate individuals represent the truth about the faith and its adherents who are drawn to the logic, compassion, and tolerance they find in Muslim teachings. Moezzi, ever comfortable with contradiction and nuance, is a likable narrator whose underlying assumption that “faith is greater than dogma” is strengthened as she learns more about her religion and faces her own biases and blind spots. This fresh new voice, combined with the perceptions and experiences of her fellow American Muslims, make for a read that is both illuminating and enjoyable.

    Focusing in particular on the Islamic Middle East from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth century, Ehud R. Toledano examines how bonded persons experienced enslavement in Ottoman societies. He draws on court records and a variety of other unexamined primary sources to uncover important new information about the Africans and Circassians who were forcibly removed from their own societies and transplanted to Middle East cultures that were alien to them. Toledano also considers the experiences of these enslaved people within the context of the global history of slavery.The book looks at the bonds of slavery from an original perspective, moving away from the traditional master/slave domination paradigm toward the point of view of the enslaved and their responses to their plight. With keen and original insights, Toledano suggests new ways of thinking about enslavement.

    

    Written in Persian in the early nineteenth century by Shah 'Abd al-‘Aziz Dihlawi (1745-1822), it has been extremely popular among scholars of Hadith in the Indian-Subcontinent ever since. It surpasses other books written on the same subject in Arabic, Persian, and other languages.

    Through a detailed analysis of sacred scriptures, epic narratives and oral histories from the region, this book shows how Southeast Asian Muslims combined cosmopolitan Islamic models of knowledge and authority with local Austronesian models of divine kingship to first resist and then to appropriate Dutch colonial models of rational bureaucracy.  At the beginning of the twenty-first century, these models continue to shape regional responses to contemporary trends such as the rise of global Islamism.

    In lucid and simple prose, Cheetham explores the creative role of the imagination in the formative ground of the three great Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. For Corbin, engaging the soul of the world through the mediating power of the Imaginal is an act of love, a theme Cheetham expands through his analysis of such concepts as mystical poverty, contemplative knowledge, the luminosity of the earth, the theophanic vision, the Christ Angel, Incarnation, the divine sensorium, alchemical transformation, the spiritual humanism of Ivan Illich, Western iconoclasm, and the centrality of gnosis. This book offers a visionary alternative to the confusions of contemporary life. It speaks to believers and non-believers alike.

    Naji ArfajPhD in Applied Linguistics (Michigan State University, USA)Dr. Arfaj spent more than 20 years researching comparative religion. This book came about as a result of his extensive research and experience.

    In the tradition of the Hebrew psalmist, they find their voice in exile, in this case one that is both existential and geographical. His decision to include 99 in this collection recalls the ancient Muslim tradition that ascribes 99 names to Allah, though the “lord”whom this psalmist addresses is not bounded by this or any other religious tradition. As psalms that turn to the “lord” with a lover’s vulnerability, they avoid every trace of sentimentality. Rather, they seek to open us to the mystery of human life, warning us of the difficulties we face in our attempts to live peaceably together in the midst of our differences.

    Calligraphy by contemporary Iranian calligrapher Leila Kokabi. In English and Persian. With this second volume of poetry, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, whose name the reader usually associates with the philosopher, the historian and the scientist, firmly establishes his role as a spiritual mentor of the highest rank. In The Pilgrimage of Life and the Wisdom of Rumi, as in his former Poems of the Way, the poet further explores the pilgrimage of life and invites us to realize what our true transcendent destination really is. This time, however, Nasr's poetical rendering of the Way uncovers increasingly deeper spiritual secrets: so much so that his allegorical pilgrimage turns into a veritable mystical path. In the section entitled "A Few Moments with Rumi," Nasr translates from the Persian some of the finest poems of the Mathnawi and the Diwan. Nasr sustains an ardent dialogue with this foremost Sufi master, his countryman and his very special companion of the Path. Both mystical poets identify with the reed that narrates the poignant tale of separation since both have had the heart-rending experience of feeling "cut from the reed-bed" of their true celestial origins.

    

    Contrary to the harsh stereotypes of Islam-fostered both by fanatics within the religion itself, and by biased critics-the culture of this religion is steeped in the ambience generated by mercy and compassion, expressions of divine love. This spiritual culture issues from heartfelt conviction that God is to be taken absolutely seriously when he declares in the seventh chapter of the Koran, “My mercy encompasses all.”Drawn from his own translations of the text, scholar and author Reza Shah-Kazemi has selected key verses from the Koran which manifest the various facets of this mercy, a mercy which bestows profound peace and infinite love. In the spirit of Blessed Are the Peacemakers, Wendell Berry's collection of quotations from the Bible, here is a book to help us illuminate an immensely influential text

    A bibliography of Ayoub's significant publications is included. The essays are grouped into four sections.

    The main concerns are conceptions of time and temporality, the uses of the past, historical periodisation, historical categorisation, and the constitution of historical objects, not least those called "civilisation" and "Islam". One of the aims of the book is to apply to Islamic materials the standard conceptual equipment used in historical study, and to exercise a large-scale comparativist outlook.

    This concise book offers an innovative assessment of social and economic developments in Syria-Palestine shortly before, and in the two centuries after, the Islamic expansion (the later sixth to the early ninth century AD), drawing on a wide range of new evidence from recent archaeological work. Alan Walmsley challenges conventional explanations for social change with the arrival of Islam, arguing for considerable cultural and economic continuity rather than devastation and unrelenting decline. Much new, and increasingly non-elite, architectural evidence and an ever-growing corpus of material culture indicate that Syria-Palestine entered a new age of social richness in the early Islamic period, even if the gains were chronologically and regionally uneven.

    

    Written by Francisco Núñez Muley, one of many coerced Christian converts, this extraordinary letter lodges a clear-sighted, impassioned protest against the unreasonable and strongly assimilationist laws that required all converted Muslims in Granada to dress, speak, eat, marry, celebrate festivals, and be buried exactly as the Castilian settler population did. Now available in its first English translation, Núñez Muley’s account is an invaluable example of how Spain’s former Muslims made active use of the written word to challenge and openly resist the progressively intolerant policies of the Spanish Crown. Timely and resonant—given current debates concerning Islam, minorities, and cultural and linguistic assimilation—this edition provides scholars in a range of fields with a vivid and early example of resistance in the face of oppression.