Slowly, inevitably, Europe and Islam came together, through trade and war, crusade and diplomacy. The ebb and flow between these two worlds for seven hundred years, illuminated here by a brilliant historian, is one of the great sagas of world history.

    The author, a former member of the British Diplomatic Service, was brought up as an agnostic and embraced Islam at an early age after writing a book (commissioned by T.S. Eliot) on Eastern religions and their influence upon Western thinkers. As a Muslim he has retained his adherence to the perennial philosophy which, he maintains, underlies the teachings of all the great religions.The aim of this book is to explore what it means to be a Muslim, a member of a community which embraces a quarter of the world's population and to describe the forces which have shaped the hearts and the minds of Islamic people. After considering the historic confrontation between Islam and Christendom and analysing the difference between the three monotheistic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), the author describes the two poles of Muslim belief in terms of 'Truth' and 'Mercy'--the unitarian truth which is the basis of the Muslim's faith and the mercy inherent in this truth. In the second part of the book he explains the significance of the Qur'an and tells the dramatic story of Muhammad's life and of the early Caliphate. Lastly, the author considers the Muslim view of man's destiny, the social structure of Islam, the role of art and mysticism and the inner meaning of Islamic teaching concerning the hereafter.Throughout this book the author is concerned not with the religion of Islam in isolation, but with the very nature of religious faith, its spiritual and intellectual foundations, and the light it casts upon the mysteries and paradoxes of the human condition.

    TWO WORLDS. ONE LOVE. Eighteen-year old Daria Jones feels trapped in the cow-strewn suburbs of Fresno, California. And with a father so overprotective he's installed video and thermal surveillance down the street, she doesn't get out much. Until the night he disappears. Following the trail of notes he's left behind, Daria gathers three things: a dark force is hunting her, her father's fled to another world on a cryptic mission, and the only one left to trust is her ex-best friend, Alexander Anderson. The more she learns about her father's absence, the more she realizes she must go to this other world to find him. And Alexander is the only one who knows how to get there. Amidst a world of diabolical creatures, ancient magic, and bizarrely intuitive vegetation, Daria must find her father before the dark force finds her. But the truth of who she really is could be her greatest enemy of all. [First Edition published February 2, 2015] Perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Falling Kingdoms, and the Lunar Chronicles. The Complete Pandoran Series Includes: Gaia's Secret The Keeper's Flame Breath of Dragons Heir of Pendel

    But that was then. This is now. Determined and desperate, Bailey Cooper returns home to right her wrongs and find the one person who's always had her heart--Cade Hadley. Before giving in to what she's wanted all along, she must rebuild what she lost so long ago—herself. When she skipped town, she took Cade Hadley's heart, and he never got it back. But that was then. This is now. Hell bent on uncovering her motives, Cade Hadley refuses to give in to his desires until he discovers why Bailey left in the first place and most importantly, why she's back now. But as he begins to search for answers, the biggest question of all remains: Can they rekindle what they had when they were young and in love? But that was then. This is now...

    Lacrosse team captain. Ripped muscles from head to toe.In high school, he was only a jock with a pretty face.Nothing more, nothing less. Ok?Then why did I volunteer to pose as Dune’s fake fiancé?I convinced myself it was just to help an old acquaintance.He needed to sell a story to the judge.Keeping his niece safe was Dune’s first priority.And he promised to save me from my creepy biological father.So, I agreed to move into his mansion.Only for the sake of our story and my protection, right?Well, maybe, that’s not all.The fake fiancé shtick had benefits, too.Every.Single.Night.Now, I’m haunted by the band around my finger,And the secret fantasies I had of Dune and me back in high school.But my father’s drama won’t leave us alone.All I want is my reality to be as perfect as my fantasies.Is that too much to hope for?If you love a sexy fake relationship romance with a secret baby twist, don’t miss this satisfying alpha protector read. Best-selling Amazon author J.P. Comeau’s Alpha’s Secret Baby is a full-length novel with no cliffhangers.

    This book presents Prophet Muhammad in the different roles he assumed within his community as a father, husband, statesman, chief of staff, and an individual with utmost compassion, wisdom, grace, humility, and trustworthiness.

    In just over 100 years following the death of Mohammed in 632, Arabs had subjugated a territory with an east-west expanse greater than the Roman Empire. They did it in about one-half the time. By the mid-8th century, Arab armies had conquered the 1000-year-old Persian Empire, reduced the Byzantine Empire to little more than a city-state based around Constantinople, and destroyed the Visigoth kingdom of Spain. The cultural and linguistic effects of this early Islamic expansion reverberate today. This is the first popular English-language account in many years of this astonishing remaking of the political and religious map of the world. Hugh Kennedy’s sweeping narrative reveals how the Arab armies conquered almost everything in their path, and brings to light the unique characteristics of Islamic rule. One of the few academic historians with a genuine talent for story telling, Kennedy offers a compelling mix of larger-than-life characters, fierce battles, and the great clash of civilizations and religions.

    In attempting to make sense of it all, he ends up confronting his own demons and nightmares. He visits locations where most traditional media cannot and will not go, and most of us would like to avoid even in our worst nightmares. Although he writes with his sense of humour firmly in place throughout, that does not obscure the seriousness of the subject. Quite scary.

    This book is not meant to expound on abstract theoretical aspects of Islam, but to give readers practical and useful knowledge that can help them understand what it means to be Muslim. It highlights how we can, on a daily basis, develop a healthy relationship with God, through both devotions and in ordinary daily life.

    I liked him a lot until he pissed me off; then I hated him. But I have since gotten over him and want nothing to do with him, or so I thought until I got stuck planning a party with him. I know Shane’s aware of how I melt when I’m around him and is purposely not making things any easier - not with his wickedly sexy, half-dressed self always around the corner. I’m a lot older and should know better, but first love never fades, and Shane is not invisible, regardless of how much I pretend not to notice him. I was back in town and wanted only one thing: Sasha! I’ve always liked Sasha, but I somehow messed things up and lost her. Now I was back in town and determined to pick up where we had ended. Of course, she pretends not to notice me, but I know she’s only putting on an act! We are stuck planning a party together, and sooner or later, her defense will go down. But while she’s focused on planning the party, I will work on getting her to the one place I know she belongs. I won’t take no for an answer, and as long as Sasha and I are in town together, there was only one place this will end – in my sheets. PUBLISHER'S NOTE: This is a Happily-Ever-After romance story with no cliffhanger! As a bonus and thank you to my readers, this edition of BAD BOY'S BABY includes TWO free stepbrother sexy romance books!

    

    He needs to move fast to make sure everyone around him believes he is getting married for real and to the right woman, even if it’s for only two years. Anjali never expected a complete stranger to propose a marriage contract as if he were offering her a job with a salary and benefits package, especially the first time they meet. What he offers is tempting enough for her to give in, so she can fulfill her dream and keep the promise she made to a loved one. For their friends and family, Dheeraj and Anjali are a loving couple who fell in love at first sight, but they both have an agenda. Their reasons for the marriage contract were different, but what they never expected is what happens when two people start living under the same roof pretending to be a couple. Sparks fly and butterflies flutter between stolen kisses, but when they start to find out more about each other’s reason for the fake marriage, will they still honor the contract? Will love make its way into the contract as a clause? Note: This is a stand-alone romance with a passionate couple who finds their HEA. This book is recommended for mature readers.