Book picks similar to
Islam in Focus by Hammudah Abdalati
islam
religion
africa
non-fiction
Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian
John Piper - 2011
Terrorism. Hate crimes. In a world where racism is far from dead, is unity amidst diversities even remotely possible?Sharing from his own experiences growing up in the segregated South, pastor John Piper thoughtfully exposes the unremitting problem of racism. Instead of turning finally to organizations, education, famous personalities, or government programs to address racial strife, Piper reveals the definitive source of hope--teaching how the good news about Jesus Christ actively undermines the sins that feed racial strife, and leads to a many-colored and many-cultured kingdom of God.Learn to pursue ethnic harmony from a biblical perspective, and to relate to real people different from yourself, as you take part in the bloodline of Jesus that is comprised of "every tongue, tribe, and nation."
Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message
Ravi Zacharias - 2000
With a simple yet penetrating style, Zacharias uses rich illustrations to celebrate the power of Jesus Christ to transform lives. Jesus Among Other Gods contrasts the truth of Jesus with founders of Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, strengthening believers and compelling them to share their faith with our post-modern world.
The Buddha from Brooklyn
Martha Sherrill - 2000
Out of the blue, a monastery in India for which she had raised some money contacted Burroughs and asked her to host His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, one of the highest-ranking lamas of Tibetan Buddhism, on his first visit to America. After meeting Burroughs, and observing her and her followers for a period of five days, he told her that she was a "great, great bodhisattva," and already, unbeknownst to her, practicing Buddhism. Later, in India, he officially recognized this Jewish-Italian woman from Brooklyn as the reincarnation of a sixteenth-century Tibetan saint, making her the first American woman to be named a tulku, or reborn lama.The Buddha from Brooklyn tells the complex and fascinating story of how Catharine Burroughs, now known as Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo, embarked on a journey to build the largest Tibetan Buddhist center in America. With boundless enthusiasm but precious little formal training in Buddhist practices and traditions, Jetsunma and her students bought an estate in Poolesville, Maryland, on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., and founded Kunzang Palyul Choling (Fully Awakened Dharma Continent of Absolute Clear Light). Under Jetsunma's tutelage, the group memorized sacred texts and held all-night prayer vigils. They asked venerable Tibetan lamas to visit and give them "empowerments." Many took Buddhist vows and became monks and nuns. And as word of this remarkable place spread, others came to see the new lama for themselves and joined her community.Martha Sherrill, a writer at The Washington Post, heard about Jetsunma in 1993. She visited the center and was charmed by both its charismatic lama, the only Western woman in the male-dominated hierarchy of Tibetan Buddhism, and by the monks and nuns (all Americans) living there. They seemed, for the most part, like a remarkably happy group of people whose lives had been transformed by this exotic, imported faith—and by Jetsunma. At the beginning of The Buddha from Brooklyn, as the group is breaking ground for a sacred monument called a stupa, Sherrill commences her own journey to discover for herself what makes this unlikely lama—who enjoys clothes shopping and manicures, Motown music and Star Trek reruns—such a magnetic spiritual leader. And as the story unfolds, so do the secrets of this seemingly idyllic sanctuary.Compassionate and clear-eyed, Sherrill takes her readers on a breathtaking exploration inside the monastery at Poolesville, a place where idealistic but flawed human beings struggle with their devotion every day. She demystifies monastic life and Tibetan Buddhism, and amends the simplified view that most Americans have of this 2,500-year-old faith. Weaving together the stories of the believers into a narrative structure that is as moving and beautiful as the stupa they are building, Sherrill has created a brilliant work of investigative journalism that raises profound, provocative questions about religious faith and its price. The Buddha from Brooklyn is a monument to the miracles and failures that stem from the deepest human longings.
The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam
Muhammad Iqbal - 1934
These lectures were delivered by Iqbal in Madras, Hyderabad, and Aligarh. The last chapter, "Is Religion Possible?", was added to the book from the 1934 Oxford Edition onwards.In Reconstruction, Iqbal called for a re-examination of the intellectual foundations of Islamic philosophy. The book is a major work of modern Islamic thought.
Bila Allah Menduga Kita
Alwi Alatas - 2009
This life is full of troubles, and sometimes they kick us hard. But, whatever the problem, once you read and understand the content of this book, you will hopefully perceive this life differently and feel much comfortable. This book is written in Bahasa Melayu and very easy to understand. From the beginning to the end, the pages are full of touching stories and examples and also quotation from the Qur’an, Hadith, and sayings of wise people. It’s really value to buy it; it’s a must-read book.
A Textbook of Theosophy
Charles W. Leadbeater - 2008
That is so; yet, from another point of view, we may surely say that it is at once a philosophy, a religion and a science. It is a philosophy, because it puts plainly before us an explanation of the scheme of evolution of both the souls and the bodies contained in our solar system. It is a religion in so far as, having shown us the course of ordinary evolution, it also puts before us and advises a method of shortening that course, so that by conscious effort we may progress more directly towards the goal. It is a science, because it treats both these subjects as matters not of theological belief but of direct knowledge obtainable by study and investigation. It asserts that man has no need to trust to blind faith, "because he has within him latent powers which, when aroused, enable him to see and examine for himself, and it proceeds to prove its case by showing how those powers may be awakened. It is itself a result of the awakening of such powers by men, for the teachings which it puts before us are founded upon direct observations made in the past, and rendered possible only by such development.
A Blessed Olive Tree: A Spiritual Journey in Twenty Short Stories
Zain Hashmi - 2017
Simple fables in easy language but with deep underlying morals. Each story comes with a beautiful hand drawn illustration.A Blessed Olive Tree is a series of short stories that will take you on a spiritual journey. It begins by exploring the reason for our existence, and then it moves on to highlight the reasoning behind the five pillars of Islam. After touching upon "Shariah" (the religious law), you will enter the land of "Tariqa" (the mystical path) to explore love, loving, and being loved. You will then come across "Haqiqa" (the truth), and find answers to some of the queries in your mind. You will finally experience the land of "Marifa" (gnosis), and catch a glimpse of the ultimate connection with the Divine. This entire journey is covered in twenty simple short stories."A sufi literary masterpiece" (Muslim revert and author Adam Hafiz, UK)"Truly a treasure"(Ayanna, Reviewer on Goodreads, USA)"A wise book"(Manar, #7 top reviewer on Goodreads, Iraq)"perfect for teaching younger readers, and reminder for older readers"(Khurram Alavi, #10 best reviewer on Goodreads, UK)"So inspiring for all Muslims and non Muslims."(Fatima Haleem, #17 best reviewer on Goodreads, Iraq)"All short stories are based on Islamic facts and taking roots from Quran"(Necmi Coban, #45 top reader on Goodreads, Turkey)"...gave a very deep impact to my heart.It has been long since I felt so at ease with myself and my thoughts changed."(Sizarifalina Ali, #30 best reviewer on Goodreads, Malaysia)"After almost each story I felt warmth in my heart"(Arezoo Alipanah, #99 top reader on Goodreads, Iran)"The sequence...oh this is genius."(Shabrina Fadhila, Reviewer on Goodreads, Indonesia)"...each story containing heartfelt lessons of hope, faith, struggle, success and happiness."(Phi T. Waani, #83 best reviewer on Goodreads, Pakistan)"An exceptional read that was"(Tarik Mahtab, #72 best reviewer on Goodreads, Bangladesh)"Reading this book feels like reading a fairy tale 1001 nights!"(Arvia Maharhani, #53 best reviewer on Goodreads, Indonesia)"Metaphorical stories feeding one's spirit with faith"(Rabbia Riaz, #39 best reviewer on Goodreads, Pakistan)"I was taken on a journey which became more enjoyable with each turn of the page."(Saima, Reviewer on Goodreads USA)"...help Muslims and non-Muslims to understand Islam better"(Aya, #41 best reviewer on Goodreads, Egypt)"...told in a fun way that doesn't require reading huge volumes of religious texts"(Hafsa, #17 best reviewer on Goodreads, Kenya)"...this book came as a ray of sunshine or noor in these devastating times."(Nafisa Tarannum, #46 top reviewer on Goodreads Bangladesh)"This was good, great, interesting, Charmin, magical"(Abdel Rahman Amin, #75 top reviewer on Goodreads, Egypt)"This is indeed a metaphorical masterpiece"(Ain Mc, Reviewer on Goodreads Malaysia)
The Venture of Islam, Vol 1: The Classical Age of Islam
Marshall G.S. Hodgson - 1974
In this three-volume study, illustrated with charts and maps, Hodgson traces and interprets the historical development of Islamic civilization from before the birth of Muhammad to the middle of the twentieth century. This work grew out of the famous course on Islamic civilization that Hodgson created and taught for many years at the University of Chicago."This is a nonpareil work, not only because of its command of its subject but also because it demonstrates how, ideally, history should be written."—The New Yorker Volume 1, The Classical Age of Islam, analyzes the world before Islam, Muhammad's challenge, and the early Muslim state between 625 and 692. Hodgson then discusses the classical civilization of the High Caliphate. The volume also contains a general introduction to the complete work and a foreword by Reuben Smith, who, as Hodgson's colleague and friend, finished the Venture of Islam after the author's death and saw it through to publication.
Call Upon Him
Mizi Wahid - 2019
Now in 2019, Ustaz Mizi Wahid has collaborated IMAN Publication to revise the contents and produce an updated version of this book with the title renamed to Call Upon Him : 21 Steps To Strengthen Our Trust In AllahThis book is not merely a compilation of supplications taken from the Quran and the Sunnah. It is a book written with the sole intention to inspire Muslims to have unquestionable faith in the Most Generous Lord, Allah s.w.t. through the supplications they make to Him.There are plenty of books out there this present day which compiles a list of supplications; long and short, along with its meanings for their readers to choose from. Thus, this book hopes to deliver differently, in the area of encouragement and support for those who have been knocking on heaven’s doors but have yet to get a response or have been disappointed with the answers they have received so far. In this book, tips are written on the recommended times and methods, encouragement is given to stay in faith throughout the long wait and selected supplications are written to keep us connected to Allah s.w.t. through constant remembrance and prayer.
Living Religions
Mary Pat Fisher - 1990
"Living Religions" delves the traditional as well as the new religious movements. Looks at historical and contemporary beliefs, allowing the reader to see how different religions have unfolded throughout time. Contains expanded coverage of women in addition to religious background boxes on such people as Winona LaDuke, Dr. Karan Singh, Dalai Lama, Janice Perlman, Desmond Tutu, Farid Esack, and Baba Virsa Singh. For those with an interest in World Religions, or Comparative Religions, or for those seeking an introduction to religion.
The Hadj: An American's Pilgrimage to Mecca
Michael Wolfe - 1994
One of the world’s longest-lived religious rites, having continued without break for fourteen hundred years, it is, like all things Islamic, shrouded in mystery for Westerners. In The Hadj, Michael Wolfe, an American who converted to Islam, recounts his own journey a pilgrim, and in doing so brings readers close to the heart of what the pilgrimage means to a member of the religion that claims one-sixth of the world’s population. Not since Sir Richard Burton’s account of the pilgrimage to Mecca over one hundred years ago has a Western writer described the Hadj in such fascinating detail.
What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur'an
James R. White - 2013
Through fair, contextual use of the Qur'an as the primary source text, apologist James R. White presents Islamic beliefs about Christ, salvation, the Trinity, the afterlife, and other important topics. White shows how the sacred text of Islam differs from the teachings of the Bible in order to help Christians engage in open, honest discussions with Muslims.
The End of All Evil
Jeremy Locke - 2006
Evil is found in words such as force, compulsion, tax, violence, theft, censure, and politics. Notice that in such things, there is no joy. None have any value to humanity. This book defines the doctrine of liberty, and teaches you why choices that affect your life can only rightfully be made by you.
The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions
Philip Novak - 1994
Authentic, poetic translations of key texts are coupled with insightful introductions and "grace notes."
Why We Believe in God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith
J. Anderson Thomson - 2011
Anderson Thomson, Jr., MD, with Clare Aukofer, offers a succinct yet comprehensive study of how and why the human mind generates religious belief. Dr. Thomson, a highly respected practicing psychiatrist with credentials in forensic psychiatry and evolutionary psychology, methodically investigates the components and causes of religious belief in the same way any scientist would investigate the movement of astronomical bodies or the evolution of life over time—that is, as a purely natural phenomenon. Providing compelling evidence from psychology, the cognitive neurosciences, and related fields, he, with Ms. Aukofer, presents an easily accessible and exceptionally convincing case that god(s) were created by man—not vice versa. With this slim volume, Dr. Thomson establishes himself as a must-read thinker and leading voice on the primacy of reason and science over superstition and religion.