Introducing Islam by William Shepard

Introducing Islam by William Shepard

What exactly is `Islam’ and what does it mean to be a `Muslim’ in the world today? Since the events of 9/11 and 7/7, Islam has become one of the most controversial and misunderstood religions in the world. Introducing Islam encourages students to put aside their preconceptions and explore this fascinating religion. William Shepard, an experienced teacher in the field, traces the history of Islam, from its early environment and origins in the life and career of Mohammed, through its classical expressions to its interactions with the West in the modern world. Shepard devotes a chapter each to important topics such as The Qur’an, Islamic law, Islamic theology, and the Sufi movement. In addition to this, four chapters are devoted to studies of Islam in individual countries: Turkey, Iran, Egypt and Indonesia, and Shepard explores Islamic civilization through discussion of Islamic art and culture, and community rituals. Introducing Islam is the ideal introduction for students wishing to gain a sympathetic understanding of Islam. Illustrated throughout, the book also includes text boxes, summary charts, a glossary of key Arabic terms, and a list of further reading to aid students’ understanding and revision. The accompanying website for this book can be found at www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415455183.

'This is a model textbook, which manages to be both comprehensive and concise at the same timeShepard conveys not merely the fundamental formal teachings of Islam, but also the kaleidoscope of its lived practice, addressing the diverse responses that Muslims across the world have had to the Prophet's initial call some fourteen hundred years ago.' –Paul M. Cobb, University of Pennsylvania, USA

'Shepard writes cogently, thoughtfully, and sensibly about the Islamic civilization. Introducing Islam is a timely textbook and an informative reference for students and the public.' – Professor Ahmed E. Souaiaia, author of Contesting Justice.

'The author deserves special appreciation for bringing to the forefront such an informative and comprehensive work on Islamic history and civilization. A remarkable and valuable contribution, not to mention an excellent source on Islam’s history, culture, and modern trends, this book will prove useful to students and scholars alike.' – Tauseef Ahmad Parray, PhD Research Scholar/Doctoral Candidate, Aligarh Muslim University, India

'Introducing Islam would make an ideal core text for an undergraduate course on Islam, especially given the thorough course syllabus, PowerPoint lecture slides, and up-to-date material available on the companion website.' – Amir Dastmalchian, The Islamic College, UK

William Shepard is Associate Professor, Retired, of Religious Studies at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. His previous publications include Sayyid Qutb and Islamic Activism (1996) and numerous articles and translations.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780415455183
ISBN 10	0415455189
Title	Introducing Islam
Author	William Shepard
Series	World Religions
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Taylor & Francis Ltd
Year published	2009-06-01
Number of pages	352
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable