Islam: A Short Guide to the Faith

by Roger Allen (Editor), Shawkat M. Toorawa (Editor)

In this straightforward and authoritative collection of fifteen essays -- each by a different, specialized expert in the field -- readers will encounter all the major elements of Islam, including its history, its beliefs, its practices, and its interactions, notably with Christianity, Judaism, and the modern world.  A Short Guide to the Faith  will inform and enlighten all who wish to better understand this increasingly influential world religion.

Genres: Islam, Religion

211 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2011

About the author

Roger Allen is an English scholar of Arabic literature. He has translated several Arabic works of literature into English, and has also written scholarly works on Arabic literature.

He was the first student at Oxford University to obtain a PhD degree in modern Arabic literature, which he did under the supervision of Muhammad Mustafa Badawi. His doctoral thesis was on Muhammad al-Muwaylihi’s narrative Hadith Isa ibn Hisham (Isa Ibn Hisham’s Tale), and was later published as a book titled A Period of Time (1974, 1992).

At the request of Dr Gaber Asfour, the Director-General of the Supreme Council for Culture in Egypt, he later prepared an edition of the complete works of Muhammad al-Muwaylihi (2002), and that of his father, Ibrahim al-Muwaylihi (2007).

In 1968, Allen moved from Bristol to Philadelphia to take up an academic position at the University of Pennsylvania, where he subsequently taught generations of students and Arabic scholars. He co-wrote an Arabic textbook with Adel Allouche, and was engaged with Arabic pedagogy throughout his career. After a 43-year career at UPenn, he retired in 2011, serving as chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations for the last six years.

As a translator, Allen has brought forth into English numerous works of contemporary Arabic literature, a list of which is given below. His translations of Naguib Mahfouz were instrumental in bringing the Egyptian writer to global attention, and Allen also played a critical role in the nomination process that eventually led to Mahfouz winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988.

Roger Allen was the first director of the Huntsman Program at the University of Pennsylvania along with Jamshed Ghandi.

Reviews

[Leo Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a little less of a dummy about Islam so that’s pretty cool.

[Bruce Reiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good guide for the lay person who wants a short course in the history and various beliefs of Islam. The book stays out of the political arena of the modern era. Rather it comments on historical formation and divisions, the Qur'an, Hadith and Sunna elements that compose the religious literature, the treatment of women and Islamist takes on Christianity and Judaism. I would have liked it to have done more in discussing the modern day competition between the different sects of Islam particularly in the Middle East but the topic is outside the scope of the book. I liked the fact that it is an edited work meaning that several of the authors' writings overlap. One gets a variety of views from different perspectives.

[Lynn Bingaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting and informative book. Some of the material I knew, but much of it I didn't. I was amazed at how close to fundamentalist Christianity some of the practices and beliefs were.

[Natta Kuiski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Short, to-the-point, but without spoonfeeding. Illuminating, short introductory articles written by actual scholars.

[Danna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting a book explaining the basics of Islam, but instead, I got a guide on Islamic history, schools of thought, denominations, doctrines, institutions, and interactions.

I still gave it 5 stars because it was well-written and insightful.

[Kevin Swanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of short essays about Islam. Very little on the theology. Mostly in the culture and history of Islam. Very academically written.

[David A-S · Rating 2 out of 5]

One needs be harness expectations for any book on an entire faith which includes a subtitle "short guide to faith.' The collections of essays wasn't bad. In essence it was a compilation of encyclopedic type essays on resonant issues to a Western reader. In other words, it is harmful or wrong-headed but one doesn't feel that much better informed. Moreover, it lacks information on the practices of Islamic communities. I don't think I'd recommend it.

[Rebecca Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Chock full of info.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This helpful guide got better the more I read it. The beginning part was a bit complicated, using too many words I didn't know. I really enjoyed the chapters on Sufis, women, and architecture.

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of essay about Islam. Thorough in many ways, but quite scholarly. Not for everyone.