What do you think?
Rate this book
Islam: A Concise Introduction
Islam: A Concise Introduction is a condensed version of Mizan, a comprehensive treatise on the contents of Islam by Javed Ahmad Ghamidi. The author himself has produced this abridgment. It is primarily a compilation of the conclusions reached by him in understanding the contents of Islam.
According to the author, the Qur’an divides the contents of Islam into two categories: al-Hikmah and al-Kitab. While the former refers to topics related to the philosophy of religion, the latter to those that relate to divine law (shari‘ah).
Ghamidi has further classified these two categories into sub-categories. al-Hikmah comprises two sub-categories: faith and ethics and al-Kitab comprises ten sub-categories: The Shari‘ah of Worship Rituals, The Social Shari‘ah, The Political Shari‘ah, The Economic Shari‘ah, The Shari‘ah of Preaching, The Shari‘ah of Jihad, The Penal Shari‘ah, The Dietary Shari‘ah, Islamic Customs and Etiquette, and Oaths and Atonements.
The scheme of the book is based on this categorization. Part I consists of topics related to al-Hikmah and Part II consists of topics related to al-Kitab. A preamble to these two parts “The Religion of Islam” introduces the reader to the overall structure of Islam.
It may also be pertinent to point out here that this abridgement should perhaps be considered a gateway to the more elaborate work, Mizan. It is more of a compilation of the conclusions reached by the author in understanding the contents of Islam. Arguments and technical discussions have been left out for the sake of brevity and simplicity. The serious student is advised to look up each abridged discussion in the parent book. However, for the common reader, the current book suffices to give a concise introduction of Islam as understood by the author.
According to the author, the Qur’an divides the contents of Islam into two categories: al-Hikmah and al-Kitab. While the former refers to topics related to the philosophy of religion, the latter to those that relate to divine law (shari‘ah).
Ghamidi has further classified these two categories into sub-categories. al-Hikmah comprises two sub-categories: faith and ethics and al-Kitab comprises ten sub-categories: The Shari‘ah of Worship Rituals, The Social Shari‘ah, The Political Shari‘ah, The Economic Shari‘ah, The Shari‘ah of Preaching, The Shari‘ah of Jihad, The Penal Shari‘ah, The Dietary Shari‘ah, Islamic Customs and Etiquette, and Oaths and Atonements.
The scheme of the book is based on this categorization. Part I consists of topics related to al-Hikmah and Part II consists of topics related to al-Kitab. A preamble to these two parts “The Religion of Islam” introduces the reader to the overall structure of Islam.
It may also be pertinent to point out here that this abridgement should perhaps be considered a gateway to the more elaborate work, Mizan. It is more of a compilation of the conclusions reached by the author in understanding the contents of Islam. Arguments and technical discussions have been left out for the sake of brevity and simplicity. The serious student is advised to look up each abridged discussion in the parent book. However, for the common reader, the current book suffices to give a concise introduction of Islam as understood by the author.
143 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2012
31 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Javed Ahmad Ghamidi
43 books161 followersJaved Ahmad Ghamidi is a Pakistani Islamic modernist theologist who hosted a primetime religious-spiritual show on Dunya News, Ilm-o-Hikmat, Ghamidi Key Saath (Knowledge and Wisdom with Ghamidi).
Quran scholar and exegete, and educationist, who extended the work of his tutor, Amin Ahsan Islahi, Ghamidi is the founder of Al-Mawrid Institute of Islamic Sciences and its sister organisation Danish Sara. He became a member of Council of Islamic Ideology on 28 January 2006 for a couple of years, a constitutional body responsible for giving legal advice on Islamic issues to Pakistan Government and the Parliament. He has also taught at the Civil Services Academy from 1980 until 1991. He is running an intellectual movement similar to Wastiyya in Egypt on the popular electronic media of Pakistan.
Quran scholar and exegete, and educationist, who extended the work of his tutor, Amin Ahsan Islahi, Ghamidi is the founder of Al-Mawrid Institute of Islamic Sciences and its sister organisation Danish Sara. He became a member of Council of Islamic Ideology on 28 January 2006 for a couple of years, a constitutional body responsible for giving legal advice on Islamic issues to Pakistan Government and the Parliament. He has also taught at the Civil Services Academy from 1980 until 1991. He is running an intellectual movement similar to Wastiyya in Egypt on the popular electronic media of Pakistan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 1, 2018
The small book is fats track to understanding basic principles of conflicts of Islam. It is very well written and easy to read.
January 31, 2020
Concise commentary on Islam
Short, pithy and concise explanations of all the tenets of Islam. This forms a good fundamental reading. Recommended for beginners and intermediate readers.
Short, pithy and concise explanations of all the tenets of Islam. This forms a good fundamental reading. Recommended for beginners and intermediate readers.
October 12, 2020
It is exactly what it claims; A concise introduction of Islam.
October 5, 2025
Good and concise well written.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews