Islam & Muslims: A Guide to Diverse Experience in a Modern World

by Mark Sedgwick

Appreciate a rich and diverse culture. Understand real people in their everyday lives.

The need to understand Islam and Muslims has never been greater, both because of conflicts that dominate the news and because of the increasing presence of Muslims in Western societies. There are hundreds of books that introduce the Western reader to Islam, and dozens of books that explore various Muslim societies (usually Arab ones).

Islam & Muslims is the first to bring together both, explaining Islam in theory and in practice across the diverse Muslim world. Readers learn not just what Islam says about everything from the nature of God to marriage to prayer to politics, but also how individual Muslims (traditional or modern, devout or barely observant) apply teachings in everyday life.

Genres: Religion

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 2006

About the author

Mark Sedgwick graduated with an MA from the Honour School of Modern History, University of Oxford in 1986. He gained his PhD in the Department of History at the University of Bergen in 1999. He has been a Professor in the Department of Culture and Society, Aarhus University, Denmark, since 2011.

Reviews

[Arjit Agarwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I wanted to learn more about Islam. The thing I liked about this book was most of the things I used to believe about Islam are indeed true. For ex. Islam and Islamism is different. Islam is a religious movement while Islamism is political.

It also debunks a popular misconception in India that Islam has spread through violence which I had always reasoned. Although, it does not neglect the 'terrorism' factor which people associate to Islam but instead he associated it with Islamism.

He compares Islamism to another Utopianism like Nazism, Fascism etc.

I am giving three stars though because most of the time I was discussing the content of this book with one of my muslim friend. He told me that a lot of Asian context was missing from this book. It is more based on Western Muslim societies and Arab Muslims.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una dintre cele mai bune si ample carti citite de mine despre musulmani.
Am apreciat analiza societatilor islamice prezente in carte. Bine structurata, detaliata, documentata, cu informatii pertinenete.
O carte pe care as recomanda-o fara retineri persoanelor care doresc sa se informaze cu privire la musulmani si islam in mod nepartinitor, obiectiv.

[Aviejit Faujdar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise account of Islam and the practitioners of the religion. This book gives an overview about the life, culture, practices of the believers of the monotheistic religion.

[Radu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for someone trying to understand the basic elements of the Islamic world.