Understanding Islam: An Introduction to the Muslim World

by Thomas W. Lippman

A little over thirteen centuries ago, the prophet Muhammad converted a few Arab desert tribes to the belief in a single god, Allah, thus founding the religion of Islam. Within a century, that belief had created one of history's mightiest empires - and today Islam continues to shape events around the globe. This comprehensive guide offers an informative and insightful introduction to Islam both as a religion and as a political-economic force. It tells the story of Muhammad - and the rise of Islam; outlines the sacred book, the Koran; explains "the five pillars of faith"; explores the interplay between religion and government; describes the differences that divide Islam; and, above all, shows the influence of Islam on world affairs. This second revised edition provides crucial new material on the Islamic community today, including discussion of the Gulf War and the Salman Rushdie affair; the rise and ebb of fundamentalist fervor in Iran, Algeria, and elsewhere; and the relationships among different factions of the Islamic faith. There are also updated descriptions of internal politics in Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, and other Islamic nations. Complete with glossary, bibliography. and index, Understanding Islam is engrossing, essential reading for both students and all who seek a clearer understanding of the world in which we live.

Genres: Religion, Islam, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Middle East, Spirituality

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

THOMAS W. LIPPMAN, a former Middle East bureau chief for the Washington Post, is an award-winning journalist who has written about Middle Eastern affairs and American foreign policy for more than three decades. He is a former adjunct senior fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations and an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington. The author of five other books on the Middle East and diplomacy, Lippman has appeared frequently on national television, news, and radio. He lives in Washington, DC.

Reviews

[Mohamed Shedou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Not written the way a Muslim would write it, and believing Muslims won't like some details and conclusions here and there. However the writer is fair and objective, which I liked.

[Ethan Unklesbay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. My worldview has been greatly enhanced, and now I feel that I can participate in real conversations about Islam without ignorance being any great obstacle.
More on the blog.
https://unklethan.wordpress.com/?p=1201

[Shiela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a history and an explanation of Islam from an outsider - Thomas Lippmann is not of the area though he may have traveled widely. It has much to offer, especially for those who know little to nothing about the topic. I wonder what an insider feels about this book.

[Glen Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Lippman is a journalist who was stationed in the Middle East for many years. The way he writes, I get the impression that he is a Muslim himself, although the fact that he is a journalist helps him keep his objectivity. You get passages like, "This demonstrated that Allah was indeed on the side of the Mohammed." At the same time, Lippman doesn't hesitate to point out the many shortcomings of Islam as well, and its followers, but most of those he blames on politics, not religion. What's fascinating is that a significant difference between Christianity and Islam is that the latter doesn't believe in separation of church and state. What is law is based on the Koran, and on the many writings of Mohammed's followers, who apparently listened to his teachings to put together sharia, their code of laws.

I see some parallels between Islam and a fundamentalist Christianity that is long on law and short on grace. Muslims believe in one God, and don't believe in the Trinity, probably the biggest apostasy that Christians believe according to them. And I found it fascinating that originally Mohammed and his followers prayed facing Jerusalem, rather than Mecca, and worshipped on Saturday rather than Friday. Then they had a falling out with Jews in Arabia, and switched to Mecca and Friday.

There's a lot of warfare in the history of Islam, but if you look at Christianity, there was a lot of war there as well. And as Islam grew, it fell into factions, many of whom fell out of favor with the majority and did things that reflected poorly on the rest. The Taliban, the Druze and the Muslim Brotherhood are all examples of extreme factions who are Islam's version of skinheads and Hell's Angels. As Lippman emphasizes, the reasons they do what they do are political, but they try to use religion to unite everyone in a jihad against the West, just as white supremacists use Christianity erroneously.

All in all, this book probably won't appeal to everyone, but if you are interested in the topic, I found it an easy read and easy to understand.

[Alicia Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0.

Understanding Islam provides a 101-level overview of the religion's beginnings, philosophy, spread, and current division. The book seeks to provide an objective account of the religion-- the edition was updated post 9-11, though the first edition was originally written in the early 90's.

As a non-Muslim, I thought the book was an informative read and would recommend it as a good intro to Islam.

[Nemo Oblomov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was visiting Indonesia and read this book. Well written introduction to Islam, explaining a lot of what you should know. Not written in a criticising way at all, more apologetic I’d say but all good I didn’t mind. Would recommend.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good clear third party look at the world of Islam. Helpful insight into current issues and practices in the widely diverse Islamic world. Well worth the time.

[Saeeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the more objective books I've read on Islam. It provides more than just the basics on the religion and highlights key points of context that more biased books ignore.

[Roy McCullough · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good primer on the historical origins and evolution of Islam, key beliefs and practices, divisions and schisms within the faith, and Islam’s relations with the ‘West.’ Recommended.

[Allyria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understand islam better now, but this book is 42 years old and the views are biased, archaic, and sexist.

[May Ling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a lark at a Japanese Second hand store near the NYC Main Public Library. I realized that although I am knowledgeable about many religions, I do not know anything about Islam. Yet, what is happening with this religion, the roots of where it came from, has shaped much of foreign policy in the world today.

For example, they call it the world's youngest religion as it post-dates Christianity. I did not realize the extent to which is is based on Judeo-Christian writings. Muslims in fact recognize prior writings of this faith as the word of God, though not God himself. As Lippman describes, Islam was the religion of the minority and the poor of the time. He shows why it had such wide spread appeal.

Lippman also discusses in detail how the violence that has come to be associated with this religion is not actually a part of the doctrine. He tells of the story of the hypocrites who find their root as posers of Muslim faith who were of a neighboring resentful tribe. He explains in these terms why the Jewish conflict has existed since that time, despite Muslim religion beginning with great respect for the doctrine of Jewish faith. He shows very clearly that, despite what has comet o be associated with Islamic faith, Muhammad did not persecute or clear the ranks of Hypocrites precisely because he did not want to set a precedent of blood bath.

It saddens me to read how similar Islamic religion, Christianity and Judaism are and yet they can not resolve conflicts that have existed for over a thousand years. You would think the peaceful side of each religion would prevail. I will have to read the Koran some time so that I can better appreciate this area of the world.

[taarak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another apologists view of Islam but less fawning. It does at least give the pretence of trying to present a fair balanced picture of Islam.

Since the Gulf War, many have asked the question, "Why do Middle Easterners think and act as they do?" Of the 1.3 billion people who today follow the Islamic faith, all are profoundly affected by the teachings of Muhammad and by Muslim traditions that have developed over the past thirteen hundred years. This comprehensive guide offers an informative and insightful introduction to Islam, both as a religion and as a political-economic force. It tells the story of Muhammad and the rise of Islam; outlines the sacred book, the Koran; explains the five pillars of the faith; explores the interplay between religion and government; describes the differences that divide Islam; and above all, shows the influence of Islam on world affairs. Lippman provides crucial material on the contemporary Islamic community, including discussion of Khomeini and the Salman Rushdie affair, of the rise and ebb of fundamentalist fervor in Iran and elsewhere, and of relationships among different factions of the Islamic faith.

[Cristina Oliveras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult to read since the writers vocabulary is a little more advanced than mine so I had I pull out the dictionary multiple times and re read sentences to make sense of things. I also had to do a lot of research on certain events and topics he mentioned. But overall I've learned so much through this book and have really changed my perspective on the worlds most misunderstood religion

[Kahilidoc · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent review of muslim history and the arab world, though not in great detail. I'd recommend this for people who want cursory knowledge of muslim culture. Bernard Lewis is really my favorite author on this subject.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, though it's a good bit out of date. I would have liked to get post 2001 analysis on how radical Islam has changed over the past few years. In general though, a decent primer on a major world religion that most westerners look at with a sense of suspicion and darkness.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative. Historic in approach.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

i thought it was an average coverage of Islam. nothing to get too excited about but not bad either.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one wasn't as good as Armstrong's book, but there were a few gems of knowlege I appreciated getting from it...especially how it all went wrong between Jews and Islam.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worthwhile overview of the religion and its practitioners, although somewhat, but not unjustifiably, apologetic.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry, but accessible description of the formation of Islam and what it looks like today. Good for an objective viewpoint and detailed religious, political, and historical information.

[Jamie Bigham]

Narrated by Nadia May. 8 hours

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I figured it was time to better understand this fascinating religion beyond it's western caricatures. This book does a pretty good job of sharing both its history and core beliefs.

[Svenja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant introduction to the Muslim faith and Islamic political thought.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemingly well done summary of the history of Islam. A good source to start with in researching the topic!

[Del · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid introduction to the basic tenets of Islam and some of the historical background of its creation.. Interesting and easy to read.

Listened to the unabridged Audible.com audiobook version.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Available, easy introduction.

[Buddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

detailed (Lippman's way)

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good history of the origins. As someone very unknowledgeable, this was a good primer.

[Gaby]

Did not finish.
One thing I found curious is that the author relies heavily on comparisons with catholicism. As a non-catholic, this made it harder to grasp some concepts.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

cursory, but a good introduction