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Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion
Islam: History, Religion, and Politics
Now available in a fully-revised and updated third edition, Islam: History, Religion and Politics, provides a comprehensive and engaging introduction to the core teachings, historical development, and contemporary public struggles of Islam.
Features a new chapter on the Arab Spring and the ongoing struggles for representative governance throughout the Muslim world Includes up-to-date analysis of the civil wars in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, including the rise of terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS Spans Islamic history from the life of Muhammad and the birth of Islamic ideals, through Islam’s phenomenal geographical expansion and cultural development, to the creation of modern states and its role in today’s global society Written by a leading scholar of Islamic studies
Features a new chapter on the Arab Spring and the ongoing struggles for representative governance throughout the Muslim world Includes up-to-date analysis of the civil wars in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, including the rise of terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS Spans Islamic history from the life of Muhammad and the birth of Islamic ideals, through Islam’s phenomenal geographical expansion and cultural development, to the creation of modern states and its role in today’s global society Written by a leading scholar of Islamic studies
- GenresIslamHistoryNonfiction
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 4, 2021
**** 1/2
“Female orphans were particularly at risk because this was not a society in which women had economic independence. Unless they inherited wealth women were entirely dependent on men. Because of the brutality of that society toward women, female infanticide was common. People killed their baby girls, fearing they would not be able to provide for them and that they would be subjected to the whims of those who had no respect for women. Out of concern for the protection of women, the Quran forbids female infanticide. It also rebukes men who are ashamed when a daughter, rather than a son, is born. On a practical level, it requires that females be given inheritance shares (4:7) and that the traditional dowry required at weddings be given as a gift to the bride (4:4), rather than to the bride’s parents as a “bride price.” The Quran also insists that men and women both are entitled to whatever wages they earn. With regard to the orphans in Medinan society, the Quran tells men to treat them fairly, and if they are afraid that orphans are not being treated fairly, that they may protect them by marrying up to four, but only if they can treat them all impartially. If they do not feel they can avoid slighting one of their wives, then they should only marry one (4:3). Although the focus of this verse is compassion for the weak and equity for women, traditional interpreters conclude that it simply allows men to marry four wives at a time. Modern interpreters tend to return to the focus of justice and incorporate the Quran’s high ideals for mutually satisfactory spousal relationships when discussing marriage.”
Tamara Sonn writes concisely and credibly on the history of Islam as well as key verses. A short and credible read that purposefully also has a lot of present day relevance. A short read that is great for all ranges of knowledge on Islam
“Female orphans were particularly at risk because this was not a society in which women had economic independence. Unless they inherited wealth women were entirely dependent on men. Because of the brutality of that society toward women, female infanticide was common. People killed their baby girls, fearing they would not be able to provide for them and that they would be subjected to the whims of those who had no respect for women. Out of concern for the protection of women, the Quran forbids female infanticide. It also rebukes men who are ashamed when a daughter, rather than a son, is born. On a practical level, it requires that females be given inheritance shares (4:7) and that the traditional dowry required at weddings be given as a gift to the bride (4:4), rather than to the bride’s parents as a “bride price.” The Quran also insists that men and women both are entitled to whatever wages they earn. With regard to the orphans in Medinan society, the Quran tells men to treat them fairly, and if they are afraid that orphans are not being treated fairly, that they may protect them by marrying up to four, but only if they can treat them all impartially. If they do not feel they can avoid slighting one of their wives, then they should only marry one (4:3). Although the focus of this verse is compassion for the weak and equity for women, traditional interpreters conclude that it simply allows men to marry four wives at a time. Modern interpreters tend to return to the focus of justice and incorporate the Quran’s high ideals for mutually satisfactory spousal relationships when discussing marriage.”
Tamara Sonn writes concisely and credibly on the history of Islam as well as key verses. A short and credible read that purposefully also has a lot of present day relevance. A short read that is great for all ranges of knowledge on Islam
August 20, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews