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Pelican Books #13
Islam: The Essentials
The essential introduction to Islam by a leading expert
Hardly a day goes by without mention of Islam. And yet, for most people, and in much of the world, Islam remains a little-known religion. Whether the issue is violence, terrorism, women's rights or slavery, Muslims are today expected to provide answers and to justify what Islam is - or is not. But little opportunity exists, either in the media or in society as a whole, to describe Islam: precisely the question this short and extremely accessible book sets out to answer. In simple, direct language it will introduce readers to Islam, to its spirituality, its principles, its rituals, its diversity and its evolution.
Hardly a day goes by without mention of Islam. And yet, for most people, and in much of the world, Islam remains a little-known religion. Whether the issue is violence, terrorism, women's rights or slavery, Muslims are today expected to provide answers and to justify what Islam is - or is not. But little opportunity exists, either in the media or in society as a whole, to describe Islam: precisely the question this short and extremely accessible book sets out to answer. In simple, direct language it will introduce readers to Islam, to its spirituality, its principles, its rituals, its diversity and its evolution.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published May 23, 2017
75 people are currently reading
580 people want to read
About the author
Tariq Ramadan
109 books1,177 followersTariq Ramadan is the son of Said Ramadan and Wafa Al-Bana, who was the eldest daughter of Hassan al Banna, who in 1928 founded the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Gamal al-Banna, the liberal Muslim reformer is his great-uncle. His father was a prominent figure in the Muslim Brotherhood and was exiled by Gamal Abdul Nasser[3] from Egypt to Switzerland, where Tariq was born.
Tariq Ramadan studied Philosophy and French literature at the Masters level and holds a PhD in Arabic and Islamic studies from the University of Geneva. He also wrote a PhD dissertation on Friedrich Nietzsche, entitled Nietzsche as a Historian of Philosophy.[4] Ramadan then studied Islamic jurisprudence at Al-Azhar university in Cairo, Egypt.[5]
He taught at the College de Saussure, a high school in Geneva, Switzerland, and held a lectureship in Religion and Philosophy at the University of Fribourg from 1996 to 2003. In October 2005 he began teaching at St Antony's College at the University of Oxford on a Visiting Fellowship. In 2005 he was a senior research fellow at the Lokahi Foundation.[6][7] In 2007 he successfully applied for the professorship in Islamic studies at the University of Leiden, but then declined to take up the position, citing professional reasons.[8][9] He was also a guest professor of Identity and Citizenship at Erasmus University Rotterdam,[10][11][12] till August 2009 when the City of Rotterdam and Erasmus University dismissed him from his positions as "integration adviser" and professor, stating that the program he chairs on Iran's Press TV, Islam & Life, was "irreconcilable" with his duties in Rotterdam. Ramadan described this move as Islamophobic and politically charged. Beginning September 2009, Ramadan, was appointed to the His Highness Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Chair in Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University.
Ramadan established the Mouvement des Musulmans Suisses (Movement of Swiss Muslims),which engages in various interfaith seminars. He is an advisor to the EU on religious issues and was sought for advice by the EU on a commission on “Islam and Secularism”.In September 2005 he was invited to join a task force by the government of the United Kingdom.[3] He is also the President of the Euro-Muslim Network,a Brussels-based think-tank.
He is widely interviewed and has produced about 100 tapes which sell tens of thousands of copies each year
As of 2009, Tariq Ramadan was persona non grata in Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia[19] Libya or Syria because of his "criticism of these undemocratic regimes that deny the most basic human rights".
Ramadan is married to a French convert to Islam and they have four children.
Tariq Ramadan studied Philosophy and French literature at the Masters level and holds a PhD in Arabic and Islamic studies from the University of Geneva. He also wrote a PhD dissertation on Friedrich Nietzsche, entitled Nietzsche as a Historian of Philosophy.[4] Ramadan then studied Islamic jurisprudence at Al-Azhar university in Cairo, Egypt.[5]
He taught at the College de Saussure, a high school in Geneva, Switzerland, and held a lectureship in Religion and Philosophy at the University of Fribourg from 1996 to 2003. In October 2005 he began teaching at St Antony's College at the University of Oxford on a Visiting Fellowship. In 2005 he was a senior research fellow at the Lokahi Foundation.[6][7] In 2007 he successfully applied for the professorship in Islamic studies at the University of Leiden, but then declined to take up the position, citing professional reasons.[8][9] He was also a guest professor of Identity and Citizenship at Erasmus University Rotterdam,[10][11][12] till August 2009 when the City of Rotterdam and Erasmus University dismissed him from his positions as "integration adviser" and professor, stating that the program he chairs on Iran's Press TV, Islam & Life, was "irreconcilable" with his duties in Rotterdam. Ramadan described this move as Islamophobic and politically charged. Beginning September 2009, Ramadan, was appointed to the His Highness Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Chair in Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University.
Ramadan established the Mouvement des Musulmans Suisses (Movement of Swiss Muslims),which engages in various interfaith seminars. He is an advisor to the EU on religious issues and was sought for advice by the EU on a commission on “Islam and Secularism”.In September 2005 he was invited to join a task force by the government of the United Kingdom.[3] He is also the President of the Euro-Muslim Network,a Brussels-based think-tank.
He is widely interviewed and has produced about 100 tapes which sell tens of thousands of copies each year
As of 2009, Tariq Ramadan was persona non grata in Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia[19] Libya or Syria because of his "criticism of these undemocratic regimes that deny the most basic human rights".
Ramadan is married to a French convert to Islam and they have four children.
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August 3, 2019
In his introduction Tariq Ramadan writes that this is not an apologetic book, no defense of Islam against false accusations. And yet: on almost every page Ramadan corrects a wrong interpretation of Muslim practices, by the West or by Muslims themselves. So, without doubt, this is an apologetical book. But let us be clear: he writes with verve, and with - for me, as non-specialist - convincing arguments.
Ramadan clearly represents a very liberal interpretation of Islam. He constantly points to the need for weighing and interpreting both the holy texts as the traditions and practices; the historical and linguistic context must always be taken into account, and human reason must be able to do its work. Because, according to Ramadan, ultimately Islam is a project of humanization, both individually and collectively; a project that always wants to bring human dignity and freedom to a higher level. Of course, this is based on the belief in that one god, Allah, and the conviction that it is the destiny of man to be taken up in that divinity after his death. It strikes me how much Ramadan constantly puts emphasis on spiritual growth, and it has pleasantly surprised me how refined that Islamic spirituality is or can be. In this sense, this little book is a nice acquaintance, which gives a different view of a very controversial phenomenon.
For decades now, Ramadan has been under attack on all sides, and I can see why. In the first place by Western critics who blame him for speaking with a double tongue: liberal and progressive to a western audience, but rather conservative and sometimes even radical to Muslims themselves (he’s blamed especially for his defense of the Palestinian cause). I cannot judge that. What I know is that in this booklet I hear an intelligent and wise man who argues for moderation, for freedom and dignity, for diversity and critical sense, but also for a respectful interpretation of Islam that comes very close to Sufism, the spiritual-mystical movement within Islam, which mainly focuses on inner conversion and growth.
That he also has a lot of enemies on the side of radical, fundamentalist Muslims does not surprise me, because he again and again stresses how wrong they are, and also condemns the many dictatorial regimes and practices in countries with a Muslim majority, and he’s especially outspoken about the terrorist movements. Ramadan is very clear in his rejection of a literal and traditionalist interpretation of Islam and a sectarian-xenophobic orientation as a community or individual. He rightly calls on Muslims in the West not to be so fiercely focused on their own identity, but rather to participate constructively in humanizing the society of which they are a part. At the same time, he is also clear in his rejection of the growing Islamophobia of the West, which only makes matters more difficult.
One point of criticism on this book is that Ramadan almost exclusively focuses on Islam as it is known and practiced in the Middle East, especially in the Arab countries. Only in the end does he focuses on the problems of Muslims as a minority group in Western secular countries. Of course, this is only a small introduction and Ramadan makes such a clear statement about the diversity within Islam, but more attention to the completely different context in which Islam has evolved in Africa and Asia would have been appropriate.
I can certainly recommend this book, although it is sometimes difficult to read because of its density. And then, as far as the person of Tariq Ramadan is concerned, who – at the time of my review – is held in a French prison (pending his process) and is accused by several women of rape: I cannot ignore this, but let justice do its work; perhaps Ramadan – as a male – is only a weak person, and then he must undergo his proper punishment. But - based on this book - Ramadan certainly is a great and challenging intellectual.
PS. For those of you that would object to my appreciation of this book: in the coming months I'm going to read other, rather more critical books on Islam, always keeping an open mind, a critical judgement, with respect for all things human, including religion.
Ramadan clearly represents a very liberal interpretation of Islam. He constantly points to the need for weighing and interpreting both the holy texts as the traditions and practices; the historical and linguistic context must always be taken into account, and human reason must be able to do its work. Because, according to Ramadan, ultimately Islam is a project of humanization, both individually and collectively; a project that always wants to bring human dignity and freedom to a higher level. Of course, this is based on the belief in that one god, Allah, and the conviction that it is the destiny of man to be taken up in that divinity after his death. It strikes me how much Ramadan constantly puts emphasis on spiritual growth, and it has pleasantly surprised me how refined that Islamic spirituality is or can be. In this sense, this little book is a nice acquaintance, which gives a different view of a very controversial phenomenon.
For decades now, Ramadan has been under attack on all sides, and I can see why. In the first place by Western critics who blame him for speaking with a double tongue: liberal and progressive to a western audience, but rather conservative and sometimes even radical to Muslims themselves (he’s blamed especially for his defense of the Palestinian cause). I cannot judge that. What I know is that in this booklet I hear an intelligent and wise man who argues for moderation, for freedom and dignity, for diversity and critical sense, but also for a respectful interpretation of Islam that comes very close to Sufism, the spiritual-mystical movement within Islam, which mainly focuses on inner conversion and growth.
That he also has a lot of enemies on the side of radical, fundamentalist Muslims does not surprise me, because he again and again stresses how wrong they are, and also condemns the many dictatorial regimes and practices in countries with a Muslim majority, and he’s especially outspoken about the terrorist movements. Ramadan is very clear in his rejection of a literal and traditionalist interpretation of Islam and a sectarian-xenophobic orientation as a community or individual. He rightly calls on Muslims in the West not to be so fiercely focused on their own identity, but rather to participate constructively in humanizing the society of which they are a part. At the same time, he is also clear in his rejection of the growing Islamophobia of the West, which only makes matters more difficult.
One point of criticism on this book is that Ramadan almost exclusively focuses on Islam as it is known and practiced in the Middle East, especially in the Arab countries. Only in the end does he focuses on the problems of Muslims as a minority group in Western secular countries. Of course, this is only a small introduction and Ramadan makes such a clear statement about the diversity within Islam, but more attention to the completely different context in which Islam has evolved in Africa and Asia would have been appropriate.
I can certainly recommend this book, although it is sometimes difficult to read because of its density. And then, as far as the person of Tariq Ramadan is concerned, who – at the time of my review – is held in a French prison (pending his process) and is accused by several women of rape: I cannot ignore this, but let justice do its work; perhaps Ramadan – as a male – is only a weak person, and then he must undergo his proper punishment. But - based on this book - Ramadan certainly is a great and challenging intellectual.
PS. For those of you that would object to my appreciation of this book: in the coming months I'm going to read other, rather more critical books on Islam, always keeping an open mind, a critical judgement, with respect for all things human, including religion.
March 23, 2019
Kā ievads laikam jau tīri ok, dod vispārēju priekšstatu par islāmu, tā vēsturi un pamatprincipiem. Bet. Boy, you can talk! Vietām riktīga atkārtošanās, nu tiešām tā, ka tieši to pašu, tikai citiem vārdiem viņš rakstīja iepriekšējā lappusē. Un lappusē pirms tam. Un iepriekšējā nodaļā. Jā, jā, atkārtošana - zināšanu māte, bet varētu bez tā iztikt šāda veida grāmatās, neesmu skolas solā. Otra lieta, kas kaitināja, bija tā, ka teksts brīžiem ir tik sauss un garlaicīgs, ka ir grūti neaizmigt, to lasot.
Principā guvu +/- nepieciešamo informāciju par tēmu, bet ticu, ka kaut kur ir labāk uzrakstītas grāmatas par to pašu. Bet bija noderīgi uzzināt par mītiem, kas apvij šo ticību un ik dienas presē un tml. tiek sagudroti no jauna, un to, kā paši musulmaņi dažādi tulko Korānu (un tur tad visas tās milzu atšķirības).
“Had your Lord so willed, all those who live on earth would surely have believed, all of them: do you, then, think that you could compel people to believe?” (10:99)
Principā guvu +/- nepieciešamo informāciju par tēmu, bet ticu, ka kaut kur ir labāk uzrakstītas grāmatas par to pašu. Bet bija noderīgi uzzināt par mītiem, kas apvij šo ticību un ik dienas presē un tml. tiek sagudroti no jauna, un to, kā paši musulmaņi dažādi tulko Korānu (un tur tad visas tās milzu atšķirības).
“Had your Lord so willed, all those who live on earth would surely have believed, all of them: do you, then, think that you could compel people to believe?” (10:99)
August 22, 2017
Summarising the essential components of Islam into such a short book is no easy task. Yet, Tariq Ramadan achieves this - and I am incredibly impressed.
He begins speaking about the essential components of Islam, and then deals with a number of contemporary issues that Islam faces. All are dealt with in clear, easy-to-understand English, with multiple Quranic references and a clear understanding of the evolution of Islamic thought. It's essential reading for anyone - Muslim or non-Muslim - who wants to learn more about this beautiful religion.
He begins speaking about the essential components of Islam, and then deals with a number of contemporary issues that Islam faces. All are dealt with in clear, easy-to-understand English, with multiple Quranic references and a clear understanding of the evolution of Islamic thought. It's essential reading for anyone - Muslim or non-Muslim - who wants to learn more about this beautiful religion.
April 2, 2025
Ω 𝐎𝐧𝐞-𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: "Islam: The Essentials" by Tariq Ramadan offers a thought-provoking and accessible exploration of Islam, breaking down its core beliefs, spiritual dimensions, and contemporary relevance while dispelling common misconceptions.
💭 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: For those, like myself, with limited prior understanding of Islam beyond school-grade familiarity, Tariq Ramadan's 'Islam: The Essentials' serves as an illuminating gateway to understanding the multi-faceted nature of Islam as a religion of peace and spiritual depth. Ramadan masterfully explores the five pillars—monotheism (Tawhid), prayer (Salat), charity (Zakat), fasting (Sawm), and pilgrimage (Hajj)—while delving into Sufism's spiritual dimensions and inner purification practices that form the heart of Islamic tradition. What distinguishes this work is Ramadan's nuanced examination of Islam's relevance in contemporary society, addressing pressing issues like social justice, human rights, gender equality, and interfaith dialogue, all while celebrating the rich diversity within Islamic interpretation across different cultural contexts worldwide.
✨ 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: "𝐹𝑎𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑; 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑, 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑑, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑."
👍 Liked this post or found it helpful? Hit the 👍, and 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 it with your bookish squad!
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🌟 𝑮𝑶𝑶𝑫𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑺: Nazmus Sadat ( goodreads.com/dsony7 )
🌟 𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑹𝑨𝑴: @dshadowcatreads
𝐏.𝐒: In a world where religious discourse often generates more heat than light, Ramadan's measured approach offers a refreshing alternative—neither watering down tradition nor refusing engagement with modernity, but rather creating a thoughtful space where faith and contemporary life can meaningfully converse.
💭 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: For those, like myself, with limited prior understanding of Islam beyond school-grade familiarity, Tariq Ramadan's 'Islam: The Essentials' serves as an illuminating gateway to understanding the multi-faceted nature of Islam as a religion of peace and spiritual depth. Ramadan masterfully explores the five pillars—monotheism (Tawhid), prayer (Salat), charity (Zakat), fasting (Sawm), and pilgrimage (Hajj)—while delving into Sufism's spiritual dimensions and inner purification practices that form the heart of Islamic tradition. What distinguishes this work is Ramadan's nuanced examination of Islam's relevance in contemporary society, addressing pressing issues like social justice, human rights, gender equality, and interfaith dialogue, all while celebrating the rich diversity within Islamic interpretation across different cultural contexts worldwide.
✨ 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: "𝐹𝑎𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑; 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑, 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑑, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑."
👍 Liked this post or found it helpful? Hit the 👍, and 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 it with your bookish squad!
🔔 Follow me for more bookish ramblings, reviews, and recommendations.
🌟 𝑮𝑶𝑶𝑫𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑺: Nazmus Sadat ( goodreads.com/dsony7 )
🌟 𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑹𝑨𝑴: @dshadowcatreads
𝐏.𝐒: In a world where religious discourse often generates more heat than light, Ramadan's measured approach offers a refreshing alternative—neither watering down tradition nor refusing engagement with modernity, but rather creating a thoughtful space where faith and contemporary life can meaningfully converse.
March 2, 2023
„Islam is a Western religion, and Western cultures are now cultures of Islam”.
Really great work.
Really great work.
June 1, 2020
Very accessible. Answers those tricky questions that appear time and time again to condemn Islam. For example, meaning of Sharia, alcohol prohibition, Jihad, polygamy etc.
An important book.
An important book.
January 14, 2022
Introducción acertada al Islam. Crítica, concisa.
June 22, 2017
Professor Tariq Ramadan seeks to introduce readers to the various aspects of Islam in a comprehensive (if at times dense and slightly too intricate) book that approaches the religion from a liberal point of view and as such I think underplays the rationale behind a more literal interpretation.
January 22, 2020
Over past few weeks, I have really struggled with finishing this book. It was not because of the content, it was because of the fact it was non-fiction. Even though the book covers the very basics of Islam- the religion, and many facts that I already know, it was still hard to read through. Nonetheless, I found the book informative in regards to addressing questions that are raised about Islam in the West and I found the writing style to be very helpful in explaining the various topics that come under the religion Islam.
Most of the book is focused on explaining the fundamentals of Islam in the simplest terms. The simplicity of Dr. Ramadan’s explanation is helpful because he does not go into heavy detail of what is what because for someone who knows nothing of Islam, it would be very hard to read through. Other than explaining the fundamentals, Dr. Ramadan also addresses the doubts and misconceptions people of the Western world have of Islam. As a Muslim reader, I found those chapters informative because I found it to be a guide for Muslims for dialogue about their religion with non Muslims. I think many of us Muslims in conversations with people from different faiths come across questions about the fundamentals of our religion such as ‘why do we have to fast?’ For me, this book clarified how to answer these questions and how to navigate through such conversations.
Other than this aspect, the book also helps to clear up misconceptions that usually non-Muslim people have about Islam such as women being forced to cover. By starting from the basic tenets and going through all the fundamentals, Dr. Ramadan constantly addresses the issues that have been raised with each tenet that he explains in today’s world and I found it to be very holistic in terms of explanation because it helps cover historical as well as current aspects of the topics.
Some very important themes other than the fundamentals of Islam that Dr. Ramadan has addressed in this book are:
Difference between religion and culture.
Negative attitude towards critical analysis in regards to Islam.
Respect for nature and animals. He explains how this is an important aspect of Islam, and he also explained this theme in regards to the environmental issues in today’s world.
Pluralistic societies- their challenges and suggestions on what should be done.
Chapter 2 is titled ‘Human Dignity’ and I think the aspects of human nature explained in that nature are very important to understand.
Islam: The Essentials by Dr. Tariq Ramadan is an important read for both non-Muslims and Muslims because it gives an insight into how Islam is perceived in the West and how the negative perception of Islam can be tackled. It is the first non fiction book I read in 2020 and even though I knew most of the information, it helped me perceive my religion from a different point of view and that was something new for me. I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants to get to know about Islam at the very basic level.
Most of the book is focused on explaining the fundamentals of Islam in the simplest terms. The simplicity of Dr. Ramadan’s explanation is helpful because he does not go into heavy detail of what is what because for someone who knows nothing of Islam, it would be very hard to read through. Other than explaining the fundamentals, Dr. Ramadan also addresses the doubts and misconceptions people of the Western world have of Islam. As a Muslim reader, I found those chapters informative because I found it to be a guide for Muslims for dialogue about their religion with non Muslims. I think many of us Muslims in conversations with people from different faiths come across questions about the fundamentals of our religion such as ‘why do we have to fast?’ For me, this book clarified how to answer these questions and how to navigate through such conversations.
Other than this aspect, the book also helps to clear up misconceptions that usually non-Muslim people have about Islam such as women being forced to cover. By starting from the basic tenets and going through all the fundamentals, Dr. Ramadan constantly addresses the issues that have been raised with each tenet that he explains in today’s world and I found it to be very holistic in terms of explanation because it helps cover historical as well as current aspects of the topics.
Some very important themes other than the fundamentals of Islam that Dr. Ramadan has addressed in this book are:
Difference between religion and culture.
Negative attitude towards critical analysis in regards to Islam.
Respect for nature and animals. He explains how this is an important aspect of Islam, and he also explained this theme in regards to the environmental issues in today’s world.
Pluralistic societies- their challenges and suggestions on what should be done.
Chapter 2 is titled ‘Human Dignity’ and I think the aspects of human nature explained in that nature are very important to understand.
Islam: The Essentials by Dr. Tariq Ramadan is an important read for both non-Muslims and Muslims because it gives an insight into how Islam is perceived in the West and how the negative perception of Islam can be tackled. It is the first non fiction book I read in 2020 and even though I knew most of the information, it helped me perceive my religion from a different point of view and that was something new for me. I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants to get to know about Islam at the very basic level.
May 22, 2017
A concise, balanced, easy-to-read, introduction, to Islam, its historical landscape and the contemporary challenges.
Apart from the historical and factual side of the book, I personally find this book to be a simplified and more accessible version of Ramadan's earlier book Quest For Meaning; presented from an Islamic perspective.
Apart from the historical and factual side of the book, I personally find this book to be a simplified and more accessible version of Ramadan's earlier book Quest For Meaning; presented from an Islamic perspective.
September 29, 2021
A detailed delineation of the Islamic faith, but with the exception of the parts detailing the history of Early Islam, the book reads like an encyclopedia. It is extremely dense and does not lend itself to a cover-to-cover reading. As a tool for occasional consultation however, the book would be very serviceable.
February 27, 2020
Detailed view into the world of Islam. Not only does this describe what it means to follow Islam but it also explores the history, cultures, and contemporary issues of Islam
October 28, 2020
I'm not a Muslim – I'm not really religious in any meaningful way – but I've always had an interest in Islam. This interest is probably a mish-mash of things: the lingerings of Orientalist stories from my youth, and the fact that the belief seemed such a mystery to me.
I've lived in areas with plenty of Muslim neighbours, but I've not known much about what they believe. Certainly, there's a lot of investment in the West in presenting the faith as the origin of Everything Wrong With The World, so it's the sort of thing I've long had a niggling desire to get a better handle on. Because surely tabloids aren't the best source of qualified comment on the religion, right?
Right.
So I turned to Tariq Ramadan's entry in the Pelican Introduction series. It's not the shortest in the list, but at 300-odd pages it's not a doorstopper. What's provided is a good overview of the history of the religion, from its inception to the current day. Hot-button topics – jihad, sharia, polygamy, violence, amongst others – are considered, and some apparent 'truths' (at least as the West views them) are discussed.
Ramadan's language is mostly clear, though it can waver into either the academic or the convoluted at times. I suppose it's difficult to avoid either when discussing something as contested as religion. But still, meaning was never all that obscured: it is obvious that the author is not a fundamentalist, and is someone who is open to critiquing the religion, encouraging followers to consider doing likewise. He speaks against the bending of texts to ideological will, as is common in oppressive regimes, and generally highlights the ways the faith has integrated and benefited communities, with the ultimate hope that the same will eventually occur in the West.
I found a lot to think about in the clear presentation of the pillars of faith and the duties of Muslims. I found there were parts of the belief system that appealed, and were more open than I had previously imagined. Ramadan's text does exactly as required – introduces – while spurring the reader to think beyond mere definitions. He keeps his examples rooted in reality and everyday life, rather than leaning too heavily on the world of theoretical abstraction, which goes a long way towards humanising Islam for the outsider.
What's interesting about the reception of this work is that Muslim readers seem to respond to the provocations Ramadan suggests in his introduction in the way they're meant: as a jumping-off point for discussion on changing perceptions and practises. The reviews from Muslim readers appear to engage with Ramadan's points with an openness that's impressive, especially given the way the West (mistakenly) perceives the religion, as one unfriendly to criticism and self-examination.
As a bit of a crash course before next year's read of the Qur'an, Islam: The Essentials offers a good, quick overview of the faith and areas of potential conflict. It's not a fundamentalist text, but it does back up its assertions with textual references worthy of an academic, so the reader is always aware of the considered nature of the work. My questions about what Islam is were mostly answered here, though I now have some new aspects to ponder: a good result.
(I must admit that I took longer to read this book than I expected to. I ran out of steam when, midway through, I discovered the allegations of abuse which have been levelled at the author. I saw the work through, but this definitely coloured my reading: I'm not certain that I'd have read this if I'd known about these allegations beforehand.)
I've lived in areas with plenty of Muslim neighbours, but I've not known much about what they believe. Certainly, there's a lot of investment in the West in presenting the faith as the origin of Everything Wrong With The World, so it's the sort of thing I've long had a niggling desire to get a better handle on. Because surely tabloids aren't the best source of qualified comment on the religion, right?
Right.
So I turned to Tariq Ramadan's entry in the Pelican Introduction series. It's not the shortest in the list, but at 300-odd pages it's not a doorstopper. What's provided is a good overview of the history of the religion, from its inception to the current day. Hot-button topics – jihad, sharia, polygamy, violence, amongst others – are considered, and some apparent 'truths' (at least as the West views them) are discussed.
Ramadan's language is mostly clear, though it can waver into either the academic or the convoluted at times. I suppose it's difficult to avoid either when discussing something as contested as religion. But still, meaning was never all that obscured: it is obvious that the author is not a fundamentalist, and is someone who is open to critiquing the religion, encouraging followers to consider doing likewise. He speaks against the bending of texts to ideological will, as is common in oppressive regimes, and generally highlights the ways the faith has integrated and benefited communities, with the ultimate hope that the same will eventually occur in the West.
I found a lot to think about in the clear presentation of the pillars of faith and the duties of Muslims. I found there were parts of the belief system that appealed, and were more open than I had previously imagined. Ramadan's text does exactly as required – introduces – while spurring the reader to think beyond mere definitions. He keeps his examples rooted in reality and everyday life, rather than leaning too heavily on the world of theoretical abstraction, which goes a long way towards humanising Islam for the outsider.
What's interesting about the reception of this work is that Muslim readers seem to respond to the provocations Ramadan suggests in his introduction in the way they're meant: as a jumping-off point for discussion on changing perceptions and practises. The reviews from Muslim readers appear to engage with Ramadan's points with an openness that's impressive, especially given the way the West (mistakenly) perceives the religion, as one unfriendly to criticism and self-examination.
As a bit of a crash course before next year's read of the Qur'an, Islam: The Essentials offers a good, quick overview of the faith and areas of potential conflict. It's not a fundamentalist text, but it does back up its assertions with textual references worthy of an academic, so the reader is always aware of the considered nature of the work. My questions about what Islam is were mostly answered here, though I now have some new aspects to ponder: a good result.
(I must admit that I took longer to read this book than I expected to. I ran out of steam when, midway through, I discovered the allegations of abuse which have been levelled at the author. I saw the work through, but this definitely coloured my reading: I'm not certain that I'd have read this if I'd known about these allegations beforehand.)
September 8, 2021
Being a scholar in the study of religion and having had a lot of focus during my degree and MA in Islam, I am quite familiar with a bunch of introductory texts on the subject both as a teacher and student. Approaching this one I thought it would be a similar book to the majority of those out there, but it actually is not.
The way in which it isn't a standard introduction to Islam is both its strength and weakness, a weakness because it is very much seen from an insider perspective, Ramadan has opinions about Islam and how it should be practiced and thought and isn't really shy in letting the reader know about them. These opinions are a form of moderate Islam which understands it in an historical context and looks more to the spirit of the law and original texts rather than to a legalistic or fundamentalist approach to the texts. It actually represents what Islam is to many people today, rather than the more sensationalist fundamentalism that so much of Western media focuses on.
So, while it isn't a dispassionate approach to the subject and that bam make it pretty subjective, it is also fascinating in that way, very few introductions to Islam give the reader the voice of the believer in the religion. As such this gives a new dimension to what could be quite a dry text. This is clearly meant not only for non-Muslims trying to understand the religion, but also for Muslims trying to understand their religion better. In fact this would be a good introduction to work as a complement to other more dry and disinterested introductory texts on the subject. As such it was a really interesting read.
The way in which it isn't a standard introduction to Islam is both its strength and weakness, a weakness because it is very much seen from an insider perspective, Ramadan has opinions about Islam and how it should be practiced and thought and isn't really shy in letting the reader know about them. These opinions are a form of moderate Islam which understands it in an historical context and looks more to the spirit of the law and original texts rather than to a legalistic or fundamentalist approach to the texts. It actually represents what Islam is to many people today, rather than the more sensationalist fundamentalism that so much of Western media focuses on.
So, while it isn't a dispassionate approach to the subject and that bam make it pretty subjective, it is also fascinating in that way, very few introductions to Islam give the reader the voice of the believer in the religion. As such this gives a new dimension to what could be quite a dry text. This is clearly meant not only for non-Muslims trying to understand the religion, but also for Muslims trying to understand their religion better. In fact this would be a good introduction to work as a complement to other more dry and disinterested introductory texts on the subject. As such it was a really interesting read.
March 30, 2020
The best ever book has written on Islamic core principles and teachings. How precisely Mr. Rahaman cleared some most basic terminologies to us. Such as Kabba means Cub, Sharia:The literal meaning of the word ‘sharia’ is ‘the way that leads to a source of water’ and, by extension, ‘the path to be followed’. For the path that leads to water in a desert is the path of survival and salvation.
He forwards a lucid explanation of the most confusion hot topic of the day-"Jihad". He very plausibly has written on this top, " Jihad is a means liberation. To selfmastery and good deeds, leads to the freedom that is the sister of inner peace". He emphasises continuously on the spiritual Jihad- called Jihad al Nafis, a truly Islamic concept of Jihad and when it comes to Jihad. He tries very cleverly to spill the bean on the thin line difference that always lies between the Jihad and the Terrorism. He openly rejects the terror concept of Jihad, a war for a crying war, expansionary vision, voilince, mass murder, destruction , oppression, aggression, Colonial will and so on.
What the most about this book is, the writer has a great convincing and enlightened arguments. The most loved remarks have written ever is, "we need a jihad against the jihadist fraud".
He forwards a lucid explanation of the most confusion hot topic of the day-"Jihad". He very plausibly has written on this top, " Jihad is a means liberation. To selfmastery and good deeds, leads to the freedom that is the sister of inner peace". He emphasises continuously on the spiritual Jihad- called Jihad al Nafis, a truly Islamic concept of Jihad and when it comes to Jihad. He tries very cleverly to spill the bean on the thin line difference that always lies between the Jihad and the Terrorism. He openly rejects the terror concept of Jihad, a war for a crying war, expansionary vision, voilince, mass murder, destruction , oppression, aggression, Colonial will and so on.
What the most about this book is, the writer has a great convincing and enlightened arguments. The most loved remarks have written ever is, "we need a jihad against the jihadist fraud".
November 18, 2018
Rather than "The essentials", at times it felt like the title should have been "An apology for the wrong interpretations of Islam".
A high level overview of several themes across the whole time span from the foundations to the modern days.
The tone is at times academic. I personally found some of the considerations in the book to be very sensible, and were they to reach a large portion of the population it would surely reduce misconceptions for both muslims and non-muslims. I doubt, however, that this book will help changing misconceptions - it's likely to be cornered to a relatively "niche" audience due to its well researched, objective and often "intellectual" perspectives, which cannot reach the audience it would help the most: the lower educated and prone-to-extremism layers of the society, whether pro or against Islam.
A high level overview of several themes across the whole time span from the foundations to the modern days.
The tone is at times academic. I personally found some of the considerations in the book to be very sensible, and were they to reach a large portion of the population it would surely reduce misconceptions for both muslims and non-muslims. I doubt, however, that this book will help changing misconceptions - it's likely to be cornered to a relatively "niche" audience due to its well researched, objective and often "intellectual" perspectives, which cannot reach the audience it would help the most: the lower educated and prone-to-extremism layers of the society, whether pro or against Islam.
November 14, 2017
An excellent introductory reading to understand the multi-faceted nature of Islam as a religion of peace. I must say that Prof Ramadan successfully encapsulated the history of Islam, the teachings and practice, as well as the contemporary problems it currently faced into this compact book. While it seemed superficial in parts, the overall context did not betray the whole purpose of the book to introduce the essence of Islam and stimulate further reading to gain an in-depth knowledge of the issues it mentioned. Enjoyed the book much.
December 4, 2019
being a reader of islamic history and thought what i appreciate, tariq ramadan trying not to impose like many other religious writers and thinkers. he ask again and again to criticise to study and do interpretation indepth of the scriptures.
and about book i will say it is not an easy job to cover so many topics in such a short book.... not more than 300 pages and it covers the fundamentals i.e faith and rituals, the evolution of islamic religious thought, relation of religion and culture and other contemprory problems muslims are facing in common and specifically in west....
and about book i will say it is not an easy job to cover so many topics in such a short book.... not more than 300 pages and it covers the fundamentals i.e faith and rituals, the evolution of islamic religious thought, relation of religion and culture and other contemprory problems muslims are facing in common and specifically in west....
December 16, 2020
This was a decent read.
Naturally everything can't be fit into a single book that is meant to be brief, and the author is very, very open about eir own biases, but overall there's a decent amount of learning that can be done in this book.
I also think it's important to note that, in a book where his own personal opinions come into play, A LOT, he managed to sidestep the whole issue of homophobia by saying (summarized) "we should judge the act and not the person" and that just really feels, well, icky.
Naturally everything can't be fit into a single book that is meant to be brief, and the author is very, very open about eir own biases, but overall there's a decent amount of learning that can be done in this book.
I also think it's important to note that, in a book where his own personal opinions come into play, A LOT, he managed to sidestep the whole issue of homophobia by saying (summarized) "we should judge the act and not the person" and that just really feels, well, icky.
August 7, 2022
After traveling to a couple of Arab countries I became curious about Muslim culture. The intention of this book is to introduce the reader to Islam: it’s principles, rituals, history and evolution. A quarter of the human race follow the Islamic religion and I believe it’s important to see the world through a different set of eyes whether you share the same beliefs or not. In Arab counties Islam is not only the religion and culture but also sometimes even part of their legislation. The book is a bit dense tbh, but still interesting.
November 9, 2022
It varies from “The Quran should be read literally” to “this passage that reference this horrible thing (slavery, stoning adulterers, etc.) is not to be read literally but with my interpretation” depending on the authors preference. In my limited experience, none of my Muslim friends take it literally.
It does give a general understanding of Islam but it focus too much on the author’s justification for things he doesn’t agree with.
The chapter on usury and Islamic banking was really interesting, though short.
It does give a general understanding of Islam but it focus too much on the author’s justification for things he doesn’t agree with.
The chapter on usury and Islamic banking was really interesting, though short.
September 12, 2017
This is an important book. Tariq Ramadan has done us all a favour by writing this book.
The structure is superb, and takes the uninitiated through the entire history. Then, he introduces you to the principles, and then the practises,
He ends with some of the challenges, and debunks many myths and distortions. Unfortunately, we live in the world of the distortions.
The book is well written, lucid, well researched and balances.
Kudos to him for a masterpiece
The structure is superb, and takes the uninitiated through the entire history. Then, he introduces you to the principles, and then the practises,
He ends with some of the challenges, and debunks many myths and distortions. Unfortunately, we live in the world of the distortions.
The book is well written, lucid, well researched and balances.
Kudos to him for a masterpiece
May 5, 2023
this book was so damned dense and boring and I cannot bring myself to pick it back up and finish it I just cant im sorry. ok there were some interesting bits but mostly I just remember this being a repetitive ramble about the most standard traits of an abrahamic religion I need to find a book on this that won't make me wish I couldn't read. this is a far more charged review than this book deserves
January 27, 2021
A good friend of mine wanted to explore the religion so I looked up several books on Islam. This is by far the most easy read and easy to understand! Highly recommend for the intellectually and spiritually curious.
July 15, 2017
Concise and readable. Useful introduction to some of the key ideas of Islam.
December 29, 2024
Helpful and informative, great to understand the faith better.
June 5, 2025
frustrating read but well-intentioned I suppose
November 26, 2017
As much as the book giving me lots of insight about Islam, in some ways I feel like the author is trying too hard to make Islam looks like a modern and easily mingled with everything. It is true that Islam is Rahmatan lil Alamin, however, there are certain principles that cant be changed. For example, the author did not put a detail explanation on inter-religious marriage. In short, I lost my concentration after the mid-2nd part of the book.
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