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Islam: The Arab Imperialism
- GenresIslamHistoryNonfiction
102 pages, Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 1998
About the author
Anwar Shaikh
12 books89 followersAnwar M. Shaikh (born 1945) is a Pakistani American heterodox economist in the tradition of classical political economy.
He is Professor of Economics in the Graduate Faculty of Social and Political Science at The New School for Social Research in New York City, where he has taught since 1972.
Carrying on teaching and research that originated in the context of New Left social movements, Shaikh's political economy has focused on the laws of motion and empirical patterns of industrialized capitalism, based on a theory of competition independent of neoclassical economics.
In specific fields, he has written on the labor theory of value, production functions, international trade, neoliberalism, the welfare state, economic growth, inflation, the falling rate of profit, long waves, inequality on the world scale, and past and current global economic crises.
He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City in 1961, received a B.S.E from Princeton University in 1965, worked for two years in Kuwait, and then returned to the United States to study at Columbia University, from which he received his Ph.D. in Economics in 1973. In 1972 he joined the Economics Department at the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research.
He is Professor of Economics in the Graduate Faculty of Social and Political Science at The New School for Social Research in New York City, where he has taught since 1972.
Carrying on teaching and research that originated in the context of New Left social movements, Shaikh's political economy has focused on the laws of motion and empirical patterns of industrialized capitalism, based on a theory of competition independent of neoclassical economics.
In specific fields, he has written on the labor theory of value, production functions, international trade, neoliberalism, the welfare state, economic growth, inflation, the falling rate of profit, long waves, inequality on the world scale, and past and current global economic crises.
He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City in 1961, received a B.S.E from Princeton University in 1965, worked for two years in Kuwait, and then returned to the United States to study at Columbia University, from which he received his Ph.D. in Economics in 1973. In 1972 he joined the Economics Department at the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 4, 2022
Good book, gives you some clarity on Islam.
November 8, 2020
One of the best book of its kind, by a person of Indian origin Kashmiri Pandit-Muslim, written in simple and lucid English.
The book examines the religion of Islam from its genesis, evolution-formation and spread and leads to the conclusion that being a Muslim isn't just limited to being a follower of a religion (amidst several other options) available for subscription but being an Arab in your respective nation-state.
Will surely be eye-opening and enlightening for anyone who reads it.
The book examines the religion of Islam from its genesis, evolution-formation and spread and leads to the conclusion that being a Muslim isn't just limited to being a follower of a religion (amidst several other options) available for subscription but being an Arab in your respective nation-state.
Will surely be eye-opening and enlightening for anyone who reads it.
August 7, 2025
excellent work of study. also written very good and was easy to finish and understand. this is a very important book to understand what Islam is
April 29, 2024
Anwar shaikh a Jihadist turned ex-Muslim who became one of the first to criticize Islam in modern days. Unlike many anti-Islamic polemicists, Shaikh don’t dwells on the personal life of the Muhammad, instead gets to root of the Prophethood itself. As per him “It is the doctrine of Prophethood, which enables a person to realise the dictates of his super ego in the name of a supernatural Power, termed as God.” (pp 97)
The main argument of shaikh is that, though the word “’Islam’ In theory, it means "surrender to Allah" but in practice, it is a force of self-subjugation to the soil of Arabia & its cultural institutions” (pp 8) this is evident from the fact as, “it is difficult to imagine that Islam can have any purpose other than serving the cause of Arabia. When we look into it more carefully, it transpires that Islam represents a narrow concept of nationalism, which restricts the right of governing to the Quresh, that is, the Prophet's clan only: "May Allah destroy those who intend to humiliate the Quresh. (Jame Tirmze, Vol.2).... the prerogative to rule shall remain vested in the Quresh, & whosoever is hostile to them, Allah shall destroy him.... (Sahih Bukhari, 704 ; Vol.4)” (pp71)
One of the book's strengths lies in its rigorous analysis of Islam, highlighting the role of coercion in spreading the faith. Author feels, “Faith is the source of irrationality because it commands its followers to believe in what is illogical, ludicrous & unbecoming” (pp 23) for example, The Arab prophet Muhammad introduced the Arab god Allah, who communicates with him in Arabic and reveals the Quran in the same language (Q15.9), ensuring accessibility for Arabic speakers (Q43.2). Not only are Muslims required to pray in Arabic, but the call to prayer must also be made exclusively in Arabic. Islam mandates obedience to the Arabic prophet (Q3.132, Q4.80) and prohibits doubting (Q49.15). This religion divides the world into "Dar-ul-Islam" and "Dar-ul-Harb," perpetually pushing Muslims into a state of war until global acceptance of this Arabic religion is achieved. Non-Arabs are willing to fight and die in defense of this Arab prophet. If this isn't Arabic imperialism, what is it?
The main argument of shaikh is that, though the word “’Islam’ In theory, it means "surrender to Allah" but in practice, it is a force of self-subjugation to the soil of Arabia & its cultural institutions” (pp 8) this is evident from the fact as, “it is difficult to imagine that Islam can have any purpose other than serving the cause of Arabia. When we look into it more carefully, it transpires that Islam represents a narrow concept of nationalism, which restricts the right of governing to the Quresh, that is, the Prophet's clan only: "May Allah destroy those who intend to humiliate the Quresh. (Jame Tirmze, Vol.2).... the prerogative to rule shall remain vested in the Quresh, & whosoever is hostile to them, Allah shall destroy him.... (Sahih Bukhari, 704 ; Vol.4)” (pp71)
One of the book's strengths lies in its rigorous analysis of Islam, highlighting the role of coercion in spreading the faith. Author feels, “Faith is the source of irrationality because it commands its followers to believe in what is illogical, ludicrous & unbecoming” (pp 23) for example, The Arab prophet Muhammad introduced the Arab god Allah, who communicates with him in Arabic and reveals the Quran in the same language (Q15.9), ensuring accessibility for Arabic speakers (Q43.2). Not only are Muslims required to pray in Arabic, but the call to prayer must also be made exclusively in Arabic. Islam mandates obedience to the Arabic prophet (Q3.132, Q4.80) and prohibits doubting (Q49.15). This religion divides the world into "Dar-ul-Islam" and "Dar-ul-Harb," perpetually pushing Muslims into a state of war until global acceptance of this Arabic religion is achieved. Non-Arabs are willing to fight and die in defense of this Arab prophet. If this isn't Arabic imperialism, what is it?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews