What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam

✍ Scribed by John L. Esposito

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 226
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, there has been an overwhelming demand for information about Islam. As a leading expert, John Esposito has found himself called upon to speak to a wide range of audiences, including members of Congress, the Bush administration, government agencies, the military, and the media. Out of this experience, he has identified the most pressing questions people consistently ask about Islam. In What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam, Esposito presents in question-and-answer format the information that most people want to know. Esposito provides succinct, accessible, sensitive, and even-handed answers to questions that range from the general--"What do Muslims believe?" and "Who was Muhammad?"--to more specific issues like Is Islam compatible with modernization, capitalism and democracy? How do Muslims view Judaism and Christianity? Are women second-class citizens in Islam? What is jihad? Does the Quran condone terrorism? What does Islam say about homosexuality, birth control, abortion, and slavery? The editor of The Oxford Encyclopedia of Modern Islam and The Oxford History of Islam, and author of Unholy War and many other acclaimed works, John Esposito is one of America's leading authorities on Islam. This brief and readable book is the first place to look for information on the faith, customs, and political beliefs of the more than one billion people who call themselves Muslims.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents......Page 9
Preface......Page 15
Acknowledgments......Page 19
Are all Muslims the same?......Page 23
Where do most Muslims live?......Page 24
What do Muslims believe?......Page 26
Why do Muslims say they are descended from Abraham?......Page 27
How did Islam originate?......Page 28
What is the Muslim scripture?......Page 30
Why is Arabic so important in Islam?......Page 31
What role does Muhammad play in Muslim life?......Page 32
Why is so much known about Muhammad’s life?......Page 34
Did Muhammad have multiple wives?......Page 36
What do Muslims believe about a worldwide Muslim community (ummah)?......Page 37
What are the core beliefs that unite all Muslims?......Page 39
What do Muslims do on the pilgrimage to Mecca?......Page 44
What is the Kaaba?......Page 45
How do Muslims pray?......Page 46
Do Muslims believe in angels?......Page 49
Do Muslims believe in heaven and hell?......Page 50
Do Muslims believe in saints?......Page 52
What do Muslims believe about Mary and Jesus?......Page 53
Do Muslims have a Sabbath like Jews and Christians?......Page 54
Do Muslims have a weekly worship service?......Page 55
Do Muslims have religious holidays or holy days?......Page 56
Does Islam have a clergy?......Page 57
What is a mosque?......Page 58
What is an Islamic center?......Page 60
Are there any divisions in Islam?......Page 61
What is the difference between Sunni and Shii Muslims?......Page 67
What are the divisions among Shii Muslims?......Page 70
What is Wahhabi Islam?......Page 71
Is there a difference between Muslims and Black Muslims?......Page 74
Are Sufis Muslims?......Page 78
Who are these Islamic fundamentalists?......Page 80
Is Islam medieval and against change?......Page 83
Is Islam compatible with modernization?......Page 85
Are there any modern Muslim thinkers or reformers?......Page 87
Do Muslims believe Islam is the only true religion?......Page 91
Is Islam intolerant of other religions?......Page 92
How is Islam similar to Christianity and Judaism?......Page 95
How do Muslims view Judaism? Christianity?......Page 97
Why do Muslims persecute Christians in Muslim countries?......Page 98
Haven’t Jews and Christians always been enemies of Islam?......Page 101
Why does Islam separate men and women?......Page 109
Are women second-class citizens in Islam?......Page 111
What kinds of roles did women play in early Islam?......Page 115
Why do Muslim women wear veils and long garments?......Page 117
Why aren’t women allowed to work or drive in Islam?......Page 120
Why do Muslim men wear turbans or caps?......Page 122
Does Islam require circumcision?......Page 123
Can Muslim men have more than one wife?......Page 124
Can Muslims marry non-Muslims?......Page 126
What does Islam have to say about domestic violence?......Page 127
How does Islam treat divorce?......Page 129
How do Muslims feel about pets, or petting animals?......Page 131
What is Islam’s attitude toward alcohol and pork?......Page 132
Why are Muslims against dancing?......Page 134
Why are some Muslims opposed to music?......Page 135
How do Muslims greet each other and why?......Page 137
Why do Muslims say “Peace be upon him”? What does PBUH mean?......Page 138
What is jihad?......Page 139
Does the Quran condone terrorism?......Page 141
How can Islam be used to justify terrorism, hijackings, and hostage taking?......Page 144
Does Islam permit suicide bombers?......Page 146
Why are Muslims so violent?......Page 149
Do Muslims support extremist and terrorist groups?......Page 151
Do most Muslim organizations support terrorism?......Page 153
Do Muslims have a martyrdom complex?......Page 154
Why do they hate us?......Page 156
Why was Salman Rushdie condemned to death?......Page 158
What is Islamic law?......Page 161
What does Islamic law say about marriage, divorce, and inheritance?......Page 164
What does Islam say about abortion?......Page 168
What does Islam say about slavery?......Page 169
Why are Islamic punishments for crimes so harsh?......Page 171
Why don’t Muslims practice a separation of church and state?......Page 173
Why does religion play such a big role in Muslim politics?......Page 175
Why do Muslims reject secularism?......Page 178
Why is Jerusalem so important to Muslims?......Page 179
Is Islam compatible with democracy?......Page 181
Why aren’t Muslim countries more democratic?......Page 182
Why does Islam reject capitalism?......Page 183
What does Islam have to say about poverty and social justice?......Page 185
Why does Islam prohibit the charging of interest?......Page 187
What is Islamic banking?......Page 188
Who are the Muslims of America?......Page 191
What kinds of problems do Muslims face in America?......Page 193
Who and where are the Muslims of Europe?......Page 197
What are the issues that European Muslims face?......Page 199
B......Page 203
F......Page 204
I......Page 205
K......Page 206
M......Page 207
S......Page 208
T......Page 209
Z......Page 210
Suggestions for Further Reading......Page 211
A......Page 216
C......Page 217
F......Page 218
I......Page 219
J......Page 220
M......Page 221
O......Page 222
Q......Page 223
S......Page 224
W......Page 225
Z......Page 226