What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam, Second Edition

✍ Scribed by John L. Esposito

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 289
• Edition: 2
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, there has been an overwhelming demand for information about Islam, and recent events - the war in Iraq, terrorist attacks both failed and successful, debates throughout Europe over Islamic dress, and many others - have raised new questions in the minds of policymakers and the general public. This newly updated edition of What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam is the best single source for clearly presented, objective information about these new developments, and for answers to questions about the origin and traditions of Islam.Editor of The Oxford Encyclopedia of Modern Islam and The Oxford History of Islam, and author of The Future of Islam and many other acclaimed works, John L. Esposito is one of America's leading authorities on Islam. This brief and readable book remains the first place to look for up-to-date information on the faith, customs, and political beliefs of the more than one billion people who call themselves Muslims.

✦ Table of Contents

COVER......Page 1
CONTENTS......Page 8
PREFACE......Page 14
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 18
Are all Muslims the same?......Page 24
How many Muslims are there, and where do they live?......Page 25
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 33
Why do Muslims object to images of Muhammad?......Page 35
Did Muhammad have multiple wives?......Page 36
What do Muslims believe about a worldwide Muslim community (ummah)?......Page 37
What are the core beliefs and practices that unite all Muslims?......Page 39
What do Muslims do on the pilgrimage to Mecca?......Page 43
What is the Kaaba?......Page 44
What is the significance of Mecca?......Page 45
How do Muslims pray?......Page 46
Do Muslims believe in angels?......Page 48
How do Muslims view the Day of Judgment?......Page 49
Do Muslims believe in heaven and hell?......Page 50
Do Muslims believe in saints?......Page 52
Do Muslims believe in sin and repentance?......Page 53
What do Muslims believe about Mary and Jesus?......Page 54
Do Muslims have a weekly worship service?......Page 56
Do Muslims have religious holidays or holy days?......Page 57
Does Islam have a clergy?......Page 58
What is a mosque?......Page 59
What is a madrasa?......Page 61
Are there any divisions in Islam?......Page 63
What is the difference between Sunni and Shii Muslims?......Page 69
What are the divisions among Shii Muslims?......Page 72
Who is the Aga Khan?......Page 73
What is Wahhabi Islam?......Page 74
What is Salafi Islam?......Page 76
Is there a difference between Muslims and Black Muslims?......Page 78
Who are the Sufis?......Page 82
Who are these Islamic fundamentalists?......Page 84
Is Islam medieval and against change?......Page 86
Is Islam compatible with modernization?......Page 88
Are there any modern Muslim thinkers or reformers?......Page 89
Do Muslims believe Islam is the only true religion?......Page 93
What about Muslim religious intolerance?......Page 94
How is Islam similar to Christianity and Judaism?......Page 97
How do Muslims view Judaism? Christianity?......Page 98
Why do Muslims persecute Christians in Muslim countries?......Page 99
Haven’t Jews and Christians always been enemies of Islam?......Page 102
Who won the Crusades?......Page 108
Are Muslims involved in interfaith dialogue?......Page 111
Why does Islam separate men and women?......Page 116
Are women second-class citizens in Islam?......Page 118
What do Muslims say about women’s rights?......Page 122
What kinds of roles did women play in early Islam?......Page 125
Why do Muslim women wear veils and long garments?......Page 126
Why do Muslim men wear beards?......Page 130
Does Islam require circumcision?......Page 131
Is the practice of Muslim arranged marriages changing?......Page 132
Can Muslim men have more than one wife?......Page 133
Can Muslims marry non-Muslims?......Page 134
What does Islam have to say about domestic violence?......Page 135
How does Islam treat divorce?......Page 137
How do Muslims feel about pets, or petting animals?......Page 139
What is Islam’s attitude toward alcohol and pork?......Page 140
Why are Muslims against dancing?......Page 142
Why are some Muslims opposed to music?......Page 143
What is Muslim hip-hop?......Page 144
How do Muslims greet each other, and why?......Page 148
How does Islam handle burial and cremation?......Page 149
What does Islam say about the environment?......Page 150
What is jihad?......Page 154
Is there a global jihad today?......Page 155
Is Islam a primary cause and driver of terrorism?......Page 158
How can Islam be used to justify terrorism, hijacking, and hostage taking?......Page 161
Does Islam permit suicide bombers?......Page 163
Why are Muslims so violent?......Page 166
Who are the “moderate” Muslims?......Page 168
Why haven’t Muslims denounced terrorism?......Page 169
Do Muslims have a martyrdom complex?......Page 172
Why do they hate us?......Page 174
Why was Salman Rushdie condemned to death?......Page 176
What is Islamic law?......Page 179
Do Muslims today want Shariah law?......Page 181
Will Muslims impose Shariah in the West?......Page 183
What is the role of a fatwa?......Page 187
What does Islamic law say about marriage, divorce, and inheritance?......Page 188
What does Islam say about abortion?......Page 194
How does Islam respond to stem cell research?......Page 195
What does Islam say about slavery?......Page 196
Is honor killing sanctioned by Islam?......Page 197
How does Islam view female genital mutilation?......Page 198
Why are Islamic punishments for crimes so harsh?......Page 199
Why don’t Muslims practice a separation of church and state?......Page 201
Why does religion play such a big role in Muslim politics?......Page 203
What is Islamism?......Page 206
Why do Muslims reject secularism?......Page 208
Why is Jerusalem so important to Muslims?......Page 209
Is Islam compatible with democracy?......Page 211
Are Muslims in America more loyal to the Quran or the Constitution?......Page 212
Why aren’t Muslim countries more democratic?......Page 213
Does Islam reject Western capitalism?......Page 214
What does Islam say about poverty and social justice?......Page 215
Are Muslim Americans engaged in community service?......Page 218
What is Islamic finance and banking?......Page 220
Are there Muslim televangelists-preachers?......Page 223
What role does the Internet play in Islam today?......Page 228
What are the major obstacles to Islamic reform?......Page 231
Is there a clash of civilizations?......Page 233
What contributions have Muslims made to world civilizations?......Page 235
Who are the Muslims of America?......Page 242
What kinds of problems do Muslims face in America?......Page 245
Who and where are the Muslims of Europe?......Page 249
What kinds of problems do Muslims in Europe face?......Page 252
What is Islamophobia?......Page 255
B......Page 262
F......Page 263
H......Page 264
J......Page 265
M......Page 266
N......Page 267
S......Page 268
U......Page 269
Z......Page 270
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING......Page 272
A......Page 278
C......Page 279
F......Page 280
H......Page 281
I......Page 282
L......Page 283
M......Page 284
P......Page 285
S......Page 286
W......Page 288
Z......Page 289