In the early 1990s, Kristiane Backer became one of the very first presenters on MTV Europe. For years she lived and breathed the international music scene, quickly gaining a cult following amongst viewers and becoming a darling of the European press. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Mick Jagger, Bono, Bob Geldof, Jim Kerr, Take […]
While in the West the idea of the Caliphate evokes overwhelmingly negative images, throughout Islamic history it has been regarded as the ideal Islamic polity. In the wake of the Arab Spring, and the removal of long-standing dictators in the Middle East whereupon the dominant discourse appears to be one of the compatibility of Islam […]
The prevailing belief among Muslims is that, because the Qur an is the Word of God and God is eternal, it follows that His Word is also eternal. The belief is based on the postulate that the Word of God must be of the same nature as God Himself. Mahmoud Hussein refutes this by showing […]
In this authoritative analysis, Alison Pargeter follows the twists and turns of the Muslim Brotherhood as it battled through the years of oppression under authoritarian regimes to finally become a key and legitimate political actor. From Egypt and Syria to Tunisia and Libya, the Brotherhood and its afiliates are now faced with the complex task […]
Arguing that Islam is a lyrical view of life in which sexuality enjoys a privileged status, this work represents an attempt to integrate the religious and the sexual. It examines the problem of whether this harmony of sexuality and religious faith is achieved in practice. Drawing on both Arabic and Western sources, the author describes […]
Covering everything from Adam to Zakariyyah, this concise reference guide is designed specifically for readers and students who wish to learn more about the world’s fastest-growing religion. Fully illustrated, the book contains hundreds of alphabetically arranged entries which give succinct yet authoritative information on everything from the Qur’an and its origins to the role of […]
This concise, accessible glossary of key Islamic terms is written by two of France’s most eminent scholars of Islam. It offers brief explanations of the core background elements required by those beginning the study of Islam and covers the following: * Famous historical figures * Theological schools * Juridicial schools * Qur’anic symbols and themes […]
Events such as the Iranian Revolution, the Rushdie affair and the Gulf War have convinced many in the West that Islam is one of the most sinister forces in the post-Cold War world. Written by a leading authority on Islam, this revealing study of the sources and diversity of Muslim politics provides a balanced background […]
Combining a scholar’s command of fact with a narrator’s ease of style, the noted scholar H.A.R. Gibb presents an historic survey of Islam, from the days of the prophet, through the religion’s spread in Asia and Africa, to its confrontation with the modern world.
From the Iranian hostage crisis through the Gulf War and the World Trade Centre bombing, the West has been haunted by a spectre called ‘Islam’. As portrayed by the news media – and by a chorus of government, academic and corporate experts – ‘Islam’ is synonymous with terrorism and religious hysteria. At the same time, […]