Now available as one paperback volume, the second edition of this authoritative text provides a survey of Islamic history and thought with new chapters on intellectual thought and medieval developments. It seeks to redress the lack of critical thought that appears in so many introductory books on Islam. Rippin examines the elements which come together to form Islam, in particular the Qur'an and the traditions from Muhammad. He traces the way these sources have interacted through history to create the disciplines of theology and law and provide the basis for the "alternative visions" of Islam found in Shi'ism and Sufism.

The position of the Qur'an as the central symbol and reference point of Islam cannot be disputed. Despite this significance, the academic study of the Qur'an has lagged far behind that of the Bible. In these studies Andrew Rippin reflects upon both the principles and the problems of studying the Qur'an within the discipline of religious studies. He also pursues detailed investigations of the meaning of variants to the text and the history of Muslim interpretation of the text in its diversity. A newly written introduction lays out some of the general implications of these studies, while extensive indexes of Qur'anic verses, books, authors and topics make this research more readily accessible.

The religion of Islam is of vital concern to the modern world. In Muslims Volume 2: The Contemporary PeriodAndrew Rippin examines Muslims' perception of and reaction to the challenges and changes occurring in contemporary life and questions their ability to relate the Qur'an and the figure of Muhammed to 19th and 20th century culture. The inherited world view of Islam is compared with the emerging newly-discovered world view of the late 20th century and is explored in two ways, firstly by examining modern Muslim views on religious authority and by considering their effect on the actual lived practice of Islam. Essential reading for all scholars and lecturers of Islam and comparative religion.

This concise and authoritative guide provides a complete survey of Islamic history and thought from its formative period to the present day. It examines the unique elements which have combined to form Islam, in particular the Qu'ran and the influence of Muhammad, and traces the ways in which these sources have interacted historically to create Muslim theology and law, as well as the alternative visions of Islam found in Shi'ism and Sufism. Combining core source materials with coverage of current scholarship and of recent events in the Islamic world, Andrew Rippin introduces this hugely diverse and widespread religion in a succinct, challenging and refreshing way. Using a distinctive critical approach which promotes engagement with key issues, from fundamentalism and women's rights to problems of identity and modernity, it is ideal for students seeking to understand Muslims and their faith. The improved and expanded third edition now contains brand new sections on twenty-first century developments, from the Taliban to Jihad and Al Qaeda, and includes updated references throughout.

Looks at modern Muslim views on religious authority, including feminism's `new' Islam and shows how these views affect the perception of the Qur'an and the figure of Muhammad in the traditional practice of Islam.

This ebook is a selective guide designed to help scholars and students of Islamic studies find reliable sources of information by directing them to the best available scholarly materials in whatever form or format they appear from books, chapters, and journal articles to online archives, electronic data sets, and blogs. Written by a leading international authority on the subject, the ebook provides bibliographic information supported by direct recommendations about which sources to consult and editorial commentary to make it clear how the cited sources are interrelated related. A reader will discover, for instance, the most reliable introductions and overviews to the topic, and the most important publications on various areas of scholarly interest within this topic. In Islamic studies, as in other disciplines, researchers at all levels are drowning in potentially useful scholarly information, and this guide has been created as a tool for cutting through that material to find the exact source you need. This ebook is a static version of an article from Oxford Bibliographies Online: Islamic Studies, a dynamic, continuously updated, online resource designed to provide authoritative guidance through scholarship and other materials relevant to the study of the Islamic religion and Muslim cultures. Oxford Bibliographies Online covers most subject disciplines within the social science and humanities, for more information visit www.aboutobo.com.

The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (AJISS) is a double blind peer-reviewed and interdisciplinary journal that publishes a wide variety of scholarly research on all facets of Islam and the Muslim world: anthropology, economics, history, philosophy and meta-physics, politics, psychology, religious law, and traditional Islam. Submissions are subject to a blind peer review process.

Annotation. The religion of Islam is of vital concern to the modern world. In Muslims Volume 2: The Contemporary PeriodAndrew Rippin examines Muslims' perception of and reaction to the challenges and changes occurring in contemporary life and questions their ability to relate the Qur'an and the figure of Muhammed to 19th and 20th century culture. The inherited world view of Islam is compared with the emerging newly-discovered world view of the late 20th century and is explored in two ways, firstly by examining modern Muslim views on religious authority and by considering their effect on the actual lived practice of Islam. Essential reading for all scholars and lecturers of Islam and comparative religion..

A reader's guide, a true companion for anyone who wishes to read and understand the Qur'an as a text and as a vital piece of Muslim life.