It is a splendid introduction-carefully researched and comprehensive, yet readable. It corrects many popular and erroneous notions about Islam that prevail in non-Muslim societies. For the general reader there are many profound insights of great consequence, for example, the passages on women, marriage, and inheritance, or the section on jihad, nearly always completely misunderstood in the press.
Autorentext
Annemarie Schimmel is a Professor in the Department of Near Eastern Languages at Harvard University.
Inhalt
Introduction
Arabia Before Islam
Muhammad
The Expansion of Islam
The Koran and Its Teachings
The Tradition
The Law
Theology and Philosophy
The Shia and Related Sects
Mystical Islam and Sufi Brotherhoods
Popular Piety and the Veneration of Saints
Modern Developments Inside Islam
Bibliography
Index