Muslims

Their Religious Beliefs and Practices

By Andrew Rippin

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About the Book

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.

Reviews

"Provides a scholarly and yet readable introduction to the Islamic tradition. Rippin presents a complex religious tradition in a condensed, well-documented, and up-to-date work." - Studies in Religion

"Rippin manages to give an accessible and representative overview of the doctrinal and ritual developments of Islam."- Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies

"Every page of it is a delight...not sacrificing subtlety and historical accuracy and a highly readable style." - Vera B. Moreen, Dept. of Religious Studies, Franklin & Marshall College

Table of Contents

Illustrations. Preface to the Third Edition. Transliteration and Other Technical Considerations. Introduction Part 1: Formative Elements of Classical Islam Part 2: Emergence of Islamic Identity Part 3: Alternate Visions of Classical Islamic Identity Part 4: Consolidation of Islamic Identity Part 5: Modern Visions of Islam Issues of Identity Part 6: Re-Visioning Islam. Notes. Glossary. Bibliography and Further Reading. Resources on the Internet. General Index. Index of Qur'an Citations

About the Author(s)

Andrew Rippin is Professor of History and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Victoria, Canada. He specialises in Islamic Studies and has written and edited several books on Islam and the Qur'an, including Classical Islam: A Sourcebook of Religious Literature (Routledge, 2003).