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Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Primer for the Uninitiated
Review: If you have no knowledge or very little knowledge of Islam, and you want to get a quick overview, I found this to be a remarkable title. I've personally given away 1/2 a dozen or so.If you are looking for more in depth answers to questions that you have, I recommend visiting your local mosque or Islamic center to see if they have classes.
Rating: 
Summary: Islam for Idiots?
Review: If you want to convince a non-Muslim to stay well away from Islam, this is the book for you! It will a) reinforce negative sterotypes, b)blur the distinctions between religion and culture, and c)leave out information that non-Muslims find problematic, and in so doing promote the idea that Islam can't be questioned BECAUSE it has no concrete answers to offer. It might as well be sub-titled: "There is no room for moderation or logic in Islam." The constant use of "He" or "Him"--capitalized--when referring to the Prophet is very revealing. On the one hand, we hear that Muhammed was a human being and not to be worshipped like God, but I have been told by many Muslims privately that he is "Divine". This book obviously bows to those who deify the Prophet and accords Muhammed the same status as Allah. I guess it's time for that old politically-incorrect term, "Mohammedan", to come back into use when referring to people who worship Mohammad. The book is written in a warm and cuddly, user-friendly cartoon style, which makes it somehow creepy--like Communist propoganda or a Joe Camel ad. If you're looking for a good, unbiased history of Islam, and an introduction to Muslim beliefs, don't waste your money on this book. But if you're a Muslim searching for a clue as to why some people take a dim view of Islam, you might want to read this so you know what non-Muslims are being fed.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Introduction to Islam
Review: n addition to teaching me new things, "For Beginners" books provide me with sheer reading pleasure, and this book is no exception. Actually I rate it highly among the "For Beginners" books I have read. At 200 pages, it is far thicker than most of them and is therefore and excellent value. You will learn a lot about Islam from reading this book. Like other Islam books, this book covers the essentials of the religion and the history of the Muslim world. Unlike other Islam books, this book covers a much wider range of topics, interspersing beautiful specimens of art an calligraphy on almost every page. The book also does interesting case studies of ten Islamic cities throughout history, among them Cairo and Damascus, naturally, but also lesser-known Islamic centers such as Cordoba (in Spain), Isfahan (in Iran), Djenne (in Africa), Agra (in India), and Samarkand (Central Asia). These case studies are used to introduce such things as commerce in the Islamic world, social issues and role of women, architecture and city planning, science and medicine, philosophy, and literature. This is indeed a comprehensive and thorough introduction to one of the world's most popular religions. Those of you who enjoyed this book and who have an interest in Middle East politics will find "Arabs and Israel for Beginners", by Ron David, a perfect complement. I strongly recommend you buy both at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Introduction to Islam
Review: n addition to teaching me new things, "For Beginners" books provide me with sheer reading pleasure, and this book is no exception. Actually I rate it highly among the "For Beginners" books I have read. At 200 pages, it is far thicker than most of them and is therefore and excellent value. You will learn a lot about Islam from reading this book. Like other Islam books, this book covers the essentials of the religion and the history of the Muslim world. Unlike other Islam books, this book covers a much wider range of topics, interspersing beautiful specimens of art an calligraphy on almost every page. The book also does interesting case studies of ten Islamic cities throughout history, among them Cairo and Damascus, naturally, but also lesser-known Islamic centers such as Cordoba (in Spain), Isfahan (in Iran), Djenne (in Africa), Agra (in India), and Samarkand (Central Asia). These case studies are used to introduce such things as commerce in the Islamic world, social issues and role of women, architecture and city planning, science and medicine, philosophy, and literature. This is indeed a comprehensive and thorough introduction to one of the world's most popular religions. Those of you who enjoyed this book and who have an interest in Middle East politics will find "Arabs and Israel for Beginners", by Ron David, a perfect complement. I strongly recommend you buy both at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: Fun reading, A Dummies Guide, Good gift.
Review: Nowadays, the kinds of books we get on Islam are getting too heavy to read. I bought a couple of these books to give to my friends who were interested in Islam, but did not want to invest the time in a "Real" book. The illustrated approach makes it light. The book is nice in that it tries to be factual, and doesn't try to "convert" anyone. It's a great starting point. If you have a Muslim friend or want to have a simple understanding of Islam, this is a good book you can probably finish in one or two sittings. After getting a politicised view of Islam through the News and Media, this is a fairly neutral way to learn what the religion is about without having to get too intellectual.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect as an introductory reading.
Review: The author does a good job in remaining sensitive towards all factions of Muslims, and gives a great explaination of what Islam is to the outsider. Even the artwork in the book is conformant with Islamic traditions. I would recommend this to anyone who has little or no knowledge about Islam. For those who already have a descent understanding, pass this one up.
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