Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices)
Provides information about the history of Islam and its basic concepts and teachings, and discusses Islamic identity, law, ritual practice, intellectualism, women's roles, and speculations about the future of Islam.
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Rippin (history, U. of Victoria, British Columbia) has written a well- organized, readable text which carefully describes the religious elements of Islam. The second edition distills two volumes, to make this an ideal basic introduction for students and the general reader. Without scholarly digression into controversy, yet reflecting a knowledge of the complexities of each topic, the author describes the basic elements of Islam its prehistory, the Koran, and Mohammad before turning to the development of its political, theological, legal and ritual theories; the alternatives, such as Shi'ism and Sufism; the intellectual developments of the Middle Ages; the changes brought by the modern world; feminism; and future visions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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