Trying to Understand Islam and the Muslim world? Book suggestions?

Question

Trying to Understand Islam and the Muslim world? Book suggestions?
I found a book at the Half-priced book store called 'Inside Islam: The Faith, the People, and the Conflicts of the World's Fastest-Growing Religion'. It was written by several people including: Karen Armstrong, Geraldine Brookes, Thomas Cleary, Bernard Lewis, V.S. Naipaul, Huston Smith, William T. Vollmann, Fareed Zakaria, and many others.

I'd like to understand Islam and the Muslim world better, with the Iraq war (I am what you consider a liberal, I disagreed with this war since the beginning), I'm curious about this religion and would like to read about it. I'd like something that covers the beginning of Islam and the Muslim religion and covers why some people take the Qur'an militantly and some do not. Are there any books anyone can recommend to reading? Is the book I choose good enough? or is there a better book out there? I appreciate your input.

Thanks =)

The backside of the book 'Inside Islam' reads (it's a paperback book): 'Inside Islam offers an unprecedented and timely exploration of Islam in all its complexity - from the prophet Muhammad and the book of Qur'an to the sacred city of Mecca, the role of women in Islam, and the status of the modern faith in cities and countries throughout the world. This volume assembles fourteen accessible, insightful essays by many of the world's preeminent writers, historians, journalists, and scholars who have addressed the religion whose influence is being felt around the world now more than ever.' I don't know if this helps or not, but I wanted to add it so people not familiar with the book could see what it was about.

Answer 1

Try the Quran (english translation). Or you could just do a search on an online book store for those terms and see what the top picks or best rated one are.

Unlike the person above, I think it's good you want to understand. Islam and Muslim world is predicted to influence world events even more in the future than it is now. Even the person above should understand to need to "know thy enemy" or "keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Although I I think a BETTER reason to learn about Islam is because the world would be a better place if we all tried to understand each other's perspective.

I also don't think the person above knows that many Muslims.

Empathy and open-mindedness goes a long way in solving the world's ills.

Also, some people need to learn the information for their work. I think the Quran is a good place to start but not representative any more than the Christian Bible is for Christians. There are many religious groups just like there are for Christians.

Answer 2

How could you choose islam . Islam is worse than christianity. I am also a Catholic who left the Christian faith over 8 years ago , but I went for any other Religion besides Islam and christianity. Muslims are killers and blind fanatics, who have forced people to convert at the threat of there lives with knives to there throats. Muslims have slit peoples throats and cut heads off around the world . They are an evil religion . Christians have also killed people around the world . I would stay clear of both of them I can undersatnd you wanting to leave Christianity but I cannot understand you going to a low religion like Islam so I would say your either a muslim impersonating this question or your being led by another muslim or your ignorant.

Answer 3

Check out Karen Armstrong. She has written multiple books on Islam. I believe she used to be a nun and kind of fell away from that lifestyle and has become a leading authority on Islam. She is very knowledgeable and an excellent author. I took an intro to Islam class because I experience alot of the same thoughts you are currently experiencing. Read the Quran and you will see a lot of similarities to the Bible. Some would argue that the Quran is a rip off of the major points of the Bible because it was written almost 500 years later. Christianity has some experience with the overzealous crowd. The native Americans, conquistadors, Salem witch trials, etc. Human history is ugly in a lot of aspects. No one can argue with that, however, it is not our job to judge, it s our job to find the truth. Please note the commonalities Karen Armstrong lists between Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Very interesting.

Answer 4

The Koran is very interesting.

The first several pages are devoted to ignoring Logic as it was developed by the Ancient Greeks. If you can get past that, (liberals are very tolerant regarding logic and science so you should have no problem), you'll get a good handle on what the "fundamentalist" Muslims believe.

Answer 5

I just want to add an important point DON'T TRUST ALL WEBSITES some of them say wrong information about islam

Answer 6

to understant modern islam i would suggest if you have the time you can go to a country like Turkey, where western world meets Islam, its very interesting and you can see how modern muslims interact with the modern world. its not like the arab countries where there are certain rules, those rules where not it islam, they were in the arab culture so if you want to see pure islam with modernism go to turkey.

Answer 7

Salam
Best Books for you:

islam-guide.com
http://www.amazon.com/Islam-Between-East-Alija-Izetbegovic/dp/0892591390
islamhouse.com
islam-webpage.blogspot.com

Answer 8

try to visit
before reading you should know that (allah) mean god
www.islamonline.net
http://www.islamicbookstore.com/
http://www.discoverislam.com/
its an islamic online tv http://212.35.66.83/tv.htm
http://understand-islam.net/pafiledb/pafiledb.php
http://www.islamicity.com/
http://www.ediscoverislam.com/
http://www.understanding-islam.com/
http://understand-islam.net/pafiledb/pafiledb.php?action=category&id=1
good luck
hope to understand the real tolerant islam

Answer 9

Why would you want to understand there religion? When was the last time you herd a Muslim ask that same question? Like Never!

Answer 10

well i dont know any books, but i think your on the best source for information right now, the internet.