The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam (The Complete Idiot's Guide)

By Yahiya Emerick. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [359]-363) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents at a Glance......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 Foreword......Page 18 Introduction......Page 20 Part 1 - Introducing Islam......Page 26 1. Why Has Islam Become So Important?......Page 28 2. Food for the Soul......Page 42 3. Looking at Life the Islamic Way......Page 52 4. All About Allah......Page 62 Part 2 - The Spiritual World in Islam......Page 72 5. The Four Stages of Life in Islam......Page 74 6. Islam on Heaven and Hell......Page 88 7. In the Beginning ... An Islamic Perspective......Page 100 8. The Measurement of Life......Page 114 9. From Adam to Armageddon......Page 124 Part 3 - The Five Pillars of Islam......Page 136 10. Declaring Faith in Islam......Page 138 11. Understanding Muslim Prayers......Page 148 12. Elevating the Soul......Page 164 13. Gathering in Mecca......Page 176 14. Uncovering the Real Story About Jihad......Page 190 Part 4 - Islam and Other Religions......Page 202 15. It’s All in the Prophets......Page 204 16. Jews in Islam......Page 216 17. Christianity and Islam......Page 226 Part 5 - Regulating Life Within the Laws of Islam......Page 240 18. Exploring the Sources of Islam......Page 242 19. Living Islam......Page 258 20. Looking at Women in Islam......Page 274 Part 6 - The History of Islam......Page 292 21. Muhammad in Mecca......Page 294 22. The Victory of Islam......Page 304 23. The Rightly Guided Successors......Page 312 24. Islamic Civilization: The Dynastic Period......Page 322 25. Islam in America......Page 334 Part 7 - The Legacy of Islam......Page 344 26. Discover the Influences of Islam......Page 346 27. Meet the Islamic Sectarian Movements......Page 356 28. Islam in World Affairs Today......Page 368 The Islamic Calendar......Page 380 Common Prophets in the Qur’an......Page 382 Further Reading......Page 384 Glossary......Page 390 Index......Page 398 Islam may be the most misunderstood faith in history. Most of us learn little or nothing about Islam in school; in fact, our knowledge of Muslims may be restricted to news reports on the Middle East and Louis Farrakhan. Surprise--the vast majority of Muslims aren't Arabs, the Muslim Allah is very much the "one God" Christians and Jews believe in, many of the scientific and medical innovations we take for granted were passed on by Muslims, and the popular myths about Muslims often have little to do with the real beliefs of Islam. The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Understanding Islam reveals fascinating facts about Islam; they accept both the Old and New Testaments as holy books and accept Moses and Jesus as prophets. The book offers tips on Muslim culture, actual quotes from the Qur'an, the Prophet Muhammad, and prominent scholars, and answers to questions regarding everyday life from the Muslim perspective. An up-close and up-to-date look at an often misunderstood faith. This completely revised and updated guide explores the tenets of the Qu'ran (a.k.a. Koran), examines the history of the religion and its relationship to Christianity and Judaism, and features an expanded section on the true story behind "jihad." It explores Islamic views on war and terrorism, including the Muslim perspective on the tragic events of September 11, and the subsequent U.S. presence in both Afghanistan and Iraq.* Excellent sales for the first edition* Islam is the fastest growing religion in America, with more than six million devoted followers* Features an expanded section on women in Islam, including their status within the Taliban, and the Islamic practice of polygamy Explains the history, doctrines, and beliefs of the Islamic faith; outlines the life and philophies of Muhammad; describes Islamic contributions to the arts and sciences; and describes its rituals, prayers, and holidays. Imagine learning that there are over a billion people in the world, one sixth of humanity, who follow a religion that you never really studied in school. Dispelling the popular myths about Muslims and Islam, this is a beginners' guide to the history and development of Islam and the Muslim faith.