The Day Begins at Sunset: Perceptions of Time in the Islamic World (Library of Middle East History Book 48)

"The fullest account ever written of the fascinating nexus between Islam and Time, this is a major contribution to the wider history of ideas and religion. Night and day, and the twelve lunar months of the year, are'appointed times for the believing people'. Reading the sky for the prayers of the hour has thus for Muslims been a constant reminder of God's providence and power. In her absorbing and illuminating new book, the late Barbara Freyer Stowasser examines the various ways in which Islam has structured, ordered and measured Time. Drawing on examples from Judaism and Christianity, as well as the ancient world, the author shows that while systems of time facilitate the orderly function of vastly different civilizations, in Islam they have always been fundamental. Among other topics, she discusses the Muslim lunar calendar; the rise of the science of astronomy; the remarkable career of al-Biruni, greatest authority in Muslim perceptions of Time; and the impact of technologies like the astrolabe, Indian numerals and paper. The fullest account ever written of the fascinating nexus between Islam and Time, this is a major contribution to the wider history of ideas and religion."--Bloomsbury publishing THE DAY BEGINS AT SUNSET - ContentsPart I. History, Religion, Politics and TimeChapter I. Calendars: An IntroductionChapter II. The Islamic CalendarChapter III. Time, the Quran and SciencePart II. A Medieval Case Study: Cosmology, Technology and Five Eastern Calendars through an Islamic LensChapter IV. The Making of a Medieval Scientist's Career: Abu al-Rayhan al-BiruniChapter V. The Life and Works of al-BiruniPart III: How Daily Muslim Rituals Are Still Performed 'on Time'Chapter VII. 'Time Sticks': Regulating the Islamic DaySources Used and Suggestions for Further Reading First in-depth treatment of calendars, time and time-measurement in the world of Islam from one of one of the world's foremost contemporary scholars of Muslim history and religion.