This compact introduction to Islam describes the essential aspects of                  Islam as a living religion and social force. The book is organized around seven                  topics: the life of Muhammad; Islamic political development and territorial                  expansion; the important groupings of Islamic believers (Sunni, Shi'ite, and Sufi);                  the Qur'an (the Holy Book of Islam); Sunnah, Hadith (the record of the Prophet's                  actions and sayings), and Shari'ah (the compilation of Islamic law); the five                  Articles of Faith and the so-called Five Pillars of Islam that govern faith and                  action; and other binding religious observances and festivals. The presentation of                  these seven aspects of Islam strikes a balance between fact, tradition, current                  interpretation, and commentary.S. A. Nigosian underscores two                  fundamental points: that to understand Islam properly, it is necessary to see it as                  a major faith tradition, with Muhammad as the last of a series of messengers sent by                  God; and that to grasp the spirit of Islam, one must recognize its emphasis on an                  uncompromising monotheism, with strict adherence to certain social, political, and                  religious practices, as taught by the Prophet and elaborated by tradition.

Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices PDF

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