DOC Freedom: An African-American History of Georgia; 1733-1865 by Michael Thurmond in History

Description

RENEWING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ISLAM IN TODAY S WORLD Islam; in many of its current guises; no longer resembles its original Message. In a world of intractable conflicts plagued by political Islam and Islamophobia and where other forms of fundamentalism within the major religious creeds are on the rise; as well this book serves as a reminder. It aims to recover and reaffirm Islam s underlying and guiding principles. Setting out to distinguish the divine from the human in order to elucidate the pristine nature of the divine Message; Mahmassani reasserts Islam s universal; secular; and progressive character. In Part One of this comprehensive and meticulously researched volume; the author places the Message of Islam within its historic; geographic; and cultural contexts. Focusing on the primacy of the Holy Qur'an among the sources of Islam; he examines the controversies which have surrounded the Prophetic Tradition Sunna and Hadith as a source of Islam; demonstrating the full scope of Islam s universality. In Part Two he goes on to clarify Islam s secular nature by reconsidering inherited beliefs about the relationship between Islam and the state; and Islam and Sharia a law; revealing Islam s inherent humanism. This leads; in Part Three; to reflections on the progressive nature of Islam; and on the importance of the role of the mind in understanding and taking full benefit of religion as an engine of progress. In particular; the author focuses on human rights; including issues of human dignity; freedom of faith; and gender equality. Islam in Retrospect: Recovering the Message is a rich contribution to continuing efforts to reform perceptions of Islam. Scholars and students in the fields of Islamic studies; religion; and the humanities; teachers; policy makers; and general readers will find this carefully constructed sourcebook invaluable for its fresh outlook and approach to understanding Islam and Muslim Scriptures in the light of today s world. As Mahmassani affirms; Islam; as a divine message; has been and continuously remains perfect."