Islam For Dummies

Find out about customs, history, and Islamic law From faith, prayer, and fasting to charity and pilgrimage, understand Muslim life You don’t have to be Muslim to understand Islam. This friendly guide introduces you to the origins and practices of Islam, including the Five Pillars and life–cycle rituals. You’ll discover the significance of Muhammad and the Qur’an and meet the various Islamic sects. You’ll also see how Islam has adapted over time and read about current developments in the Islamic world. The Dummies Way Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear–out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun

Introduction. Part I: Understanding the Basics. Chapter 1: Approaching Islam. Chapter 2: Tracing the Path of Islamic History. Chapter 3: Submitting to God. Chapter 4: What Muslims Believe. Chapter 5: Standing Before God: Heaven and Hell. Part II: Muhammad: The Man, the Book, and Rules of Law. Chapter 6: The Prophet: Muhammad. Chapter 7: The Book: The Qur’an. Chapter 8: Islamic Tradition and Law. Part III: Becoming Familiar with Muslim Daily Life. Chapter 9: The Five Pillars of Worship: Foundations of Islam. Chapter 10: Observing Other Religious Rituals and Customs. Chapter 11: Muslim Ethics: Living the Good Life. Part IV: Recognizing That All Muslims Aren’t the Same. Chapter 12: Shi`ites. Chapter 13: Sufis. Chapter 14: Exploring Lesser–Known Sects Linked to Islam. Chapter 15: Islam in America. Part V: Considering Islam’s Concept of Abrahamic Religions. Chapter 16: Seeking Common Roots: Abrahamic Religion and Beyond. Chapter 17: Seeking Common Ground. Chapter 18: Meeting the Challenge of Modernity. Part VI: The Part of Tens. Chapter 19: Ten Muslim Contributions to World Civilization. Chapter 20: Ten Noteworthy Muslims, Past and Present. Chapter 21: Ten Islamic Regions in the News Today. Part VII: Appendixes. Appendix A: Counting the Years: The Muslim Calendar. Appendix B: Glossary. Appendix C: Resources: Digging Deeper. Index.

Professor Malcolm Clark taught in the Department of Religion at Butler University for 30 years.