Understanding Islam: An Introduction to the Muslim World (Unabridged)

Since the Gulf War, many have asked the question, "Why do Middle Easterners think and act as they do?" Of the 1.3 billion people who today follow the Islamic faith, all are profoundly affected by the teachings of Muhammad and by Muslim traditions that have developed over the past thirteen hundred years. This comprehensive guide offers an informative and insightful introduction to Islam, both as a religion and as a political-economic force. It tells the story of Muhammad and the rise of Islam; outlines the sacred book, the Koran; explains the five pillars of the faith; explores the interplay between religion and government; describes the differences that divide Islam; and above all, shows the influence of Islam on world affairs. Lippman provides crucial material on the contemporary Islamic community, including discussion of Khomeini and the Salman Rushdie affair, of the rise and ebb of fundamentalist fervor in Iran and elsewhere, and of relationships among different factions of the Islamic faith.