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the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Islamic Jesus Mustafa Akyol, 2017-02-14 The intriguing connection between Christianity and Islam, through the lost “heresy” of Jewish Christianity |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Islam without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty Mustafa Akyol, 2011-07-18 “A delightfully original take on…the prospects for liberal democracy in the broader Islamic Middle East.”—Matthew Kaminski, Wall Street Journal As the Arab Spring threatens to give way to authoritarianism in Egypt and reports from Afghanistan detail widespread violence against U.S. troops and women, news from the Muslim world raises the question: Is Islam incompatible with freedom? In Islam without Extremes, Turkish columnist Mustafa Akyol answers this question by revealing the little-understood roots of political Islam, which originally included both rationalist, flexible strains and more dogmatic, rigid ones. Though the rigid traditionalists won out, Akyol points to a flourishing of liberalism in the nineteenth-century Ottoman Empire and the unique “Islamo-liberal synthesis” in present-day Turkey. As he powerfully asserts, only by accepting a secular state can Islamic societies thrive. Islam without Extremes offers a desperately needed intellectual basis for the reconcilability of Islam and liberty. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Reopening Muslim Minds Mustafa Akyol, 2021-04-06 A fascinating journey into Islam's diverse history of ideas, making an argument for an Islamic Enlightenment today In Reopening Muslim Minds, Mustafa Akyol, senior fellow at the Cato Institute and opinion writer for The New York Times, both diagnoses “the crisis of Islam” in the modern world, and offers a way forward. Diving deeply into Islamic theology, and also sharing lessons from his own life story, he reveals how Muslims lost the universalism that made them a great civilization in their earlier centuries. He especially demonstrates how values often associated with Western Enlightenment — freedom, reason, tolerance, and an appreciation of science — had Islamic counterparts, which sadly were cast aside in favor of more dogmatic views, often for political ends. Elucidating complex ideas with engaging prose and storytelling, Reopening Muslim Minds borrows lost visions from medieval Muslim thinkers such as Ibn Rushd (aka Averroes), to offer a new Muslim worldview on a range of sensitive issues: human rights, equality for women, freedom of religion, or freedom from religion. While frankly acknowledging the problems in the world of Islam today, Akyol offers a clear and hopeful vision for its future. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Jesus through Muslim Eyes RICHARD SHUMACK, 2020-05-21 ‘An honest and scholarly analysis of the Muslim Jesus, the Christian Jesus, and the diverging paths Muslims and Christians chose to follow.’ Anwar Mehammed, head of Islamic Studies, Ethiopian Theological College, Addis Ababa In his book The Islamic Jesus, Mustafa Akyol claims that Muslims may hail Jesus as the Messiah and the Word of God – but is that really the case? And how should Christians respond when they do? In this sensitive and nuanced exploration of Muslim beliefs about Jesus, Richard Shumack calls for Muslims and Christians to embrace constructive disagreement as the best way to both religious peace and eternal truth. For although Muslims and Christians both love Jesus. the Jesus of Islam points down a different road to that of Christianity. The Muslim Jesus wants to you to be a better person by walking a road of passionate devotion to God; the Christian Jesus wants you to be a whole new person by joining him on a road to crucifixion and resurrection. ‘If you care about Muslim-Christian relations, this book is significant.’ Dr Muhammad Kamal, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne ‘Excellent ... strikes the perfect balance between academic rigour and accessibility.’ Dr Peter Riddell, SOAS University of London |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Islam's Jesus Zeki Sarıtoprak, 2014 While it is not well known among Christians, Jesus has an important role in the Quaranic literature, and this book examines this provocative topic, focusing on Jesus's role in the eschatology of Islam, especially on the afterlife. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Muslim Jesus , 2003-04-30 This work presents in English translation the largest collection ever assembled of the sayings and stories of Jesus in Arabic Islamic literature. The 300 sayings and stories, arranged in chronological order, show us how the image of this Jesus evolved throughout a millennium of Islamic history. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Crucifix on Mecca's Front Porch David Pinault, 2018-08-01 This book on Islam has an unusual perspective. It argues that a critically minded examination of Islam can help Christians achieve a deeper appreciation of the unique truths of their own faith. It draws on the author’s personal experiences living in Islamic countries and his fieldwork with persecuted Christian-minority communities, especially in Pakistan, Yemen, Egypt, and Indonesia. It includes the author’s own original translations of Islamic texts in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu, as well as primary-source materials in Latin that were written by Christian participants in the Crusades. The author focuses on Muslim interactions with the Christian tradition. He examines and takes issue with the misguided approach of those Christians and Muslims who, in the interests of Christian-Muslim rapprochement, minimize theological differences between the two faiths, especially in the area of Christology. Such attempts at rapport, he writes, do a profound disservice to both religions. Illustrating the Muslim view of Christ with Islamic polemical texts from the eleventh to the twenty-first centuries, the author draws on Hans Urs von Balthasar, and other theologians of kenotic Christology, to show how Islamic condemnations of divine weakness and neediness can deepen our appreciation of what is most uniquely Christian in our vision of Jesus as God-made-man, who voluntarily experiences weakness, suffering, and death in solidarity with all human beings. Both timely and urgently needed, The Crucifix on Mecca's Front Porch invites readers to reflect on the stark differences between Christianity and Islam and to appreciate the uniqueness of the Christian faith. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Jesus Muhammad ʻAta ur-Rahim, 1979 |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Christians, Muslims and Jesus Mona Siddiqui, 2013-04-15 Prophet or messiah, the figure of Jesus serves as both the bridge and the barrier between Christianity and Islam. In this accessible and revelatory book, Muslim scholar and popular commentator Mona Siddiqui explores the theological links between the two religions, showing how Islamic thought has approached and responded to Jesus and Christological themes from its earliest days to modern times. The author finds that the philosophical overlap between the two religions is greater than previously imagined, and this being so, her book brings with it the hope of improving interfaith communication and understanding./divDIV DIVThrough a careful analysis of selected works by major Christian and Muslim theologians during the formative, medieval, and modern periods of both religions, Siddiqui focuses on themes including revelation, prophesy, salvation, redemption, grace, sin, eschatology, law, and love. How did some become the defining characteristics of one faith and not the other? Which—and why—do some translate between the two religions? With a nuanced and carefully considered analysis of critical doctrines of Christianity and Islam, the author provides a refreshing counterpoint to contemporary polemical arguments and makes an important contribution to reasoned interfaith conversation./div |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Islam & The Third Universal Theory Mahmoud Mustafa Ayoub, 2018-10-24 This volume, first published in 1987, was the first to examine in depth the religious thought of Colonel Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi and its central place in his political, social and economic theories. The work is based on sources inaccessible except in the original Arabic. While drawn from Islamic concepts and sources, Qadhdhafi's religious views were original. His religious openness and universal view of Islam and other monotheistic religions in particular will be surprising to those familiar with only the image associated with him in the Western mind. This title is a useful source for students of both politics and Islamic studies. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The War on Islam Enver Masud, 2010-04 In this fifth edition, Masud--recipient of the Human Rights Foundation, 2002 Gold Award--provides valuable insights on the conflict between Islam and the West, beginning with the Gulf War of 1991 to America's recent financial debacle, stemming in part from its unnecessary wars. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Soul of Enterprise Ronald J Baker, Ed Kless, 2015-02-26 The world's economy has been transformed from a twentieth-century materials-based economy to the Age of the Knowledge-Based Economy - and the currency of this realm is ideas, imagination, creativity, and knowledge. According The World Bank, 80% of the developed world's wealth now resides in human capital. Perhaps President Ronald Reagan said it best in his address to Moscow State University on May 31, 1988: Like a chrysalis, we're emerging from the economy of the Industrial Revolution - an economy confined and limited by the Earth's physical resources - into, as one economist titled his book, the economy in mind, in which there are no bounds on human imagination and the freedom to create is the most precious natural resource. Written by Ronald Baker and Ed Kless, hosts of The Soul of Enterprise: Business in the Knowledge Economy, the popular radio show on Voice America's Business Channel, The Soul of Enterprise: Dialogues on Business in the Knowledge Economy sounds the clarion call that organizations can no longer ignore this seismic shift that has occurred in the economy since 1959. The Soul of Enterprise introduces the three components of Intellectual Capital - human capital, social capital, and structural capital - and how to leverage them to create wealth in today's economy, by revealing: The physical fallacy - why wealth no longer consists of tangible things, but of ideas, imagination and knowledge from human minds The best learning tool ever invented: After Action Reviews Why Frederick Taylor and the Scientific Management movement was a fraud and the wrong focus for knowledge workers The fact that effectiveness always and everywhere trumps efficiency The First Law of Pricing: All value is subjective The Second Law of Pricing: All prices are contextual The Morality of Markets: Doing well and doing good Why your organization - and you - need to be driven by a higher purpose than profit The Soul of Enterprise will inspire and challenge readers to unlock the enormous financial and competitive power hidden in the intellectual capital of their organizations and knowledge workers. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Growing Up Muslim Sumbul Ali-Karamali, 2013-08-06 Author Sumbul Ali-Karamali offers her personal account, discussing the many and varied questions she fielded from curious friends and schoolmates while growing up in Southern California—from diet, to dress, to prayer and holidays and everything in between. She also provides an academically reliable introduction to Islam, addressing its inception, development and current demographics. Through this engaging work, readers will gain a better understanding of the everyday aspects of Muslim American life, to dispel many of the misconceptions that still remain and open a dialogue for tolerance and acceptance. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Qur'an and the Bible Gabriel Said Reynolds, 2018-01-01 While the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament are understood to be related texts, the sacred scripture of Islam, the third Abrahamic faith, has generally been considered separately. Noted religious scholar Gabriel Said Reynolds draws on centuries of Qur'anic and Biblical studies to offer rigorous and revelatory commentary on how these holy books are intrinsically connected.--Dust jacket. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Zealot Reza Aslan, 2013-07-16 #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A lucid, intelligent page-turner” (Los Angeles Times) that challenges long-held assumptions about Jesus, from the host of Believer Two thousand years ago, an itinerant Jewish preacher walked across the Galilee, gathering followers to establish what he called the “Kingdom of God.” The revolutionary movement he launched was so threatening to the established order that he was executed as a state criminal. Within decades after his death, his followers would call him God. Sifting through centuries of mythmaking, Reza Aslan sheds new light on one of history’s most enigmatic figures by examining Jesus through the lens of the tumultuous era in which he lived. Balancing the Jesus of the Gospels against the historical sources, Aslan describes a man full of conviction and passion, yet rife with contradiction. He explores the reasons the early Christian church preferred to promulgate an image of Jesus as a peaceful spiritual teacher rather than a politically conscious revolutionary. And he grapples with the riddle of how Jesus understood himself, the mystery that is at the heart of all subsequent claims about his divinity. Zealot yields a fresh perspective on one of the greatest stories ever told even as it affirms the radical and transformative nature of Jesus’ life and mission. Praise for Zealot “Riveting . . . Aslan synthesizes Scripture and scholarship to create an original account.”—The New Yorker “Fascinatingly and convincingly drawn . . . Aslan may come as close as one can to respecting those who revere Jesus as the peace-loving, turn-the-other-cheek, true son of God depicted in modern Christianity, even as he knocks down that image.”—The Seattle Times “[Aslan’s] literary talent is as essential to the effect of Zealot as are his scholarly and journalistic chops. . . . A vivid, persuasive portrait.”—Salon “This tough-minded, deeply political book does full justice to the real Jesus, and honors him in the process.”—San Francisco Chronicle “A special and revealing work, one that believer and skeptic alike will find surprising, engaging, and original.”—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power “Compulsively readable . . . This superb work is highly recommended.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Bartholomew John Chryssavgis, 2016-10-11 Surrounded on all sides by Islam, the beloved Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew continues to impact the world for Christ from his seat in Constantinople, a city central to Christian history. The Orthodox Church, that great beacon of the East, now boasts 300 million members worldwide. In one of the most remarkable tenures of the patriarchate it has been more than twenty-five years since Bartholomew first accepted this ministerial position, which is considered “first among equals” of all Orthodox leaders around the world. He is viewed by many to be a strong, humble leader who is well-loved across a wide variety of political and religious boundaries. With unfettered access to church files, Bartholomew’s personal notes, and the patriarch himself, author John Chryssavgis has woven together a picture of a man who has longed to serve God, the Church, and the world his entire life. Through personal and institutional challenges, Bartholomew continues to strive toward unity within the Orthodox community and build bridges to others. It is a task that can be as daunting as it is important. This book removes the veil that some may have placed upon this joyful man of God who is anything but mysterious, as evidenced by the heartfelt contributions to the book from world dignitaries, influencers, and religious leaders: Pope Francis Pope Benedict XVI Rowan Williams Rabbi David Rosen George Stephanopoulos Jane Goodall Joe Biden, Jr. Al Gore, Jr. Discover for yourself the man who embodies the meaning of the word ecumenical—while not altering one thing in what he believes—and experience his passion for God, the Church, and the world. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque Sidney Harrison Griffith, 2008 Amid so much twenty-first-century talk of a Christian-Muslim divide--and the attendant controversy in some Western countries over policies toward minority Muslim communities--a historical fact has gone unnoticed: for more than four hundred years beginning in the mid-seventh century, some 50 percent of the world's Christians lived and worshipped under Muslim rule. Just who were the Christians in the Arabic-speaking milieu of Mohammed and the Qur'an? The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque is the first book-length discussion in English of the cultural and intellectual life of such Christians indigenous to the Islamic world. Sidney Griffith offers an engaging overview of their initial reactions to the religious challenges they faced, the development of a new mode of presenting Christian doctrine as liturgical texts in their own languages gave way to Arabic, the Christian role in the philosophical life of early Baghdad, and the maturing of distinctive Oriental Christian denominations in this context. Offering a fuller understanding of the rise of Islam in its early years from the perspective of contemporary non-Muslims, this book reminds us that there is much to learn from the works of people who seriously engaged Muslims in their own world so long ago. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Muhammad Juan Cole, 2018-10-09 In the midst of the dramatic seventh-century war between two empires, Muhammad was a spiritual seeker in search of community and sanctuary. Many observers stereotype Islam and its scripture as inherently extreme or violent-a narrative that has overshadowed the truth of its roots. In this masterfully told account, preeminent Middle East expert Juan Cole takes us back to Islam's-and the Prophet Muhammad's-origin story. Cole shows how Muhammad came of age in an era of unparalleled violence. The eastern Roman Empire and the Sasanian Empire of Iran fought savagely throughout the Near East and Asia Minor. Muhammad's profound distress at the carnage of his times led him to envision an alternative movement, one firmly grounded in peace. The religion Muhammad founded, Islam, spread widely during his lifetime, relying on soft power instead of military might, and sought armistices even when militarily attacked. Cole sheds light on this forgotten history, reminding us that in the Qur'an, the legacy of that spiritual message endures. A vibrant history that brings to life the fascinating and complex world of the Prophet, Muhammad is the story of how peace is the rule and not the exception for one of the world's most practiced religions. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Religious Freedom in Islam Daniel Philpott, 2019-02-01 Since at least the attacks of September 11, 2001, one of the most pressing political questions of the age has been whether Islam is hostile to religious freedom. Daniel Philpott examines conditions on the ground in forty-seven Muslim-majority countries today and offers an honest, clear-eyed answer to this urgent question. It is not, however, a simple answer. From a satellite view, the Muslim world looks unfree. But, Philpott shows, the truth is much more complex. Some one-fourth of Muslim-majority countries are in fact religiously free. Of the other countries, about forty percent are governed not by Islamists but by a hostile secularism imported from the West, while the other sixty percent are Islamist. The picture that emerges is both honest and hopeful. Yes, most Muslim-majority countries are lacking in religious freedom. But, Philpott argues, the Islamic tradition carries within it seeds of freedom, and he offers guidance for how to cultivate those seeds in order to expand religious freedom in the Muslim world and the world at large. It is an urgent project. Religious freedom promotes goods like democracy and the advancement of women that are lacking in the Muslim-majority world and reduces ills like civil war, terrorism, and violence. Further, religious freedom is simply a matter of justice--not an exclusively Western value, but rather a universal right rooted in human nature. Its realization is critical to the aspirations of religious minorities and dissenters in Muslim countries, to Muslims living in non-Muslim countries or under secular dictatorships, and to relations between the West and the Muslim world. In this thoughtful book, Philpott seeks to establish a constructive middle ground in a fiery and long-lasting debate over Islam. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Summary of Mustafa Akyol's The Islamic Jesus Everest Media,, 2022-03-13T22:59:00Z Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The religion of Christianity claims that Jesus was the divine Son of God who came down to earth to become flesh and dwell among men. His crucifixion, according to Christians, was an event with a cosmic theological meaning: Jesus died for our sins, as God offered salvation to all humankind through his sacrifice. #2 The historical Jesus is a concept developed by Western scholars who have been engaged in the higher criticism of the Bible since the nineteenth century. They believe they can read the Old and New Testaments independent of church dogma and in the light of textual, linguistic, historical, and archeological data. #3 The beginning of wisdom about the historical Jesus is to understand the world in which he lived. It was a troubled world defined by an unequal dichotomy: the mighty Roman Empire versus the tiny Jewish people. #4 The Romans went about their rule of Judaea in a different manner than other conquered nations. They installed a client king, Herod the Great, who was both a brutal tyrant and a great builder. The Jews, however, did not accept Roman rule, and some even attempted to overthrow it. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Summary of Mustafa Akyol's The Islamic Jesus Milkyway Media, 2022-04-20 Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 The religion of Christianity claims that Jesus was the divine Son of God who came down to earth to become flesh and dwell among men. His crucifixion, according to Christians, was an event with a cosmic theological meaning: Jesus died for our sins, as God offered salvation to all humankind through his sacrifice. #2 The historical Jesus is a concept developed by Western scholars who have been engaged in the higher criticism of the Bible since the nineteenth century. They believe they can read the Old and New Testaments independent of church dogma and in the light of textual, linguistic, historical, and archeological data. #3 The beginning of wisdom about the historical Jesus is to understand the world in which he lived. It was a troubled world defined by an unequal dichotomy: the mighty Roman Empire versus the tiny Jewish people. #4 The Romans went about their rule of Judaea in a different manner than other conquered nations. They installed a client king, Herod the Great, who was both a brutal tyrant and a great builder. The Jews, however, did not accept Roman rule, and some even attempted to overthrow it. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: God in the Qur'an Jack Miles, 2018-11-13 Who is Allah? What does He ask of those who submit to His teachings? Pulitzer Prize-winner Jacke Miles gives us a deeply probing, revelatory portrait of the world’s second largest, fastest-growing and perhaps most tragically misunderstood religion. In doing so, Miles illuminates what is unique about Allah, His teachings, and His resolutely merciful temperament, and he thereby reveals that which is false, distorted, or simply absent from the popular conception of the heart of Islam. So, too, does Miles uncover the spiritual and scriptural continuity of the Islamic tradition with those of Judaism and Christianity, and the deep affinities among the three by setting passages from the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Qur’an side by side. In the spirit of his two previous books, God and Christ, and with his characteristic sensitivity, perspicacity and prodigious command of the subject, Miles calls for us all to read another’s scriptures with the same understanding and accommodating eye that we turn upon our own. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Muslims and Christians Debate Justice and Love David L Johnston, 2020 This book seeks to elucidate the concept of justice, not so much as it is expressed in law courts (retributive and procedural justice) or in state budgets (distributive justice), but as primary justice - what it means and how it can be grounded in the inalienable rights that each human being possesses qua human being. It draws inspiration from two recent works of philosopher Nicolas Wolterstorff, but also from the groundbreaking Islamic initiative of 2007, the Common Word Letter addressed by 138 eminent Muslim scholars and clerics to the pope and all Christian leaders. This document affirmed that the two highest commandments in both Judaism and Christianity are also at the heart of the Islamic tradition - love of God and love of neighbor. In a style that lends itself to the classroom and beyond, the book's six chapters all begin with a case study of justice, so as to emphasize that justice must also be embodied in righteous social, political and economic practices. Along the way, leading contemporary scholars and activists from both traditions urge the reader - Muslim, Christian, or whatever - to look afresh at an age-old conundrum: how do justice and love interact so as to create a world in which everyone finds his or her rightful place?-- |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Jihad of Jesus Dave Andrews, 2015-05-29 We are caught up in the cycle of so-called holy wars. In The Jihad of Jesus, Dave Andrews argues that while this inter-communal conflict is endemic, it is not inevitable. Depending on our understanding, our religions can be either a source of escalating conflict or a resource for overcoming inter-communal conflict; and for our religions to be a resource for overcoming conflict, we need to understand the heart of all true religion as open-hearted compassionate spirituality. In the light of an open-hearted compassionate spirituality, we can reclaim the word jihad from extremists who have (mis)appropriated it as a call to holy war, and reframe it, in truly Qur'anic terms, as a sacred nonviolent struggle for justice; and we can reconsider Jesus, as he is in the Gospels, not as a poster boy for Christians fighting crusades against Muslims, but as a strong-but-gentle Messianic figure who can bring Christians and Muslims together. As this book shows, many Christians and Muslims have found Isa (Jesus) and the Bismillah (celebrating the mercy, grace, and compassion of God) as common ground upon which they can stand and work for the common good. The Jihad of Jesus is a handbook for reconciliation and action: a do-it-yourself guide for all Christians and Muslims who want to move beyond the clash of civilizations, join the jihad of Jesus, and struggle for justice and peace nonviolently side by side. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: People of the Book Craig Considine, 2021-09-15 The Christians that lived around the Arabian Peninsula during Muhammad’s lifetime are shrouded in mystery. Some of the stories of the Prophet’s interactions with them are based on legends and myths, while others are more authentic and plausible. But who exactly were these Christians? Why did Muhammad interact with them as he reportedly did? And what lessons can today’s Christians and Muslims learn from these encounters? Scholar Craig Considine, one of the most powerful global voices speaking in admiration of the prophet of Islam, provides answers to these questions. Through a careful study of works by historians and theologians, he highlights an idea central to Muhammad’s vision: an inclusive Ummah, or Muslim nation, rooted in citizenship rights, interfaith dialogue, and freedom of conscience, religion and speech. In this unprecedented sociological analysis of one of history’s most influential human beings, Considine offers groundbreaking insight that could redefine Christian and Muslim relations. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Muhammad, the World-Changer Mohamad Jebara, 2021-10-12 An accessible and fresh biography boldly arguing that Muhammad’s entrepreneurial mindset helped unleash the modern world “A beautifully written, immaculately researched meditation on the impact of the Prophet Muhammad on the modern world. I loved this book!” —Reza Aslan, author of No God but God and Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth A six-year-old cries in his mother’s arms as she draws her last breaths to urge him: “Muhammad, be a world-changer!” The boy, suddenly orphaned in a tribal society that fears any change, must overcome enormous obstacles to unleash his own potential and inspire others to do the same. Fusing details long known to Muslim scholars but inaccessible to popular audiences, Mohamad Jebara brings to life the gripping personal story of Islam’s founding prophet. From his dramatic birth to nearly being abducted into slavery to escaping assassination, Muhammad emerges as an unrelenting man on a mission. Surrounding the protagonist are dynamic women who nurture Muhammad; Jewish and Christian mentors who inspire him; and the enslaved individuals he helps liberate who propel his movement. Jebara places Muhammad’s life in a broader historical context, vividly evoking the Meccan society he was born into and arguing that his innovative vision helped shape our modern world. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Threading My Prayer Rug Sabeeha Rehman, 2016-06-14 SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM SAROYAN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR WRITING. ONE OF BOOKLIST'S TOP TEN RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY BOOKS. ONE OF BOOKLIST'S TOP TEN DIVERSE NONFICTION BOOKS. Honorable Mention in the San Francisco Book Festival Awards, Spiritual Category A 2019 United Methodist Women Reading Program Selection This enthralling story of the making of an American is a timely meditation on being Muslim in America today. Threading My Prayer Rug is a richly textured reflection. It is also the luminous story of many journeys: from Pakistan to the United States in an arranged marriage that becomes a love match lasting forty-five years; from secular Muslim in an Islamic society to devout Muslim in a society ignorant of Islam, and from liberal to conservative to American Muslim; from bride to mother; and from an immigrant intending to stay two years to an American citizen, business executive, grandmother, and tireless advocate for interfaith understanding. Beginning with a sweetly funny, moving account of her arranged marriage, the author undercuts stereotypes and offers the refreshing view of an American life through Muslim eyes. Sabeeha was doing interfaith work for Imam Feisal A. Rauf, the driving force behind the Muslim community center near Ground Zero, when the backlash began. She recounts what that experience revealed about American society and in a new preface discusses Islam in America in the time of Trump. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: No god but God: The Origins and Evolution of Islam Reza Aslan, 2012-08-14 Engaging, accessible, and thought-provoking, No god but God is a persuasive, elegantly written, and accessible introduction for young readers to a faith that for much of the West remains shrouded in ignorance and fear. Adapted for young readers from No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam, this exploration of Islam by Reza Aslan, internationally acclaimed scholar of comparative religion, delves into the rituals and traditions of a religion that is largely misunderstood by the West. It covers the religion’s origins—the revelation of Muhammad as Prophet and the subsequent uprising against him, and the emergence of his successors—as well as Islam’s complex history. No god but God is sure to stimulate discussion and encourage understanding of the Islamic faith and the people who follow it. Praise for No god But God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam of Islam “This welcome addition to Islamic studies provides a valuable context for reflection about the origins of issues facing Muslims and their neighbors today.”—Publishers Weekly “An introduction to Islam as evocative as it is provocative.”—Kirkus Reviews “Wise and passionate book.”—New York Times Financial Times Best Book of the Year |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Secular Buddhism Stephen Batchelor, 2017-01-01 An essential collection of Stephen Batchelor's most probing and important work on secular Buddhism As the practice of mindfulness permeates mainstream Western culture, more and more people are engaging in a traditional form of Buddhist meditation. However, many of these people have little interest in the religious aspects of Buddhism, and the practice occurs within secular contexts such as hospitals, schools, and the workplace. Is it possible to recover from the Buddhist teachings a vision of human flourishing that is secular rather than religious without compromising the integrity of the tradition? Is there an ethical framework that can underpin and contextualize these practices in a rapidly changing world? In this collected volume of Stephen Batchelor's writings on these themes, the author explores the complex implications of Buddhism's secularization. Ranging widely--from reincarnation, religious belief, and agnosticism to the role of the arts in Buddhist practice--he offers a detailed picture of contemporary Buddhism and its attempt to find a voice in the modern world. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Why Christianity Must Change or Die John Shelby Spong, 2009-10-13 An important and respected voice for liberal American Christianity for the past twenty years, Bishop John Shelby Spong integrates his often controversial stands on the Bible, Jesus, theism, and morality into an intelligible creed that speaks to today's thinking Christian. In this compelling and heartfelt book, he sounds a rousing call for a Christianity based on critical thought rather than blind faith, on love rather than judgment, and that focuses on life more than religion. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Ethical Capitalism Murat Çizakça, Mustafa Akyol, 2016 |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Saint and the Sultan Paul Moses, 2009-09-29 An intriguing examination of the extraordinary–and little known meeting between St. Francis of Assisi and Islamic leader Sultan Malik Al-Kamil that has strong resonance in today's divided world. For many of us, St. Francis of Assisi is known as a poor monk and a lover of animals. However, these images are sadly incomplete, because they ignore an equally important and more challenging aspect of his life -- his unwavering commitment to seeking peace. In The Saint and the Sultan, Paul Moses recovers Francis' s message of peace through the largely forgotten story of his daring mission to end the crusades. In 1219, as the Fifth Crusade was being fought, Francis crossed enemy lines to gain an audience with Malik al-Kamil, the Sultan of Egypt. The two talked of war and peace and faith and when Francis returned home, he proposed that his Order of the Friars Minor live peaceably among the followers of Islam–a revolutionary call at a moment when Christendom pinned its hopes for converting Muslims on the battlefield. The Saint and the Sultan captures the lives of St. Francis and Sultan al-Kamil and illuminates the political intrigue and religious fervor of their time. In the process, it reveals a startlingly timely story of interfaith conflict, war, and the search for peace. More than simply a dramatic adventure, though it does not lack for colorful saints and sinners, loyalty and betrayal, and thrilling Crusade narrative, The Saint and the Sultan brings to life an episode of deep relevance for all who seek to find peace between the West and the Islamic world. Winner of the 2010 Catholic Press Association Book Award for History |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Scripture and Exegesis in Early Imāmī-Shiism Meʼir Mikhaʼel Bar-Asher, 1999 An examination of the features and methods of Imami exegesis. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Law of God Rémi Brague, 2020-10-23 The law of God: these words conjure an image of Moses breaking the tablets at Mount Sinai, but the history of the alliance between law and divinity is so much longer, and its scope so much broader, than a single Judeo-Christian scene can possibly suggest. In his stunningly ambitious new history, Rémi Brague goes back three thousand years to trace this idea of divine law in the West from prehistoric religions to modern times—giving new depth to today’s discussions about the role of God in worldly affairs. Brague masterfully describes the differing conceptions of divine law in Judaic, Islamic, and Christian traditions and illuminates these ideas with a wide range of philosophical, political, and religious sources. In conclusion, he addresses the recent break in the alliance between law and divinity—when modern societies, far from connecting the two, started to think of law simply as the rule human community gives itself. Exploring what this disconnection means for the contemporary world, Brague—powerfully expanding on the project he began with The Wisdom of the World—re-engages readers in a millennia-long intellectual tradition, ultimately arriving at a better comprehension of our own modernity. “Brague’s sense of intellectual adventure is what makes his work genuinely exciting to read. The Law of God offers a challenge that anyone concerned with today’s religious struggles ought to take up.”—Adam Kirsch, New YorkSun “Scholars and students of contemporary world events, to the extent that these may be viewed as a clash of rival fundamentalisms, will have much to gain from Brague’s study. Ideally, in that case, the book seems to be both an obvious primer and launching pad for further scholarship.”—Times Higher Education Supplement |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Varieties of American Sufism Elliott Bazzano, Marcia Hermansen, 2020-08-01 From Rumi poetry and Sufi dancing or whirling, to expressions of Africanicity and the forging of transnational bonds to remote locations in Senegal, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, Varieties of American Sufism immerses the reader in diverse expressions of contemporary Sufi religiosity in the United States. It spans more than a century of political, cultural, and embodied relationships with Islam and Muslims. American encounters with mystical Islam were initiated by a romantic quest for Oriental wisdom, flourished in the embrace of Eastern teachings during the countercultural era of New Age religion, were concretized due to late twentieth-century possibilities of travel and immigration to and from Muslim societies, and are now diffused through an explosion of cyber religion in an age of globalization. This collection of in-depth, participant-observation-based studies challenges expectations of uniformity and continuity while provoking stimulating reflection on a range of issues relevant to contemporary Islamic Studies, American religions, multireligious belonging, and new religious movements. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Two Worlds Exist Yehoshua November, 2016 Finalist for the 2016 National Jewish Book Award in Poetry Yehoshua November's second poetry collection, ''Two Worlds Exist,'' movingly examines the harmonies and dissonances involved in practicing an ancient religious tradition in contemporary America. November's beautiful and profound meditations on work and family life, and the intersections of the sacred and the secular, invite the reader--regardless of background--to imaginatively inhabit a life of religious devotion in the midst of our society's commotion. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Understanding Jesus and Muhammad Bernie Power, 2016-01-13 Jesus and Muhammad are arguably the two most influential individuals who have ever lived. Over half of the world today claims to follow them and the religions they founded: Christianity and Islam. But who were these two men? Where did they come from? What did they do and teach? And what was their vision for the future? This book answers all these questions, drawing on the earliest ancient documents we have about them. In the light of the current tensions that exist in the world, the future of civilisation may well depend on how humanity responds to Jesus and Muhammad. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Mystery of the Historical Jesus Louay Fatoohi, 2007 Jesus remains one of the most studied characters in history. In the two millennia since his birth, countless writers have published numerous books and articles on every aspect of his life, personality, teachings, and environment. Depending on the backgrounds, goals, and trainings of their respective authors, these works relied on the New Testament, other Christian sources, Jewish writings, or other historical sources, or on combinations of these writings. The Qur'an is rarely mentioned, let alone seriously considered, by the mainly Christian authors of these studies. This explicit or implicit neglect reflects a presumed historical worthlessness of the Qur'an. Muslim scholars have also written extensively about Jesus. Contrary to their Western counterparts, they have studied in detail what the Qur'an and other Islamic sources say about Jesus. The Christian image of Jesus is often cited to be dismissed, usually on the basis of what Islamic sources say, but at times also because of its incoherence and inconsistency. Like Western scholars who have ignored the Qur'an, Muslim writers have shown no interest in independent historical sources. This book fills a gap in the literature on the historical Jesus by taking the unique approach of considering together the Qur'an, the Gospels, and other religious and historical sources. This genuinely new contribution to the scholarship on the historical Jesus shows that, unlike the New Testament accounts, the Qur'anic image of Jesus is both internally consistent and reconcilable with known history. While showing that our understanding of how the New Testament was formed and our growing knowledge of history confirm that the Christian Jesus is unhistorical, this study makes a strong case for the historicity of the Jesus of the Qur'an. Its friendly style makes this comprehensive book suitable for the general reader as well as the specialist. Readers with interest in the historical Jesus, the Messiah in the various scriptures, modern Qur'anic exegesis, or comparative religion will find this compelling study highly informative and thought-provoking. No specialist knowledge of any scripture or history is required for reading the book. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: The Sayings and Wisdom of Imam Ali , 2018-12-10 The sayings and wisdom of Imam `Ali transcend superficial differences, to reveal everlasting truths that can only serve to guide and illuminate the seeker and traveler on his or her journey through life, as clearly, constantly, and unerringly as the Pole Star. |
the islamic jesus mustafa akyol: Confession of a Buddhist Atheist Stephen Batchelor, 2011-03-08 Does Buddhism require faith? Can an atheist or agnostic follow the Buddha’s teachings without believing in reincarnation or organized religion? This is one man’s confession. In his classic Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor offered a profound, secular approach to the teachings of the Buddha that struck an emotional chord with Western readers. Now, with the same brilliance and boldness of thought, he paints a groundbreaking portrait of the historical Buddha—told from the author’s unique perspective as a former Buddhist monk and modern seeker. Drawing from the original Pali Canon, the seminal collection of Buddhist discourses compiled after the Buddha’s death by his followers, Batchelor shows us the Buddha as a flesh-and-blood man who looked at life in a radically new way. Batchelor also reveals the everyday challenges and doubts of his own devotional journey—from meeting the Dalai Lama in India, to training as a Zen monk in Korea, to finding his path as a lay teacher of Buddhism living in France. Both controversial and deeply personal, Stephen Batchelor’s refreshingly doctrine-free, life-informed account is essential reading for anyone interested in Buddhism. |
Islam - Wikipedia
Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times through earlier prophets and messengers, including Adam, Noah, …
Islam | Religion, Beliefs, Practices, & Facts | Britannica
6 days ago · Islam, major world religion promulgated by the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia in the 7th century ce. The Arabic term islām, literally “surrender,” illuminates the fundamental …
Islam - Five Pillars, Nation of Islam & Definition | HISTORY
Jan 5, 2018 · Mosques are places where Muslims worship. Some important Islamic holy places include the Kaaba shrine in Mecca, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the Prophet …
Islam - World History Encyclopedia
Nov 25, 2019 · Islam is an Abrahamic-monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah (l. 570-632 CE, after whose name Muslims traditionally add “peace …
Islam web - English Fatwa | Articles | Quran Recitation | Prayer …
Islamweb - the largest Islamic and cultural content on the Internet for the users contain fatwa, quran, articles , fiqh , lectures , prayer times , about islam etc
What do Muslims believe and do? Understanding the 5 pillars of …
Aug 30, 2021 · There are five pillars – or basic tenets – of Islamic faith. Each of these pillars is an important part of being Muslim.
Religious Beliefs & History of Islam Religion - Islamic Info Center
Jan 4, 2025 · Islam is one of the world’s major monotheistic religions, with over 1.9 billion followers worldwide. Founded in the 7th century CE by the Prophet Muhammad in the Arabian …
The Islamic Bulletin - A One Stop For All Your Islamic Needs!
We offer many free resources such as Introduction to Islam, free eBooks, Muslim Funeral guide, Hajj guide, Last Will and Testament, Quran studies, Newsletter, videos on How to become …
What is Islam? - IslamiCity
Commonly, Islam refers to the monotheistic religion revealed to Muhammad ibn (son of) Abdullah between 610 and 632 of the Common Era. The name Islam was instituted by the Qur’an, the …
Islam: History, Beliefs, And Modern Significance - WorldAtlas
Jun 3, 2019 · Muslims believe that their sacred text, the Quran, is the absolute word of God as it was revealed to the prophet Muhammad. In the Arabic language Muslim means, “one who …
Islam - Wikipedia
Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times through earlier prophets and messengers, including Adam, Noah, …
Islam | Religion, Beliefs, Practices, & Facts | Britannica
6 days ago · Islam, major world religion promulgated by the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia in the 7th century ce. The Arabic term islām, literally “surrender,” illuminates the fundamental …
Islam - Five Pillars, Nation of Islam & Definition | HISTORY
Jan 5, 2018 · Mosques are places where Muslims worship. Some important Islamic holy places include the Kaaba shrine in Mecca, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the Prophet …
Islam - World History Encyclopedia
Nov 25, 2019 · Islam is an Abrahamic-monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah (l. 570-632 CE, after whose name Muslims traditionally add “peace …
Islam web - English Fatwa | Articles | Quran Recitation | Prayer …
Islamweb - the largest Islamic and cultural content on the Internet for the users contain fatwa, quran, articles , fiqh , lectures , prayer times , about islam etc
What do Muslims believe and do? Understanding the 5 pillars of …
Aug 30, 2021 · There are five pillars – or basic tenets – of Islamic faith. Each of these pillars is an important part of being Muslim.
Religious Beliefs & History of Islam Religion - Islamic Info Center
Jan 4, 2025 · Islam is one of the world’s major monotheistic religions, with over 1.9 billion followers worldwide. Founded in the 7th century CE by the Prophet Muhammad in the Arabian …
The Islamic Bulletin - A One Stop For All Your Islamic Needs!
We offer many free resources such as Introduction to Islam, free eBooks, Muslim Funeral guide, Hajj guide, Last Will and Testament, Quran studies, Newsletter, videos on How to become …
What is Islam? - IslamiCity
Commonly, Islam refers to the monotheistic religion revealed to Muhammad ibn (son of) Abdullah between 610 and 632 of the Common Era. The name Islam was instituted by the Qur’an, the …
Islam: History, Beliefs, And Modern Significance - WorldAtlas
Jun 3, 2019 · Muslims believe that their sacred text, the Quran, is the absolute word of God as it was revealed to the prophet Muhammad. In the Arabic language Muslim means, “one who …