Foundations of Islam: The Making of a World Faith

Foundations of Islam is a comprehensive survey of the many influences that have helped shape one of the great religions of the world. The book discusses the non Muslim sources that have moulded many aspects of the culture. From earliest times, the pre-Islamic Arabs had dealings with other civilizations in the region. The book opens with a look at the records of contacts with Egypt, Babylonia, Greece, Rome, Palestine and the Christian communities of the Middle East. An overview of the dominant religions in Arabia before the advent of Islam is followed by a biography of the prophet Muhammad, leading to a study of the evolution of the Koran, of Muslim law, beliefs and practices and the rapid growth a d spread of the emergent religion across half the globe. The book ends with an examination of the place of Islam in the modern world. With more than four hundred citations from the Koran and supported by the writings of Muslim scholars past and present as well as western authorities, foundations of Islam is encyclopaedic in its range and depth. It will appeal both to the students of religion and history and to the general reader.