The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Understanding Islam

Rating:
Summary: May cause offense
Review: The author of this book is fierce defensive about his faith. In certain areas his writings is downright offensive and insensitive to other religions or even to moderate muslims themselves.

For example, not only he stop short of critcizing the Taliban for their barbaric act of demolishing the Buddha statue in Afghanistan; he even call that a 'merit' and praise their motivation as sincere!

The author is also trying very hard to justify and rationalize the actions of islamic terrorists from the Taliban, Khomeni's Iran, Palestine, Chechnya and Philippines etc. When justification becomes too awkward, the author merely turn the table around and point that other people also commited their share of atrocities!

I woold suggest a much more moderate book "Islam for Dummies" by Prof Malcolm Clark. At the very least, the author has no hidden political agenda.

Rating:
Summary: A Ridiculous Mess
Review: For those seeking a balanced introduction to Islam I would recommend Karen Armstrong's "Islam: A Short History". In contrast, this is a one-sided, evangelical treatise full of judgemental dogma and superstitious nonsense. The author also has a mocking attitude towards other religions. But he reserves his harshest criticisms for the non-religious, who he describes as acting solely on "animal instinct".

Of course, all people - secular and religious- are capable of both good and bad. But the author seems to believe that only devout Muslims will go to Paradise. Meanwhile the rest of us are left to suffer in Hell - which he describes, in disgustingly gory detail, as a place of "fountains of blood and pus" where sinners have their faces scratched with iron nails and lips cut off by razors. Yet this same author proclaims his faith in Allah, a God he describes as merciful and compassionate. Hypocritical, hate filled nonsense!

Finally, the book is poorly written, with numerous factual errors and incorrect information. I would like to read an intelligent, well-rounded description of Islam written by a Muslim. But this is definitely not it!

Rating:
Summary: Introductory Reading not just for Idiot's
Review: There is an urgent need to provide a handy book, to the ordinary people and the specialists, which highlights the meaning and the message of Islam. Yahiya Emerick's book entitled `The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam' successfully meets this need. It is a very useful reference book on Islam as religion and Muslims as its followers.

This book is a good guide for those who know little about Islam but who want to understand it sincerely. It describes in a matter-of-fact way what this religion is all about and what it is not about. As a useful reference source, I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning the truth about Islam. In conclusion, I find it appropriate to quote Tennyson: `Let knowledge grow from more to more; and more of reverence in us dwell.'

Rating:
Summary: Great Book to Understand Islam & not be misled by the media
Review: It is a very good book which seeks to demystify Islam. Especially because it has been so misunderstood & misrepresented, especially by right wing American Media.
If you are interested to understand the faith of over 1 billion people on this earth, and why there are so many converts to Islam, this book is for you. It goes into detail, has good historical facts. Also enlightens the reader how Islam relates to Judaism and Christianity.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book for Idiots
Review: While generally a good overview of Islam, I found this book filled with contradictions and political in agenda. Like many other readers, I was turned off by Emerick's hypocrisy. He endorses the Iranian and Chechnyan revolutions, yet denies the Christian Armenian's struggle for independence from Azerbaijan's oppressive Islamic regime headed by the Aliyev patriarchy.

If the Palestinian's have a historic claim to Jerusalem, then the Karabakh Armenians should have a similar claim to lands in Azerbaijan that once belonged to Armenia prior to Soviet hegemony.

By delving into political matters, Emerick colors an otherwise favorable guidebook with controversy, bias and religious partisanship. He should be more careful with what his so-called "facts."


Rating:
Summary: INSPIRING AND ENLIGHTENING
Review: First of all, regarding the book's idea of women being protected from unwanted sexual advances by covering up: I think overall this is a wonderful idea. I don't see this as treating women unequal to men, just as protecting them. Women are more vulnerable than men are to sexual abuse, therefore, we need more protection than men do. That doesn't mean that we are 2nd class citizens or that we are worth any less than men are. If women aren't showing much skin, it's logical to think that they are less likely to get flirted at or harrassed. Let's face it, boys will be boys. That's human nature. It bugs me when I hear of women who complain about being sexually harrassed, then when I see what little they are wearing, I feel like telling them, "Hello! If you don't want to attract sexual attention, then don't advertise!" This was the first aspect of Islam that deeply moved and impressed me about the faith.

I have been reading about Islam for 2 1/2 months now. I haven't converted yet. At this point I'm just researching. In my opinion, this book is a good place to start learning about Islam.

One thing that puzzles me is what another reviewer said about sex in the afterlife being a pleasure that's reserved for men only. Excuse me? Who would these men be having sex with? Women, right? Therefore, wouldn't it be natural to think that the women would be enjoying the men as the men would be enjoying the women? If not, then THAT is definitely unequal treatment! What? Do they think that we don't enjoy sex as much as men do? Or, perhaps they think that we shouldn't? Why is it OK for men to have multiple partners, but not for women? Again, THAT's unequal treatment! I better keep on researching!