The Vision of Islam (Visions of Reality. Understanding Religions)

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Summary: Sources of religious beliefs
Review: A great book on Islam and Islamic thoughts. It shows how faroff Mr. Ben Laden and his hate crusade is from Islam. But one thingconcerns me about sources we rely upon about the life and practice of Prophet Muhammad(PBHM). I didn't know that Ayesha, prophet's wife was only nine when she married him, which explains why prophet never had any children with her, she was practically his grand daughter. I think I understand why Prophet would do such a thing, it wasn't because he fell in love with a nine year old kid, but because to get the support of the tribe by establishing a " marital" link. But that is Prophet's business anyway. What gets me concerned is that I hear a whole number of Hadiths attributed to Prophet by beloved Ayesha. But really now, can we truly trust the judgement of a nine year old kid? Prophet was involved in so many complex religious, social, political, and administrative stuff and how could possibly Ayesha at that age have a good understanding of him and his actions and his thoughts as to become a source of information for the rest of us. That sounds ridiculous. Someone tried to justify reports from Ayesha about Prophet by stating that these reports are form her memories she had with Prophet and when she was much older. But still what kind of memory would a nine year old kid have from her husband. The problem is even more pronounced when one considers the how limited women's involvement were in those days.Anyway, no matter how you cut it it just doesn't make sense. I will look into it to see if this is true or not, if it is true and she really was a kid when she got married with prophet, then a red flag will be raised in my mind when I hear " ... and it is reported by Ayesha that ......etc,etc".

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Summary: Islam from the soul's p-o-v
Review: A great look at Islam from the "phenomenological" perspective. Not for beginners, more for intermediate students who've already grasped the general "how-to's" and "where-from's" and who, as the authors intend, wish a book that gives the insights of a practicing Muslim imbued with the faith of the heart as well as the facts of the mind. The authors' sympathies seem to be with the former, but as practioners of the latter, they manage to bridge the gap between an inner view and an objective analysis.

You can tell that Chittick and Murata have refined much of this material in classrooms--they frequently provide analogies that Western readers can understand, and anticipate objections and confusions predictable from newcomers. I appreciated their sensibility that can teach both those within Islam and those observing it from the "outside"; they assume that both groups will learn from their fair-minded approach. While a bit soft on the Islamists and their narrow interpetations, they do criticize (pretty late in the book) such limitations, although typically in a gentle, understated manner. It's only fair to notice when this book appeared. My only reason for four stars is because a revised edition would be very appropriate with the renewed interest in Islam and the need for an updated global context.

However, most of the wisdom in this study is timeless. My favorite part was that devoted to the Muslim conception of the afterlife and the intersection of good and evil within the power of the divine. Not the easiest topics, but very worthwhile for the careful, patient reader. The attention devoted to these ideas pays off. Over hours spent thinking about the authors' encounter with the hadith of Gabriel, I came away from this book enriched and invigorated.

Carefully compiled and meticulously written, the combination of Western objectivity and personal enthusiasm (in the root sense: to be filled with God!) motivates what must have been a labor of love as well as a considerable effort intellectually for the authors to compile. No mere textbook, but no fuzzy inspirational tract, this volume combines scholarship with love and scrutiny.

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Summary: intelectual vision
Review: according to my knowledge this type of series of books are very reare to study.spc,sufi scholars who are well known the subject give proper food to a sufi thougt and shiasm

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Summary: Simple and Complex, like life...
Review: First let me say that I consider myself a well-informed Muslim with mixed liberal and conservative views, depending on the issue at hand. I only read parts of this book before I recommended it to an American friend of mine who asked me for a book about Islam... and she loved it. The book is both beautiful and illuminating, written in a simple and friendly style, based on a series of lectures. I have read many books about Islam and by far this one is the best (to come from a non-Muslim), although not the most comprehensive. After this I would like to attempt a reply to a confused reader who reviwed the book on August 3rd and attacked Islam and all other world religions as well. To him or her I say that religions are like any other part of our life, they can be ABUSED, and this is no fault of Islam or any other religion. In this Islam, Christianity, Budhism, etc... are not different from, say, nuclear power, or chemistry, or books... confusion, war, rape, murder, etc. are the result of a confused and stupid mind that falls victim to its own sinister desires. For most people, religion provides peace and spiritual guidance and attainment. But that doesn't come through knowing about religion, but through LIVING it. Islam is a lifestyle. Any body can claim they are religious and can commit the most horrendous crimes in the name of relgion or in the name of Marxism or Capitalism or any other creed. Islam can show you how to be a good human being, but it cannot force you to be one. One has to Strive (jihad) to be good in this world by overcoming one's own unwholesome desires. For those who vilify Islam or any other religion, I say you first need to clean your heart and mind of the athiest confused clutter in your heads. Then take a long nice walk to a mosque or a church, and sit in peace with yourself and God...Life is a mystery that we can only guess at through God's signs...And He knows best, the Absolute, the All-Knowing.

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Summary: One of the best books on Islam as a religion
Review: Most texts on Islam discuss it as a historical or political phenomenon. The authors of this book succeed at not resisting to this temptation.

I've taken the introductory course on Islam taught by Professor Chittick for which this book was written for. I am a Muslim and I've read a lot about Islam, and still, the book and course were great for me. This class helped me conceptualize Islam as a religion with its own perspective on the human relationship with God.

The text takes a traditional perspective - Islam (submission/actions and law), Iman (faith/thought), Ihsan (doing what is beautiful/intent) - based on the Hadith of Gabriel. If you want to know about Islam's answers for the perennial questions facing man, then this book will help take you along the path of answers.

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Summary: Best introductory book on Islam
Review: Murata and Chittick approach Islam from the Muslim perspective through the Quran and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet). They dispense with the historical narrative explanations of the religion, and concentrate on the religious concepts that together make the heart of the religion. This is religion as it should be studied, the approach (known as the phenomonological approach) gives the reader an insight into the individual Muslim's understanding of the faith, their relationship to God and how this, in turn, impacts on society. All too often, books on religion either shy away from this approach or ignore it completely. The result is an unprejudiced, non-judgemental book that is accessible to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. A friend of mine who read the book commented 'Being particularly interested in current affairs, I always saw Islam as a violent religion, but this book, from the word go, radiates peace and shows the peace within Islam'. Rather apt as the 'Islam' translates as 'peace' and 'submission' - the complete definition being 'peace through submission'. Muslims are therefore striving for peace through submission to God - a process this books charts with objectivity, compassion, understanding and reason. I cannot recommend it enough to Muslims and people interested in a grounded understanding of Islam.

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Summary: Best Introductory Book On Islam Available
Review: Sachiko Murata who wrote "Tao of Islam" and her husband William Chittick, translator of "As-Sahifa Al Kamilah Al Sajjadiyyah by Ali Ibn Al Husayn" and various books on Tassawuf have produced the most comprehensive and thorough book introducing Islam. You will not find the typical devotional material here. Those pamphlet-books which declare "Islam The Greatest Religion" have done enough damage already. In this title you will find an exploration of the intellectual and spiritual realms of thought which have defined and constituted Islam up until the contemporary age. They have broken the book down into three parts primarily, the first is called "Islam" and deals with the basics of religious foundation, the second is called "Iman" which pertains to the spiritual dimensions of self-surrender, and the third is called "Ihsan" which deals with the elaboration and beautification both inwardly and outwardly of the deen. This is the best title available, and trust me I've just about read them all, introducing Islam to the lay-person, Muslim and Non-Muslim alike.

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Summary: The Vision of Islam is still my favoritebook on Islam!!!
Review: This book remains my favorite after reading many books on islam over the past few years. It gave me a much deeper understanding of the essential phylosophy and world reality of of the quran and prophet Muhammad. This book does a good job descxribing the approah of the quran to many of the philosophical dilemmas that we face as a modern society searching for truth such as actions verse faith, good verses eveil, predestination, and god's omnipotence verses god's nearness. I especially appreciated the emphasis on quranic references which remove the question of teh veracity of any particular hadith.

The last section on the world of dreams as a comparison to forms of reality was very interesting but I definately think it is in the realm of speculation.

I would also recommend reading biographical books about teh prophet muhammad to figure out what kind of person he really was. There are many goos readings such as by Martin Lings, and Salahi.

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Summary: Best Introduction Available
Review: This is quite frankly the best introduction to Islam available in english to date that i have seen. I should say that i am a more traditional muslim (hanafi fiqh, mutardi/ashari aqida) with a sufistic bent, so this book is written from the same background as i come from. I may be biased in that way but this is the Islam i know.

There are a few minor points that dont quite follow the traditional understanding of Islam, but they are very minor and less than any other introduction to Islam i have seen. I think that there are some things concerning aqida with which this book could even be helpful for most muslims. I refer to it on occasion for things regarding the afterlife for example.

I feel vindicated now after telling people about this book for so long as Shaykh Hamza Yusuf has just come out with a audio commentary on this book.

Murata and Chittick have been really solid in all there works and this is no exception.