Islam: A Concise Introduction

HUSTON SMITH IS ARGUABLY THE GREATEST SCHOLAR ALIVE THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DOUBTERS OF RELIGION OR WHO ARE ATHEISTS SHOULD READ. HIS MIND WILL PERSUADE SECULARISTS AS TO THE TRUTH AND VIRTUES OF RELIGION IN AN AGE OF "SCIENTISTIC" BELIEF.

Concise. A good read for a good ovetview.

this is a section of one of his books pulled out and slapped a cover around to make it a mini novel. I am always a little annoyed when this happens and feel a bit ripped off. It is barely a chapter and not a particularly long and detailed chapter at that. He spends a good bit of time telling the Western reader has their perspective of Islam all wrong and while I appreciate him hearing that, I would rather make up my own mind based on the material he presents. I am reading it for a book club and class as part of an array of books so perhaps I will moderate my view after I converse with others.

Informative, and very concise. Gives a great overview, and you can finish it in a few hours!

This is an excellent primer for anyone who wants to learn about Islam, a religion that is so feared by many in the West. Huston Smith, a great teacher of world religions, paints a picture of the beauty of Islam and what it has offered the world, shedding light on how this religion was a beacon of light in the world while Europeans were wallowing in the mud of the Dark Ages. He points out as well how Islam (meaning Peace) is no different than any other religion, in that it too has been hijacked by nationalism, fundamentalism and schisms. What I particularly found enlightening were the chapters on Sufism, the esoteric aspect of Islam. In reading the tenets of this mystical practice, I said to my wife, "Hey, I'm a Sufi!" The Sufi, like the mystics of all the religions, bypass the formal rituals of their religion and go directly to the Source--the Divine Love that unifies all Creation, and comes to the mind-blowing Space of the Infinite. I wish every Westerner, especially those who are so fearful of Islam, would read this to broaden his/her perspective. Janaka Stagnaro Author of "The Teachings of Yama: A Conversation with Death"

Very informative and well written.

As an American Christian who diligently studied Islam, lived with Muslims abroad, and then became Muslim himself, I found this book a positive introduction to Islam for the modern, Western mind. Huston Smith has described Islam in a respectful and fair manner in a way that is difficult to find among nonMuslim authors. In my study of Islam I found that even many life long Muslim writers from outside the Western cultures are not able to describe Islam with such effectiveness. Islam is often viewed only in negative ways, or in detail of its physical forms alone. Huston Smith is able to see beyond the ignorant sterotypes and begin to express the emotional depth and value of Islam's spiritual wisdom. The book is intended as an introduction, and is exactly that. It only takes about ninety minutes to read, but sheds much light on a complex subject. Hopefully it is enough to inspire readers to learn more about Islam through even more effective and thorough channels, such as speaking with Muslims at a local mosque. The best source is always the direct source. So I thank Huston Smith, and recommend this book to all those interested in beginning to understand the true nature of Islam.

"Islam: A Concise Introduction" is useful in that it fulfills the title of the book adequately, if uncritically. It presents Islam not so much as it is, but rather as Muslims would like it to be seen. To that extent it provides a lot of good information on the religion itself, and their internal perspective. However, the book works so hard to present its subject in the most positive light, that it whitewashes some subjects, and altogether deceives in other areas. For example on the issue of racism Huston states, "The advances that Islam continues to make in Africa are not unrelated to this religion's principled record on this issue." That may come as a shock to blacks in the Sudan who've been murdered and raped by Muslim's for some years now because of their race. On the use of force Huston notes, "As an oustanding general, Muhammad left many traditions regarding the decent conduct of war." Well, its nice to have good rules when you're killing people, but there's no discussion of the fact that Islam endorses warfare. It concludes by saying that, "Islam has been spread mostly "by pursuasion and example". Mostly? I could find nothing in the book about Islam's endorsement of slavery. The Hadith deals with slavery at length, but I guess Mr. Smith didn't think it important. Bottom line. The book will teach you well enough about Islam and paint a rosey picture too, but some things are to be found between the lines, and some of it simply isn't there.