Unveiling Islam Summary

988 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of islam

The purpose of this essay is to provide a review of the book, Unveiling Islam, by Roger Du Pasquier. Moreover, by exploring the text it will also be linked to a previous essay on the status of women in Islam, as well as related articles presented during lectures. Moreover, this book addresses common misconceptions about the religion and enlightens the reader in an attempt to introduce the reader to Islam and explain the complexities of the religion in a way that is easy for the reader to understand.
First, the book briefly touches on the topics of Islamic culture and the importance of Islamic art and literature. To begin, I will discuss the theme of Muslim art and literature. Moreover, in a presentation by Professor Oludamini Ogunnaike, he …show more content…

The final revelation of the prophetic cycle, it offers methods of resisting the present chaos, and of re-establishing order and clarity within the soul...”. One might understand this as relating to the topic of Jihad. Before I began reading on this topic my initial understanding of what Jihad was is that it’s a holy war or an attempt by those on the extreme end of the Islamic faith who used it as a means to try and send a message that the world is not pure and that the ideal way to bring about balance is through conversion to Islam. This opinion was formed from a lack of understanding and a place of ignorance that was influenced by how media sources interpreted and portrayed what Jihad actually is. The reading. The spiritual significance of Jihad, by Hossein Nasr, it talked about how Jihad was translated as “holy war” by Western societies when in reality within Islam the concept of Jihad people are taught to strive for equilibrium within themselves and the world around. In order to do so one must exert themself throughout their life, much like the book it discusses how Islam teaches people to embody God, much the same way Christians are taught to embody Christ. Additionally, when Du Pasquier writes about how man is fighting the last stage “without losing himself”, could be interpreted as relating to the

Show More
Related

  • Rise Of Islam Dbq

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    After the fall of the Roman Empire, no one imagined that the next great world power would emerge from Saudi Arabia. Especially, because ancient empires thought that the land was worthless but they didn’t know that it had great trade routes. Trade brought them in connection with other civilizations and that’s how the city of Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia became known. The city of Mecca was a mix of religious beliefs, they used to worship many gods and had their own rituals. The world of Islam took place in Mecca where Muhammad was born in 570 CE. He became known as “the Prophet,” he was meant to be God’s final prophet. The main two groups of Islam are the Shia and Sunni; which they were created after Muhammad’s death. The Islam religion as

    Read More

  • The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror by Bernard Lewis

    1345 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror is a book written by Bernard Lewis that ‘in particular charts the key events of the twentieth century leading up to the violent confrontations of today. ’(Lewis) Lewis clearly and entirely points out key events explaining the choices to be made by the people of the Islamic faith. They must determine whether their religion takes its place alongside other religions in a global community, or whether it will revert back into conflict with non-Muslim nations. Islam is a religion that most Americans don’t understand, but still have strong feelings towards. To clear things up, Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion written in the Qur'an, a book considered by its believers to be the exact word of God.

    Read More

  • The Armenian Genocide and the American Response

    2117 Words  | 5 Pages

    ... and Jihad According to Islam." HWeb. HWeb, 13 June 2006. Web. 05 Nov. 2013. .

    Read More

  • The Real Meanings of Jihad

    2587 Words  | 6 Pages

    While there is no precise definition of the term, the meaning of Jihad is far more complex. In fact, the term Jihad generally refers to the struggle one must undertake as one “strive[s] in the path of God” (Church 110). That struggle is defined both externally and internally. As so, they are classified in terms of an external struggle with enemies or non believers, or an internal struggle with oneself to reject greed and temptation. While popular opinion has been misconstrued to see Jihad as a malevolent, violent action; a serious investigation of the term’s historical and religious background reveals a multi-defined word.

    Read More

  • Thomas W. Lippman's Understanding Islam

    1218 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas W. Lippman gives an introduction to the Muslim world in the book Understanding Islam. He has traveled throughout the Islamic world as Washington Post bureau chief for the Middle East, and as a correspondent in Indochina. This gave him, in his own words, "sharp insight into the complexities of that turbulent region." However, the purpose of the book is not to produce a critical or controversial interpretation of Islamic scripture. It is instead to give the American layman an broad understanding of a religion that is highly misunderstood by many Americans. In this way he dispels many myths about "Muslim militants," and the otherwise untrue perception of Islamic violence. In this way the American reader will become more knowledgeable about an otherwise unfamiliar topic. However, the most significant element of Lippman’s book is that it presents Islam in a simple way that makes the reader feels his awareness rise after each chapter. This encourages him to continue learning about the world’s youngest major religion. Understanding Islam dispels many misconceptions about the Muslim world, and presents the subject in a way that urges his reader to further his understanding of Islam through continued study.

    Read More

  • Impact and Significance of Arab Conquests in World History

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are few events that have affected world history as profoundly as the battles and expeditions between 632 and 720, and everyone lives with those consequences to the present day. After the death of the Prophet Muhammad, the death of Islam was very possible. The Arab conquests were remembered merely as one of the history’s more improbable “might-have-beens”. It may easily have been the end, if not for the decisive action taken by the early Muslim leadership, notably by the first two caliphs (or successors of the Prophet). Like Muhammad himself, they were from urban commercial backgrounds, but they saw clearly that the Muslim community had to expand or break up.

    Read More

  • Comparing Islam And Islam's Views Of Christianity And Christianity

    1204 Words  | 3 Pages

    But irrespective of the different manifestations and different practices, finally all streams of Islam find their mission and identity in their beloved prophet, religious history and sacred texts As it is such sources that will finally define and guide Islam of the future as it goes on spreading around the world, we must consider them as seriously as a serious Muslim does (Wilson). We should understand what is there in Islamic texts and instances and life of their prophet for understanding the growth and nature of Islam. On such historical-theological foundation, then we can best understand and contrast the objectives and state of Islam in today’s world for its true mandates and motivations.

    Read More

  • Islam: Its History, Sects, and Pillars

    2993 Words  | 6 Pages

    Burns, Thomas J. "Islam." Religion and Society. OU Campus' Dale Hall, Norman. 14 Apr. 2014. Lecture.

    Read More

  • Islam in America

    2522 Words  | 6 Pages

    Islam, a religion of people submitting to one God, seeking peace and a way of life without sin, is always misunderstood throughout the world. What some consider act of bigotry, others believe it to be the lack of education and wrong portrayal of events in media; however, one cannot not justify the so little knowledge that America and Americans have about Islam and Muslims. Historically there are have been myths, many attacks on Islam and much confusion between Islam as a religion and Middle Easter culture that is always associated with it. This paper is meant to dispel, or rather educate about the big issues that plague people’s minds with false ideas and this will only be touching the surface.

    Read More

  • Jihad

    1243 Words  | 3 Pages

    In its most literal form, the term “jihad” is an Arabic term meaning, as a noun, ‘struggle’ or, as a verb, ‘to exert effort’ toward a goal” (International Encyclopedia 1). However, in Mary Pat Fisher’s book Living Religions, the chapter on Islam discusses how the definition of the term jihad is “commonly mistranslated as ‘holy war’ (Fisher 148). While the media frequently portrays jihad consistent with the idea of “struggle,” the media almost always flips the definition on its head by suggesting that this struggle is a malicious struggle between two groups of peoples, each of whom believes that righteousness, and in many cases God, is on their side and evil is on the other side. Suggesting that jihad and violence are in connection with each other has been the case since pre-modern times. In fact, Fisher suggests that the primary associations of the word jihad are religious, specifically with reference to the Prophet Mohammad and to the religion of Islam, but also invoke a sense of violence or resistance against an opposing force.

    Read More

  • The Rise and Spread of Islam

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    The world you once knew is falling to ashes and food is become such a scarcity that people are fighting over a few pieces of bread. The political class is too busy fighting among themselves to care for anyone else. Children are roaming the streets and begging for work to feed their dying, hungry stomachs. This is not a scene from a horror movie, but rather the reality of the beginning of post classical era. In these times of hardship the people turned to a higher power, which resulted in a religious boom. The main religion during the post classical era that had the greatest impact on people was Islam due to Muhammad, trade routes, the Black Plague, conquests and Islamic culture.

    Read More

  • Unveiling Islam: What Muslims Believe, by Zainab Ali

    596 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...writer starts the essay by stating the basic fudamentals of Muslim's beleif and action. Then she connects this idea with beleifs and actions shown and inplied through the media. After that, the media images are connected with the fact that the images cause fear and stereotypes; the teachings that correct the stereotypes are also linked. Next the teachings are connected with the Quran and the leaders and groups who misunderstand and violate the teachings. After that, the five pillars of Islam are explained, described and defined. Finally, it is explained how the pillars affect Muslims by defining their character and lives. All of these ideas are organized so that they are logically linked with the writer's strategy. The writer's strategy includes explainations, the use of examples, and comparison and contrast, to support each idea claimed and to define a "true" Muslim.

    Read More

  • The Muslim Culture

    1466 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bouhdiba, Abdelwahab. "The Message of Islam." Diogenes (International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Studies). Humanities Full Text. 2005. Web.

    Read More

  • Islam The Straight Path

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    In this book , Esposito provides a succinct, up-to-date survey of the Islamic experience, an introduction to the faith, belief, and practice of Islam from its origins to its contemporary resurgence. He traces the emergence and development of this dynamic faith and its impact on world history and politics. He discusses the formation of Islamic belief and practice (law, theology, philosophy, and mysticism), chronicling the struggle of Muslims to define and adhere to their Islamic way of life. Equally important is the essential information Esposito provides on the contemporary world of Islam, from Muslim responses to the challenges of colonialism and modernization to the reassertion of Islam in politics and society.

    Read More

  • Inside Islam

    1558 Words  | 4 Pages

    Religion is an important factor in many lives in today’s society. A particular western religion that is taken very seriously by many is known as Islam. Essentially, Islam means “submission”, or in other words a person is to abide by God and peace will follow. In order to comprehend the Islamic religion, it is consequential to view the major themes associated with this religion. By going through the central themes of Islam it could help others comprehend what is involved with this specific religion.

    Read More

More about Unveiling Islam Summary

Open Document