Information about Islam

Complied by Sister Marianne Farina, CSC.

 Websites

www.islam.org (National Information Center for Islam)

www.isna.net (Islamic Society of North America)

www.discoverislam.com (Information about Islam and Muslim Communities throughout the world)

understandingislam.tripod.com (Information about the teachings of Islam)

www.karamah.org (Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights)

cmcu.georgetown.edu (Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. Directed by John Esposito and Yvonne Haddad

www.afghansolidarity.com (International Center and Source for ongoing situation in Afghanistan and Development Projects)

www.rawa.org (International Movement for Afghan Women and Center engaging in Afghan Women’s Projects and Development. This site also has helpful updates on the current situation in Afghanistan)

Books

General Introduction about Islam

Esposito, John, L. Islam, the Sraight Path. (Expandned Edition) New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.

Denny, Frederick. An Introduction to Islam. 2^nd Edition. New York: Macmillan Press. 1994.

Martin, Richard C. Islamic Studies; a History of Religious Approach. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1996.

Rahman, Fazlur. Islam 2^nd Edition. Chicago University Press, 1979.

Authoritative Interpretation of the Qur’an

The Holy Qur’an Text, Translation and Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Published by:
Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an Inc.
PO Box 731115
Elmhurst, New York     ISBN # 0-940368-32-3

History of Islam

Donner, Fred McGraw. The Early Islamic Conquests. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1981.

Hodgson, Marshall G.S. The Venture of Islam: Conscience and History in a World Civilization. 3 Volumes Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1974.

Jafri, S.H.M. The Origins and Early Development of Shi’a Islam. London and New York: Longman, 1979.

Lapidus, Ira. A History of Islamic Societies. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988.

Matar, Nobil. Turks, Moors and Englishmen in the Age of Discovery. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999.

Islamic Thought and Spirituality

Burrell, David B. Knowing the Unknowable God. Notre Dame, IN: Notre Dame University Press, 1986.  

Chittick, William C. Sufism: A Short Introduction. London: One World Press, 2000.

Frager, Robert. Heart, Self, and Soul: Sufi Psychology of Growth, Balance and Harmony. Wheaton, IL: Quest Books, 1999.

Al-Ghazali, Hamid. The Niche of Lights. Translated by David Buchman. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1998.

_________________. The Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names of God Translated with Notes by David B. Burrell and Nazih Daher. London: Islamic Texts Society, 1997.

Khalidi, Tarif The Muslim Jesus: Sayings and Stories in Islamic Literature. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2001.

Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. Science and Civilization in Islam. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 1968.

____________________. Editor. Islamic Spirituality: Manifestations. New York: Crossroads, 1991.

Parrinder, Geoffrey. Jesus in the Qur’an. Oxford: One World Press,1995.

Islam and Modernity

Ahmed, Leila. Women and Gender in Islam. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1992.  

Arkoun, Mohammed. Rethinking Islam: Common Questions, Uncommon Answers. Translated by Robert D. Lee.

Esposito, John. Political Islam: Revolution, Radicalism or Reform? Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 1997.

______________. And Voll, John. Makers of Contemporary Islam. Oxford and New York, Oxford University Press, 2001

Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck and Adair T. Lummis. Islamic Values in the U.S.: A Comparative Study. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.

_____________________. The Muslims of America. Oxford and New York, Oxford University Press, 1993.

Mernissi, Fatima, Islam and Democracy: Fear of the Modern World. Translated by Mary Jo Lakeland. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley Publishing, 1992.

Stowasser, Barbara Freyer. Women in the Qur’an: Traditions and Interpretation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Wright, Robin B. The Last Great Revolution: Turmoil and Transformation in Iran. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.

Muslim Biography

Abbot, Nadia. Aisha, the Beloved of Muhammad. Chicago University Press, 2000
                       Library # BP 80. Ai83 ab 28 2000

Malik, Fida Hussain. Wives of the Prophet. Lahore Press, 1979
                        Library # BP76.8 M3 1979

Smith, Margaret. Rabi’a, The Mystics and Her Fellow Saints Oxford, 1984
                        Library # BP 80. R3 S6 1984 

Nubakhash, Javid. Sufi Women. Khanqahi-Nunabullani Press, 1990
                        Library # BP189.4 N87 1990  

Ahmed, Leila. A Border Passage: from Cairo to America. Farrar, Staus, Giroux, 1999
                        Library # HQ 1793. 275 A 55 1999  

Wanawabe, Watatu. Three Swahili Women. Indiana University Press, 1989
                        Library # HQ 1796.5 W3613  

Tamimi, Azzam. Rachid Ghannaouchi: a Democrat within Islamism. Oxford Press, 2001.
                        Library # BP 80. G27 T 36  

Gude, Mary Louise.  Louis Massignon: The Crucible of Compassion
     University of Notre Dame, 1996.
                        Library # BP 49.5 M3 G83

McCarthy, Richard. Al-Ghazali: Deliverance from Error. Fons Vitae. 1980
                        Library #

Afzal, Iqbal. The Life and Work of Jalal ud-din Rumi. London, Octagon Press, 1983.
                        Library # BP 189.7 M42 I 65, 1983  

Paulist Press Series: “The Classics of Western Spirituality”
Library #’s starting around BP 188-189 Biography and Writings of:

1. Ibn Ata’Illah-Book of Wisdom and Kwaja Abdullah Ansari-
                Intimate Conversations-1978

2. Ibn al-Arabi- The Bezels of Wisdom-1980

3. Ibn Abbad of Ronda-Letters on the Sufi Path-1986

4. Sharafuddin Maneri-The Hundred Letters-1980 

5. Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Qur’an and Miraj-1996

VIDEOS

Empire of Faith. VHS and DVD format. PBS series on the History of Islam. Two Parts. Video available can be purchased at www.pbs.org or www.amazon.com. Video is also available at some local stores and libraries.

Five Pillars of Islam. VHS format. Five Part Series directed by Farouk Ubaysi narrated by Dr. Nashia Al-Sakina.

Topics include, 1)The Shahada: Declaration of Faith, 2) Salat: How to perform the Prayer, 3) Zakat: Community Tax, 4) Fasting during Ramadan, 5) Hajj: The Fifth Pillar of Islam.  Order from Islamic Information Service PO BOX 6220, Altadena, CA 91003-6220, Phone: 800-531-4447, Fax: 818-791-9824.

Living Islam VHS Format. A six part BBC Presentation by anthropologist Akbar Ahmed. Topics cover: 1) Foundations of Islam, 2) Challenges of the Past, 3) Muslims in Minority, 4) The Muslim Family, 5) Islam and Modernity, 6) The Last Crusade  Order from: Islam Publications International, POBOX 247, Dept. Mea 2, Teanaeck, NJ 07666. 1-800-568-9814 or website: www.Islampub.com Video is also available at University Libraries.

The Message. VHS format. The story of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the revelation of the Qur’an. Available at local libraries and video stores.