The Heart of Islam
Enduring Values for Humanity
-
-
4.5 • 4 Ratings
-
-
- $15.99
-
- $15.99
Publisher Description
As the specter of religious extremism has become a fact of life, it can be very easy to believe that the evil actions of a minority stand for the values of an entire tradition. Recently, there has been much confusion in the Western world concerning distorted portrayals of Islam’s core values.
Drawing on Islamic scripture, teaching and tradition, Seyyed Hossein Nasr presents the true spiritual and social values of Islam, such as peace, compassion, social justice, and tolerance. Nasr calls fellow members of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) to a new future of mutual respect and common global purpose, as he portrays the beauty and appeal of a faith that is embraced by more than a billion people.
Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr was born in Tehran, Iran in 1933. He received his advanced education at M.I.T. and Harvard University, returning to teach at Tehran University from 1958-1979, where he also served as Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Vice Chancellor. He founded the Iranian Academy of Philosophy and served as its first president, and was also for several years president of Aryamehr University. Since 1984, he has been University Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and President of the Foundation for Traditional Studies.
“At a time when Islam is frequently misunderstood and often maligned, this sensitive, insightful, and beautifully written book comes as a ray of sunshine.” -Mark Juergensmeyer, author of Terror in the Mind of God
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Nasr, a professor at George Washington University and a living legend in Islamic studies, was commissioned by Harper San Francisco to write this book after the attacks of September 11. Presented as "an explanation of the authentic teachings of Islam anew in light of the challenges of the present-day situation," this is an adequate and accurate reference tool, particularly for comparisons of the text of the holy books of the three major, monotheistic Western religions. Further, Nasr's ability to perceive profound spiritual meaning from Islamic theory, though exploited only a few times in this book, has no rival. The writing is best when he's discussing his own life. He also succeeds when taking on current critics of Islam, especially his persuasive counter-arguments to the "What Went Wrong?" school of thought. However, Nasr's fans, and those seeking to improve their understanding of Islam, will be disappointed. In aiming to discuss each value that is significant in Islam, Nasr has created an unfocused, sometimes dull book. He discusses the importance of values like justice and community and distinguishes between true Islam and local, tribal culture, but the absence of a guiding thesis alienates the reader. Though his purpose is to counter negativity about Islam in the post-9/11 era, Nasr instead rambles on about esoteric, irrelevant points. This is an unengaging read that fails to illuminate the titular "heart" of Islam.
