An Introduction to Islam, 3rd Edition

An Introduction to Islam, 3rd Edition
by Frederick Mathewson Denny

An Introduction to Islam, 3rd Edition
List Price: $67.40
Our Price: $59.50
You Save: $7.90 (12%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $40.00 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Frederick Mathewson Denny
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-03-05
ISBN: 0131835637
Number of pages: 432
Publisher: Prentice Hall

Book Reviews of An Introduction to Islam, 3rd Edition

Book Review: Introduction to Islam
Summary: 3 Stars

This text was one used in my grad-level course on Islam. I enrolled in this class because, as a Christian, I wanted a deeper understanding of Islam. In particular, I wanted to be able to speak intelligently within Christian circles about Islam, particularly because of the current political tension that has so many fearfully approaching the topic, often with a set of stereotypical, illogical ideas. My motives for reading this book are definitely the lens through which I write this review. I found this book full of tedious information but ultimately lacking practical synthesis. If you want a historical account of the roots, both political and philosophical, of Islam then this is a fine book, although his chapters are often organized in a rather confusing manner (my fellow students are in basic agreement on this point, each of us having to present on several chapters). If you want a book that will help the average person understand the basic tenants of Islam and assist the reader in understanding Islam as a movement; if you want to be able to feel like you really have a grasp on Islam, particularly in how it relates to the current global climate, then I would suggest you keep looking. Denny really doesn't delve into modern relevance until the last portion of the book. I also felt that the author was unconvincing to some extent. He obviously is arguing in favor of Islam as a religion, and I am not critiquing this. But, he fails to offer some much needed critique of enculturated-Islam's past, and when he does, he has a tendency to justify unethical historical/political choices by claiming that Christianity has behaved in even more unethical ways. Now, while I wouldn't argue with his critique of enculturated-Christianity's often unethical behavior as an institutionalized movement (think "the Inquisition!"), but this is a logical fallacy. It is an error to defend one wrong by demonstrating another (perhaps worse) wrong. Critique of religious movements is healthy and necessary for they often (being human-run) get "off-track" and a little more critique would have strengthened Denny's argument in favor of Islam. All-in-all, I would suggest this book as a supplement to a library on Islam but not as a primary text to understand the movement.

Summary of An Introduction to Islam, 3rd Edition

The book provides readers with a thorough and unified topical introduction to the global religious community of Islam. KEY TOPICS: The book examines is connections with Judeo-Christian morals. The integration of the doctrinal and devotional elements of Islam enables readers to see how Muslims think and live. It also reviews pre-Islamic history so readers can see how Islam developed historically.

General Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Historical Introductions to Islam
The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates: The Islamic Near East from the 6th to the 11th Century (2nd Edition) (A History Of The Near East) ImageThe Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates: The Islamic Near East from the 6th to the 11th Century (2nd Edition) (A History Of The Near East)
by Hugh Kennedy
Longman; Published: 2004-02-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $33.22
Price in other shops: $45.20
Islam: The View from the Edge ImageIslam: The View from the Edge
by Richard W. Bulliet
Columbia University Press; Published: 1995-04-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.45
Price in other shops: $29.00
The Formation of Islam: Religion and Society in the Near East, 600-1800 (Themes in Islamic History) ImageThe Formation of Islam: Religion and Society in the Near East, 600-1800 (Themes in Islamic History)
by Jonathan P. Berkey
Cambridge University Press; Published: 2002-12-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $25.19
Price in other shops: $27.99
Islamic Civilization: History, Contributions, and Influence: A Compendium of Literature ImageIslamic Civilization: History, Contributions, and Influence: A Compendium of Literature
by S.M. Ghazanfar
The Scarecrow Press, Inc.; Published: 2006-03-28; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $95.00
An Historical Atlas of Islam (Encyclopaedia of Islam New Edition) (Encyclopaedia of Islam New Edition) ImageAn Historical Atlas of Islam (Encyclopaedia of Islam New Edition) (Encyclopaedia of Islam New Edition)
by William C. Brice
Brill Academic Publishers; Published: 2001-12-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $251.87
Price in other shops: $411.00
A Brief History of Islam (Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion) ImageA Brief History of Islam (Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion)
by Tamara Sonn, Mary Williamsburg
Wiley-Blackwell; Published: 2004-06-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.50
Price in other shops: $21.95
Islam: Faith, Culture, History ImageIslam: Faith, Culture, History
by Paul Lunde
DK ADULT; Published: 2002-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.92
Price in other shops: $17.95
A History of the Islamic World [ILLUSTRATED] ImageA History of the Islamic World [ILLUSTRATED]
by Fred James Hill, Nicholas Awde
Hippocrene Books; Published: 2003-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.39
Price in other shops: $22.50
The Golden Age of Islam (Cultures of the Past) ImageThe Golden Age of Islam (Cultures of the Past)
by Linda S. George
Benchmark Books (NY); Published: 1998-01; Library Binding; Book
Best price: $25.99
Price in other shops: $34.21
The Oxford History of Islam ImageThe Oxford History of Islam
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2000-01-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $40.75
Price in other shops: $60.00
Similar Books and other products
A History of Islamic Societies ImageA History of Islamic Societies
by Ira M. Lapidus
Cambridge University Press; Published: 2002-08-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $34.00
Price in other shops: $50.00
Progressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender, and Pluralism ImageProgressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender, and Pluralism
by Omid Safi
Oneworld Publications; Published: 2003-05-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.75
Price in other shops: $29.95
The Vision of Islam (Visions of Reality. Understanding Religions) ImageThe Vision of Islam (Visions of Reality. Understanding Religions)
by Sachiko Murata, William C. Chittick
Paragon House Publishers; Published: 1995-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.05
Price in other shops: $18.95
A Reader on Classical Islam ImageA Reader on Classical Islam
by F. E. Peters
Princeton University Press; Published: 1993-12-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $32.28
Price in other shops: $37.50
The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) ImageThe Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2008-06-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.25
Price in other shops: $12.95
Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations ImageApproaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations
by MIchael Sells
White Cloud Press; Published: 2007-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.61
Price in other shops: $22.95
The Prophet & the Messiah : An Arab Christian's Perspective on Islam & Christianity ImageThe Prophet & the Messiah : An Arab Christian's Perspective on Islam & Christianity
by Chawkat Georges Moucarry
InterVarsity Press; Published: 2002-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.96
Price in other shops: $17.00
The Word of Islam ImageThe Word of Islam
University of Texas Press; Published: 1994; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.97
Price in other shops: $22.95
A Muslim and a Christian in Dialogue ImageA Muslim and a Christian in Dialogue
by Badru D. Kateregga, David W. Shenk
Herald Press; Published: 1997-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.29
Price in other shops: $14.99
Islam: The Straight Path Updated with New Epilogue, 3rd edition ImageIslam: The Straight Path Updated with New Epilogue, 3rd edition
by John L. Esposito
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2004-12-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $27.91
Price in other shops: $39.95
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories