An Introduction to Islam for Jews
Muslim-Jewish relations in the United States, Israel, and Europe are tenuous. Jews and Muslims struggle to understand one another and know little about each other’s traditions and beliefs. Firestone explains the remarkable similarities and profound differences between Judaism and Islam, the complex history of Jihad, the legal and religious positions of Jews in the world of Islam, how various expressions of Islam (Sunni, Shìa, Sufi, Salafi, etc.) regard Jews, the range of Muslim views about Israel, and much more. He addresses these issues and others with candor and integrity, and he writes with language, symbols, and ideas that make sense to Jews. Exploring these subjects in today’s vexed political climate is a delicate undertaking. Firestone draws on the research and writings of generations of Muslim, Jewish, and other scholars, as well as his own considerable expertise in this field. The book’s tone is neither disparaging, apologetic, nor triumphal. Firestone provides many original sources in translation, as well as an appendix of additional key sources in context. Most importantly, this book is readable and reasoned, presenting to readers for the first time the complexity of Islam and its relationship toward Jews and Judaism.
1101804240
An Introduction to Islam for Jews
Muslim-Jewish relations in the United States, Israel, and Europe are tenuous. Jews and Muslims struggle to understand one another and know little about each other’s traditions and beliefs. Firestone explains the remarkable similarities and profound differences between Judaism and Islam, the complex history of Jihad, the legal and religious positions of Jews in the world of Islam, how various expressions of Islam (Sunni, Shìa, Sufi, Salafi, etc.) regard Jews, the range of Muslim views about Israel, and much more. He addresses these issues and others with candor and integrity, and he writes with language, symbols, and ideas that make sense to Jews. Exploring these subjects in today’s vexed political climate is a delicate undertaking. Firestone draws on the research and writings of generations of Muslim, Jewish, and other scholars, as well as his own considerable expertise in this field. The book’s tone is neither disparaging, apologetic, nor triumphal. Firestone provides many original sources in translation, as well as an appendix of additional key sources in context. Most importantly, this book is readable and reasoned, presenting to readers for the first time the complexity of Islam and its relationship toward Jews and Judaism.
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An Introduction to Islam for Jews

An Introduction to Islam for Jews

by Reuven Firestone
An Introduction to Islam for Jews

An Introduction to Islam for Jews

by Reuven Firestone

Paperback

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Overview

Muslim-Jewish relations in the United States, Israel, and Europe are tenuous. Jews and Muslims struggle to understand one another and know little about each other’s traditions and beliefs. Firestone explains the remarkable similarities and profound differences between Judaism and Islam, the complex history of Jihad, the legal and religious positions of Jews in the world of Islam, how various expressions of Islam (Sunni, Shìa, Sufi, Salafi, etc.) regard Jews, the range of Muslim views about Israel, and much more. He addresses these issues and others with candor and integrity, and he writes with language, symbols, and ideas that make sense to Jews. Exploring these subjects in today’s vexed political climate is a delicate undertaking. Firestone draws on the research and writings of generations of Muslim, Jewish, and other scholars, as well as his own considerable expertise in this field. The book’s tone is neither disparaging, apologetic, nor triumphal. Firestone provides many original sources in translation, as well as an appendix of additional key sources in context. Most importantly, this book is readable and reasoned, presenting to readers for the first time the complexity of Islam and its relationship toward Jews and Judaism.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780827608641
Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society
Publication date: 05/19/2008
Pages: 304
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author



Reuven Firestone is a professor of medieval Jewish and Islamic studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles. Many of Rabbi Firestone’s publications, including An Introduction to Islam for Jews; Jews, Christians, Muslims in Dialogue; Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism for Muslims, and Journeys in Holy Lands focus on interfaith relations, with specific attention given to Islam.

Table of Contents


Preface     ix
Acknowledgments     xvi
A Survey of Islamic History
Why an Introduction to Islam Specifically for Jews?     3
Arabs and Israelites     5
Pre-Islamic Origins     10
The Emergence of Islam     17
Muhammad and the Jews of Medina     33
The Death of the Prophet and the Expansion of the Community     43
The Conquests     52
The Caliphal Dynasties     60
The Decline of the Muslim World     70
God, The Qur'an, and Islamic Law
God     79
The Five Doctrines or "Pillars of Faith"     85
The Evolution of a Formal Theology     92
The Qur'an     100
The Interpretive Tradition     114
The Prophetic Record     124
Islamic Law     134
The Workings of Shari'a     142
The Umma: Islam in Practice
The Umma and The Caliphate     149
The Five Pillars of Islam     157
A Sixth Pillar? Jihad     176
The Range of Practice among Muslims     184
Sufism     191
The Shi'a     199
Mosque and Clergy     202
The Calendar     205
The Muslim Life-Cycle     210
Personal Observance     225
Epilogue     235
Endnotes     240
Islam and Judaism: Some Related Religious Terminology     253
Glossary     254
Bibliography     269
Scriptural Index: Verses from the Qur'an and the Bible     273
Subject Index     282
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