Description

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11^th, there has been an overwhelming demand for information about Islam. As a leading expert, John Esposito has found himself called upon to speak to a wide range of audiences, including members of Congress, the Bush administration, government agencies, the military, and the media. Out of this experience, he has identified the most pressing questions people consistently ask about Islam.

In What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam, Esposito presents in question-and-answer format the information that most people want to know. Esposito provides succinct, accessible, sensitive, and even-handed answers to questions that range from the general—"What do Muslims believe?" and "Who was Muhammad?"—to more specific issues like "Is Islam compatible with modernization, capitalism and democracy?" "How do Muslims view Judaism and Christianity?" "Are women second-class citizens in Islam?" "What is jihad?" "Does the Quran condone terrorism?" "What does Islam say about homosexuality, birth control, abortion, and slavery?"

The editor of The Oxford Encyclopedia of Modern Islam and The Oxford History of Islam, and author of Unholy War and many other acclaimed works, John Esposito is one of America's leading authorities on Islam. This brief and readable book is the first place to look for information on the faith, customs, and political beliefs of the one billion people who call themselves Muslims.

Praise for John L. Esposito and What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam

"An excellent primer on all aspects of Islam. The question-and-answer-format allows readers to skip ahead to areas that interest them, including hot-button issues such as 'Why are Muslims so violent?' or 'Why do Muslim women wear veils and long garments?' In his answers, which are anywhere from a paragraph to several pages long, Esposito elegantly educates the reader through what the Quran said, how Muslims are influenced by their local cultures, and how the unique politics of Islamic countries affect Muslims' views."
—Publishers Weekly

"One of America's foremost authorities and interpreters of Islam."
—The Wall Street Journal

"The most influential Islamic scholar in the United States."
—International Herald Tribune

Extended Copyright Information

Copyright 2002 by John L. Esposito.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press.

Previously published by Oxford University Press.

Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.

Jacket design by Mary Belibasakis.
Jacket photograph copyright Andrew Ward/Getty Images.

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About the Author

John L. Esposito is University Professor of Religion and International Affairs and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University. A past president of the Middle East Studies Association, he is Editor-in-Chief of the four-volume Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, Editor of The Oxford Illustrated History of Islam, and the author of numerous books, including Islam: The Straight Path and The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality? He lives in Washington, D.C.

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Opening Lines (Experimental)

WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ISLAM?
- Islam is the second largest religion in the world (after Christianity) and will soon be the second largest religion in America.
- Muslims are and will increasingly be our neighbors, colleagues at work, and fellow citizens.
- Although Islam is similar in many ...

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Copyright

Copyright 2002 by John L. Esposito.

All Rights Reserved.

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