An Introduction to Islam

I. RELIGION AND COMMON LIFE IN THE PRE-ISLAMIC NEAR EAST. 1. Early Civilizations: Egypt and Mesopotamia. 2. The Jews: Covenant and Community with a God of History. 3. Christianity: Salvation As a Universal Mission. 4. Pre-Islamic Arabia: Beliefs, Values, Way of Life. II. THE COMING OF ISLAM: THE PROPHET, HIS PEOPLE, AND GOD'S RELIGION. 5. Muhammad and the Early Muslim Community. 6. The Arab Conquests and Islamic Rule: The Struggle for a Unified Umma. 7. The Basic Beliefs and Worship Practices of Islam. III. THE ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS SYSTEM. 8. The Nature and Function of the Qur'an. 9. The Prophet's Sunna as Preserved in the Hadith. 10. Muslim Creeds and Theologies: Their Purpose and Varieties. 11. Law and the State in Classical Islamic Formulations. IV. THE SUFI WAY OF MYSTICISM AND FELLOWSHIP. 12. Islamic Mysticism and the Disciplines of Esoteric Piety. 13. Masters and Disciples: The Forms and Functions of Sufi Orders. V. PATTERNS OF ISLAMIC PERSONAL AND COMMUNAL LIFE. 14. The Islamic Life Cycle and the Family. 15. Ideals and Realities of Islamic Community Life. VI. ISLAM IN THE MEDEM WORLD. 16. Major Movements and Trends in Renewal and Reform. Suggestions for Further Reading. Glossary. Index.