Islam
A New History from Muhammad to the Present
Will be published approx. on 28. July 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-691-26580-3 (ISBN)
Description
A concise new narrative history of Islam that draws on the transformative insights of recent research to emphasize the diversity and dynamism of the tradition
Today's Muslim world is in upheaval: legalists and mystics engage in intense debates, radical groups invoke Sharia, Muslim immigrants in the West face prejudice and discrimination, and Muslim feminists advocate new interpretations of the Koran. At the same time, Islam is mischaracterized as unitary and unchanging by people ranging from right-wing Western politicians claiming that Islam is incompatible with democracy to conservative Muslims dreaming of returning to the golden age of the prophet. Against this contentious backdrop, this book provides an essential and timely new history of the religion in all its astonishing richness and diversity as it has been practiced by Muslims around the world, from seventh-century Mecca to today.
Most popular histories of Islam continue to repeat conventional pietistic accounts. In contrast, John Tolan draws on decades of new historical research that has transformed knowledge of the origins and development of the Muslim faith. He shows how the youngest of the three great monotheisms arose in close contact with Jewish, Christian, and other religious traditions in a mixture of cultures, including Arab, Greek, Persian, and Turkish; how Islam spread across an enormous territory encompassing hundreds of languages and cultures; how Muslims have forged widely different beliefs and practices over fourteen centuries; and how Islamic history provides crucial context for understanding contemporary debates in the Muslim world.
At a time when much talk about Islam is filled with misunderstanding, stereotypes, and bias, this book provides a fresh and lucid portrait of the continuous and ongoing transformations of a religion of tremendous variety and complexity.
Today's Muslim world is in upheaval: legalists and mystics engage in intense debates, radical groups invoke Sharia, Muslim immigrants in the West face prejudice and discrimination, and Muslim feminists advocate new interpretations of the Koran. At the same time, Islam is mischaracterized as unitary and unchanging by people ranging from right-wing Western politicians claiming that Islam is incompatible with democracy to conservative Muslims dreaming of returning to the golden age of the prophet. Against this contentious backdrop, this book provides an essential and timely new history of the religion in all its astonishing richness and diversity as it has been practiced by Muslims around the world, from seventh-century Mecca to today.
Most popular histories of Islam continue to repeat conventional pietistic accounts. In contrast, John Tolan draws on decades of new historical research that has transformed knowledge of the origins and development of the Muslim faith. He shows how the youngest of the three great monotheisms arose in close contact with Jewish, Christian, and other religious traditions in a mixture of cultures, including Arab, Greek, Persian, and Turkish; how Islam spread across an enormous territory encompassing hundreds of languages and cultures; how Muslims have forged widely different beliefs and practices over fourteen centuries; and how Islamic history provides crucial context for understanding contemporary debates in the Muslim world.
At a time when much talk about Islam is filled with misunderstanding, stereotypes, and bias, this book provides a fresh and lucid portrait of the continuous and ongoing transformations of a religion of tremendous variety and complexity.
Reviews / Votes
"[A] vibrant and sweeping survey. . . . Tolan's impressive geographic scope and fine-grained historical detail combine for a masterful portrait of Islam as a religion and culture. The result is the definitive history of a complex faith." * Publishers Weekly, starred review * "[A] compelling case for diversity, tolerance, and pluralism within Islam. . . . A recommended intro to the history of the Muslim world." * Booklist, starred review * "Well researched and objective." * Kirkus Reviews * "The book focuses primarily on political events in Islamic history and their role in the making and unmaking of Islam. In so doing, it makes a meaningful contribution for Islamic scholars, academicians and individuals to understand the evolution of Islam from Muhammad to present."---Haider Ali, LSE Review of Books "A perfect, revised narrative to present to students of all levels regarding how dynamic and diverse Muslim practices and the societies they built came to be. . . . [Islam] is fluid and accessible enough to serve as a primary entry point to help readers remember that the same dynamism that made the Islamic world of the past remains very much relevant to Muslims today. . . . Highly recommended." * Choice * "[A] vibrant and sweeping survey. . . . Tolan's impressive geographic scope and fine-grained historical detail combine for a masterful portrait of Islam as a religion and culture. The result is the definitive history of a complex faith." * Publishers Weekly, starred review * "[A] compelling case for diversity, tolerance, and pluralism within Islam. . . . A recommended intro to the history of the Muslim world." * Booklist, starred review * "Well researched and objective." * Kirkus Reviews * "The book focuses primarily on political events in Islamic history and their role in the making and unmaking of Islam. In so doing, it makes a meaningful contribution for Islamic scholars, academicians and individuals to understand the evolution of Islam from Muhammad to present."---Haider Ali, LSE Review of Books "A perfect, revised narrative to present to students of all levels regarding how dynamic and diverse Muslim practices and the societies they built came to be. . . . [Islam] is fluid and accessible enough to serve as a primary entry point to help readers remember that the same dynamism that made the Islamic world of the past remains very much relevant to Muslims today. . . . Highly recommended." * Choice *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
6 maps.
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 133 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
286 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-691-26580-3 (9780691265803)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Person
John Tolan is professor emeritus of history at the University of Nantes. His books include England's Jews, Faces of Muhammad (Princeton), Saint Francis and the Sultan, and Saracens.