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on 15-06-2003 21:52
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By Bernard Lewis
The Modern Library
$19.95
183 PP.
Reviewed By Khalil Abdel Alim
There is much confusion and lack of real knowledge about Islam, the Middle East and the Muslim world in general. That confusion is not confined to Non Muslims in the West. Many Muslims, ironically, are equally confused and ignorant of the realty of Islam and its true history - both religious and secular.
Interestingly, one of the best authorities today on Islam and the history of Muslims is a non-Muslim scholar, the author of this and many books on the subject, Professor Bernard Lewis.
His most recent book before this one, What went Wrong? showed the broad history of the rise and decline of the Muslim Empire. In this book, he writes in detail about the meaning and practices of Islam and the many changes it has undergone in near 1, 500-year history since the mission of Prophet Muhammad in Arabia that began in 610.
He writes with lucid, easy-reading prose - an easy and informative read.
Muslims like most people cannot be objective about their past. They see only the good and tend to pass over the problems; shortcomings and evils committed which all people including Muslim have done.
Lewis, with the cold but not with out compassion eye of a scholar, tells the full story - the good and the bad, the triumphs, and the excess.
He explains the spiritual meaning of jihad as meaning to strive to please God. But he also points out, as many Muslim writers are loath to do, that it also means war. War of self-defense most generally. But in Islamic history it has been interpreted as Usama bin Laden and others of his mind interpret it today, war against the “infidels.” He also writes of how it was interpreted as war against apostates - those who left the faith of Islam. Some Muslims see death as punishment for such people, but there is no authority for that extreme in the Qur’an or the life of Prophet Muhammad.
Lewis indicates that hatred of America among many Arabs and other Muslims is a result of America’s interference in Muslim countries, setting up and/or backing corrupt regimes, the moral corruption of American culture and America’s support for the state of Israel.
He also details Western/Christian contact with Muslims from the crusades to the modern imperialism that was manifest in commercial, political and military involvement in the region.
But he does not fail to cast the rightful blame for their condition on to the Muslims themselves. He cites the failures at modernity throughout especially the Arab world. Citing the litany of low performance in indices of material progress by them.
Data that has also been cited in a recent report by Arab intellectuals as to what is wrong with the Arab world today.
Lewis writes of the Soviet involvement in the Middle East after the Second World War. Of their supplying arms and military training for Egypt and other Arab countries.
He uses historical facts and dispels many of the myths and misinformation held by many about the Middle East including many Muslims. He points out that Russia was very instrumental in the United Nations establishing the State of Israel in 1948 and the reluctance of President Truman to support it, and that it was European countries that supplied Israel with arms in its war of independence.
The historian traces the origin and development of Wahabism and its role in the establishment of Saudi Arabia. He reveals how the Saudis with their oil money have exported that extreme view of Islam throughout the world, building schools and mosques, and training Imams including in the United States. However, they have not been able to influence the largest African-American Muslim community.
In his concluding chapter on terrorism, he points out the long history of the use of terror by Muslims for various reasons. And does a greet service by showing that terrorism is contrary to the teachings of the Qur’an and of Prophet Muhammad. He clearly shows that suicide is a great sin in Islam, and that Muslims believe that one who commits it will be tortured in Hell eternally by the means by which or she commits it.
Professor Lewis’ prognosis relation between Islam and the West is gloomy. He sees the intransigence of the Muslim World and the West, especially America as fomenting continued conflict. The Muslims strident hatred of Western culture and its policies and America’s refusal to acknowledge its mistakes and to change its polices visa vie the Muslim World. Lewis only sees a continued “clash of civilizations.”
Last update : 15-06-2003 21:52
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