Intro -- Chapter 1: The Evolution and Rise of Islam -- The Evolution of Islam -- Historical roots -- Periodic reinforcement and revival -- Religion is formalized -- The Rise and Spread of Islam -- Where and how the religion spread -- 622-632: Period under Muhammadp -- 632-661: Period under the four caliphs -- 661-750: Period under the Ummayyad Dynasty -- 750-1258: Period under the Abbasid Dynasty -- 750-950: Golden Age of Islam -- Islam's Contribution And Impact -- Dignity -- Islamic civilization -- Global influence -- Nurturer of knowledge during the Dark Ages -- Areas of excellence and contribution -- Chapter 2: The Decline of Islamic Civilization and Present Status -- Decline of Muslim Dynasties and Empires -- How the decline occurred -- The End of the Abbasid Dynasty -- The Fatimid Dynasty -- Seljuk Turks -- The Mongols -- The fall of Spain in 1492 -- End of the Safavid Empire -- End of the Mughal Empire -- End of the Ottoman Empire -- Modern World Events and Developments -- Colonial subjugation -- Major 20th-century developments -- The Balfour Declaration sows seeds of future conflict -- Islamic states are formed -- Islam in Today's World -- Widespread underdeveloped Muslim societies -- Population -- Areas of concentration -- Ethnic diversity -- Cultural diversity -- Political diversity -- The Myth of unity and brotherhood -- Common misconception about Arabs and Muslims -- Islam In America -- History of Islam in America -- Population -- Dynamic community -- Chapter 3: Defining Events And How Muslims View Them -- Historical Events -- Introduction -- The Decline of Islamic civilization after its Golden Age -- The Crusades -- The failed Turkish siege of Vienna -- The end of the Ottoman Empire -- Revival and reform movements -- The end of the colonial era -- Saudi Arabia comes under the Saud family rule -- Events after 1947 -- Partition of India.

Kashmir -- Palestine -- The overthrow of Mossadegh in Iran -- Arab defeats in four wars -- The 1973 Oil Embargo -- Soviet Union's defeat in Afghanistan -- The Breakup of the Soviet Union -- The Gulf War -- The Bosnia massacres -- Beirut, Somalia, and Southern Lebanon -- Financial Crises -- Saudi Arabia -- Bank of Credit and Commerce -- Leadership losses -- Pakistan's Nuclear Bomb -- The War against Iraq -- Chapter 4: Perceived Western Role and Muslim Reaction -- Role Played by America and Western Powers -- Support for Israel -- Soft attitude towards Israeli leadership -- Support for despots and dictators -- Judging by, and imposing, foreign values -- Insensitivity to Muslim feelings -- Hatred for the American way of life -- Media bias -- Friendship of convenience -- Double standards -- Post-Gulf War Iraq policy -- Not differentiating between terrorism and freedom struggles -- Divide and rule -- The Islamic bomb -- Reaction by Muslims to Recent Historical Events -- Refusing to accept responsibility -- Advocating return to the seventh century -- Feeling victimized -- Passive hatred -- Acting prejudiced -- Becoming freedom fighters or terrorists -- Exporting mujahideen and terrorists -- 9/11: The Hijacking of Islam -- Why it happened -- Anti-Islamic act -- How Muslims view the 9/11 tragedy -- Impact on Muslims -- Chapter 5: Where Lies the Truth -- Analyzing Muslim Complaints against America -- American support for Israel is one-sided -- Jewish influence in the Senate is too strong -- Palestine issue incorrectly projected as religious struggle -- America is anti-Islam and anti-Muslim -- Support for despots and dictators -- Judging by, and imposing, foreign values -- Insensitivity to Muslim feelings -- Hatred for the American way of life -- American media is biased -- News is driven by business needs -- Mujahideen were used and abandoned.

Friendship of convenience -- Policy implemented by inexperienced politicians -- Uninformed Americans -- Slow response to Bosnian crisis -- Guilty by association -- British influence and bias -- War against Iraq -- Analyzing Muslim Issues and Failures -- Lack of education is widespread -- Priorities are wrong -- Religious extremists are in control -- Religion used as a cover to achieve ends -- Palestine incorrectly portrayed as a religious struggle -- The Kuwait crisis was initiated by Iraq, not America -- Bhutto was responsible for his own downfall -- Saudi non-oil exports have started creating major problems -- Poor communication and use of media -- Muslims lack role models -- The majority is silent -- Leadership has failed consistently -- Jehad hijacked -- Chapter 6: Failure of Muslim Leadership -- Political Leadership -- Organization of Islamic Conference -- Arabs -- Iran -- Pakistan -- Indonesia -- Algeria -- Afghanistan -- Palestine -- Kashmir -- Religious Leadership -- Saudi Arabia -- Iran -- The World -- America -- Chapter 7: Jehad Hijacked -- Violence, Compulsion, and War -- Does Islam preach violence -- Did Islam spread by force -- Is Islam tolerant -- Perception of Islamic intolerance: A disconnect -- Why Muslim tolerance has declined -- When Islam permits war -- Jehad -- Concept and purpose of jehad -- Misconception about jehad -- When war or armed action can be justified as jehad -- Unholy wars -- Terrorism -- Islamic view of terrorism -- Both state-sponsored and individual acts of terrorism are un-Islamic -- Suicide bombing and martyrdom -- Is Islam responsible for terrorism carried out in its name -- Fundamentalism -- What is fundamentalism -- What Islamic fundamentalism represents -- Who and where are the Muslim fundamentalists -- What has swelled the ranks of fundamentalists -- Chapter 8: Building a Better Future.

What World Muslims Need To Do -- Address root causes of problems -- Prioritize correctly -- Recognize Israel -- Stress educational, scientific, and technological development -- Achieve economic independence -- Introduce social reform -- Strive for unity -- Shift from negative to positive objectives -- Become more responsible -- Learn to help themselves -- Become politically active -- Pick good leaders and make them accountable -- The silent majority should become vocal -- Avoid self-righteous superiority syndrome -- Communicate with non-Muslims -- What America and the West Need To Do -- Address root causes of problems -- Be a fair peace broker and guarantee Israel's security -- Be informed and sensitive -- Plan for the long-term -- Match actions to words -- Be unbiased and fair -- Do not paint all with the same brush -- Engage Muslims -- Build on common values -- What American Muslims Need To Do -- Assume world leadership -- Leave baggage behind -- Focus on the bigger picture -- Put their own house in order -- Avoid double standards -- Lead by example and marginalize extremists -- Plan for the long term -- Be involved in the political process -- Master communication techniques -- Stress common values -- Develop mirror image of society professionals -- Appreciate what America has provided -- Reach out for a better future -- Part II -- Chapter 9: Muhammadp -- Pre-Prophethood Period -- Birth and childhood -- Life as a youth -- State of Arabia at Muhammadp's birth -- Prophethood -- The Koran is revealed -- Preaching in Mecca -- Basic message and theme -- Persecution -- Ridicule and threats -- Bribery -- Intensified persecution -- Flight to Medina -- The Development of Islamic Society -- An Islamic state and society are established -- Continued opposition from Meccans -- More battles -- Return to Mecca -- Muhammadp's Qualities and Stature.

Personality and characteristics -- How Muhammadp is viewed by followers of Islam -- Place in history -- Chapter 10: Basic Elements of Islam -- Islam, Allah, and Muslims -- The Meaning of Islam -- How the word Islam is derived -- What submission implies -- Allah -- Who is a Muslim -- Background and Teachings -- Islam builds upon the older religions' teachings -- Basic message and teachings -- Fundamental beliefs -- Purpose of human life and man's responsibilities -- Rewards and punishments -- Salvation -- Important Elements Defining Islam -- More than a religion: a way of life -- Universal appeal -- Rigid on fundamental principles -- Flexible -- Practical and balanced -- Common misconceptions about Islam -- Symbols and Festivals -- Spiritual centers -- Mecca -- Medina -- Jerusalem -- The Islamic calendar -- Festivals and religious days -- Festivals -- Lailat al-Qadr -- Congregational day: Friday -- Chapter 11: The Six Beliefs -- Belief in One God -- Core concept: Oneness of God -- Unconditional acceptance -- Belief in Angels -- Who are the angels -- Attributes and tasks -- Belief in God's Revealed Books -- Belief in divinely revealed scriptures -- Scriptures that a Muslim believes in -- Belief that pre-Koran scriptures have been corrupted -- Belief in Prophets and Messengers -- Who were the prophets and messengers -- Purpose and common message -- How Muslims regard other prophets -- Muhammadp's role as the last prophet -- Belief in the Day of Judgment -- Life and death -- Day of Judgment -- Benefit of having accountability -- Life after death -- Paradise and Hell -- Belief in Pre-Ordainment (Al-Qadar) -- Fate and divine decree -- Free will and the ability to choose right or wrong -- How belief in al-Qadar is beneficial -- Chapter 12: The Five Pillars -- Acts of Worship in Islam -- Concept of Ibadah (worship) -- Ritual worship: The five pillars.

Non-ritual worship.

"Rational, evenhanded, educated, and well-researched, the book summarizes centuries of history culminating in the aftermath of the September 11 attack, with an eye toward explaining the conscious and unconscious motivations behind individual and group per.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2018. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.