Islam 101

Lesson 1: The Beginning Of Islam

Bibliography and Questions

Bibliography

Cook, Michael. The Koran: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Eliade, Mircea. Encyclopedia of Religion. New York: Macmillan, 1987.

Esposito, John L. Islam: The Straight Path. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.

Khalifa, Rashad (translator). Quran: The Final Scripture. Arizona: Islamic Productions, 1981.

Noss, David S. A History of the World's Religions. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1999.

Ruthven, Malise. Islam: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Analytical Exercises:

1. What conditions are necessary for religious change and innovation? Specifically, was there anything in pre-Islamic Arabia that influenced the rise of Islam at that particular time and place?
2. Does the unity of composition (one author over a short period of time) help or hinder a religious tradition, in terms of its ability to grow and be seen as relevant by a diverse number of people?

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