Islam Without Illusions

by Hotaling, Edward

• ISBN13: 9780815607663
• ISBN10: 0815607660
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-08-01
• Publisher: Syracuse Univ Pr

Summary

This an entirely new introduction to Islam by a major American news corespondent versed in Islamic religion, culture, and politics, one who has seen the course of war and upheaval, peace and prosperity. Unmasking the tie between Islam and modern terrorism, Ed Hotaling explores the radical challenge posed by terrorists to the religion they claim to follow and their threat to the world at large. Paralleling the rise of Islam with the life of Muhammad, Hotaling describes how Muhammad created the first Islamic state. He was an innovative general and diplomat who respected women's rights. Hotaling draws the stunning conclusion that if the Prophet were alive today, he would be an American. Hotaling explains, "Just as he did in the heat of persecution, embattled leadership and war, he would have stood up today for his principles, debated and negotiated with his rivals, tolerated their ideas until he could win them over . . . and fought in the open." Here is the amazing story of how Muhammad's followers conquered half the world, exceeded early Christian Europe in the a

Author Biography

Ed Hotaling is the winner of six Washington Emmy Awards. He was Middle East Bureau Chief for both CBS News, based in Beirut, and McGraw-Hill World News/Business Week, based in the Persian Gulf. He also reported from the Middle East for ABC News. His assignments have taken him to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Turkey, Bahrain, Cyprus, and beyond, covering war and terrorism, diplomacy and business. He is the author of four books. In Washington, he has reported for NBC Radio and for NBC-4 television

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
1. What Would Muhammad Do?	1	(14)
2. Paradise and Islam's Four Core Beliefs	15	(12)
3. The First Islamic State	27	(12)
4. The First Women of Islam	39	(16)
5. "General" Muhammad and the First Jihad	55	(14)
6. Separating from Judaism and Christianity	69	(12)
7. One Worldwide Religion?	81	(12)
8. Conquering Half the World	93	(18)
9. The Crusades: A Christian Jihad	111	(22)
10. A (Personal) Persian Interlude	133	(18)
11. The Terrorists' Handbook	151	(12)
12. A "Clash of Civilizations"?	163	(20)
Notes	183	(6)
Bibliography	189	(6)
Index	195