“No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and future of Islam.” — Reza Aslan (312 pages, $25.95, Random House)
By TEMPLE A. STARK, Casa Grande, AZ
I don’t hate Islam nor am I looking for reasons to forgive for the terrible things that happen in its name.
In this way, I may not be the target audience for this book.
Still, I want to understand the religion that has shaped America’s character in recent years. The religion can be attacked but it can’t be ignored.
The author, Reza Aslan, is an Iranian, and a former assistant professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Iowa. He has an argument that threads throughout the book about how Islam will be modernized.
In Aslan’s prologue: “This book is not just a critical reexamination of the origins and evolution of Islam, nor is it merely an account of the current struggle among Muslims to define the future the future of this magnificent yet misunderstood faith. This book is, above all else, an argument for reform.”
Aslan has confidence that the less violent path will be chosen. (Go here for a Blogcritics interview of the author by Keith Gottschalk)
Above all the book is a condensed, well organized history of the birth of Islam starting even before the prophet Muhammad. Through that history and through the description of a religion meant to be egalitarian, generous, fair, welcoming of other religions (and ahead of its time) the reader gets a very clear, extremely sad picture of what could have been.
The reality of what Muslim is meant to be is not the strength of the religion today; the extremist face of the religion is what most people know. From a national perspective it overshadows the hundreds of millions of Muslims who don’t fit the preferred image of Western cultures.
The history presented here reveals the deep roots that Christians and Jews and Muslims share, starting with the Zoroastrians. Much of the mythology surrounding Jesus was foretold by the Iranian prophet Zorathustra.
But Islam started with a vision. Muhammad receives a presence that literally grips him so hard he cannot breath. From that moment, around the year 620, he sees himself as the messenger of the one God. Muhammad has his own doubting Thomases who label him a charlatan. Or as was known at the time, a mere “Kahin” or fortuneteller.
Because of his insistence on economic justice in the very commercial city of Mecca, ruled by the Quraysh, Muhammad was forced to flee to Yathrib, which later came to be known as Medinat an-Nabi (the home of the prophet), or more simply, Medina.
Article comments
1 - Bennett Dawson
Great review Temple. Although there are years of work, and thousands battles (big and small), I am allowing myself a small ray of hope that the messages in this book will be embraced by an increasing number of people, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
2 - SFC SKI
Your book review is very well done, and a fitting companion to the interview with Reza Aslan published in the BC a few weeeks ago.
3 - alienboy
Indeed a good review Temple, but as a person who believes in people not imaginary creations I cn't help observing that a better Islam is only a less bad thing, not a good thing. Religion is a tool of repression not enlightenment.
4 - Georgio
Excellent review...I wish you would do an article on how all religions are corrupt and how people follow their religion with blinders on because they where taught their religion from childhood ...I am not an Atheist..
5 - Temple Stark
AB, You left out a word In my humble opinion
Religion is BOTH a tool of repression AND enlightenment.
But thanks. I have no idea what kind of pressure it was to write the history of Islam in a relatively slender volume (it helps I imagine to know the subject matter inside and out but sometimes that can be stifling due to too much information).
but I knew I wanted to do it justice in my review. I wanted to see if you all agreed that I had or ... ???? So far - thanks very much.
6 - Eric Berlin
Important subject, great review, Temple.
This book review has been selected for Advance.net. You’ll be able to find this and other Blog Critics reviews at such places at Cleveland.com’s Book Reviews column.
7 - Ray
Great review,
I read the book and I don't think I could have summed it up like you did.
8 - Andrian
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