It isn’t hard to find a book about Islam or Muslims. It is hard, however, to find a really good one. Some of the more popular titles are actually terrible, if not malevolent. Swap out “Islam” for “Judaism,” for example, and Glenn Beck’s “It IS About Islam” reads like a Nazi screed. Part of the problem is authorship: We talk about Muslims frequently, but we rarely hear from Muslims. That’s why Michael Muhammad Knight’s latest book, “Magic in Islam,” is such a treat, both for his perspective and for his scholarship. Finally an introduction to Islam that is entertaining, intelligent and well-informed. Even if you’re well-versed in the religion, you’ll still find Knight’s historical and cultural foray to be powerful, rewarding reading. [...]
“Magic in Islam” is packed with fascinating insights and curious tidbits. Did you know the devil had a granddaughter? Knight even knows her name. Beyond that, who else would think of explaining Islam through magic? From potions to spells, from astrology to numerology, from dreams to demons, “Magic in Islam” unveils the allegedly talismanic and purportedly irrational ways Islam works in real people’s lives. Concise in his language and admirable in his breadth, Knight is remarkably efficient, providing a very nuanced, detailed and almost taxonomic take on Islam over some 1,400 years of human history — all in just 200 pages of text.
No comments:
Post a Comment