Islam in the Modern World - by Seyyed Hossein Nasr (Paperback)

About the Book

The foremost U.S. authority on Islam and, Seyyed Hossein Nasr discusses today's hot button issues--including holy wars, women's rights, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, and the future of Moslems in the Middle East--in this groundbreaking discussion of the fastest-growing religion in the world. One of the great scholars in the modern Islamic intellectual tradition, and the acclaimed author of books such as The Garden of Truth and The Heart of Islam, Nasr brings incomparable insight to this exploration of Muslim issues and realities, delivering a landmark publication promoting cross-cultural awareness and world peace.

Book Synopsis

The foremost U.S. authority on Islam and, Seyyed Hossein Nasr discusses today's hot button issues--including holy wars, women's rights, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, and the future of Moslems in the Middle East--in this groundbreaking discussion of the fastest-growing religion in the world. One of the great scholars in the modern Islamic intellectual tradition, and the acclaimed author of books such as The Garden of Truth and The Heart of Islam, Nasr brings incomparable insight to this exploration of Muslim issues and realities, delivering a landmark publication promoting cross-cultural awareness and world peace.

How does traditional Islam confront the challenges of the modern world while keeping faith with its fourteen-hundred-year heritage?

• A Critique of Modernism and Fundamentalism: Nasr masterfully distinguishes authentic, traditional Islam from both Westernizing modernism and reactive fundamentalism, providing a clear framework for understanding today's complex religious landscape.
• Islamic Philosophy and Science: Explore the rich intellectual heritage of Islam, from its educational ethos to its unique scientific worldview, and learn why it offers a vital alternative to purely secular thought.
• Sufism and the Spiritual Path: Delve into the heart of the Islamic tradition--Sufism--and understand its central role in the spiritual life of Muslims throughout history and into the present day.
• The Islamic Perspective on Women: Move beyond stereotypes with a nuanced discussion of the male and female in the Islamic perspective, grounded in metaphysical principles rather than modern polemics.

From the Back Cover

The world's fastest-growing religion is also the most misunderstood in the West. In Islam in the Modern World, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, one of the world's leading experts on Islamic thought, explains why traditional Islam exists in tension with modern Western culture, while at the same time it is also opposed by many currents of Islamic "fundamentalism." Islam in the Modern World offers an inside look at this increasingly factious religion with increasing global relevance.

Review Quotes

"Newly revised edition of a well-considered academic study of the modern challenges to traditional Islam. In discrete, carefully honed essays, Nasr looks at some of Islam's thorny issues, such as jihad; ... work ethics; the roles of male and female; ... considerations of Shi'ism; and a holistic approach to education, encompassing philosophy, art and science (traditional Islamic vs. Western)." - Kirkus Reviews

"An erudite and unusually accessible look into the ongoing struggle for the heart of Islam." - Booklist