'No god but God'

[zznɟ ǝɥʇ]

I just finished reading Reza Aslan's book, No god but God, about the 'origins, evolution, and future' of Islam. I thought it was a very good read and I learned quite a bit about the religion and its followers. It presenting a lot of interesting viewpoints on the shaping of the religion in its early days, and it covers a lot of things debated in the 'Who wrote the Quran' thread.

I was curious as to what Muslims of TWC thought of it, and of course what other people thought of it.

Are there any other similar books anyone knows of?


webpage: http://www.rezaaslan.com/nogodbutgod.html

Though it is the fastest growing religion in the world, Islam remains shrouded by ignorance and fear. What is the essence of this ancient faith? Is it a religion of peace or war? How does Allah differ from the God of Jews and Christians? Can an Islamic State be founded on democratic values such as pluralism and human rights?

A writer and scholar of comparative religions, Reza Aslan has garnered international acclaim for the passion and clarity he has brought to these questions. In No god but God, Aslan challenges the "clash of civilizations" mentality that has distorted our view of Islam and explains this critical faith in all its complexity, beauty, and compassion.

Contrary to popular perception, Islam is a religion firmly rooted in the prophetic traditions of the Jewish and Christian scriptures. Aslan begins with a vivid account of the social and religious milieu from which the Prophet Muhammad arose. The revelations that Muhammad received in Mecca and Medina, and which were recorded in the Quran, became the foundation of a radically egalitarian community, the likes of which had never been seen before.

Soon after the his death, the Prophet's successors set about the overwhelming task of defining and interpreting Muhammad's message for future generations. Their efforts led to the development of a comprehensive code of conduct expected to regulate every aspect of the believer's life. But this attempt only widened the chasm between orthodox Islam and its two major sects, Shiism and Sufism, both of which Aslan presents in rich detail.

Finally, No god but God examines how, in the shadow of European colonialism, Muslims developed conflicting strategies to reconcile traditional Islamic values with the social and political realities of the modern world. With the emergence of the Islamic State in the 20th century, this contest over the future of Islam has become a passionate, sometimes violent battle between those who seek to enforce a rigid and archaic legal code on society and those who struggle to harmonize the teachings of the Prophet with contemporary ideals of democracy and human rights. According to Reza Aslan, we are now living in the era of "the Islamic Reformation."

No god but God is a persuasive and elegantly written account of the origins, evolution, and future of Islam.

[Bokks]

"...this attempt only widened the chasm between orthodox Islam and its two major sects, Shiism and Sufism..."
Sufism is a "major" sect of Islam? I thought it was a mystically charged meld between Islam and the pre-Muhammad religions in the area.
What would orthodox Islam be, Sunni? This would seem to be the problem bewteen the two; exactly which one is "orthodox".
Other than that (or in some ways due to that) it looks like a very interesting read. Great job!
Unfortunately I haven't really read anything particularly religious in quite a while, so I can't really add anything myself.

[zznɟ ǝɥʇ]

I think that's just the publisher putting out a crappy summary, he does go into Sufism but he doesn't call it a major sect.