The Word of Islam

"The Word of Islam" (1994) is a watered-down version of "Islam" also edited by J.A.Williams and published in 1963 by the Washington Square Press in New York. This version seems to have been revised not out of "fear of the Jews" but out of fear of the Moslems. What was "The Cosmic Man" in "Islam"(p.139) is "The Great Man" in "The Word of Islam"(p.125). Likewise "God" is mostly replaced by "Reality." However, the Evening Prayer of Rabi'a of Basra (d.801) is retained intact on p.114. That is possibly the most beautiful prayer that I [a Catholic] know.

Any one interested in Islam should have this book. So many books try to tell you what Islam is. This anthology *shows* you Islam through classic works from within the tradition. It has elegant translations for important passages from the Quran, and extensive excerpts from the hadith of the Prophet (anecdotes about him that are normative for Muslims, as a kind of scripture). There is an excellent chapter on Islamic Law displaying the logic and content of that complex field. There is a generous and appealing section on Sufism (Islamic mysticism). And finally, theology and minoritarian movements are both explored through wide-ranging excerpts that discuss predestination, the role of dissent, and the significance of the Prophet's son-in-law, Ali. Unlike the textbooks that abound, Word of Islam helps the reader not just to understand, but to appreciate these sometimes complex topics through careful choices of material and through lucid and sympathetic introductions. And the translations are both accurate and very sensitive.. I've given away several copies and everyone who has received one has loved it. It's also a wonderful classroom text, and discussion-group support.