{"product_id":"2940169178708","title":"No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam","description":"\u003cb\u003eA fascinating, accessible introduction to Islam from the author of the #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestseller \u003ci\u003eZealot\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 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 earned international acclaim   for the passion and clarity he has brought to these questions. In \u003ci\u003eNo god but God\u003c\/i\u003e,   challenging the \"clash of civilizations\" mentality that has distorted our view of   Islam, Aslan explains this critical faith in all its complexity, beauty, and compassion.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Contrary to popular perception in the West, 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 in which the Prophet Muhammad   lilved. The revelations that Muhammad received in Mecca and Medina, which were recorded   in the Quran, became the foundation for a radically more egalitarian community, the   likes of which had never been seen before.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Soon after 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 that was 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 discusses in rich detail.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Finally,   \u003ci\u003eNo god but God\u003c\/i\u003e 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 twentieth 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 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.\"\u003ci\u003e No god but God\u003c\/i\u003e is a persuasive and elegantly   written account of the roots of this reformation and the future of Islamic faith.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eFrom the Hardcover edition.\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47104329842928,"sku":"2940169178708","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940169178708_p0.jpg?v=1763764386","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940169178708","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}