Introduction to Islam By Carole Hillenbrand

    Carole Hillenbrand writes of how Jesus is considered a prophet in Islam, but also writes how the crucifixion is omitted. The Quran hints that Jesus wasn’t physically killed, rather that he was taken to heaven while still living, similar to Enosh and Elijah. Joseph is also a prophet to the Muslims, and the story of him and Zukilyah (Potiphar’s wife, not named in the bible) is used as an example of resisting temptation. She leads him through multiple rooms, each one decorated with erotic artwork, and in the artwork provided, he wears green clothing, symbolizing purity.

    Introduction to Islam, from Thames & Hudson Publishers, is a book that creates a realistic, balanced portrayal of one of the three great religions, both venerated and maligned at the same time. This book is clear in that local customs always influence Muslim practices, as in the chapter on prophets. The author includes a 14^th century illustration from Iran, depicting Mary and the angel, where she sits in a Buddhist cross-legged pose. Most of the Persian artworks have Chinese influence, in the faces, the colors, and the animals. Rashid-al-Din’s World History has a painting of Jonah and the Great Fish, using Chinese elements such as the fish as a thrashing carp. The style of the splashing water also has similarities to Chinese brush painting.

    The author doesn’t mince words in discussing negative aspects of Islam. For instance, no authority in a Muslim country would tolerate blasphemy or disrespect towards Mohammad, and even in tolerant Muslim Spain, Christians could not speak of him negatively. She discusses Satanic Verses and the backlash to Rushdie’s book, and the death threats, book burnings, the ban on its sale. She does, however, note that most of the men who burned the book had not read it. Next we have the 2006 Danish cartoon controversy, where a depiction of Muhammad with a bomb-shaped turban sparked violent protest. But the author states that the violence was the work of radicals, who are (according to her) only 7% of all Muslims. The most destructive protest was the Muslim boycott of Danish food.

    Diversity, in the form of the Sunni-Shiite split, is discussed, with good explanations of both philosophy and tradition. Hillenbrand also writes a few pages on Islam in Europe, and how the French Muslims are mostly from North and West Africa, while Germany’s Muslims are from Turkey, Britain’s Muslims are from India and Pakistan, etc. We also learn about the Sufi orders, and how their practices are different depending on whether you’re in Africa, Egypt, or Turkey.

   What disappoints me about this book is that Islam in China and South Africa are left out. I’ve seen depictions of Cape Town Muslims, descended from Indonesian captives (known as Cape Malays) and the men and women pray side by side, not with the women behind the men. It would be interesting to hear Arab Muslims view on this. I would also have liked to read about how the Chinese Muslims in Taiwan go about preserving their customs in a non-religious society.