LibGuides: Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys : Pathways of Faith

Pathways of Faith

The Art of Hajj by Venetia Porter
Call Number: N6260 .P67 2012
96 p.
It is laid down in the Qur’an that at least once in their lives Muslims should undertake the annual spiritual pilgrimage—the Hajj—to the holy city of Mecca. There, within a sanctuary, lies the Ka’ba—a cube of black granite that is the literal center of a Muslim’s world and the compass point towards which daily prayers are made. This striking little book not only takes the reader on a journey, but celebrates the skill and creativity of artists, craftspeople, and the pilgrims themselves who have responded to the call of Hajj over the centuries. • Encompasses a striking array of objects and images, from the seventh to the 21st centuries. • Features illuminated manuscripts, wall paintings and photographs, calligraphy, textiles, scientific instruments, decorative tiles, maps, ceramics, metalwork, and powerful works by contemporary artists.--Book Description
Venetia Porter is Curator of Islamic and modern Middle Eastern art at the British Museum.

The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam by F. E. Peters
Call Number: BM157 .P47 2004
237 p.
F.E. Peters, a scholar without peer in the comparative study of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, revisits his pioneering work after twenty-five years. Peters has rethought and thoroughly rewritten his classic The Children of Abraham for a new generation of readers-at a time when the understanding of these three religious traditions has taken on a new and critical urgency. In this updated edition, he lays out the similarities and differences of the three religious siblings with great clarity and succinctness and with that same remarkable objectivity that is the hallmark of all the author's work.
Peters traces the three faiths from the sixth century B.C., when the Jews returned to Palestine from exile in Babylonia, to the time in the Middle Ages when they approached their present form. --Book Description
Francis Edward Peters, who generally publishes as F.E. Peters, is Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and History at New York University.
Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction by Jonathan A. C. Brown
Call Number: BP75 .B66 2011
140 p.
As the founder of Islam, a religion with over one billion followers, Muhammad is beyond all doubt one of the most influential figures in world history. This book
provides a superb introduction to the major aspects of Muhammad's life and its importance, providing both Muslim and Western historical perspectives. It explains the prominent roles that Muhammad's persona has played in the Islamic world throughout history, from the medieval to the modern period.--Book Description
Rumi: Poet and Mystic by Reynold A. Nicholson, editor and translator
Call Number: PK6480.E5 N5 1995
190 p.
Jalalu'l-Din Rumi was one of the greatest of the Persian mystical poets. In his writings he explored the profound themes of the nature of truth, of beauty, and of our spiritual relationship with God. Professor Nicholson translated this collection of mystical poems shortly before his death. It contains versions of over 100 short passages from Rumi's greatest works, together with brief explanatory notes.--Book Description.
The Story of the Qur’an: Its History and Place in Muslim Life by Ingrid Mattson
Call Number: BP132 .M39 2008
262 p.
"This well-researched, informative, carefully written introduction to the Qur'an by a young Muslim scholar is a sign of the times. Mattson ... brings to her work an impressive set of credentials. Readers of whatever stripe will find her introduction a welcome addition to the academic literature on the Qur'an. This is an ideal undergraduate text, but also a useful resource for a general audience."--CHOICE Reviews
Dr. Ingrid Mattson is Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of Islamic Chaplaincy at the Macdonald Center for Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, CT.

About This Theme

"The theme ‘Pathways of Faith’ resonates with Islam’s most important principle: following the correct pathway to spiritual fulfillment and success. One significant pathway for Muslims is Islam’s place as the youngest religion in the extended Abrahamic family of Jews and Christians. Islam’s fellow monotheistic believers may be traced back to the earliest roots of Jewish tradition in the Patriarchal Age of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as reported in the biblical book of Genesis and finding fulfillment down through generations in the work of Moses, the Hebrew prophets, and Jesus of Nazareth. Thus, ‘Pathways of Faith’ pays attention to all the children of Abraham, 'the People of the Book': Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

Pathways of Faith was developed by Frederick M. Denny, Professor Emeritus of Islamic Studies and History of Religions in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has conducted field research on Qur’anic recitation, Muslim popular ritual, and characteristics of contemporary Muslim societies in Egypt, Indonesia, and Malaysia. His current research includes Muslim community formation in North America, and Muslim human rights discourses."--Forum on Religion and Ecology.

Themes

Film: Koran by Heart

Koran by Heart: One Chance to Remember
Call Number: BP188.3.C5 K67 2011 DVD
In this 80-minute documentary, three 10-year old children leave their native countries to participate in one of the Islamic world's most famous competitions, a test of memory and recitation known as The International Holy Koran Competition.