No God but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam

For the holy Islamic phrase "No god but God", see Shahada.
No god but God
Author Reza Aslan
Country United States
Language English
Genre Non-fiction
Publisher Random House
Publication date
 March 15, 2006
Media type Print
Pages 310 pages
ISBN 1-4000-6213-6
OCLC 56367491
297 22
LC Class BP161.3 .A79 2005

No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam is a 2005 non-fiction book written by Iranian-American Muslim scholar Reza Aslan. The book describes the history of Islam and argues for a liberal interpretation of the religion. It blames Western imperialism and self-serving misinterpretations of Islamic law by past scholars for the current controversies within Islam,[1] challenging the "clash of civilizations" thesis.[2]

According to conservative columnist Reihan Salam, the book has received a favorable response within the Muslim world.[3]

Contents

Each chapter of the book covers a specific topic within Islam. For example, one chapter is entirely dedicated to the issue of jihad.[4] Over all, the book covers the history of Islam from the point of view of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad as a social reformer struggling for egalitarianism between people. It argues that the Quran does not order the veiling of women and that the concept of jihad was intended to be solely defensive. Aslan focuses primarily on the early practices of Islam, but he also discusses life within the Abbasid Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and in the modern Muslim World.[1]

One of the central themes is that an internal battle is currently taking place within Islam between individualistic reform ideals and the traditional authority of Muslim clerics. Aslan states that this situation is parallel to that of the 16th-century reformation in Christianity, which was as old as Islam currently is at that period.[2] He writes,

the notion that historical context should play no role in the interpretation of the Quran – that what applied to Muhammad's community applies to all Muslim communities for all time – is simply an untenable position in every sense.[5]

Reception

Reza Aslan, the author

The book was chosen "Best Book of the Year" in its category by the Financial Times. The Los Angeles Times dubbed it a "favorite book of the year".[6] Journalist Fareed Zakaria called the book "a textured, nuanced account that presents a living, breathing religion shaped by centuries of history and culture". Professor and author Noah Feldman called it "[e]legant, accessible, and informed by historical scholarship" and "a wonderful view into the rich world of early Islam".[7] A scholarly review in International Journal of Kurdish Studies reported that "[s]uch clarity is a welcome and refreshing antidote to the endless obfuscations that emanate from partisans on both sides of the issue."[4] Also, Muslim journalist Reihan Salam called the book "fascinating", and he has said that he considers it to be one of the most important books of the decade.[3] The New York Review of Books wrote that "[o]ne of the achievements of Reza Aslan's book is that it gives Islam as much internal complexity and diversity as the concepts 'the West' and 'America' possess in our eyes".[2] The New York Times gave a favorable review, describing it as a "wise and passionate book", stating that "his arguments for reintroducing rationalism, for accepting the utility of secularization, and for contextualizing the historical understanding of the faith all put him in distinguished company among contemporary Muslims".[5]

The Washington Post published a mixed review by Nikki R. Keddie, an author and professor emerita of history at UCLA. She contends that Aslan's book is "one of the most readable" and that Aslan presents "a liberal and optimistic view of Islam". She states that Aslan sometimes relies on doubtful sources, that Aslan's "good storytelling occasionally interferes with accuracy", that he minimizes "gender inequalities enshrined in the Koran", and he "ascribes undocumented feelings and motives not only to Muhammad but also to later figures—a technique sometimes endorsed in creative nonfiction courses but not recommended for historians".[8] Aslan gives the most space to Islam's early era, for which the documentation is relatively less. Overall, Keddie stated that "Aslan provides a lively, enjoyable, and mostly accurate picture, but parts of the book are shaky".[1]

The book also received mixed reviews from The Independent stating that the book is "a fascinating guide" for non-Muslim readers.[9]

The Guardian published a negative review by Tariq Ali, stating that "Aslan's account of early Islam is too literalist" and "Shia sects and some of their more esoteric beliefs have little to do with Islamic theology". It concluded that the book's "aim is to appease western ideologues", and liberal Islam as Aslan sees it is only a "phase and it will pass".[10]

Promotion

According to the San Jose Mercury News, the book turned its author into "a minor celebrity on the cable news circuit".[11] Aslan has spoken about the book across the world.[3] He appeared on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher on September 22, 2006, to talk about the book.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Keddie, Nikki R. (April 7, 2005). "Taking History on Faith". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 Author of No god but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam to speak on campus. Stanford University press release. Published October 20, 2006. Accessed May 7, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror. Bloggingheads.tv Recorded April 10, 2009. Posted April 28, 2009.
  4. 1 2 Shasha, David (January 2002). "No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam". International Journal of Kurdish Studies.
  5. 1 2 Rodenbeck, Max (May 29, 2005). "'No god but God': The War Within Islam". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  6. ↑ Kornell, Sam (January 19, 2006). "One World One God". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  7. ↑ Aslan, Reza (March 15, 2005). No god but God. Random House. Back cover. ISBN 1-4000-6213-6.
  8. ↑ "Taking History on Faith".
  9. ↑ "No God but God: Visions of an Islamic Reformer". The Independent (London). 27 October 2005. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Review: No God But God by Reza Aslan". The Guardian.
  11. ↑ Kelly, Kevin (May 8, 2009). "Book review: 'How to Win a Cosmic War'". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  12. ↑ September 22, 2006. tv.com Accessed May 7, 2009.

External links

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