History



					History / Heritage / Civilisation : Islam : A Short History Last Battle for The Truth History of al-Tabari - Prophets and Patriarchs Muslim Heritage and The 21st Century What Islam did for us Making History The Battles of Badr and Uhud The Muslim Conquest of Spain and the Legacy of Al-Andalus The Clear Victory

				Islam : A Short History by Karen Armstrong Paperback - 192 pages World renowned for her scholarly contributions to Levantine religious studies, Karen Armstrong (author of 'A History of God', 'Muhammad', and, more recently, 'The Battle for God',) offers this concise and informative look into the religion perhaps most misunderstood and feared by the West. Maintaining that Islam is more practical than dogmatic and contemplative, Armstrong neatly explains how history, politics, and religion have influenced each other through time, and places special emphasis on the role that history has played in this religion. Distinguishing the religion from its recently developed fundamentalist offshoots, Armstrong debunks the myths of female oppression, terrorism, and authoritarian rule that non-Muslims mistakenly associate with Islam itself. Armstrong's succinct, fluid prose allows over 1300 years of Islamic history to fit gracefully into less than 200 pages, making it an ideal primer for people not yet familiar with Islamic religion and history. An introductory chronology and additional maps placed throughout the text help provide context for the important historical events that Armstrong describes. A list of key figures, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading are also provided. Malia, Powells.com Our Price £7.99 FREE UK DELIVERY

				The Last Battle for The Truth by Abdassamad Clarke Paperback - 51 pages Some people tell history as if it is only battles, kings and empires. Such people look at Islam and call it something like, ''The Islamic Empire'' or even worse, ''The Arabic Empire.'' This story is not just one of armies, empires and battles. So, as we tell the story of the great expedition of Tabuk against the eastern half of the Roman Empire, we will tell the story of one man among the Muslims at that time : Ka'b ibn Malik may Allah be pleased with him, as the central point. Easy to understand told in simple style and language, with many illustrations. Our Price £3.95 FREE UK DELIVERY

				Prophets and Patriarchs : The History of al-Tabari (Volume II) Paperback - 207 pages The History of Prophets and Kings [Ta'rikh al-Rusul wa'l-muluk] by Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari (832 - 923 CE) May Allah be pleased with him, here rendered as the History of al-Tabari, is by common consent the most important universal history produced in the world of Islam. It has been translated here in its entirety for the first time for the benefit of non-Arabs, with historicaland philological notes for those interested in the particulars of the text. Al-Tabari quotes quotes his sources verbatim and traces the chain of transmission (isnad) to an original source. This volume records the lives and efforts of some of the prophets preceeding the birth of the Prophet Muhammad May Allah Shower His Mercy and Blessings upon him. It devotes most of its message to two towering figures--Abraham, the Friend of God, and his great-grandson, Joseph. The story is not, however simply a repetition of Biblical tales in a slightly altered form, for Tabari sees the ancient pre-Islamic Near East as an area in which the histories of three different peoples are acted out, occasionally meeting and intertwining. Thus ancient Iran, Israel, and Arabia serve as the stages on which actors such as Biwarasb, the semi-legendary Iranian king, Noah and his progeny, and the otherwise unknown Arabian Prophets Hud and Salih appear and act. In the pages of this volume we read of the miraculous birth and early life of Abraham, and of his struggle against his father's idolatry. God grants him sons--Ishmael from Hagar and Isaac from Sarah--and the conflicts between the two mothers, the subsequent expulsion of Hagar, and her settling in the vicinity of Mecca, all lead to the story of Abraham's being commanded to build God's sanctuary there. Abraham is tested by God, both by being commanded to sacrifice his son (and here Tabari shows his fairness be presenting the arguments of Muslim scholars as to whether that son was Ishmael or Isaac) and by being given commandments to follow both in personal behavior and in ritual practice. The account of Abraham is interlaced with tales of the cruel tyrant Nimrod, who tried in vain both to burn Abraham in fire and to reach the heavens to fight with God. The story of Abraham's nephew Lot and the wicked people of Sodom also appears here, with the scholars once again arguing--this time over what the exact crimes were for which the Sodomites were destroyed. Our Price £18.95 FREE UK DELIVERY

Muslim Heritage and The 21st Century : by Muhammad Ahsan Paperback - 100 pages Muhammad Ahsan : A dedicated research scholar, has extensively published on social and economic issues particularly in relation to the Muslim World. His recent work focuses on globalisation and the Muslim world. The contribution of the Muslim World to a wide range of sciences and academic disciplines is often overlooked or taken for granted. This book provides a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage within the Muslim World and the significant role that Muslims have played in the advancement of knowledge. £3.95 FREE UK DELIVERY

			What Islam did for us by Tim Wallace Murphy Understanding Islam's Contribution to Western Civilisation Paperback - 260 pages In these troubled and extremist times, when the religion and culture of Islam are under seemingly perpetual attack, it is salutary to consider how much we, living in the Christian West, have in common with, and how much we owe to, the spiritual insights of that great culture. Religious tolerance, respect for learning, the concepts of chivalry and brotherhood - these principles were brought by the Islamic Moors when, in medieval Spain, they acted as "Beacons of Light" in the Dark Ages of European religious arrogance, intolerance and persecution. The Moors gave Europe an architectural and artistic heritage that is still a source of wonder to the modern world. It was in translation from Arabic, not the original Greek, that knowledge of Greek philosophy became prominent in Christian thought. Western mathematics are based on Arabic numerals and calculations, and the first effective medical school in Europe was founded by Jewish doctors who had been trained in Moorish Spain and North Africa. Tim Wallace-Murphy shows how over the last century it was European Western powers who laid the foundations for the chaos that reigns in the Middle East. We need to find a just and equitable solution to these problems and we should begin by acknowledging our common spiritual heritage and the profound debt that Western civilization owes to Islamic culture. Our Price £12.95 FREE UK DELIVERY

		Making History Paperback - 32 pages by Ahmad Thomson This brief booklet considers the two main perspectives from which history may be viewed. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is history. The author urges us to bear in mind when reading any historical account, who wrote it, from what perspective and for what purpose. This is a must-read for history enthusiasts. Our Price £1.50

		The Battles of Badr and Uhud Paperback - 24 pages Salman Rahmatallah This book describes the first two decisive battles fought by the Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam and his small Muslim community, against those who attacked them. These two victories stand out as landmarks in the history of Islam from which many important lessons may be learned. Recommended for ages 8 and over. Our Price £2.50 FREE UK DELIVERY

	The Muslim Conquest of Spain and the Legacy of Al-Andalus Paperback - 128 pages Shahnaz Husain This easy-to-read book narates the story of how Muslims were invited to the Iberian peninsula - the region that covers modern Spain and Portugal - to help different Christian kingdoms at loggerheads with each other over the sovereignty of their country. It covers the history of the initial foundations of Al-Andalus - the name given to Islamic Spain - through to the departure of the men who had taken the initiative to conquer the country. Nearly eight hundred years of Muslim rule has left a cultural legacy of gigantic proportions that remains to this day on the Iberian Peninsula. The dynamic nature of the territorial expansion further into Europe, undertaken by subsequent Muslim leaders, is also considered. This proves to be a fascinating story that will captivate readers, teenagers and adults alike, while giving an insight into a remarkable period of Islamic history. Our Price £3.50

		The Clear Victory [al-Qur'an 48 : 1] Paperback - 32 pages by Abdassamad Clarke A vivid account of Hudaybiyyah, the Pledge of Allegiance to Ridwan and the Treaty of Peace, based on authentic sources. From the siras of Ibn Hisham and Ibn Sa'd, the Muwatta of Imam Malik, and the ash-Shifa of Qadi 'Iyad, May Allah be pleased with them. Illustrated in colour. Recommended for ages 10 and over. Our Price £1.50