Islam: A Very Short Introduction Summary

Islam: A Very Short Introduction

Malise Ruthven

In the 21st century, Islam has unfortunately made news headlines for mostly negative reasons. Thanks to the actions of a minority of extremists, concepts like 'jihad', 'fatwa', and 'hijab' have been portrayed in twisted ways, stripped of their wider religious, social, and historical context.

Malise Ruthven is a journalist and writer who has authored numerous books on religion and Islam and whose work has appeared in publications like The Guardian and The New York Review of Books. In this addition to the Oxford Very Short Introductions series, written by experts to provide a concise overview of particular intellectual topics, Ruthven examines the world's second-largest religion. From its political philosophy to its attitudes towards women, Ruthven contextualizes Islam's most controversial aspects to present a balanced view.