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The Straight Path: Islam Interpreted by Muslims by Kenneth W. Morgan

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The Straight Path: Islam Interpreted by Muslims by Kenneth W. Morgan Islam -- The Straight Path: Islam Interpreted by Muslims return to religion-online 47 Islam -- The Straight Path: Islam Interpreted by Muslims by Kenneth W. Morgan Kenneth W. Morgan is Professor of history and comparative religions at Colgate University. Published by The Ronald Press Company, New York 1958. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock. (ENTIRE BOOK) A collection of essays written by Islamic leaders for Western readers. Chapters describe Islam's origin, ideas, movements and beliefs, and its different manifestations in Africa, Turkey, Pakistan, India, China and Indonesia. Preface The faith of Islam, and the consequences of that faith, are described in this book by devout Muslim scholars. This is not a comparative study, nor an attempt to defend Islam against what Muslims consider to be Western misunderstandings of their religion. It is simply a concise presentation of the history and spread of Islam and of the beliefs and obligations of Muslims as interpreted by outstanding Muslim scholars of our time. Chapter 1: The Origin of Islam by Mohammad Abd Allah Draz The straight path of Islam requires submission to the will of God as revealed in the Qur’an, and recognition of Muhammad as the Messenger of God who in his daily life interpreted and exemplified that divine revelation which was given through him. The believer who follows that straight path is a Muslim. Chapter 2: Ideas and Movements in Islamic History, by Shafik Ghorbal The author describes the history and problems of the Islamic society from the time of the prophet Mohammad as it matures to modern times. Statistical compilations of the numbers of Muslims in various countries are listed. Chapter 3: Islamic Beliefs and Code of Laws by Mahmud Shaltout The author holds that it has been proven that the Qur’an could not possibly be the work of Muhammad or of any other human being, but has been given to the Prophet by Holy Revelation. http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showbook?item_id=1656 (1 of 3) [2/4/03 2:47:11 PM] Islam -- The Straight Path: Islam Interpreted by Muslims Of this there is no doubt whatsoever. Thus, the beliefs of Islam are True. Chapter 4: The Rational and Mystical Interpretations of Islam by A. E. Affifi This chapter discusses the interpretations gleaned from the writings of the old schools of Muslims -- mystics and rationalists, including both the theologians and the philosophers -- who are not usually regarded by the orthodox school as strict Muslims, but whose influence on Muslim thought and practical religious life is felt even today. Chapter 5: Shi‘a, by Mahmood Shehabi Religion is a set of rules, regulations, and plans which God has set up to guide man’s life in such a way that he will become happy in both worlds. The religious man is one who submits himself to God’s rules and obeys them. Chapter 6: Islamic Culture in Arab and African Countries by Ishak M. Husaini The interaction between groups of Islamic people has been influenced by the wide cultural varieties of different Islamic countries. These diversities are not due to variations in geographic environments or to different civilizations, but are due only to recognized sectarian differences. Chapter 7: Islamic Culture in Turkish Areas by Hasan Basri Çantay An excellent summary of the history, beliefs and diversity of Islam, particularly in Turkish areas. The author answers the question: "Why is Islam so backward today?" Chapter 8: Muslim Culture in Pakistan and India by Mazheruddin Siddiqi The history of Islam in Pakistan and India - its growth and retrenchment - and the situation today. Islam, with its simplicity of faith and clarity of doctrine, made a tremendous impression on the Hindu mind, and within the first twenty-five years after its arrival in the seventh century A.D. Chapter 9: Islamic Culture in China by Dawood C. M. Ting The rise and fall of Islam in China. Most Chinese Muslims are descendants of Arabian, Iranian, or Turkish parents who came to China by the various trade routes, intermarried with the Chinese and adopted Han customs. Thus, both cultures are mixed which has led to many unique contributions from China. Islam interacted with Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Chapter 10: Islam in Indonesia by P. A. Hoesein Djajadiningrat The earliest historical record of Islam in Indonesia comes from Marco Polo (A.D. 1292) when he took a sojourn in Perlack on the north coast of Sumatra while he was on his way back to Venice. http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showbook?item_id=1656 (2 of 3) [2/4/03 2:47:11 PM] Islam -- The Straight Path: Islam Interpreted by Muslims He found the people there had been converted to Islam by "Saracene" merchants. Today Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims, mostly Sufi, with its distinctive mysticism. Chapter 11: Unity and Diversity in Islam by Mohammad Rasjidi The texts of the Qur’an are still and will always be valid, but we should understand them in the light of present knowledge. At the present time, there are four major tendencies in the Islamic world -- orthodoxy, reform, Sufism, and Shi’a. One of the great tasks facing religious scholars in our time is the re-examination of the jurisprudence of Islam in the light of reason and modern knowledge. Bibliography Glossary of Islamic Terms Viewed 2878 times. http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showbook?item_id=1656 (3 of 3) [2/4/03 2:47:11 PM] Islam -- The Straight Path: Islam Interpreted by Muslims return to religion-online Islam -- The Straight Path: Islam Interpreted by Muslims by Kenneth W. Morgan Kenneth W. Morgan is Professor of history and comparative religions at Colgate University. Published by The Ronald Press Company, New York 1958. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock. Preface The faith of Islam, and the consequences of that faith, are described in this book by devout Muslim scholars. This is not a comparative study, nor an attempt to defend Islam against what Muslims consider to be Western misunderstandings of their religion; it is simply a concise presentation of the history and spread of Islam and of the beliefs and obligations of Muslims as interpreted by outstanding Muslim scholars of our time. The method used in the writing of this book is the same as that used in the preparation of the two previous volumes -- The Religion of the Hindus and The Path of the Buddha -- which I have edited in an attempt to present to Western readers the major religions of the world from the point of view of the followers of those faiths. First, an outline was prepared for a book designed to present Islam to Western readers. Then that outline was checked with Muslim scholars in Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, and with refugee scholars from China, by asking them whether a book written to that outline would give a fair and representative picture of Islam, and who, in their opinion, would be the best writer for each chapter. In the light of their suggestions the outline was extensively modified and the men most highly recommended and most frequently mentioned by their fellow Muslims were asked to write. They recognized that they were not writing independent essays but were creating sections of a carefully planned volume and were aware that their fellow Muslims looked over their shoulders as they Wrote. http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showchapter?chapter_id=1636 (1 of 5) [2/4/03 2:47:42 PM] Islam -- The Straight Path: Islam Interpreted by Muslims The eleven able scholars, recommended by their fellow Muslims to speak for the contemporary Muslim world, have given generously of their time and counsel in the creation of this book. Shaikh Mohammad Abd Allah Draz is a Member of the Body of the Grand Ulama, and Professor of Interpretation of the Qur’an at Al Azhar University in Cairo. Shaikh Draz, who received his doctorate at the Sorbonne, is recognized as one of the leading authorities in the Muslim world on the Qur’an and the life of the Prophet. Dr. Shafik Ghorbal, who has now retired from university teaching and from government service, is the head of the Institute of Higher Arabic Studies of the Arab League, in Cairo. His work as a teacher and writer of history and as an administrator in the Ministry of Education of the Government of Egypt has made him one of the most highly honored scholars of Egypt today. Shaikh Mahmud Shaltout is a Member of the Body of the Grand Ulama and Professor of Comparative Law at Al Azhar University. He is famous in the Arab world for his radio broadcasts on Islam and for his fearless and outspoken interpretations of Islamic law. Professor A. E. Affifi, Professor of Islamic Philosophy at the University of Alexandria, is recognized as one of Egypt’s leading scholars and a specialist in the Muslim rationalists and mystics. Professor Mahmood Shehabi, Professor of Jurisprudence in the Faculty of Law and Professor of Eastern Philosophy in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Tehran, is recognized among the Shi‘as as qualified to speak for them because of his great learning and his deep devotion to the faith. Dr. Ishak Musa Husaini is Professor of Arabic Literature both at the Institute of Higher Arabic Studies of the Arab League and at the American University at Cairo. He comes from an old Palestinian family which has long been known for its scholarly leadership in Islam; until recently he was a teacher at the American University at Beirut.
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