Bridging the Gap:
A Search for Understanding
Sufficient time has passed since the events of September 11, 2001 for all of us to try and understand rather than react to the world of Islam. Our library has also had the time to collect some up-to-date, unbiased materials aimed at non-Muslims that explain Islam and promote understanding, acceptance, and tolerance. The following books, videos and Web sites are meant to address your needs if you are curious about Islam, wish to learn more about it, or recommend some materials to students in your classes.
Reference Work
The Muslim Almanac: A Reference Work on the History, Faith, Culture and Peoples of Islam . Edited by Azim Nanjii. Gale, 1996. R297 M987
Although other sources are more comprehensive, a general reader's needs will be more than met with this well-organized basic reference.
Islam in America
Findley, Pal. Silent No More: Confronting America 's False Images of Islam . Amana, 2001. 297 F494
A 22 year veteran of Congress debunks stereotypes falsely linking Islam to terrorism and degradation of women. He stresses basic principles of Islam, commonalities with other world faiths, and corrective actions needed and being taken by Muslim leaders.
Smith, Jane. Islam in America . Columbia University Press, 1999. 297 S651
Smith's straightforward, well-written, detailed account of Islam's emergence in the United States offers one a good look at Muslim daily life, the role of women, and the issues facing Muslims here.
Background Material
Armstrong, Karen. Islam: A Short History . Modern Library , 2000. 297 A736
An excellent, short, and well-written synopsis of Islamic history, including conflicts with the West, the modern Muslim state, fundamentalism, and the Muslim minority.
Lewis, Bernard. Islam and the West . Oxford University Press, 1993 297 L673 or The Middle East A Brief History of the Past 2,000 Years . Scribner, 1995. 956 L673m
Hailed in The New York Times Book Review as "the doyen of Middle Eastern studies," Bernard Lewis has been for half a century one of the West's foremost scholars of Islamic history and culture, the author of over two dozen books, most notably The Arabs in History , The Emergence of Modern Turkey , The Political Language of Islam , and The Muslim Discovery of Europe . Scholarly but not pedantic writing without fear or favor, Lewis makes an ideal guide through the political, religious, and cultural thickets of Islam.
Braswell, George Jr. What You Need to Know About Islam . Broadman & Holman, 2000. 297 B823
Did you know that there are over one billion Muslims in the world and that Islam is the second largest religion in the world? With 192 pages, this book includes a great amount of information concerning the historical, social, topical, and modern issues surrounding Islam. If you only have a casual interest in Islam, this book contains a small wealth of knowledge.
Islam and Conflicts
Lesch, Ann Mosley. Origins and Development of the Arab-Israeli Conflict . Greenwood , 2001. 956.94 L625
This highly readable and comprehensive account of the Arab-Israeli conflict from its origins to the present contains an abundance of information, analysis, and ready-reference materials. Designed for secondary school and college student use, it contains valuable essays explaining the history of the conflict and the positions of the parties, a timeline of events, biographical profiles of major players, and the texts of key primary documents associated with the conflict.
Davidson, Lawrence. Islamic Fundamentalism . Greenwood Press, 1998. 329.959 D252
Islamic fundamentalism is a growing political factor in world affairs. This work, based on the most recent scholarship, provides both explanatory essays and ready-reference components. An expert on Middle East history, Davidson explains the Islamic fundamentalist worldview and the actions and aims of those who adhere to it.
Labeviere, Richard. Dollars for Terror: The United States and Islam . Algora Publishing, 2000. 322.4 L117
In a provocative expose, Swiss TV journalist Labeviere argues that the real threat to the West from radical Islamic fundamentalism comes not from Iran or Iraq but rather from America 's solid allies-- Saudi Arabia and neighboring oil monarchies. Based on his four-year investigation, Labeviere charges that Saudi Arabia is the principal financial backer of extremist Islamic movements around the world.
Bergen, Peter. Holy War, Inc . Free Press, 2001. 297.87 Ber
There's a lot of new information in this well-written examination by CNN's terrorism expert on the man believed to be behind the events of September 11, though some of its revelations have already been reported elsewhere in the media. What distinguishes this account is its depth: Bergen has long tracked the Islamic world. The book opens with the account of his 1997 interview with bin Laden. This was the terrorist's first TV interview and it shows. Bergen sheds light on several outstanding questions, arguing, among other things, that it's unlikely Iraq was involved in the September 11 attacks, and that it's a myth that the CIA directly funded and trained bin Laden during the war in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
Rashid, Ahmed. Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia . Yale University Press, 2000. 958.104 R2245
This is the single best book available on the Taliban, the fundamentalist Islamic regime in Afghanistan responsible for harboring the terrorist Osama bin Laden. Ahmed Rashid is a Pakistani journalist who has spent most of his career reporting on the region--he has personally met and interviewed many of the Taliban's shadowy leaders. Taliban was written and published before the massacres of September 11, 2001 , yet it is essential reading for anyone who hopes to understand the aftermath of that black day.
NCS Videos
The Holy Koran. Mastervision, n.d. VC 297 Kor
Instructive and enlightening about the five pillars or tenets that are fundamental to the practice of Islam.
Story of Islam. MPI Home Video, 1990. VC 297 S887.
Tells the story of the world's most misunderstood faith.
Islam: Empire of Faith. Gardner Films in Association with PBS 2000. VC 297 ISL
Although it doesn't cover the modern period, this video offers a good and respectful overview of Islam's contributions to world civilization during its first 1000 years, using reenactments, art, artifacts, architecture and interviews.
The 50 Years War Israel and the Arabs. PBS, 1999. VC 956 FIF
Follows the half-century enmity, warfare, mediation and negotiation between Israel and the Arabs in the Middle East .
Inside Afghanistan . Ethnoscope Films & Video. 2000. VC 958.104 A257
Provides a look at the people and culture of Afghanistan and the effects of the Soviet-Afghan war.
Web Sites
Al-Islam http://www.al-islam.org
Developed by Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library project, this excellent site offers a Shi'ite perspective with many pictures and a multilingual Koran. They have a good section on general Muslim and Shia Muslim responses to September 11.
Islamicity.org http://www.islamicity.org
A comprehensive site with links to all things Islamic, including an online store with books, videos, audiotapes, multimedia, access to the Koran, and articles on a wide variety of religious topics. Now it includes links and reactions to 9/11 and afterwards.
Islamic Studies, Islam, Arabic, and Religion. http://arches.uga.edu/~godlas
A very good introduction to the study of Islam, using both Muslim and non-Muslim sources. The section on Sufism is particularly good. Updated regularly with links relevant to September 11.
The Noble Qur'an http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran
Includes three translations side by side (M.H. Skair, Abdullah Yusufali, Marmaduke Pickthall), a comprehensive search engine, and topical index.
Reviews taken from
various library journals. 12/2001