The Cultural Atlas of Islam
{{short description|1986 book by Isma'il and Lois Lamya' al-Faruqi}}
{{Infobox book
| name = The Cultural Atlas of Islam
| image = The_Cultural_Atlas_of_Islam_Book_Cover.png
| caption = Cover of the 1986 edition
| author = Ismail al-Faruqi and Lois Lamya al-Faruqi
| country = United States
| language = English
| subject = Islamic studies, Islamic culture, History of Islam
| publisher = Macmillan Publishing Company
| published = 1986
| pages = 512
| ISBN = 9780029101902
| dewey=
| congress =
| oclc = 849811134
| media_type = Print
| preceded_by = Divine Transcendence and Its Expression (1983)
| notes = Published posthumously
}}
The Cultural Atlas of Islam is a reference work by Isma'il Raji al-Faruqi and Lois Lamya al-Faruqi, published posthumously in 1986. The book provides an extensive overview of Islamic civilization, covering various aspects such as history, geography, culture, art, and science. It aims to contribute to the understanding of the diverse heritage of Islam.{{cite book |last1=al-Faruqi |first1=Isma'il Raji |last2=al-Faruqi |first2=Lois Lamya |title=The Cultural Atlas of Islam |year=1986 |publisher=Macmillan Publishing Company |location=New York |oclc=9456044879 |isbn=9780029101902 |language=en}}{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Akbar |title=Discovering Islam: Making Sense of Muslim History and Society |edition=Revised |year=2002 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780415285254 |page=207 |language=en}}{{cite news |last=Carlin |first=Romano |title=What the Well-Dressed Holiday Coffee Table Will Wear |newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia |date=1986-11-30 |page=S.10 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1830716871 |access-date=2024-07-14 |id={{ProQuest|1830716871}} |language=en}}
Overview
The book serves as a comprehensive guide to the Islamic world, presenting a detailed account of Islamic societies' cultural and historical developments. It is designed to educate readers on the multifaceted nature of Islamic civilization, highlighting the contributions of Muslims to global culture and knowledge. The book has been described as "a lavish, visual feast" with a substantial text.
Background
Isma'il al-Faruqi, a Palestinian-American philosopher, and Lois Lamya, an Islamic art and music expert, collaborated to create this extensive work. The Cultural Atlas of Islam was published a month after the authors' deaths. The authors aimed to provide a comprehensive portrayal of Islamic culture, addressing various aspects of its historical and cultural development.{{cite journal |title=Book Notice: The Cultural Atlas of Islam |journal=American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences |volume=3 |issue=1 |year=1986 |pages=169–170 |url=https://www.ajis.org/index.php/ajiss/article/view/2768 |doi=10.35632/ajis.v3i1.2768 |language=en |doi-access=free|url-access=subscription }}
Contents
The Cultural Atlas of Islam is organized into several key sections:
=Introduction=
=Historical Background=
=Geographical Distribution=
=Cultural Contributions=
=Social Structures=
Themes
The book's primary themes revolve around the unity and diversity of Islamic culture. The authors emphasize the concept of tawhid (the oneness of God) as a central theme in Islamic art and culture. Other themes include the importance of knowledge, the interconnection between different Islamic regions, and the dynamic nature of Islamic civilization over time.
Criticism
The book has received both praise and criticism from reviewers. It has been described as a product of the current Muslim resurgence, with a controversial approach that asserts the superiority of Islam over other world religions.{{cite journal |last=Rafael |first=Vicente L. |title=The Cultural Atlas of Islam. By Isma'il R. al Faruqi and Lois Lamya' al Faruqi. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1986. 512 pp. $100.00. |journal=Journal of Church and State |volume=29 |issue=3 |year=1987 |pages=547–548|doi=10.1093/jcs/29.3.547 |language=en}} Some reviewers criticized the book for its poor organization and complex vocabulary, which might intimidate general readers.{{cite journal |last=Weiss |first=Anita M. |title=Review of The Cultural Atlas of Islam |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=46 |issue=3 |year=1987 |pages=618–619 |language=en}} Others pointed out the lack of integration between text and visual elements, making the book difficult to navigate.{{cite journal |last=Bacharach |first=Jere L. |title=The Cultural Atlas of Islam |journal=MESA Bulletin |volume=22 |year=1988 |pages=109–110 |publisher=Macmillan |location=New York | url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/review-of-middle-east-studies/article/abs/cultural-atlas-of-islam-by-ismail-r-al-faruqi-and-lois-lamya-al-faruqi-xv-750-pages-77-maps-macmillan-new-york1986-9000/8E39E0A4119DF79C4010DD30B33F4989 |doi=10.1017/S0026318400019994 | url-access=subscription |language=en}}
Publication
The Cultural Atlas of Islam was published in 1986 by Macmillan Publishing Company in New York and Collier Macmillan Publishers in London. The work has been recognized for its scholarly rigor and its contribution to promoting a deeper understanding of Islamic culture and history.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://ismailfaruqi.com/wp-content/pdf/books/cultural-atlas-of-islam.pdf The Cultural Atlas of Islam] in PDF
- [https://ismailfaruqi.com Ismail Faruqi Online] Website on the life and works of Dr. Isma'il al Faruqi
{{Ismail al-Faruqi}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cultural Atlas Of Islam}}
Category:1986 non-fiction books
Category:Books about Islam and society