Why did non-Muslims convert to Islam during Muhammad's life and under his immediate successors? How did Muslim historians portray these conversions? Why did their portrayals differ significantly? To what extent were their portrayals influenced by their time of writing, religious inclinations, and political affiliations? These are the fundamental questions that drive this study. Relying on numerous works, including primary sources from over a hundred classical Muslim historians, Conversion to Islam is the first scholarly study to detect, trace, and analyze conversion themes in early Muslim historiography, emphasizing how classical Muslims remembered conversion, and how they valued and evaluated aspects of it. Ayman S. Ibrahim examines numerous early Muslim sources and wrestles with critical observations regarding the sources' reliability and unearths the hidden link between historical narratives and historians' religious sympathies and political agendas. This study leads readers through a complex body of literature, provides insights regarding historical context, and creates a vivid picture of conversion to Islam as early Muslim historians sought to depict it.

Conversion to Islam: Competing Themes in Early Islamic Historiography

History

Ibrahim, Ayman S.

Middle East

Oxford University Press

An ideal introduction to Arabic for beginning students and independent learners Basics of Arabic by Ayman Ibrahim is an introductory grammar, workbook, and lexicon for learning Modern Standard Arabic. Designed for students approaching Arabic for the first time the book provides them with all the tools necessary to develop skills in reading and writing Arabic. Students will learn Arabic grammar and vocabulary and be able to translate key Arabic passages from biblical and qur'anic texts. Each lesson includes: <ul> <li>A thorough and understandable introduction to a particular grammatical feature in Arabic</li> <li>List of vocabulary to be memorized</li> <li>Exercises for practice and reinforcement of key concepts</li> </ul> Basics of Arabic will help readers: <ul> <li>Recite the Arabic alphabet</li> <li>Read and pronounce Arabic words</li> <li>Learn the Arabic noun and verbal system</li> <li>Understand syntax for writing and reading sentences</li> </ul> Additional translation exercises and a complete lexicon are included at the back of the book. Ideal for students, missionaries, independent learners, and homeschoolers this accessible guide give readers a clear and understandable introduction to this important language.

Basics of Arabic: A Complete Grammar, Workbook, and Lexicon

Reference

Foreign Language Study & Reference

Zondervan Academic

Basics of Arabic Video Lectures: For Use with Basics of Arabic: A Complete Grammar, Workbook, and Lexicon

Christians living and ministering in Muslim contexts, even as early as the 7th century, have always adapted their language and public witness to cultural and religious sensibilities of their audience. As theologians, missiologists, and practitioners seek to think carefully about issues surrounding such contextualization, one of the most important considerations concerns the translation of terms and phrases, such as "Son of God" or whether to use "Allah" to refer to God. This project aims to bring together leading voices in the discussion, representing a spectrum of approaches, to explore the issues surrounding "Muslim Idiom Translation." It will also uniquely consider the voices of practitioners of ministry to Muslims and Bible translation, as well as cultural natives to Islamic contexts.

Islam and the Bible: Questioning Muslim Idiom Translations

Christian Books & Bibles

Greenham, Ant

Ministry & Evangelism

B&H Academic

What motivated the early Islamic conquests? Did the Arabs fight for Allah, or for wealth and dominance? Were the conquerors principally Arabs, or specifically Muslims? Were the Muslim believers motivated by religious zeal to proclaim Islam to the non-Muslims? Consequently, was Islam spread by the sword? This is a question that has crucial implications today. The Stated Motivations for the Early Islamic Expansion (622–641) extensively analyzes the earliest Arabic Muslim sources to answer these and other questions. It relies on over 400 works, including primary sources written by more than 90 medieval Muslim authors, Sunni, Shiite, Sufi, and Mu’tazilite. It explores how medieval Muslim writers represented the early Arab leaders, and how much we can trust their reports. It concludes with an examination of the Qur’ān’s commands regarding fighting and armed jihad, and questions what later commentators suggest about fighting the non-Muslims, specifically how radical Muslim interpretations match or violate Islam’s sacred scripture. This is the first scholarly analysis to focus on the stated motivations for the early Islamic expansion in the first two decades of Islam. It is a valuable resource for courses on Muslim history, introduction to Islam, Islamic origins and texts, classical and modern Islamic thought, Muhammad’s biography, Islamic Caliphates, Muslim-Christian relations, Jews in the Muslim world, Middle Eastern history, and world history. In the age of ISIS, Qaeda, and Boko Haram, this book reflects on how historiographical accounts can inform today’s multi-cultural and multi-religious societies on complex relations, mutual respect, and religious coexistence.

The Stated Motivations for the Early Islamic Expansion (622–641): A Critical Revision of Muslims’ Traditional Portrayal of the Arab Raids and Conquests (Crosscurrents: New Studies on the Middle East)

Africa

Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers

In the thirteenth-century, a debate transpired over the course of several days between a monk named Jurji and several Muslims jurists in the city of Aleppo. This debate represents a careful and sophisticated example of a literary genre that had been developing among the Christians living under Islamic rule since the seventh century. The immense popularity of this work is demonstrated by the sheer volume of surviving manuscripts, which number around hundred. This volume provides a critical edition and translation of the text.

In Search of the True Religion: Monk Jurjī and Muslim Jurists Debating Faith and Practice (Texts from Christian Late Antiquity) (Arabic and English Edition)

Hackenburg, Clint

Theology

Gorgias Press

An expert in the study of Islam answers thirty important questions about Muhammad, offering a clear and concise guide to his life and religious significance. This companion volume to the author's A Concise Guide to the Quran answers many of the key questions non-Muslims have about Muhammad, reveals the importance of Muhammad for Christian-Muslim and Jewish-Muslim interfaith relations, and examines Muslim and non-Muslim primary sources. This introductory guide is written for anyone with little to no knowledge of Islam who wants to learn about Muslims, their beliefs, and their prophet.\nFrom the Back Cover\nWhat is so unique about Muhammad? Did he really exist? What do Muslims say about him and his teaching? What did he say about loving one's neighbor and about those who abandon Islam? These are a few of the thirty questions answered in this clear and concise guide to Muhammad's life and religious significance.\nThis companion volume to the author's A Concise Guide to the Quran answers many of the key questions non-Muslims have about Muhammad, reveals the importance of Muhammad for Christian-Muslim and Jewish-Muslim interfaith relations, examines Muslim and non-Muslim primary sources, and engages classic and modern studies on the most important human figure for scores of Muslims. This introductory guide is written for anyone with little to no knowledge of Islam who wants to learn about Muslims, their beliefs, and their prophet.\n"Ibrahim has done us all a great favor in writing this book. With his expertise in early Islamic texts firmly established, he presents findings that help to sketch what Muhammad represents within the Muslim community--in all its diversity--and what the earliest sources actually say. As a historian, he points readers to invaluable resources in print and online." 
--David L. Johnston, lecturer of Islamic studies, St. Joseph's University and Fuller Theological Seminary; author of Muslims and Christians Debate Justice and Love\n"This wonderful introduction to the life and teachings of Muhammad is rigorous in its engagement with scholarship yet also highly accessible. Ibrahim tackles crucial questions with clarity and purpose, skillfully helping the reader to navigate the 'Muhammads' of legend, of tradition, and of history. I heartily commend this book." 
--Derek Brotherson, principal, Sydney Missionary and Bible College; author of Contextualization or Syncretism?

A Concise Guide to the Life of Muhammad: Answering Thirty Key Questions

Biographies & Memoirs

Baker Academic

Concise Guide to Islam (Introducing Islam)

Religion & Spirituality

Islam

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