Who Is Allah? (Islamic Civilization and Muslim Networks) - Hardcover

[A] very engaging book.--Journal of the American Academy of Religion Bravely expresses and explores a thesis that is hard to grasp, reflective of the paradoxically known and unknown nature of the deity.--Publishers Weekly The value of the book . . . is clear and enduring. . . . Succeeds beautifully in communicating the simultaneously elusive yet rock-solid liturgical, confessional, and devotional reality of Allah.--Journal of the Society for Contemporary Thought and the Islamicate World Serves as an ideal reference to anyone interested in contemporary politics surrounding Islam and Muslim societies, and their relations with the global world.--Canadian Journal of History Fascinating to and educational for very diverse audiences.--Choice

This vivid introduction to the heart of Islam offers a unique approach to understanding Allah, the central focus of Muslim religious expression. Drawing on history, culture, theology, politics, and the media, Bruce B. Lawrence identifies key religious practices by which Allah is revered and remembered, illuminating how the very name of Allah is interwoven into the everyday experience of millions of Muslims. For Muslims, as for adherents of other religions, intentions as well as practices are paramount in one's religious life. Lawrence elucidates how public utterances, together with private pursuits, reflect the emotive, sensory, and intellectual aspirations of the devout. Ranging from the practice of the tongue (speaking) to practices in cyberspace (online religious activities), Lawrence explores how Allah is invoked, defined, remembered, and also debated. While the practice of the heart demonstrates how Allah is remembered in Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, the practice of the mind examines how theologians and philosophers have defined Allah in numerous contexts, often with conflicting aims. The practice of the ear marks the contemporary period, in which Lawrence locates and then assesses competing calls for jihad, or religious struggle, within the cacophony of an immensely diverse umma, the worldwide Muslim community.