In The Shadow Of The Prophet

This is the first in-depth study of the Malay martial art, silat, and the first ethnographic account of the Haqqani Islamic Sufi Order. Drawing on 12 years of research and practice, the author provides a major contribution to the study of Malay culture.

A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER 'A stunning blockbuster' Robert Fisk 'A brilliant tour de force of revisionist scholarship and thrilling storytelling' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'A compelling detective story of the highest order' Sunday Times 'Tom Holland has an enviable gift for summoning up the colour, the individuals and animation of the past' Independent In the 6th century AD, the Near East was divided between two venerable empires: the Persian and the Roman. A hundred years on and one had vanished forever, while the other seemed almost finished. Ruling in their place were the Arabs: an upheaval so profound that it spelt, in effect, the end of the ancient world. In the Shadow of the Sword explores how this came about. Spanning from Constantinople to the Arabian desert, and starring some of the most remarkable rulers who ever lived, he tells a story vivid with drama, horror, and startling achievement.

In the Shadow of the Prophet is a novel set in the Middle East, during the time of transition from paganism to Islam. The novel chronicles the stories of two sisters, Noor and Sawdah, whose lives are transformed by their personal experiences and by the dramatic changes in the world around them.

In his new book, In the Shadow of the Prophet, journalist and Middle East commentator Viorst tackles head-on the struggle throughout the Middle East to reconcile Islamic law and beliefs with political power in the modern world. As the world has now seen in Iran, Sudan, in Algeria and increasingly in Egypt, among other countries, there has been a rising tide of fundamentalism intent on overturning moderate or secular government to create in its place an Islamic state based on the laws of the shari'a-the ancient moral, legal, and religious code of Muhammad's time. Conservative traditionalist governments such as Saudi Arabia insist the Islamic principles guide the actions and thought of all citizens, banning government criticism, religious tolerance, most freedoms of expression, and any comments deemed critical of Islam. But many others feel Islam must find a way to accept and integrate science, technology, and the principles of toleration, if not democracy, into Islamic life. It pains Muslims enormously that the Middle East has lagged far behind the West, and even the emerging third world nations, in terms of its technology, military power, economic might, and general standards of living. In its examination of the struggle for the direction of Islam in many Muslim nations, In the Shadow of the Prophet reveals the intellectual and theological straightjacket by which traditional Islam has constrained the Middle East, and what that means to the future of the region-and to us in the West.

"Walter Rauschenbusch's thought made an indelible and enduring impact on the Christian world and beyond. Scores of books and hundreds of articles have rediscovered the implications of his work in church history, ethics, politics, gender studies, international relations, German American cross culturalism, Christian spirituality, Baptist religious identity, and the Liberal and evangelical theological perspectives. His writings made an immediate impact upon publication, and have been reprinted over the years since by many different disciples. A roster of distinguished and younger scholars plumbed the depths of Rauschenbusch's impact on the Christian Tradition. Rauschenbusch biographers Gary Dorrien and Christopher Evans assess Walter's place in the course of American religious thought, particularly the Liberal tradition. A second group of papers is devoted to the extent of the Rauschenbusch legacy and includes writers Andrea Strèubind (the German context), Adam Bond (Samuel D. Proctor as a disciple of the Black Social Gospel), Roger Prentice (the Canadian Context), and Chakravarthy Zadda (the Telugu mission context in India). A third cluster features specific aspects of the Rauschenbusch legacy: Wendy Deichmann (gender and the family); Darryl Trimiew (the Black Church); Dominik Gautier (postcolonial reflection by a European); and Christina Littlefield (Rauschenbusch as a Muckraker). Gathered under the heading of "The Largeness of the Rauschenbusch Legacy" are essays by Heath Carter (Rauschenbusch's place in history); David Gushee (an analysis of Rauschenbusch's Kingdom ethic); and William Brackney (Rauschenbusch's contribution to Baptist life and thought). Of particular interest is the personal reflection by Paul B. Raushenbush, great grandson of Walter." --provided by publisher

The acclaimed author of Rubicon and other superb works of popular history now produces a thrillingly panoramic (and incredibly timely) account of the rise of Islam. No less significant than the collapse of the Roman Republic or the Persian invasion of Greece, the evolution of the Arab empire is one of the supreme narratives of ancient history, a story dazzlingly rich in drama, character, and achievement. Just like the Romans, the Arabs came from nowhere to carve out a stupefyingly vast dominion—except that they achieved their conquests not over the course of centuries as the Romans did but in a matter of decades. Just like the Greeks during the Persian wars, they overcame seemingly insuperable odds to emerge triumphant against the greatest empire of the day—not by standing on the defensive, however, but by hurling themselves against all who lay in their path.

Six of Crows meets Graceling with a dash of Winter is Coming in Katy Rose Pool's second installment of the action-packed and swoon-worthy Age of Darkness series--As the Shadow Rises. "As the Shadow Rises solidifies Katy Rose Pool's status as one of the best fantasy writers of the 21st century." —Popsugar The Last Prophet has been found, yet he sees destruction ahead. In this sequel to the critically-acclaimed There Will Come a Darkness, kingdoms have begun to fall to a doomsday cult, the magical Graced are being persecuted, and an ancient power threatens to break free. But with the world hurtling toward its prophesized end, Anton’s haunting vision reveals the dangerous beginnings of a plan to stop the Age of Darkness. As Jude, Keeper of the Order of the Last Light, returns home in disgrace, his quest to aid the Prophet is complicated by his growing feelings for Anton. Meanwhile, the assassin known as the Pale Hand will stop at nothing to find her undead sister before she dies for good, even if it means letting the world burn. And in Nazirah, Hassan, the kingdom-less Prince, forms a risky pact to try to regain his throne. When the forces of light and darkness collide in the City of Mercy, old wounds are reopened, new alliances are tested, and the end of the world begins. The Age of Darkness trilogy is perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Children of Blood and Bone, and An Ember in the Ashes. * "Adventurous relic-hunting, mind-blowing twists, budding love, and terrible betrayals feature in this multiple-narrator, character-driven study of power, agency, and identity." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review Praise for There Will Come a Darkness "Reading this intricate YA fantasy, you get the feeling Katy Rose Pool’s plot is always seven steps ahead of you. You’ll want to catch up as quickly as possible." —Refinery 29

The Middle East has long been a volatile yet vital region in world politics. In his captivating new book, In the Shadow of the Prophet, journalist Milton Viorst illuminates the complex struggle to reconcile the Muslim community's fierce determination to live by traditional Islamic law and beliefs with the desire for economic and political power in today's world. Throughout the Middle East, a rising tide of Islamic fundamentalism has attempted to overturn moderate or secular government, creating in its place an Islamic state based on the ancient moral code of Muhammad's time. Conservative and fundamentalist sects are violently at odds with those Muslims who feel Islam must find a way to integrate science and democracy into Islamic life. Without an opening up of Islam, the Middle East will continue to lag far behind the West and even emerging Third World nations in terms of its military power, economic might, and general standards of living.