The Cultural Atlas of Islam

1986 book by Isma'il and Lois Lamya' al-Faruqi

The Cultural Atlas of Islam

Cover of the 1986 edition

Author| Ismail al-Faruqi and Lois Lamya al-Faruqi
Language| English
Subject| Islamic studies, Islamic culture, History of Islam
Published| 1986
Publisher| Macmillan Publishing Company
Publication place| United States
Media type| Print
Pages| 512
ISBN| 9780029101902
OCLC| 849811134
Preceded by| Divine Transcendence and Its Expression (1983)
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.[1][2][3]

## Overview

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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.[1] The book has been described as "a lavish, visual feast" with a substantial text.[2]

## Background

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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.[4]

## Contents

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The Cultural Atlas of Islam is organized into several key sections:

### Introduction

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The introduction provides an overview of the Islamic world, its people, and its cultural diversity.[1]

### Historical Background

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This section offers a detailed chronology of Islamic history from the time of the Prophet Muhammad to the modern era.[1]

### Geographical Distribution

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This part includes maps and descriptions of the regions where Islam is practised, highlighting the diversity within the Muslim world.[1]

### Cultural Contributions

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In this section, the book explores Islamic art, architecture, literature, music, and science, illustrating the achievements of Muslim civilizations.[4]

### Social Structures

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This part examines Islamic societies' social, economic, and political aspects, including family structures, education, and governance.[1]

## Themes

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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.[4]

## Criticism

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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.[5] Some reviewers criticized the book for its poor organization and complex vocabulary, which might intimidate general readers.[6] Others pointed out the lack of integration between text and visual elements, making the book difficult to navigate.[7]

## Publication

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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.[1][4]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g al-Faruqi, Isma'il Raji; al-Faruqi, Lois Lamya (1986). The Cultural Atlas of Islam. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN 9780029101902. OCLC 9456044879.
2. ^ a b Ahmed, Akbar (2002). Discovering Islam: Making Sense of Muslim History and Society (Revised ed.). Routledge. p. 207\. ISBN 9780415285254.
3. ^ Carlin, Romano (1986-11-30). "What the Well-Dressed Holiday Coffee Table Will Wear". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. p. S.10. ProQuest 1830716871. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
4. ^ a b c d "Book Notice: The Cultural Atlas of Islam". American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences. 3 (1): 169–170\. 1986. doi:10.35632/ajis.v3i1.2768.
5. ^ Rafael, Vicente L. (1987). "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 of Church and State. 29 (3): 547–548\. doi:10.1093/jcs/29.3.547.
6. ^ Weiss, Anita M. (1987). "Review of The Cultural Atlas of Islam". The Journal of Asian Studies. 46 (3): 618–619.
7. ^ Bacharach, Jere L. (1988). "The Cultural Atlas of Islam". MESA Bulletin. 22. New York: Macmillan: 109–110\. doi:10.1017/S0026318400019994.

## External links

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* The Cultural Atlas of Islam in PDF
* Ismail Faruqi Online Website on the life and works of Dr. Isma'il al Faruqi

* v
* t
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Ismail al-Faruqi

Relations|

* Lois Lamya al-Faruqi (wife)

Close Associates|

* Wilfred Cantwell Smith
* Fazlur Rahman Malik
* Taha Jabir Alalwani
* Anwar Ibrahim

Institutions|

* Temple University
* American Academy of Religion
* American Islamic College
* International Institute of Islamic Thought

Events|

* Murder of the Faruqis

Notable Works|

| Early Works|

* On Arabism: Urubah and Religion (1962)
* Christian Ethics (1968)

|

Middle Period|

* Islam and the Problem of Israel (1980)
* The Hijrah: The Necessity of Its Iqamat or Vergegenwartigung (1981)
* Islamization of Knowledge: General Principles and Work Plan (1981)

Later Works|

* Al-Tawhid: Its Implications for Thought and Life (1982)
* Toward Islamic English (1982)
* Trialogue of Abrahamic Faiths (1982)
* Divine Transcendence and Its Expression (1983)
* The Cultural Atlas of Islam (1986)

Ideas|

* Urubah (Arabism)
* Meta-religion
* Tawhid
* Islamization of knowledge
* Anti-Zionism

Related Topics|

* Contemporary Islamic philosophy
* Interfaith dialogue
* Comparative religion
* Islamic theology
* Islamic ethics

*[OCLC]: Online Computer Library Center number
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