No comments about Mapping Islamic Studies: Genealogy, Continuity and Change (Religion and Reason).

No comments about THRONE OF GOLD: LIVES OF THE AGA KHANS.

No comments about Shadow Genealogies: Memory and Identity Among Urban Muslims in Macedonia.

No comments about SILSILA: An entry from Macmillan Reference USA's <i>Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World</i>.

No comments about The House of Si Abd Allah: The Oral History of a Moroccan Family.

No comments about Mapping Islamic Studies: Genealogy, Continuity, and change: An article from: Journal of the American Oriental Society.

No comments about Islamic Names: An Introduction (Islamic Surveys).

1 comments about Throne of Gold.

1. Throne of Gold opens with a historical section on Islam and Isma ilism which is replete with errors and misconceptions and reveals the author' s less than full knowledge of these matters. A few examples will suffice. The Abbasids did not descend from the Prophet's brother, but from his uncle; the author's discussion of the beliefs of the early Isma ilis reflects the stance of the medieval anti-Isma ili polemicists; the Nizari Isma ilis did not use hashish as reported in the Assassin legends of the European sources; and the term Assassin did not enter European languages via the writings of Marco Polo. The author's carelessness also finds expression in many of the less technical and more biographical and descriptive aspects of her book. For instance, the birth dates of Aga Khan IV and that of his brother Amyn are both incorrect (pp. 137, 148). Aga Khan III did not visit Cairo in 1937 to see his Egyptian followers (pp. 157-58); he never had followers there and, in fact, Isma ilism had disappeared from Egypt soon after the collapse of the Fatimid dynasty in 1171. The Aga Khan Foundation, responsible for promoting and financing projects in the areas of health, education, rural development, social welfare and humanitarian aid, was not established by Aga Khan III (pp. 262-63); it was founded in 1967 by Aga Khan IV. Indeed, Anne Edwards' book is permeated throughout with factual errors and inaccuracies.

   Like the Crusaders, who, though ignorant of the basic facts of Islam, yet claimed to possess reliable information about the secret practices of the Isma ilis, Anne Edwards, too, readily resorts to her imagination in order to enhance the "sensational" appeal of her book - which is, of course, also filled with details about the secret, anonymous mistresses of Aga Khan III and his generous gifts to them. The author is truly in her own element in describing the romantic activities of Aga Khan III's son, Aly Khan (1911-60), devoting a large part of her book to him. However, Edwards adds nothing to the several biographies of this popular figure. Needless to recall that Aly Khan was bypassed by his father in the succession to the imamate and never acquired the title of Aga Khan. In the final chapters of the book (pp. 217-314), the author deals in a superficial, though more sympathetic, way with the activities of Aga Khan IV.

   Anne Edwards's Throne of Gold is a poorly researched and ill-conceived book that almost completely ignores the Isma ili context within which the Aga Khans as imams have unified and led several million Isma ili Muslims in turbulent times. This is perhaps the book's most serious shortcoming. The last two Aga Khans have indeed been very successful in combining their spiritual leadership with numerous modernizing policies of a secular nature. As a result, the Nizari Isma ilis have entered the modern world as a progressive and prosperous community with very high standards of education. The same Isma ili context would also explain the strong devotion of the Isma ilis to their imam and their extraordinary communal solidarity. Anne Edwards, of course, misses all of this and, therefore, implicitly portrays the Isma ilis as a group of naive sectarians who somehow share a blind obedience toward their leaders, very much reminiscent of the earlier Assassin legends and the curious hold of the Old Man of the Mountain on his followers.

4 comments about The Dictionary of Muslim Names.

1. The comprehensive and authentic approach offered by this book is unparallel to any other that I have seen. Full marks go to the author, who has included many Quranic/Arabic/Persian muslim names for both boys and girls. This book is a must if you are a new parent, and consequently pulling your hair out trying to think of a suitable muslim name for your newborn. Further reference to the meaning of these names make this text a good read even for the general public. Do you know what your name means? Certainly a book to be passed on with inhertance!



2. In the book description, I have seen the prophet's name is taken without any respect. It should be noted that any Prophet's name should be taken with peace be upon him(PBUH). Let it be Jesus (peace be upon him) or prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him). If a book misses this then the book is of no use to us.



3. Finally a good book of Muslim names. Gives, name, meaning and how to pronounce. Good quality binding and therefore durable as you pass it from one person to the next!



4. This book is not worth the money. You can find most of the names listed free in internet sites..

1 comments about Genealogies of Religion: Discipline and Reasons of Power in Christianity and Islam.

1. A fascinating book, in which the author argues that "religion" as a historical and political category was created in Europe, an interesting book.