Publisher's Synopsis
Islam is one of the most popular religions in the world with over 1 billion followers worldwide. As with any other widespread religions, many different schisms and sects have emerged over the course of history so that Islam has come to be interpreted in many different ways. Of those schisms, the split between the Sunnis and Shiites has been by far the oldest and most enduring split. Because it occurred approximately 1,400 years ago, the causes and consequences have become blurred. Today, myths and confusion abound and few people-even within the Muslim community itself-actually know what really happened and what that really means for today's world. This book has been written with the intention of clearing up that confusion. It is primarily intended for readers who are not very familiar with Islam in general-let alone the actual significance of the split between Sunni and Shiite-who are interested in learning more. Knowing the history of the religion and the current tensions in the Middle East will go a long way toward helping you understand the complexity and nuance of the situation. You will gain a deeper understanding of the Sunnis and the Shiites as well as Islam more broadly. Some of the features of this book include: An overview of the belief system and structure of the Islamic religion The geography, politics, and daily life of believers in Islam A history of the rise of Islam in the Arabic world A detailed discussion of the Sunni Shia schism A closer look at the Sunni belief system, geography, politics, and daily life A closer look at the Shiite belief system, geography, politics, and daily life Deeper analysis of the present day conflicts, including differing perspectives on its origins and roots. While reading just one book cannot make an you expert on the situation, this book will allow you to view the news coming out of the Middle East from a much more informed perspective and give you the foundation you need to do further research and learn more.
