Worlds of Islam

“A sweeping reimagining of how we think about Muslim history. With clarity and elegance, James McDougall dismantles the tired myth of a single, monolithic ‘Muslim world’ and reveals a dazzlingly diverse mosaic of Muslim lives, cultures, and societies. This is not the story of Islam as an isolated civilization but as a dynamic, evolving force that has shaped and been shaped by every corner of the world for nearly a millennium and a half. Anyone who wants to understand not just the past of Islam but its present and future should read Worlds of Islam.”

“A brilliant and captivating work. Written with verve and balance, and profound scholarship, Worlds of Islam allows Western readers to appreciate Islamic history from the perspective of Muslim communities from the rise of Islam to the present day. There is simply no better book on Islam in history.”
 

“A riveting read. Here, we see Islam, not as some fixed constellation of doctrines, rituals, and ideas, but as a powerful, ever-evolving current in the river of history. McDougall never loses sight of the big picture even as he brings us close enough to see Islam taking root in sub-Saharan Africa, central Asia, the Indian sub-continent, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, and even among African Americans in the United States—these are idiosyncratically individual stories, yet they’re also all parts of one big story. Worlds of Islam achieves sweep without compromising depth and depth without compromising sweep—a remarkable feat.”