Although apocalyptic visions and predictions have long been part of classical and contemporary Islam, this book is the first scholarly work to cover this disparate but influential body of writing. David Cook puts the literature in context by examining not only the ideological concerns prompting apocalyptic material but its interconnection with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Arab relations with the United States and other Western nations, and the role of violence in the Middle East. Cook suggests that Islam began as an apocalyptic movement and has retained a strong apocalyptic and messianic trend. One of his most striking discoveries is the influence of non-Islamic sources on contemporary Muslim apocalyptic beliefs. He trenchantly discusses the influence of non-Islamic sources on contemporary Muslim apocalyptic writing, tracing anti-Semitic strains in Islamist thought in part to Western texts and traditions. Through a meticulous reading of current documents, incorporating everything from exegesis of holy texts to supernatural phenomena, Cook shows how radical Muslims, including members of al-Qa'ida, may have applied these ideas to their own agendas. By exposing the undergrowth of popular beliefs contributing to religion-driven terrorism, this book casts new light on today's political conflicts.

The first annotated translation of the 9th-century Islamic apocalyptic work The Book of Tribulations - the earliest complete Muslim apocalyptic text to survive.

This is an annotated translation of the 9th-century Islamic apocalyptic work 'The Book of Tribulations' - the earliest complete Muslim apocalyptic text to survive.

This is an eye-opening exploration of a troubling phenomenon: the fast-growing belief in Muslim countries that the end of the world is at hand. Jean-Pierre Filiu uncovers the role of apocalypse in Islam over the centuries, and highlights its extraordinary resurgence in recent decades.

The first annotated translation of the 9th-century Islamic apocalyptic work The Book of Tribulations - the earliest complete Muslim apocalyptic text to survive.

Jihad is one of the most loaded and misunderstood terms in the news today. Contrary to popular understanding, the term does not mean "holy war." Nor does it simply refer to the inner spiritual struggle. This book, judiciously balanced, accessibly written, and highly relevant to today's events, unravels the tangled historical, intellectual, and political meanings of jihad. Looking closely at a range of sources from sacred Islamic texts to modern interpretations, [This book] opens a critically important perspective on the role of Islam in the contemporary world. [The author] also describes some of the conflicts that occur in radical groups and shows how the more mainstream supporters of these groups have come to understand and justify violence.-Back cover.

A detailed study on the nature of Muslim apocalyptic material in Islam, both Sunnī and Shīʿī. Taking a transcultural perspective by also discussing Christian and Jewish apocalyptic traditions, it offers in eight studies and three appendices a typology of apocalypses and many new insights into the matter. For instance, historical apocalypses as well as apocalyptic figures, like the Dajjāl, the Sufyānī and the Mahdī are discussed. Moreover, apocalyptic ḥadīth literature, in particular Nuʿaym b. Ḥammād's (d. 844) Kitāb al-Fitan, and apocalyptic material in tafsīr works are presented. The author argues for a comprehensive understanding of this important feature of the Islamic religious tradition. "... a reference tool and a starting point for students in their study of early Islam" (Sajjad Rizvi)