"Medieval Jerusalem and Islamic Worship" provides fascinating new information about the Muslim holy places in Jerusalem, rituals and pilgrimage to these places during the early Muslim period. It is based primarily on early primary Arabic sources, many of which have not yet been published.

A compelling consideration of Jerusalem during the formative period of Islamic civilization

This book offers a fresh perspective on religious culture in the medieval Middle East. It investigates the ways Muslims thought about and practiced at sacred spaces and in sacred times through two detailed case studies: the shrines in honour of the head of al-Husayn (the martyred grandson of the Prophet), and the holy month of Rajab. The changing expressions of the veneration of the shrine and month are followed from the formative period of Islam until the late Mamluk period, paying attention to historical contexts and power relations. Readers will find interest in the attempt to integrate the two perspectives synchronically and diachronically, in a discussion of the relationship between the sanctification of space and time in individual and communal piety, and in the religious literature of the period.

In the book of Genesis, God bestows a new name upon Abram--Abraham, a father of many nations. With this name and his Covenant, Abraham would become the patriarch of three of the world's major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Connected by their mutual--if differentiated--veneration of the One God proclaimed by Abraham, these traditions share much beyond their origins in the ancient Israel of the Old Testament. This Very Short Introduction explores the intertwined histories of these monotheistic religions, from the emergence of Christianity and Islam to the violence of the Crusades and the cultural exchanges of al-Andalus. Each religion continues to be shaped by this history but has also reacted to the forces of modernity and politics. Movements such as the Reformation and that led by seventh-century Kharijites have emerged, intentioned to reform or restore traditional religious practice but quite different in their goals and effects. Relationships with states, among them Israel and Saudi Arabia, have also figured importantly in their development. The Abrahamic Religions: A Very Short Introduction brings these traditions together into a common narrative, lending much needed context to the story of Abraham and his descendants. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

This volume brings together articles on the cultural, religious, social and commercial interactions among Jews, Christians and Muslims in the medieval and early modern periods. Written by leading scholars in Jewish studies, Islamic studies, medieval history and social and economic history, the contributions to this volume reflect the profound influence on these fields of the volume’s honoree, Professor Mark R. Cohen.

Islamic Jerusalem has a special place in the hearts of the three monotheistic religions. Throughout its history it has been the site of tolerance and tensions. 'Islamic Jerusalem and its Christians' presents a critical look at historical events during the time of two key figures in the history of Islam: Caliph 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (d. 24 AH/ 644 CE), who played a critically important role in the birth and spread of Islam, and Sultan Salah al-Din (d. 589 AH/ 1193 CE) the legendary 'Saladdin' of Western Crusader lore, during and after the first and second Muslim conquests of Islamic Jerusalem. This pioneering study uses extensive primary research to explore Muslim treatment of non-Muslims in the 7th Century and in the Middle Ages, while also looking in detail at the situation of Christians in Islamic Jerusalem and their reaction and attitude to conquest. He analyses accounts of the communication between Salah al-Din and the Crusaders and the peace negotiations between Salah al-Din and Richard the Lion-Heart, King of England. In doing so Abu Munshar counters many western and particularly orientalist writers who have portrayed Muslim treatment of Christians, after the first and second Islamic conquests, as similar to any occupation that Jerusalem has witnessed during its long history; that Islamic conquest in these two periods turned the life of non-Muslims into complete disarray. A valuable source of reference for all interested in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, religion, medieval history and international relations studies, 'Islamic Jerusalem and its Christians' provides a fascinating insight into how Muslim tolerance of Christians was achieved in Islamic Jerusalem.

Claiming that many in the West lack a thorough understanding of crusading, Jonathan Riley-Smith explains why and where the Crusades were fought, identifies their architects, and shows how deeply their language and imagery were embedded in popular Catholic thought and devotional life.