While in Cambridge, I also finished reading this book written by Reza Aslan. The book got raving reviews such as…. thoroughly an engaging personal exploration…an opening up of knowledge too long buried…and so on http://www.rezaaslan.com/nogodbutgod.htmlA great book to read giving a different perspective of how Muslim society evolved though a number of experimentations. It talks about what fractured the Muslim community into competing sects - Sunni, Shia, and Sufi to the current Wahhabi movement which attempt to cleanse and go back to the original ideology. The book touches on the relationship between Religion and politics in early Islam where violent internal conflict was a regular feature of all Muslim dynasties, where most are forced to legitimize their rule by asserting some kind of divine endorsement. And in doing so richly rewarding their Ulama who go along their line. This is sadly still going on till now.
The Muslim history is mired with bloodshed, from the 3 out of 4 early Caliphs killed by Muslims themselves, to the many recent wars between Islamic nations, to the current trend of suicide bombings against Muslim brothers, reading this work helps to understand some the brewing reasons behind all this violent evolution. It also makes you to think a bit on the evolution of Islam in Brunei. The best way is to expand your knowledge more on this subject and not just literally accept everything being told.
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