Al-Qazwini's Wonders of Creation is one of a handful of extant illustrated codices produced under the Mongols of Persia. Al-Qazwini collected; edited and assembled a large body of literary works into a single text that reflects the cultural world of a medieval Arab encyclopaedist. In this lavishly illustrated volume; Stefan Carboni analyses the manuscript's miniatures; discusses the 368 paintings that illustrate the codex; and includes a partial critical translation of the related Arabic text. The codex contains a copy of a cosmographical text written in Arabic in Baghdad towards the end of the 13th century. The cosmography represents a physical description of the world arranged from the outer spheres of the universe; where the throne of God; the Angels and the Planets are located; down to Earth where the Peoples living in the Islands of the Oceans; the Mineral; the Vegetal and the Animal Kingdoms are described throughout the text.About the series: Edinburgh Studies in Islamic Art offers readers easy access to the most up-to-date research across the whole range of Islamic art; representing various parts of the Islamic world; media and approaches. Books in the series are beautifully illustrated academic monographs of intellectual distinction that mark a significant advance in the field.
#2027855 in Books Kandil Hazem 2016-10-10Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .70 x 6.00l; #File Name: 0745682928240 pagesInside the Brotherhood
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Worth a read but with shortcomingsBy Soru TakahashiI would recommend this book; or at least the first half; as it offers some very interesting insights into the inner workings of the Brotherhood (the second half is essentially about how the organisation's political ineptitude lead to its downfall; but this has well documented elsewhere). That having been said; there are a couple of caveats:1. The book is very repetitive. The Brotherhood operates on the basis of an anti-intellectual philosophy and does not accept critical thinking - this message is hammered again and again from page 1; and after about 20 pages; I felt I had got the idea and started skimming.2. Connected with the above; the author is overwhelmingly negative about the Brotherhood. Part of this may have to do with the fact that most of his contemporary sources appear to be people who got fed up and left; and; not being an expert on the organisation; I have no real reason to dispute those sources or the author's analysis. However; it's hard not to read the book and wonder if the author didn't purposely set out to write something critical of the Brotherhood; and chose the anecdotes and stories that fit his view. There seems to be precious little thought on why exactly a large number of people are attracted and loyal to the Brotherhood - is it a big Escape from Freedom? Are the people all stupid? I found this aspect a bit wanting.The above caveats regardless; I would recommend the book; because I feel that the first part is worth a read for anybody interested in the history of this very important organisation. At the end of the day; it is worth the ten bucks or so. However; I would certainly say that it should not be the only book one reads on the subject.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. UniqueBy Marlyn TadrosOne of the few books about the Brotherhood that portray them in the correct light because of all the insider interviews that author conducted. It is truly great research.3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Knocking down the myth of Divine InterventionBy Tarek Salah KamelHazem presents an elaborate insight into the core pillar of Islamism as crafted by the Muslim Brotherhood in the beginning of last century: Religious Determinism .. Or the belief of the Divine Intervention to the Godly cultivated community of Brothers and Sisters ... He shows - in a deep and thoroughly researched logic - how this pillar is deeply entrenched in their mindset really from the internal life of Brothers and Sisters ...Ironically; he explained; how the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood group has always guaranteed their failure at each junction of political conflict in their whole history .. The book is irrefutable in its logic and the evidences it provides are critical alarming signals to the minds and hearts of the Muslim Brotherhood members; who - unfortunately -are not expected to value intellectuals and read their work with open minds and hearts as they have always not done!!
