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—and with it the “Great Battle;†prophesied by both Sunni and Shii tradition; which many believers expect will begin in the Afghan-Pakistani borderlands. Jean-Pierre Filiu uncovers the role of apocalypse in Islam over the centuries; and highlights its extraordinary resurgence in recent decades. Identifying 1979 as a decisive year in the rise of contemporary millenarian speculation; he stresses the ease with which subsequent events in the Middle East have been incorporated into the intellectual universe of apocalyptic propagandists. Filiu also shows how Christian and Jewish visions of the Final Judgment have stimulated alarmist reaction in Islamic lands; both in the past and today; and examines the widespread fear of Christian Zionist domination as an impetus to jihad. Though the overwhelming majority of Muslims remains unpersuaded; the mounting conviction in the imminence of apocalypse is a serious matter; especially for those who are preparing for it.
#503290 in Books 2009-06-10Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.13 x 6.00l; 1.38 #File Name: 0520257472416 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Interesting!By Lisa WilsonI had to purchase this book as a textbook for a history class at my university; and although it was a bit dense (it read like a thesis); it has a lot of good information about youth in Chicago! Would recommend!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy robin b.very happy0 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A DisappointmentBy Ebonga TembeI expected much from this book but found the prose turgid and the author never able to deliver on his promises. Unless you're from Chicago and lived through those years when gangs rules the windy city; you wouldn't be able to penetrate the very dense prose and tie the loose ends together. There's no way that one can read this book from start to finish without refraining from flipping ten pages at once. I was able to glean e few things here and there but as an aspiring student of masculinity I was quite disappointed.
