War and Peace in Islam: The Uses and Abuses of Jihad

War and Peace in Islam is an excellent work made up of contributions from Muslim academics and scholars who have training in the mainstream Islamic sciences and or familar with its worldview. What is particularly useful in this book are the fatawa or expert legal opinions from various jurists and scholars who present the rules of warfare in the mainstream Islamic tradition.From the sources themselves as well as the rich exegetical tradition, we find that what we see in the Middle East, in the West and elsewhere has little to do with the what is actually sanctioned in the religion. Terrorism has no basis in the Islamic tradition. Even in warfare, as many of the sections explain, there are clear rules where non-combatants are unlawful to harm, let alone kill.This book is an excellent addition to the many books being put out by mainstream Muslims on differentiating what is legitimate warfare in Islam and what is terrorism.It also corrects misconceptions and notions being peddled by anti-Muslim writers on what jihad is and what is represents. This is a scholarly resource. I would ignore books writen by ibn Warraq, Robert Spencer, Daniel Pipes, and others who have an agenda in demonizing Islam and Muslims.This is an excellent companion to another excellent academic work on the topic called The Islamic Law of War: Justifications and Regulations by Professor Ahmed al Dawoody

I don't know it helps if you are already coming with prepackaged ideas about Islam. This is what all Muslims I've seen do and believe. If you have been brainwashed that Islam incites violence against any non-muslim and are here looking for something to confirm what you think, look elsewhere.

Excellent reference with an abundance of information and well balanced indeed.