The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics

I hope the host will continue the series - his style and content is just right for me. He strikes a balance among scholarly, religious, popular/devotional, political views, historical and current contexts. Each topic is pretty self-contained but also refers the listener to other relevant episodes. I've "saved" all the episodes and go back to them from time to time. Thank you so much!

This guy really knows his stuff! I mean not just Islam but politics, history etc.

I came wanting to know a bit about the history of islam. I was lukewarm on learning about the theology. However, when it came I thought it was really interesting. All the elements are well balanced. It’s a good mix of, as the title says, culture, religion and politics. It has enough detail to flesh out understanding, but not so much as to overwhelm or bore a beginner. The tone is pleasantly neutral.

I feel like I’ve learned a lot, and have been entertained. What more could one ask for?

Enjoyable and informative — and also timely.

This podcast is not only informative but inspiring! The expertise, and the tact and skill with which it is communicated, is greatly appreciated and I highly recommend this podcast to people of all faiths.

Excellent. Thank you for your effort on making these podcasts.

Have only heard the first couple of episodes so far, but Amine gives - by FAR - the finest introduction to Islam I’ve found. As a Christian dedicated to scholarship and context, I’ve been trying to expand my understanding of Islam and finally feel I’ve found the spot. Nuanced, insightful and very accurate (I can attest to Amine’s scholarship of the late antiquity, Judaism and church history), this podcast is an outstanding piece of work and I will endorse it in my circles for sure! Thanks, Am... more

Guhuu

Thnx

This podcast does an excellent job of covering the history of Islam and placing it in context. It is important to know the truth and understand the controversies as a citizen of the modern world for Muslims and for those of other faiths. I like how Amine presents the facts in the context of how the facts came to be recognized as factual, as well as, why we might not know the real truth. He does a great job of being analytical and avoids putting his spin on things.

Thanks so much for doing this!... more

Mr. Taif has accomplished a difficult task in offering a fair handed and substantive approach to a vast and difficult subject. This work is desperately needed and offers a strong counterweight to the biased and poorly researched material currently available. I offer my thanks to Mr. Taif and urge him to continue his work, I would highly recommend this podcast.

Most Islamic Podcasts available on iTunes focus on the faith and it's practice or bland history. This podcast does not fall into either category, but rather tries to understand Islam on its own terms as a product of the culture that gave rise to it. As of the writing of this review, there have only been 2 and a half episodes, but if it fulfills it's promise and keeps up a semi regular release schedule, it will be a vital entree for anyone wanting to understand one of the major forces shaping o... more