An effort has been made in this book to trace the history of medieval Muslim thought as to show the elements which it had in common with Christian teaching, and to account for the points of divergence. Influenced initially by Hellenistic thought, Islamic thought brought about enormous influence on the culture of medieval Latin Christendom, directly leading to the Renascence and the death of medieval culture.

This book is an abridged translation of La Escatologia Musalmana en la Divina Comedia originally published in Spanish in Madrid in 1919. Prof. Asin discovered parallels between the Islamic lore about the After-life based on Hadith, and The Divine Comedy by the famous Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). Though this created a controversy at that time, now the opinion of all eminent scholars of Europe and America is in favour of Prof. Asin?s thesis

The decisive encounters between the East and West-- Islam and Christendom--in the fields of war or peace had the most far reaching effects on their destinies. This is one of the most important subjects of Islamic history, indeed perhaps the most important of all. Besides its abundant and eventful episodes, it throws much light on this eternal struggle between the East and the West. As many of these events are scantily dealt with by the Islamic chroniclers, careful reference to Western sources and scholars been made to analyse the subject in detail.

Washington Irving, has long been admired for his writings on American lore and history, but his work on Islamic subjects, particularly his studies of Islamic Spain, deserve wider recognition. The author first visited Granada in 1828, and revisited the city many times, living within the precincts of the Alhambra and having access to the many historical documents housed there. The Alhambra is a more personal study reflecting the author?s enchantment with the splendours of the palace and his intimate knowledge of the history of the Muslims in Spain

This book, the result of 30 years spent by the author in exhaustive research, attempts to present the basic teachings of religion in the light of modern knowledge and in a manner consistent with modern scientific method. After a thorough investigation of the subject, the writer has reached the conclusion that religious teachings are academically valid and as understandable and intellectually acceptable as any of the theories propounded by men of science.

We have entered a new era. Never in history has the world been so connected, diverse, educated and aware. It is an era where, fuelled by curiosity, we find ourselves on a never-ending quest for answers and knowledge and one where confidence in reason prevails over the antiquated ways of superstition. The journey of civilization has brought us to an age where reason has become the strongest voice.