Book Review [32] : No god but God

'No god but God' is a story of the evolution of Islam since the first revelation in a small cave at Mt Hira not too far from the thriving "Pagan" city of Mecca in 610 AD. This book talks in detail about the first 100 years of middle east from the Battle of Elephants in 570 AD, the evolution of Sufi thought, the Inquisition and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and Wahhabism.  It asks very fundamental question about the socio-economic basis behind the evolution of this great movement. 7th Century Arabian society was a very primitive society with very primitive laws and rules compare to the highly sophisticated Byzantine, Sassanian and Indian civilizations still it managed to defeat all these civilizations and was able to conquer entire middle east, parts of Pakistan and north Africa in a span of just 50 years. Persian history is an apt manifestation of the Tragedy at Karbala. Around 330 BC, a young prince from a tiny Kingdom of Macedonia decimated the mighty Achaemenid Empire and after 100 years a primitive society of Arabs destroyed the mighty civilization of Persia. The Zoroastrian culture and religion disappeared from Persia like column of smoke in mighty winds. When ever Persians think that they are going strong, they go straight in a deep gorge. It has happened in 330 BC, 650 AD, 680 AD. So their mourning to celebrate the martyrdom of Husayn at Karbala has a deep rooted anguish. I completely believe that Islam is nothing but Arabic imperialism in the guise of religion. Why Arabs always try to impose the archaic and barbaric laws of 7th Century Arabia on the converts from highly advanced societies of India, Iran and middle east?The only tragedy with this great religion of Islam is that it had evolved in a wrong society at a wrong time. This religion should be read and followed only after separating the politics and culture of 7th century Arabia and if its not done then no one can stop the spread of Wahhabism and Talibanism in any society. Amen.
Highly Recommended (8/10)